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- Best Waterproof Ice Fishing Gloves (Buying Guide)
Best Waterproof Ice Fishing Gloves (Buying Guide)
Having freezing hands during an ice fishing trip can spoil your experience of this majestic sport, not to mention the literally spine-chilling effects that ice water can have on your hands. That’s why good quality winter gloves are an indispensable tool in ensuring that you protect your hands from the elements during sub-zero ice-cold weather conditions.
Your gloves should ideally be waterproof and well-insulated to keep your hands warm and comfortable throughout your ice fishing expedition. Read on to find out what specific characteristics you need to look out for when shopping for the ultimate glove to take with you on your next ice fishing adventure.
Features to Look for in Ice Fishing Gloves
✓ Waterproof / Windproof
To provide you with much-needed warmth, you need gloves that are equipped with features to protect you from elements like wind and water specifically. Be on the lookout for the waterproof and windproof signs on the gloves you’re considering to buy to ensure that they won’t leave your fingers feeling like icicles midway through your fishing trip.
✓ Durability
You’ll also want tough wearing gloves that won’t start tearing apart when exposed to sharp hooks and lures. Gloves made from high tensile materials like neoprene, IceTech, Cordura Nylon and kevlar materials tend to last longer and enable you to have a good grip as well. Double stitching is another good sign of good quality construction, as well as the layering of materials to create an extra shell of protection on your hands.
✓ Dexterity
Some gloves for ice fishing come with impressive ‘touchscreen fingertips’ that are specifically designed to let you operate your touchscreen smart devices with ease, even with the gloves on. Dexterity is a critical factor to consider when finding the best ice fishing gloves, and a good indicator of this will be that gloves will feature Soft PU or silicone material on the palms to enable ergonomic operation of your lures and hooks better.
✓ Insulation
We cannot stress enough the importance of choosing gloves with sound insulation because it can save you from getting frostbite when fishing in extreme conditions. So regardless of whether the gloves are constructed from neoprene, nylon, Thinsulate or fleece, make sure they’re well-insulated to keep you comfortable throughout your fishing trip. Try and get gloves with a minimum of 40 grams Thinsulate insulation for best results, but the more, the better.
✓ Affordability
While we know that ice fishing gloves do not come cheap, it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. So, you’ll find that well-constructed, and high-quality gloves will come with a rather steep price tag, but the best part about them is that you only have to buy them once and they’ll last you for many, many years to come. That said, you can still find good quality gloves at a special price, and all you need do is look out for sales during certain times of the year, and you might get lucky and find a pair on promotion.
✓ Finger-slits
Some ice fishing gloves feature well-placed slits through which you can push a couple of your fingers to perform simple tasks like placing lures on the line or tying knots, while still keeping your palms and the rest of your fingers safe from the elements.
Our Top 5 Picks
Cost
$$$
$
$$
$
$$
Breathable
Waterproof
Windproof
Wrist wrap
Insulation level
3M Thinsulation
70g Thinsulate
60 g of Thinsulate
40 grams of 3M Thinsulate
150-gram Thinsulate
Dexterity features
Diamond plate silicone palms and accordion stretch panels for knuckles and thumbs
Touchscreen friendly fingertips and Soft PU palm design
Leather palms
Moisture wicking inner TPU lining, PU palm and rubber fingers
None
Construction material
Neoprene
Cordura nylon shell
Leather
Polyester
IceTech
Brand
Cost
$$$
Breathable
Waterproof
Windproof
Wrist wrap
Insulation level
3M Thinsulation
Dexterity features
Diamond plate silicone palms and accordion stretch panels for knuckles and thumbs
Construction material
Neoprene
Brand
Cost
$
Breathable
Waterproof
Windproof
Wrist wrap
Insulation level
70g Thinsulate
Dexterity features
Touchscreen friendly fingertips and Soft PU palm design
Construction material
Cordura nylon shell
Brand
Cost
$$
Breathable
Waterproof
Windproof
Wrist wrap
Insulation level
60 g of Thinsulate
Dexterity features
Leather palms
Construction material
Leather
Brand
Cost
$
Breathable
Waterproof
Windproof
Wrist wrap
Insulation level
40 grams of 3M Thinsulate
Dexterity features
Moisture wicking inner TPU lining, PU palm and rubber fingers
Construction material
Polyester
Brand
Cost
$$
Breathable
Waterproof
Windproof
Wrist wrap
Insulation level
150-gram Thinsulate
Dexterity features
None
Construction material
IceTech
Ice Armor Mits
Our Top Choice
This is one of the most popular and best-selling winter gloves on the market, and it’s not hard to see why. Ice Armor has taken great care in making it with two layers of breathable IceTech material put on top of a whopping 150-gram Thinsulate Insulation, which means they’re guaranteed to keep your hands super warm and comfortable during even below zero temperatures.
The forearm of the glove is sealable and has been extended to prevent elements like the wind and snow from coming through and reaching your hands, while they’re also waterproof and flexible as well.
Pros
- These gloves are flexible in that they enable you to move your fingers around with ease
- They’re extremely warm and ideal for sub-zero ice fishing conditions and features 150-grams of Thinsulate insulation
- They’re waterproof to keep your hands dry
- They provide you with breathable comfort
- Made of durable IceTech material
- Sealable forearm to further protect your hands from the bitter elements
Cons
- We’ve got absolutely nothing bad to say about these excellent ice fishing gloves, they’re marvelous!
These hardy gloves from Frabill feature tough construction and are made from breathable but resilient Neoprene material, which has been reinforced and double stitched with heavy-duty thread throughout to ensure long-lasting quality.
You’ll also enjoy this glove’s efficient grip, which is made possible by the diamond plate silicone on the palm with a curved pattern for added dexterity with your fingers.
These neoprene ice fishing gloves also comes with accordion stretch panels for knuckles and thumbs on both sides, as well as a dedicated ‘nose wipe’ material on the thumb.
Lastly, these gloves stay insulated and secure with an adjustable hook & loop PVC strap on the gusseted cuff, and 3M Thinsulate insulation ensures maximum warmth and comfort, and they’re conveniently waterproof as well.
Pros
- Totally waterproof
- Great grip, awesome dexterity
- True to size
- Comes with nose wipe feature
- Made from hard wearing Neoprene
- Long lasting
- Easy to put on and take off
Cons
- Unfortunately, these gloves are not completely windproof, and sometimes they do let a bit of air in, which can lead to icy fingertips
- They’re quite pricey
Thanks to ‘touchscreen tips’ on the index, middle fingers and thumbs, you can efficiently operate your touchscreen device or write with these gloves on. Not only do they fit comfortably, with a Soft PU palm design that allows you to use your fingers and enjoy a good grip ergonomically, but they also feature pockets on the backs to keep essential items like your keys safe and within easy reach.
These gloves are also waterproof, breathable and weatherproof, thanks to 70g Thinsulate and soft fleece inner lining to keep the hands warm and dry.
You’ll also be glad to know that these gloves feature a hardy Cordura nylon shell which, in addition to increasing the glove’s lifespan through rugged construction, will further protect your hands from the elements and getting pierced by sharp objects like hooks and such.
The unique comfort of these waterproof ice fishing gloves is also enhanced by the elastic wrist tensioner that’s used to adjust the glove to keep the cold at bay, and its ultra-wide cuff makes for a great fit. Lastly, these gloves are available in sizes Small (7.5-8″) to XL (9.5-10″).
Pros
- Soft PU palm allows for a firm grip and dexterity even when wet
- Breathable and waterproof
- They’re well insulated with 70G Thinsulate
- Made from a tough wearing Cordura nylon shell
- You can efficiently operate your touchscreen device with these on, thanks to ‘touchscreen tips’ on the index, middle finger and thumbs
- Easy to put on and take off
- They fit true to size and come with a helpful sizing chart
- They also feature back pockets to give you extra storage options for smaller items
- Great elastic wrist tensioner to keep the gloves fully secure and the cold at bay
- Good quality construction
- Durable and long lasting
- Good value for money
Cons
- We have nothing bad to say about this fantastic glove!
With 60 g of Thinsulate to keep your hands cozy and waterproof, as well as leather palm construction, these dexterous gloves offer a good balance between comfort and function.
They’re also breathable and very comfortable to wear, as you won’t experience any leaks with them. These run from size Small to XXL and are suitable for both men and women.
Pros
- These are some great winter gloves that are sure to keep your hands nice and warm throughout the winter
- They offer a superb grip and dexterity so you can easily handle stuff while wearing them
- Completely waterproof-tried and tested!
- They work great for both men and women wearers
- Breathable and comfortable to wear for long periods of time
- Ideal for cold weather conditions
- Made with 60G Thinsulate
Cons
- The construction could use some improvements, as the seams do come apart early on, which although it’s easy to fix, can still be improved upon
- They can be a pain to take off
- The leather dye comes off easily as well
These gloves are made from a windproof polyester material and are very thick and warm, thanks to having 40 grams of 3M Thinsulate in addition to 140 grams of warm cotton in them, while the moisture-wicking TPU lining on the inside feels soft and comfortable to the touch.
They also feature an additional three layers of softshell to further protect your hands from the wind and cold, ensuring that you feel warm and comfortable throughout. The PU palm is complimented by fingers with reinforced rubber so that you’re able to handle objects flexibly and operate whatever machinery that you have to operate freely, even with the gloves on.
You’ll also enjoy the nose wipe section on the thumb, while the zipper pocket is a nice touch that provides you with extra storage for those small items like your card and keys. Plus, they also feature an adjustable wrist wrap and drawstring to keep your hands warm and toasty inside. Sizes run from Medium to XL.
Pros
- Soft and comfortable inner lining that feels great against the sensitive skin on your hands
- Features 40 grams of 3M Thinsulate to keep your hands warm and protected
- Comes with PU palm and reinforced rubber fingers to ensure continued flexibility of movement, no matter the weather
- The outside of the glove features three layers of a thermal barrier to protect your hands from water and weather impact further
- Zippered pocket at the back is a great form of extra storage
- The drawstring and adjustable wrist wrap work well at keeping hands secure, so you don’t feel the cold external weather and water conditions
- Good quality construction and longevity
Cons
- They run small, so you might want to buy a size up if you’ve got large hands unless you’re willing to wait until you break them in, which might take some time
- These are a bit bulky and can make it challenging to make knots and operate gadgets and stuff
The Ice-Cold Truth
Good quality winter gloves are the difference makers when it comes to ice fishing, as they not only keep your hands warm in the bitter cold, but they’re also waterproof and windproof, thus giving you the freedom to use your hands like normal in extreme weather conditions. The truly best ones also feature an ergonomic design with patterned palms for dexterity, and even nice extras like ‘touchscreen fingertips’ to make it easier for you to operate your smartphone or gadget or even write when necessary.
In a nutshell, you simply cannot do without well-insulated gloves to protect your hands when ice-fishing, and you’ll do well to select ones that fit true and are comfortable and durable enough to enjoy for many years to come. You might feel some way about the prices, but with most of these winter gloves, you do get your money’s worth.