Ice fishing is a North American favorite pass time. It can be highly rewarding, but one important factor to keeping the fun alive is staying warm. Hand warmth is crucial as your hands are still needed to perform fine motor skill things like baiting hooks, removing hooks, and tying line. In order to keep those hands and digits toasty warm, it’s important to use the best ice fishing gloves available.
I’ve ice fished in Colorado for decades now. Having the right gear is super important to keeping the day enjoyable. A good ice fishing shelter, auger and drill, and the right ice fishing poles will make all the difference.
When looking for gloves, it’s important to target gloves specific to fishing. Don’t go to the sporting goods store and buy just any winter gloves.
The best Ice fishing gloves need to be
- Warm with several layers to protect your fingers
- Water proof, or at least water resistant
- Made of a material on the inside of the hand and fingers that will help you grip things
- Thin enough to perform basic fishing tasks (don’t get them too bulky)
- Optional : Have removable finger tips to allow for quick access to bare fingers
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The fishing accessories industry is filled with numerous types and brands of winter fishing gloves so it can be overwhelming to find one that suits your needs and budget.
Best Gloves for Ice Fishing
To help you make an informed decision when shopping for the best gloves for ice fishing, we have researched and curated a list of the top fishing gloves and provided a buying guide just for you.
Without much ado, let’s look at the best ice fishing gloves today.
1. Glacier Glove Pro Angler Gloves
Made by Glacier Glove, a reputable brand, these pull-on style neoprene gloves are available in a wide range of sizes from small, medium, and large to X-large and XX-large.
A critical quality to consider when shopping for gloves is their capacity to keep your hands warm. Without this quality, your hands may get uncomfortable and numb, resulting in a miserable fishing experience.
Fortunately, Glacier Glove Pro performs admirably well when it comes to keeping your hands warm and comfortable in extreme cold. The 2mm fleece-lined neoprene material keeps your hands cozy in chilly conditions. You can fish as much as you like!
These warm fishing gloves come in a versatile design too. The Pro Angler is made with a slit index finger and thumb for ease of casting and making knots. This glove’s dexterity, paired with its comfort, makes it an ideal choice for cold, wet circumstances.
The Glacier Glove Pro has textured fingertips that make it easier for fishermen like you to hold on to. It’s also easy to use with a touchscreen. The Pro Angler’s split-finger design makes it compatible with touchscreen devices like iPhones, Android phones, and iPads.
You can also use the Glacier Glove Pro for more than one purpose. It has multi-functional uses that include fishing, hunting, photography, and anything where you need direct access to one or two fingers. Thanks to its versatility, the Glacier Glove Pro is popular among outdoor enthusiasts. As a first choice, we selected this glove because it provides exceptional protection while yet providing some flexibility.
2. Stormr Typhoon Fleece Gloves
If you’re looking for waterproof gloves, then the Stormr Typhoon Fleece Gloves are the way to go, thanks to their 3MM microfleece-lined neoprene construction and glued, blind-stitched seams.
Apart from their watertight design, these ice gloves are built to withstand hard workloads. In black-colored varieties, the index finger and thumb have Kevlar reinforcements added, which increase their impact resistance.
You’ll totally appreciate those extra-tough fingertips when wrangling plaited lines or when fishing with a bait caster in cold weather.
The Stormr Typhoon Fleece Gloves also feature an abrasion-resistant palm with a fish-scale texture and a sticky, thermal-bonded covering for optimal grip. If you’re in the market for the best waterproof fishing gloves that you can use in icy conditions, you won’t go wrong with the Stormr Typhoon Fleece Gloves.
3. Rapala Marine Fisherman Ice Fishing Gloves
The non-slip fisherman’s gloves by Rapala are perfect for catching slippery fish. The gloves not only keep your hands warm and comfortable but also come with a durable latex coating that protects you from injuries caused by fish teeth, gill plates, and dorsal fins. The gloves are also great for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. It’s also washable and will last for many years without showing signs of wear.
This pair of gloves is protected by a long-lasting latex covering. The latex layer provides the gripping power you need to keep the slippery fish in the water in chilly temperatures and cold weather. Although the glove’s waterproofing might not impress you, it does perform well in most situations. Not only does the latex layer provide the grip you desire, but it also keeps your hand warm. It’s not difficult to manage cold ice and water when adorned with these gloves.
Furthermore, these gloves are machine washable. The gloves are impervious to water and therefore not likely to be damaged by moisture. These are non-slip gloves designed for handling both fish and a wide range of equipment.
They have tough and long-lasting construction and provide the dexterity you need when fishing in cold environments. The fact that these fishing gloves are also reasonably priced contributes to their popularity. They offer a perfect combination of comfort, excellent control, durability, and user-friendliness at a good price.
4. KastKing Mountain Mist Fishing Gloves
These cold-weather fishing gloves from KastKing are an excellent choice when the temperatures aren’t super-cold.
While also providing amazing functionality for handling lures, bait, and all else you’ll need while out there on the ice, these beauties are insulated to fight off the chilly weather. The fleece-lined rear side of the Mountain Mist Gloves has a durable palm, which is offset by a flexible polymer sharkskin design for extra grip on the ice.
To guarantee an ideal fit, the neoprene cuff is adjustable. Whenever you require maximum tactility, open your fingertips and place them on the handy hook-and-loop catch. As you’re well aware, changing hooks and lures is often a challenging task in cold-weather fishing, but surprisingly, the Mountain Mist Gloves lived up to the manufacturer’s promise.
You can absolutely use your phone while waiting for a catch because the gloves are smartphone-friendly. If you’re looking for the best ice fishing gloves for mild winters, you won’t go wrong with the Mountain Mist Gloves.
5. WindRider Rugged Waterproof Winter Gloves
These are some of the best fishing gloves for comfort and flexibility. If you’re looking for the best quality and most comfortable winter gloves for fishing, and are willing to pay a little more, you should definitely give WindRider Rugged Waterproof Winter Gloves a try. These gloves contain a plethora of features that will surprise you.
To begin, they have a superior build quality thanks to the use of Cordura nylon shells rather than standard nylon shells that are prone to tearing. A hipora liner has been added to these gloves to make them waterproof. As a result, your glove will last as long as possible in choppy and saline water.
Another feature that you’ll appreciate about this glove is its winter protection. Working in a chilly, frigid climate while wearing these gloves will be a dream come true. These gloves are also completely waterproof. Even if you dip your hands in water, the inside of the glove will remain completely dry.
You’ll also like the touch screen fingertips of these gloves. While wearing these gloves, you can use your touchscreen device with ease. This comes in handy when you need to use portable GPS fish finders, ice fishing flashers or SMS crucial information while fishing.
These WindRider Winter Gloves feature elastic material at the wrist, and there’s even a manual adjustment in the palm that allows for better comfort while preventing snow and cold from reaching your hands. This set of gloves will significantly improve your performance while snowboarding or skating too. We also liked the fact that these gloves do a superb job of insulating against heat. They have excellent heat insulation.
Additionally, you’ll receive modest storage to keep small and critical items within easy reach. Despite its diminutive size, the glove can comfortably hold a full-size credit card. The pocket is secured by a zipper. This is a top choice for those looking for the best ice fishing mittens.
6. Palmyth Flexible Fishing Gloves
These may be the gloves for you if you’re OK with getting your hands wet or if you do your ice fishing in a somewhat warmer region (36° or warmer).
To facilitate your fingers’ dexterity, the index, middle finger, and thumb tops in these gloves are designed to fold back easily. These fishing gloves are also cheaper than most of the other options in the glove market today. When compared to other options, the Palmyth gloves provide top-notch protection at a low price.
What does that mean to you? Well, for a start, you have nothing to worry about when going out during the cold seasons because this glove is 100 percent waterproof and windproof. A four-layer composite softshell offers warm, wind-and snow-resistant protection when ice fishing, skiing, and even when shoveling snow at home.
In addition, the Palmyth gloves feature a handy wiper with which you can use to wipe off water or ice quite conveniently with your thumb. The glove has finger caps to free your fingers when you want to tie your line without getting your hands cold.
Palmyth gloves are suitable for use with touchscreens too. You won’t have a problem receiving a phone call or taking a few pictures when wearing these cold-weather fishing gloves.
7. Berkley Coated Fishing Gloves
This is the glove for all types of fishing including winter fishing. If you’re looking for a pair of flexible, sturdy, and protective fishing gloves, the Berkley Fishing Gloves are another good option to consider. The gloves are sturdy, flexible, and extremely durable.
A unique feature of these gloves is the textured gripping surfaces, which is a great feature for anglers who fish in cold temperatures. The gloves are designed for all kinds of fishing.
If you like to fish in saltwater or with baitcasting gear, you will definitely love the Berkeley gloves. They provide excellent handling of your catch. The stretchy textured coating not only helps you to remove the fish off the hook easily but also speeds up the process of storing the fish.
Fish frequently have slimy issues that can leave your hand and gloves smelling awful, but this pair of gloves can eliminate those odors. Additionally, the gloves are suitable for machine or hand washing. They are completely easy to clean.
The gloves are also ideal for handling pointed fish parts such as the fins without injury. Due to the rubber coating and grip of the fishing gloves, which can shield you from fish spikes, thanks to that extra thick rubber, you’re much less likely to be injured while fishing with Berkley gloves. The gloves also come at a good price point.
8. Memphis Glove Ninja Ice FC Nylon Back Double Layer Gloves
If you don’t want to sacrifice quality or functionality when purchasing a budget ice fishing glove, the Memphis Ninja glove delivers the most dexterity in most places.
It has a low-price tag that’s ideal for people on a budget. The Ninja glove features a one-of-a-kind design. The gloves keep your hands warm and provide protection from harmful substances and extreme cold while fishing.
You’ll also like the fact that your hands will never become moist because of the HPT covering (Hydroplane Technology) on these gloves. These are two-part gloves with an HPT (heat-transport) coating. Not forgetting that the gloves protect you from fish injuries, which is an added plus. With these gloves on, you’ll be able to handle any type of spiky or nasty fish without fear.
Furthermore, the glove’s cold-protection aspect is pretty effective, especially considering the price of the gloves. By employing an outer layer that shields the hands from water and risks like bacteria and sweat, this pair of gloves protects you from odor caused by moisture and bacterial contamination. In addition, the inside layer, which is filled with an acrylic terry lining, will keep hands warm even in very cold temperatures.
Memphis Gloves aren’t only useful for ice fishing, but they may also be used in cold storage facilities to manage frozen food or supplies, on building sites where workers must deal with prickly materials, and when dealing with hazardous materials. These are heavy-duty professional mittens for all types of hand jobs, including ice fishing.
How to Choose the Best Ice Fishing Gloves
When it comes to selecting the best ice fishing gloves, you must first decide on the qualities that are most important to you and then narrow down your search.
Given that your hands aren’t only your most significant fishing instruments but also the most susceptible to cold, it’s critical to exercise the same caution when selecting ice fishing gloves like you do while selecting an ice fishing rod and reel.
The most critical characteristics of an efficient ice fishing mitten are warmth, dexterity, and fit. These are the criteria to consider when choosing a pair of gloves that will perform admirably when out fishing in sub-zero temperatures.
Material
The material used to make an ice fishing glove, same as is the case with ice fishing suits, has an effect on its other characteristics, including dexterity, comfort, performance, and durability.
Neoprene is impervious to water and provides good insulation in extremely cold temperatures, but its thickness and lack of ventilation can impair dexterity and comfort. Gloves made of fabric are soft and comfortable, but they aren’t totally waterproof.
A hybrid structure, which incorporates breathable fabrics such as GoreTex, Thinsulate, and fleece on the inside and watertight materials such as neoprene on the outside, provide the best of both worlds.
Warmth
Hands are particularly sensitive to temperature changes. They are susceptible to cold and frostbites while ice fishing. Conserving heat and keeping your hands warm and functional is a requirement for any pair of fishing gloves worth their salt.
The degree of warmth provided by a pair of mittens is determined by their construction and the quantity of insulation they contain. neoprene, nylon, thinsulate, and fleece are the best insulating materials.
Thickness and the number of layers have a direct effect on how much warmth a pair of gloves delivers. Choose at least 40 grams of thinsulate insulation. This value should be as high as possible, especially while fishing in extremely cold weather.
While ice fishing, you’ll come into contact with frigid water in all of its forms – liquid, air, and solid. It’s critical that your fishing gloves are waterproof, as your hands will become cold and eventually freeze if they come into touch with cold water.
Dexterity
As a fisherman, you perform all of your tasks with your hands. You want gloves that keep your hands nice and warm but still allow you to move your fingers and do chores such as casting and tying hooks and bait. Certain heavy-duty winter gloves keep your hands extremely warm but are far too thick to be effective.
To achieve dexterity, you may have to compromise some insulation in order to achieve the desired amount of thickness. Finger cutouts are quite practical since they allow you to remove the fingers required to knot hooks and lures without totally removing your gloves.
A supple fabric is preferable, as is one with some stretch. The palm surface is textured to provide a secure, non-slip grip.
Dimensions and Fit
Next, pay close attention to the sizing of gloves to ensure that they fit properly, which is critical for comfort and functionality.
To determine the correct size to order for the ideal fit, use a cotton measuring tape to measure your dominant hand and measure the circumference of your palm from the base of your pinky to the crook between your index finger and thumb, then back again.
Compare your dimensions to the size chart included with each pair of gloves, as sizes vary by brand. Additionally, it’s critical to read user reviews on gloves to obtain a sense of the fit, as gloves might run slightly large or small for the stated size and make sure you can fit them inside fishing backpacks as well.
Comfort
Getting the best ice fishing mittens is useless if they are uncomfortable to wear.
If you’re going to fish while wearing gloves, the fit should be precise and allow for free movement of your hands. The gloves should ideally keep your hands warm without overheating and sweating them.
Gloves constructed from fabric such as GoreTex, Thinsulate, or fleece are the most comfortable because they are soft and breathable.
If you require neoprene fishing gloves for their watertight and insulating properties, choose a thinner fabric, such as 3mm, for added comfort.
Conclusion
Ice fishing is one of the most exciting activities for both beginner and experienced anglers.
However, it’s important to ensure that your hands and fingers are sufficiently protected from extreme cold and numbness if you want to enjoy your ice fishing experience.
Hands are typically sensitive to cold which is why you need a good pair of winter fishing gloves to stay warm. The ice fishing gloves discussed above provide excellent insulation from cold and moisture without sacrificing a lot of the much-needed dexterity when fishing.
They are all great products but we highly recommend the Glacier Glove Pro Angler Gloves as our top pick. The Angler Glove comes with all the technology and features to keep your hands warm without compromising on dexterity.”‹”‹
I’m looking for some good ice fishing gloves. What are some of the best ones you’ve found?