Armed with a speargun and ready to surge the seas in pursuit of your next prey but still can’t find the right pair of gloves to protect your hands? Look no further. In this article, we’ll help shine some light on the best diving gloves designed for spearfishing and point out the various factors that will play out in your choice of an ideal pair. So without further ado, let’s dive right into it.
Headhunter BAMF Lobster Gloves
Spearfishing the reef while having this pair of gloves on will have you walking out without a single scratch and with a bag full of piscine nutrition. These gloves are made out of kevlar that’s resistant to cuts and is highly durable. The palm grip is designed to firmly lock onto a pole spear, even when it’s wet.
The topside of the Headhunter glove is coated in an armor made of rubber to offer more protection to the knuckles and to the back of your hand from fish gills and pointy rocks. You’ll find that this layer of armor isn’t present around the trigger finger, that’s to keep it sensitive in case you’re hunting with a speargun.
Unfortunately, these gloves aren’t for cold water and are suited only for tropical waters as they offer no insulation. One thing you need to pay attention to if you decide to buy these gloves is that they fit on the smaller side, so the manufacturer advises that you order one size up for an optimal fit.
Pros
- Made out of Kevlar for maximum protection
- Palm grip locks firmly onto a pole spear
- Topsides are coated with a rubber armor
- Sensitive trigger finger
Cons
- Not suited for cold water conditions
- They run on the smaller side
Cressi High Stretch Neoprene Gloves
This pair of diving gloves from Cressi is made from a single-lined soft layer of high-stretch neoprene for ideal insulation, comfort, and warmth. The non-slip finish covering the entire surface of these gloves will grant you a firm grip on your weapon of choice, be it a speargun or pole spear.
The High Stretch pair is equally competent in warm and cold water conditions because they’re available in 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 5mm thicknesses. Also, the use of anatomical hand shape and the semi-bent fingers guarantees a natural fit and a great deal of flexibility without any movement constrictions.
The only downside of these gloves is that the wrists are a little bit loose, which results in an unsecured fit. Also, considering that the Metallite lining is there to help the gloves slide on and off with ease, the loose wrists are going to be even more problematic. And even though the grip is great, it wears off with use.
Pros
- Non-slip finish for a firm and steady grip
- Three thicknesses for varying temperatures
- Metallite lining for an easy sliding
- Anatomical hand shape and pre-bent fingers
Cons
- Palm grip wears off as time goes by
- Loose wrists that lead to an unsecured fit
OMGear Neoprene Diving Gloves
The OMGear neoprene water gloves are made out of soft neoprene that’s laminated with stretchy nylon for maximum durability and elasticity. These gloves come with an adjustable Velcro strap that eliminates any chance of a loose wrist and prevents sand from finding its way inside the gloves.
Another cool feature is the high-grip textured rubber printing anti-slip palm that grants you a solid clutch while spearfishing or during other aquatic activities. The seams are also glued and sewn to minimize the amount of cold water coming in so that your hands are kept warm and cozy.
There isn’t really anything negative to say about this pair of gloves. However, a few users have reported that water can seep through the seams, which isn’t a defect since the manufacturer have already stated that the seams are glued and sewn only to minimize and not completely insulate.
Pros
- Soft neoprene laminated with nylon
- Adjustable Velcro strap for an ideal fit
- Anti-slip palm rubber printing palm
- Seams are glued and sewn
Cons
- Fingers can get a little numb in cold water
- Anti-slip palms can be enhanced
NeoSport Premium Neoprene Gloves
These gloves from NeoSport, which happens to be a company staffed by surfers and watermen, offer a flexible and durable, neoprene construction that will give you a secure grip on your hunting gear. These gloves also feature a padded high-grip that releases heat and prevents your hands from slipping.
The gator elastic hook and wrist fasteners are used to guarantee a reliable fit. The seams are glued and sewn to provide warmth to your hands in cold water conditions. However, you should keep in mind that this pair of gloves is designed to keep your hands warm, not dry. Available thicknesses are 3mm and 5mm.
While there haven’t been any obvious drawbacks, a few users have reported that the seams around the palm came apart rather quickly within days of use. Also, these gloves seem to run a little small as well so you might want to consider buying one size up.
Pros
- Two thicknesses for varying temperatures
- Wrist fasteners and gator elastic hook
- Padded high-grip to prevent slipping
Cons
- Questionable stitching around the palm
- They run a little small in terms of size
Hammerhead Tuff Grab Dyneema Gloves
The Tuff Grab spearfishing gloves are made out of Dyneema fiber, which is known for its remarkably high tensile strength relative to its lightweight. Dyneema fibers are claimed to have fifteen times the strength of steel. With a palm grip made from latex, you’re ensured a solid clutch and a protective layer that adds to the overall durability.
These spearfishing gloves are designed to be ANSI level 5 cut resistant and level 3 puncture resistant without any compromising on comfort and dexterity. Further, the seamless knitting allows for an evenly balanced surface and it eliminates any expectations of seams coming apart. Wearing these gloves will make diving around wrecks or pointy rocks an easy task.
A few users have reported that the palm grip wears off after a few dives, especially when used to hold a pole spear. Moreover, the rubber coating seems to be lacking in terms of longevity as it doesn’t hold its own very well. And finally, even after a good bleach, the fishy smell doesn’t seem to disappear.
Pros
- Dyneema fiber offers a high tensile strength
- Latex palm grip provides a firm clutch
- ANSI level 5 cut resistant
- ANSI level 3 puncture resistant
- Seamless knitting for a better blend
Cons
- Palm grip wears off with excessive use
- Rubber coating doesn’t last too long
The Buying Guide
Now that you have a good idea about some of the best spearfishing gloves, you’re probably wondering which one you should buy. You should first start by analyzing a few factors. By doing so, you’ll eliminate all impractical options and that will leave you with a clear winner. Here are those factors.
Material
The majority of diving gloves are made of neoprene, which is a flexible and durable rubbery material that can provide warmth and insulation to your hands as it’s completely waterproof. Also, out of all the other materials used to make diving gloves, neoprene is the only material that allows you to bend your hand without any restrictions.
Other materials used to make diving gloves include Kevlar and Dyneema fibers. While Kevlar offers high tensile strength levels that’s five times stronger than steel, Dyneema fibers have a vastly superior tensile strength that is 10 to 15 times sturdier than steel. A blend with other fibers is usually required to ensure a safer grip and a better fit since both materials can be very slippery.
Thickness
The thickness of your spearfishing gloves primarily depends on the temperature that you’re planning on diving into. If your regular dive takes place in warm tropical water and you’re just looking to wear gloves for protection, a 1mm to 3mm thickness is what you need. However, if you spearfish in colder conditions, you’ll need thicker gloves around 5mm, which offer great thermal and physical protection.
Design
The most popular spearfishing gloves design is the traditional five-finger glove, which mimics the shape of your hand to allow for the most dexterity through your hand movements. You can also find the mitten design, which is preferred for cold water condition. The mitten design allows your fingers to be together without any material separations, that allows for better retention of heat.
For both designs, the wrist can come as one of two designs as well, a split-wrist or a solid-wrist design. Split-wrist gloves are the easiest to put on and off and will usually have a Velcro or a zipper strap. On the other hand, the solid-wrist design is found to be harder to put on and off but is better at keeping the water out. Most divers prefer to pull their wetsuits over their glove to ensure a snug fit.
Sizing
As with any clothing piece, you should pick the size that presents the best fit. It’s often a common theme with diving gloves to run on the small side, which is confusing because you don’t really know which size is the right size. In that case, you should purchase a one size up pair. Gloves that are too small can feel constrictive and extremely irritating, while gloves on the bigger side can slip off easily and can let water inside.
To find out what your glove size is, measure across the palm of the dominant hand with a tape measure.
Some manufacturers use numbers to indicate sizes and others use letters. The following table will help you translate between the number and letter sizes.
XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL | XXXL |
6.5″ | 7″ | 7.5″ | 8.5″ | 9″ | 9.5″ | 10″ | 11″ |
Frequently Asked Questions
How to maintain your spearfishing gloves?
Spearfishing is a very demanding sport and it’s only a matter of time until you’ll need to replace your old gloves with new ones. However, there are a few tips that will help increase the longevity of your gloves if followed after every dive.
It’s advised that you soak your gloves in fresh water right after every dive. Also, you should regularly use a wetsuit shampoo on the gloves to get rid of dirt and bacteria. Leave your gloves to dry in fresh air but keep them away from direct sunlight, or use a drying shelf if you want to dry them indoors.
How should the gloves fit?
Your spearfishing gloves should be leaning more on the snug side than the comfortable side because of the tendency of materials to stretch when exposed to water for too long. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t seek comfort as well, just don’t purchase a pair of gloves that will numb your hands or block your blood circulation.
Do you need a wrist strap?
Wrist straps are often utilized for diving gloves that are made for warm temperatures as they’re quite thin and might need additional pieces to be held on to your wrist without slipping. Thicker gloves don’t require wrist straps. Wrist straps are usually Velcro.
Why should I wear spearfishing gloves?
There are plenty of reasons why you should put on some gloves during spearfishing. The first reason to wear gloves is that keep your hands warm, and as a result, you reduce the risk of your body losing heat. One drop in your body’s temperature can have you prone to hypothermia so you must keep your entire body covered on your next diving excursion.
Another way in which diving gloves protect you is by blocking out contact between your hands and any pointy or sharp objects swimming in the water. Also, a high-quality pair of gloves allows you to grab the fish you hunt without cuts and abrasions regardless of their body structure.
Finally, wearing spearfishing gloves will minimize or completely insulate your hands from water. That will keep them dry and will prevent them from ending up like dried apricots after every dive. This is especially helpful in salt water.
Conclusion
To help you select the right product for you of the ones we’ve reviewed, let’s categorize each one of these pairs with the conditions they’re best suited for.
If you’re seeking the ultimate protection barrier that will keep your hands completely out of harm’s way, your best bets are the Headhunter BAMF Lobster Gloves and the Hammerhead Tuff Grab Gloves.
If warmth and comfort are what you seek in a pair of gloves, you’ll find that the Cressi High Stretch Neoprene pair is the best diving gloves out of the five products in terms of insulation and warmth in colder temperatures.
Overall, if we had to pick a clear winner, we’d have to go for the Cressi High Stretch Pair because of their flexibility and their variance in thickness which makes them ideal for almost any situation.
We hope you were able to select the right gloves for your next spearfishing trip based on the information and the products we’ve reviewed. Remember, you never know what’s lurking underneath the water so you must have all safety measures taken into your considerations to ensure your well being.