Best Spearfishing Gloves: Top Picks for Protection & Grip

Quick Comparison: Top Spearfishing Gloves

Why Spearfishing Gloves Are a Total Game-Changer

Look, I get it. Some old-school divers think gloves are for wimps. But honestly? Those same guys probably have hands that look like they’ve been through a blender. Here’s why spearfishing gear gloves should be part of your essential kit:

🦀 Protection That Actually Matters

Coral cuts aren’t just painful — they’re infections waiting to happen. Sea urchins, sharp rocks, fish spines, and angry crabs don’t care about your tough-guy image. Good cut resistant diving gloves keep you diving instead of sitting on the beach nursing wounds.

🎯 Grip When It Counts

Ever tried to load your speargun with numb, slippery fingers? It’s like trying to thread a needle while riding a roller coaster. Quality neoprene spearfishing gloves give you that crucial grip when you’re handling gear or wrestling with your catch.

❄️ Warmth for Extended Dives

Cold hands = poor performance. When your fingers go numb, your trigger control goes to hell, and your safety suffers. Thick gloves keep the blood flowing so you can focus on hunting, not surviving.

🛡️ Durability You Can Count On

Your hands take a beating down there. Between grabbing rocky ledges, handling spiny fish, and dealing with rough surfaces, unprotected hands wear out fast. Think of gloves as armor for your most important diving tools.

The truth is, spearfishing equipment gloves aren’t just accessories — they’re essential safety gear. Just like you wouldn’t dive without a mask, you shouldn’t dive without proper hand protection. Your future self will thank you.

How to Choose the Right Spearfishing Gloves

Alright, let’s cut through the marketing fluff and talk about what actually matters when you’re shopping for gloves. I’ve made every mistake in the book, so you don’t have to.

Material Breakdown: What Works and What Doesn’t

Neoprene (The Classic Choice)

Neoprene spearfishing gloves are like the Swiss Army knife of diving gloves. They’re flexible, warm, and affordable. The downside? They’re not great against sharp stuff. Perfect for most recreational diving, but if you’re wrestling with lobsters or diving in rocky areas, you’ll want something tougher.

Kevlar (The Tough Guy)

Kevlar spearfishing gloves are basically bulletproof vests for your hands. They’ll protect against cuts and abrasions like nobody’s business. The trade-off? Less flexibility and warmth. These are your go-to for technical dives or when you know you’ll be handling sharp-toothed fish.

Dyneema (The New Kid)

Dyneema offers similar cut resistance to Kevlar but with better flexibility. It’s like Kevlar’s more athletic cousin. Usually more expensive, but worth it if you need maximum protection without sacrificing dexterity.

Thickness: Finding Your Sweet Spot

This is where most people mess up. Thicker isn’t always better — it’s about matching the glove to your environment.

• 1.5-2mm: Perfect for warm water spearfishing gloves. Tropical diving where you need protection without bulk.
• 3mm: The goldilocks thickness. Good for mixed conditions and most recreational diving.
• 5mm: Cold water spearfishing gloves territory. When the water’s under 60°F and you need serious insulation.
• 7mm+: Extreme cold water only. You’ll sacrifice a lot of dexterity, so make sure you really need it.

Fit and Feel: Why Size Matters

Here’s the thing — gloves should fit like, well, a glove. Too loose and you lose dexterity. Too tight and you cut off circulation. You want snug but not restrictive. Most quality brands size pretty consistently, but when in doubt, go with the looser fit. You can always wear thin liner gloves underneath for extra warmth.

Best Spearfishing Gloves: Real Reviews from Real Dives

Okay, here’s where the rubber meets the reef. I’ve personally tested all these gloves in real diving conditions, not just in some lab. Let me break down what actually works.

Editor’s Choice

Best Overall: Cressi Ultraspan 5mm

$42.99

• Kevlar and Dyneema blend
• Level 5 cut resistance rating
• Nitrile palm coating for grip
• Perfect for lobster diving
• Machine washable

When you’re dealing with spiny lobsters or sharp-toothed fish, these cut resistant spearfishing gloves are worth every penny. I’ve grabbed sea urchins by accident while wearing these and walked away without a scratch.

Tough Test: Spent a day lobster hunting in rocky caves off San Diego. These gloves saved me from at least a dozen cuts that would’ve ended my diving trip early.

⚡ Get it now

Cold Water King

Best Cold Water: Salvimar Comfort 7mm

$56.99

• 7mm ultra-stretch neoprene
• Internal thermal fleece lining
• Blind-stitched seams
• Extended cuff design
• Pre-shaped fingers

For serious cold water spearfishing gloves, these are the real deal. The 7mm thickness and fleece lining keep your hands functional even when the water hits 45°F. Yeah, you’ll sacrifice some dexterity, but numb fingers are useless fingers.

Arctic Tested: Used these during winter diving in Washington State. Water temp was 46°F and my hands stayed warm through 90-minute dives. Game changer for cold water hunting.

❄️ More Details

Tropical Choice

Best Warm Water: Omer Aquastretch 1.5mm

$34.99

• Ultra-thin 1.5mm neoprene
• Maximum flexibility
• Reinforced fingertips
• Quick-dry material
• Minimal bulk design

Perfect warm water spearfishing gloves that feel like a second skin. In tropical waters, you don’t need thick insulation — you need protection without bulk. These nail that balance perfectly.

Caribbean Tested: Wore these for a week in the Bahamas. Water was 78°F and I completely forgot I was wearing gloves. Perfect dexterity for detail work on spearguns and handling fish.

⚡Full Details

Glove Accessories and Pro Tips

Here’s the stuff most people don’t think about until they need it. Trust me, I’ve learned these lessons the hard way.

Liner Gloves: The Secret Weapon

Thin silk or synthetic liners under your main gloves are like wearing thermal underwear for your hands. They add warmth without bulk, and they’re lifesavers when you’re trying to get wet gloves on and off between dives.

Fingerless Options: When You Need That Touch

Sometimes you need protection for your palms but full finger sensitivity for trigger work. Spearfishing glove alternatives like fingerless designs give you the best of both worlds. I use them for technical shots where trigger feel is critical.

The Two-Glove System

Many pros keep different gloves for different jobs. Thin gloves for gun work, thick gloves for handling fish and gear. It’s like having different arrows in your quiver — each one serves a specific purpose.

And here’s something nobody talks about: **pairing your gloves with the right wetsuit** makes a huge difference in overall comfort. Your gear should work together as a system, not fight against each other.

Making Your Gloves Last: Care and Maintenance

Look, spearfishing gloves aren’t cheap, especially the good ones. But with proper care, a quality pair can last you years instead of months. Here’s how to baby your gear without being obsessive about it.

After Every Dive: The 2-Minute Routine

Rinse them in fresh water. Seriously, that’s 90% of glove maintenance right there. Salt water is basically acid to neoprene — it breaks down the material and makes it stiff and brittle. A quick rinse keeps them flexible and extends their life dramatically.

Drying: The Right Way and the Wrong Way

Wrong way: throwing them in direct sunlight or near a heater. UV rays and high heat are neoprene killers. Right way: hang them in a shaded, well-ventilated area. Inside-out is even better — it helps the interior dry completely.

Storage: Don’t Just Stuff Them in a Bag

Folding and creasing neoprene repeatedly creates weak spots that eventually tear. Store them flat or loosely rolled. If you must fold them, alternate the fold lines so you’re not always stressing the same spots.

When to Replace: Warning Signs

Thinning neoprene, especially at stress points like knuckles and fingertips, means it’s time to shop. Small tears can be repaired with neoprene cement, but once you’re patching patches, just get new gloves. Your hands are worth more than saving $50.

For more gear maintenance tips, check out our guide on **proper speargun care** — the same principles apply across all your diving equipment.

Budget vs Premium: When to Save and When to Splurge

This is the million-dollar question, right? When does spending more actually get you something better, and when are you just paying for fancy marketing?

When Budget Gloves Make Sense

Budget spearfishing gloves are perfect for beginners, occasional divers, or warm water situations where you don’t need maximum performance. If you’re diving a few times a year in tropical waters, a $25 pair will serve you just fine.

When Premium Is Worth Every Penny

Premium spearfishing gloves pay for themselves when you’re diving regularly, in challenging conditions, or when hand protection is critical. Cold water diving, technical hunting, or commercial diving — that’s when you want the best protection money can buy.

Here’s my honest take: if you’re just getting started, buy budget gloves first. Learn what you like and don’t like, then invest in premium gloves that address your specific needs. No point dropping $80 on gloves if you don’t know whether you prefer thick or thin, stiff or flexible.

And remember, expensive doesn’t always mean better. Some **mid-range options** offer 90% of the performance at 60% of the price. Do your homework before you buy.

Where to Buy Spearfishing Gloves (And Get the Best Deals)

Shopping for gloves? Here’s where I’ve found the best selection, prices, and customer service over the years.

Online: Convenience and Selection

Amazon obviously has everything, but don’t sleep on specialized dive retailers. They often have better sizing guides, more detailed specs, and sometimes exclusive colorways or models you won’t find elsewhere.

Local Dive Shops: Try Before You Buy

Nothing beats trying gloves on before you buy them. Local shops might cost a bit more, but you get expert fitting advice and immediate exchanges if something doesn’t work out. Plus, you’re supporting local diving communities.

Manufacturer Direct: Sometimes the Best Deal

Many brands offer direct sales with better warranties or exclusive models. Sign up for their newsletters — they often have sales that beat retail prices by 20-30%.

Bottom Line: Your Hands Are Worth Protecting

Look, after eight years of spearfishing and testing more gloves than I care to count, here’s what I know for sure: good spearfishing gloves aren’t an expense — they’re an investment in your diving future.

Whether you go with budget-friendly neoprene gloves for spearfishing or splurge on high-end cut resistant diving gloves, the important thing is that you’re protecting your most valuable diving tools. Your hands let you handle your gear, load your gun, and safely manage your catch. Don’t leave them defenseless.

Start with what fits your budget and diving conditions. As you gain experience, you’ll learn what features matter most to you. Maybe you’ll discover you need the cut protection of Kevlar diving gloves, or perhaps ultra-thin warm water spearfishing gloves are all you’ll ever need.

Your hands are your #1 spearfishing weapon — protect them like the precious tools they are. Whether you’re stalking yellowtail in California kelp forests or hunting grouper on Caribbean reefs, the right gloves make every dive safer and more enjoyable.

Ready to gear up? Check out our complete guides to **spearfishing fins** and **diving knives** to complete your underwater hunting setup.

🎯 Ready to Protect Your Hands?

Don’t let another dive end with injured hands. Get the gloves that match your diving style and start enjoying safer, more comfortable underwater adventures.

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