Join me in this best gloves for winter fly fishing article as we take a look at some of the best winter fly fishing gloves on the market so you never have to have cold hands again.
When I’m fly fishing for trout or steelhead in winter, I have to keep my hands warm or I simply don’t enjoy it. I can’t be the only angler out there who feels this way and the only thing you can do is own the best gloves for winter fly fishing you can find.
Image | Product | Details | |
---|---|---|---|
Best Of The BestSimms G4 Gloves |
| Check Today's Price | |
Best For Early/Late WinterOrvis Softshell Convertible Mittens |
| Check Today's Price | |
Best All-rounderOrvis Pro Insulated Convertible Mittens |
| Check Today's Price |
Contents
ToggleDetailed Gloves For Winter Fly Fishing Reviews
Simms G4 Gloves
Best Of The Best
Key Features:
- Full-fingered and waterproof to keep your hands warm
- Great grip and dexterity for fishing tasks like tieing knots even when wet
- Quality long-lasting build from Gore-Tex Xtrafit fabric
- Insulated with wool that keeps your hands toasty
- Neoprene cuff prevents water migration up sleeves
Tech Specs
- Style: Full fingered
- Weight: 4.8 oz
- Material: Gore-Tex XTRAFIT
- Sizes: S-XL
Review
The Simms G4 Gloves offer some of the best warmth and protection around for cold weather and winter fly fishing. Even if you’re chasing steelhead in the dead of winter, this pair of gloves will keep your hands dry and warm.
Simms made this pair of fly fishing gloves out of Gore-Tex material which provides a waterproof membrane while being breathable. This means even if your gloves get wet, your hands won’t, keeping them protected so they don’t get cold. The gloves are made with wool insulation too that gives you the extra warmth you need while fishing in cold weather.
The fingers and palm of each Simms fishing glove are covered with leather for dexterity. You’ll be able to use your fingers and thumb as normal and be able to tie flies on and change leaders with ease.
Another great feature of these Simms fly fishing gloves is their neoprene cuff. You can tighten the cuff around your wrist and it will block any water from traveling up the glove to your sleeve so you stay warm.
Overall, this pair of Simms gloves are the best around especially if you fish when snow is falling in winter during the cold steelhead run.
Orvis Softshell Convertible Mittens
Best For Early/Late Winter
Key Features:
- Fingerless gloves for grip and tying knots
- DWR (durable water-repellent coating) stops water from hitting your skin
- Fold-over mittens for warm hands when you want them
- Lightweight and durable build that is waterproof and breathable
- Inner fleece fabric for warmth when spending time on the water
Tech Specs
- Style: Fingerless/Mittens
- Weight: 1lb
- Material: Polyester/fleece
- Sizes: S-XL
Review
The Orvis Softshell Convertible Mittens are great fishing gloves for cold weather but then are a little thin for freezing winter fishing, making them the ideal glove to bridge the gap between fall trout fishing and icy snow steelheading.
Each fishing glove is fingerless for dexterity and comes with a mitten/thumb cap that you could fold over for warmth when you need it. You can also slip a heat pack into the mitten for extra warmth when it’s particularly cold on the water.
This pair of fly fishing gloves are made from a polyester outer shell with a DWR coating for waterproofing. This stops the water from making your fingers cold when a glove gets wet and it’s lined with fleece on the inside to ensure your hands keep warm while you’re fly fishing.
Overall these a great fly fishing gloves for winter fly fishing before it gets too cold. They give you the dexterity needed for line control and rigging while having the option for full coverage when the cold wind and waters bite.
Orvis Pro Insulated Convertible Mittens
Best All-rounder
Key Features:
- Fingerless for more finger feel and dexterity
- Fold-over insulated mittens for warmth in cold weather
- A combination of Primaloft and fleece keeps hands warm when cold weather fishing
- Durable and long-lasting build
- Enough feel to hold your fly rod and strip your fly line when in mitten mode
Tech Specs
- Style: Mittens/Fingerless gloves
- Weight: 4.8 oz
- Material: Nylon, Fleece, Recycled polyester /spandex. PrimaLoft Gold 80gr insulation
- Sizes: S-XL
Review
The Orvis Pro Insulated Convertible Mittens are pretty much the same as the fly fishing gloves above but these fishing gloves are loaded with quality insulation to ensure anglers who venture out to go fly fishing on even the coldest days have warm hands.
You might think these gloves are insulated with wool but it’s actually Primaloft and 80 grams of it too, which is used in ice-fishing suits. You can choose to have your fingers open so you can use each finger for line control or fly fishing tasks like changing flies and when it gets too cold, fold over the mitts for some serious warmth.
This pair of gloves also features a padded, rubber-ish, grippy fabric on the palm so you can handle your rod with ease and feel it well while casting. The fishing gloves are not waterproof though, unlike the other gloves, but the polyurethane coating does a good job of block water from entering the gloves while you’re fishing.
What are winter fly fishing gloves?
Winter fly fishing gloves are like normal gloves but are designed to ensure your hands stay warm and that you can still use them, even when spending extended periods of time in the cold fly fishing.
Each glove will come with features that ensure you can still do fly fishing tasks like control your line while you fish or tie on a fly while creating a barrier that stops freezing waters and air from turning each finger blue.
Why do you need gloves to fish in the winter?
Fly fishing in the winter often means the ground is covered in snow, the waters and freezing, and it’s so frosty that even your guides freeze up while fishing. Having even one finger exposed during weather like this can lead to frostbite and it will certainly lead to discomfort.
For anglers to enjoy winter fly fishing, or even winter streamer fly fishing, a great pair of gloves is a must.
Things to consider when looking for the best winter fly fishing gloves
Type
Anglers have two types of glove to choose from both of which are feature above. You can go for full-fingered gloves or fingerless gloves with a mitten cover.
A full-fingered glove offers the best warmth and protects you the most. There are no gaps for any coldness to break through the glove and into your hands, and nothing is exposed. You do lose a bit of dexterity though and will need to remove the glove fully if you need to use your bare fingers for a task.
A fingerless glove with a mitten cover is a great middle ground. You can expose your finger and thumb so you can do tasks quickly and easily and then cover them up for warmth. The issue with a fingerless glove is that they allow chilly water and air to seep through when the mittens are open.
Are they insulated?
If you’re fishing in freezing temperatures, you’re going to want an insulated glove and should look for gloves made with materials such as wool, Primaloft, and fleece on the inside. This will ensure that your hands retain as much heat as possible ensuring they stay toasty while you’re fishing.
How’s the grip?
If you opt for a full-fingered glove, you need to make sure you can still do things like tie a fly or a tippet on without taking them off. This comes down to what materials are on the palms and fingers and the ones to look out for a leather or suede. These kinds of materials offer excellent dexterity for intricate tasks and they actually get grippier when wet, making life easier on the water.
Are they water-resistant?
No matter how careful you are when fly fishing, your gloves are going to get wet. Just stripping your line in will have them damp, let along when you try and land a fish. Make sure the ones you choose are fully waterproof as the one sure way to have freezing hands is if your gloves are soaked.
What are the best cold-weather fishing gloves?
For anglers who go fly fishing in the dead of winter, you can’t go wrong with the Simms G4 gloves. These winter fishing gear have every angler covered from waterproofing and dexterity, to being well insulated and they even have a neoprene cuff to protect your wrists and sleeves from being wet and cold.
If you’re an angler who likes their gloves to expose every finger but still wants the option to keep each finger warm too, the Orvis Pro gloves are a great choice. The gloves are grippy, warm, well-made, and you can fish with your fingers open, and then cover them up with the insulated mitted when they get a little too cold.
Thanks for reading my article, I hope you found it useful and now have the gloves for you. Remember to always check here first for any fly fishing gear or destination info, and until next time, tight lines.