Fishing Sun Gloves (2026): UPF, Fingerless, Grip

Anglers pick between two glove cuts. Full-finger gloves cover the most skin but take away some feel for line and knots. Half-finger and fingerless gloves leave the fingertips free for rigging and fighting fish, and the tips stay in the sun. The palm matters too: an open palm, silicone dots or a synthetic leather pad each change how the rod feels in your hand.

How we chose: we did not test these gloves. Ratings and features come from the Amazon listings and makers' descriptions, and we link a glove only when Amazon.com or the brand's own store sells it and it was in stock when we checked on September 29, 2026.

Five sun gloves side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

None of these listings names a test standard. In the U.S., UPF labels follow ASTM D6603, with the fabric tested to AATCC TM183. When a maker names neither, the number is the maker's claim.

Why hands need their own cover

Your hands are in the sun the whole time you hold a rod, and a shirt sleeve stops at the wrist. The Skin Cancer Foundation, writing about actinic keratosis, points to "the backs of your hands, where most people neglect to apply sunscreen regularly" as a common spot for the rough, precancerous patches sun exposure causes.

Sunscreen on hands also doesn't last long on a boat. The foundation's photosensitivity page says "don't forget the backs of your hands and reapply sunscreen every two hours," and handling wet line, fish and ice rubs it off faster than that. A UPF glove doesn't wear off.

What a UPF number on a glove means

UPF is the same measure used on sun shirts. The Skin Cancer Foundation says a UPF 50 fabric "blocks 98 percent of the sun's rays and allows two percent (1/50th) to penetrate," and that a fabric needs a UPF of 50 to get its Seal of Recommendation. None of the five gloves here says it carries the Seal.

Three of these listings give a clear number: UPF 50+ for the Simms and the KastKing Pro, UPF 50 for the Buff. The fingerless KastKing Sol Armis says "UPF50+" in its title but "rated SPF 50" in its feature text. SPF is a sunscreen rating, not a fabric one, so trust the UPF in the title.

Columbia describes the Terminal Tackle's Omni-Shade fabric as blocking "harmful UVA and UVB rays" for "mild to extreme sun exposure" but gives no UPF number on the listing. That may be fine; we just can't compare it by number.

Full finger or fingerless: knots, line feel and fish

The makers describe the trade-off in their own words. Columbia says the Terminal Tackle's "fingerless silhouette makes tying knots a little easier." Simms says the SolarFlex SunGlove's half fingers and longer index and middle fingers are made "for stripping guards and line management," with an open palm for "direct contact with your oars, rods, and equipment."

KastKing gets around the trade-off with slits. The Sol Armis Pro has full fingers with slits on the thumb and index finger, so you can push those two through to change hooks or baits, per the listing.

If you fish offshore all day, the KastKing Pro covers the most skin. If you fish the flats with a fly rod or tie many knots, the Simms or the fingerless KastKing leave your fingertips free. Put sunscreen on the fingertips either way. Those are the parts of your hand still in the sun.

Pro tip: try the glove on with the shirt you fish in. KastKing designed the Sol Armis cuff to meet a long-sleeve shirt "for full sun" protection; a gap at the wrist defeats the glove.

Grip, wet palms and care

A glove that slides on a wet rod grip won't stay on your hands for long. Buff and Columbia both put silicone on the palm. KastKing uses microfiber on both Sol Armis gloves, and the Pro adds a non-slip polymer and a synthetic leather pad at the wear points.

Salt and fish slime work into any glove. KastKing says the Sol Armis can go in the washing machine in warm water. For the others, follow the care label. Rinsing in fresh water after a trip keeps salt from stiffening the fabric, the same routine as your tackle.

A sun glove is thin knit. It will not protect your hand from gill plates, teeth or hooks; use a fish grip and corrosion-resistant pliers for that.

Gloves we left out

The Simms Bugstopper SunGlove (UPF 50, with Insect Shield repellent treatment, per the listing) was in stock at Amazon.com only in size XS when we checked. Glacier Glove sun gloves were offered only by a third-party seller (Gritr), and the Palmyth fingerless gloves by a store called profishing, not by the brand. Huk's fingerless glove came from a reseller, not Huk. We link only when we know who ships the glove.

We found no CPSC recalls of fishing gloves from these brands in our recall tracker, which covers CPSC and FDA marine-gear recalls since 2023.

Related: UPF fishing shirts, face masks and neck gaiters, fishing sun hats and reef-safe sunscreen for the fingertips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still need sunscreen with fishing sun gloves?

On any skin the glove leaves bare, yes. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 on all exposed skin, reapplied every two hours, which for a fingerless glove means the fingertips and any gap at the wrist.

Does UPF 50 on a glove mean the same as SPF 50 on sunscreen?

No. UPF rates a fabric and SPF rates a sunscreen, so the two numbers are not interchangeable. A UPF 50 fabric lets through about 1/50 of UV, per the Skin Cancer Foundation. That is why a glove listing that says "SPF 50" is using the wrong term.

Do these gloves come in sizes?

Most do. KastKing says the Sol Armis Pro comes in four sizes, and Buff sells the Aqua+ in separate S, M and XL listings. The Simms SolarFlex also comes in letter sizes on Amazon, so check the size on the page before you order.

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SaltProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Specs are the makers' own, from their product pages and Amazon listings.