The-Best-Dive-Gloves

The best dive gloves will allow you to explore any temperature of water while keeping your hands toasty warm. The key to do this is to get the right thickness. Consider the thickness of the wetsuit you will wear and use that as part of your consideration when you buy your gloves. Dive gloves are made of the same type of material as your wetsuit. They work best when wet, they are not designed to keep your hands dry. 

If you are a person who seems to get cold hands fast, consider a thicker pair of gloves. Remember, however, the thicker the gloves the less flexibility they will have. Gloves will also protect your hands from external damage. Diving is all about exploring the unknown, and that can lead you into caves, wrecks, and coral reefs. A layer of protection on your hands will protect against abrasions and cuts. Please note, some warm water destinations restrict the use of gloves to prevent damage to coral reefs.

Pro tip 1 - Material:
  • Internal metal reinforcements in certain areas of the gloves can help create a stronger, safer grip on tough or sharp materials such as a dive line encrusted with mollusks. 
Pro tip 2 - Fasteners: 
  • Instead of buying dive gloves with velcro or zippers, consider gloves constructed with elastic materials that make them easier to put on or take off. 
Pro tip 3 - Dive Environment: 
  • You should never touch any marine life underwater, regardless of the actions of your dive guide. Many types of marine life are dangerous and can be fatal in the worst scenarios.


Scuba Diving Expert

How To Choose The Best Dive Gloves – Buying Guide

Features-of-dive-gloves

Material

Most gloves are made out of a neoprene rubber material. This is a high-quality material that is durable and can stand up to harsh environments while maintaining a highly flexible state. Being able to bend your hand without struggle is a feature needed to dive in comfort. This material can be combined with a liner to ensure your hands stay warm.

Thickness

The thickness of your glove will vary depending on the temperature of the water.

If you regularly dive in warm water and are using gloves as a protective barrier a 1 – 2.5-millimeter thick glove will be what you’re looking for.

Cool water will require a thicker material. We recommend a glove that is between 2.5 – 5 mm for temperatures as low as 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gloves that are more than 5 millimeters thick are best suited for temperatures colder than 52 degrees. Exceptionally cold dives may require gloves that have a liner to keep your mitts warm.

Related Review: Kayaking Gloves

Warmth Requirements

One of the main reasons to wear the best dive gloves is to keep your hands warm. Even the warmest waters can become cold when you stay in them for long periods. As you dive down deeper, the water gets colder, and if your body temperature drops too low, then it can become a danger. Dive boots will keep your feet warm, a good wetsuit will protect your body, and a great pair of dive gloves will keep your hands and fingers warm.

If you choose a pair of gloves that are the correct thickness, then you can keep your fingers warm in even the coldest water.

You might also be interested in:

Ice Fishing Gloves

 Top Wetsuits

Sizing

With all clothing, the size should be chosen to give the best fit. If you choose gloves that are too small, then the gloves can feel constructive and uncomfortable. If the gloves are too big, then water can get inside and cause the interior to cool. Large gloves can also slip off of your hands when you are under the water. Wearing gloves that are too loose can also make it hard to adjust your equipment when you are under the water; posing a safety hazard as well as not warming your hands.

Choose a glove size that fits tightly without being constrictive.

Fasteners

When you think of gloves, you think about getting them on and off, and the type of material they are made from, but we do not often think about the fasteners. You should be able to take a glove off with only one hand, and a hand that has a glove on. Some gloves do not have any fasteners, but they can be harder to get onto your hands. The two most common types of fasteners are velcro and zip. Zips give you more room to get your hands in and out while velcro fasteners are easier to use.

Style

The most popular dive glove you will come across is the standard five-finger glove. This looks exactly like a glove you would wear out of the water, except it is made from different materials. This glove gives you the best freedom of movement. Imagine wearing a regular glove, and you can see that you can do pretty much anything that you would be able to do with your bare hands.

Mitten-style gloves have a large space for all four fingers and a separate space for the thumb. These gloves do not have as great a range of motion as the fingered gloves, but they do offer exceptional protection against the cold. These gloves are perfect if you are venturing into cold water, but do not need to manipulate your equipment a lot.

If you buy a big enough pair of mitten-style gloves, then you can wear both styles together. This would keep your hands protected when you get down deep in the water, but would also allow for you to take the mitten off and have the dexterity of a glove temporarily.

Dive environment

When you are choosing the best dive gloves, you should choose them based on the environment in which you are going to dive. The thickness, material, and design will dictate where and when the gloves can be used.

If you are diving into cold waters, then you will want a glove that is thick to protect against the cold waters. If you are exploring, perhaps in a shipwreck or a cave, then you will want versatility in your glove. You will want a glove that gives you a full range of motion and gloves which are durable and tough.

Purpose

You will also need to know the purpose of your dive before you choose the gloves to wear. If you are diving down to take pictures of the world below, then you are not going to want thick gloves which inhibit your movement, and you are also not going to need gloves that give added warmth. It is unlikely that you will want the best-webbed gloves, as you will be wanting to use your camera. However, if you want to move with speed, then some webbed gloves combined with dive fins can give you the speed you need.

Related Review: Swimming Gloves

FAQs

Why_Do_I_Need_Diving_Gloves

Q: Why Do I Need Diving Gloves?

A: 

Diving gloves are used to protect your hands. There are multiple ways in which dive gloves do this. The main way in which dive gloves protect you is by keeping your hands warm. It only takes a drop in body temperature of a degree or two for you to become at risk of hypothermia. Most people will have a wetsuit for diving, and fins are also added to aid you in swimming through the water, but dive gloves are often forgotten about.

It is recommended that you protect the heat in your body, but if you leave your hands bare, then there is a place for the heat to escape. The same is true for your head, and you should make sure that you are covering your entire body when you go into the water.

The second way in which your dive gloves protect you is by providing a barrier between you and any hard objects. When you are in the water, you may come up against hard surfaces such as rocks and coral. Wearing gloves will help to protect your hands from abrasions and cuts. They also provide a barrier from impacts.

The gloves will also prevent your hands from as much exposure to the water. This is especially helpful when you are in saltwater. When you wear dive gloves, you will notice that your hands are not as dried out compared to when you do not wear gloves. Less exposure to the water means that your hands are not left looking like prunes when you are finished diving.

Q: When Should I Wear Diving Gloves?

A: 

We would recommend that you always wear dive gloves when you are diving. It can be tempting to leave the gloves behind, especially when you are diving in shallow or warm waters, but you often do not know exactly how long you are going to be in the water or what you are going to find down there. Dive gloves will ensure that you do not get cold. They will also offer protection should you find something to explore when you get into the water. They are also handy for navigating dry land. You may be making your way over rocks, going into the water from a pier, or helping to sail a boat. A good pair of dive gloves can give you great protection from any hard surfaces before you get into the water. However, some warm water destinations do not allow gloves to protect coral reefs from divers.

Globo Surf Overview

It is important to get the best dive gloves on the market for your next dive. Staying warm underwater will help keep you safe. Your hands will be kept warm when you are in the water, minimizing the risk of hypothermia or damaged fingers. Your hands will also be protected from any impacts. This can prevent bleeding and broken skin.

Take the time to read our buying guide and understand exactly what you need from a diving glove. You may have to compromise between functionality, but you should always be able to find a glove to fit your needs.

More Scuba Reviews:

More Gloves Reviews: