The best kayaking gloves: keep your hands warm and callus-free in the water

If you’re heading to the river on a regular basis you may need to think about purchasing a pair of kayaking gloves, especially if you kayak all year round. Not only do they keep your hands warm, they protect them from blisters and potential cuts from sharp rocks and river edges. 

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When it comes to purchasing gloves for kayaking, you need to consider the material and thickness of glove. Most gloves will be made from neoprene or neoprene combined with another material such as latex. 

The NeoSport Five Finger Glove are made entirely from neoprene, making them most expensive on our list. 

If you’re a beginner looking for your first set of rapid companions,  you could always go for a cheap pair, such as the SuPreme Stacked Fingerless Gloves. 

While we can’t guarantee they’ll last, if you’re still umming and arring as to whether kayaking is for you, at least you know you haven’t made an unnecessary investment. 

Providing 1.5mm of neoprene protection, these gloves provide warmth without compromising on your dexterity. If you’re paddling hard through the rapids, there’s every chance you’ll end up with blisters, so these gloves will give your hands some respite. 

Fingerless, they’re great ones for summer, while the hook and loop wrist feature makes them easy to take on and off. 

If you’re looking for warmth in the water these neoprene gloves are your answer. They’re more expensive than the others on the list, but their composition hasn’t been compromised by the addition of other materials. 

They feature a high textured palm for additional grip and they’ll keep your hands insulated whether you’re kayaking one weekend and scuba diving the other. 

Thanks to their UV shield, thin composition and UV shield, these are the best kayaking gloves for beginners and summer paddling. 

They feature a padded palm to protect your hands against blisters, while the adjustable wrist keeps them tight and secure, even when you’re capsizing every five minutes. 

Thin, lightweight, breathable and fingerless, these gloves feature plenty of specs that make them ideal for summer kayaking. 

To protect your hands from the sun’s rays, the material offers up a UPF factor of 50+ and it’s quick drying so they’ll be dry by the end of your respite on the riverbank. They feature a synthetic leather palm for durability and protection against blisters. 

If you’re an avid kayaker, you’re not going to allow the icy cold winter water to stop you from making the most out of the high levels. Although thick and warm, the gloves are lightweight, with a grippy surface allowing you to keep hold of the paddle and power you through the most demanding of rapids. 

With plenty of reviewers commending their insulation properties, you can’t really go wrong with these winter kayaking gloves. 

These mitts are a great alternative for cooler weather kayakers. They’re made from Neoprene for insulation and feature a fleece interior for additional warmth. 

The open palm solves the problem of grip and kayakers worried about losing sensitivity through the wearing of gloves will be pleased that this mitt allows physical contact with the pole.