Which Sailing Gloves Are Right For You

Sailing gloves are one of the few bits of kit where personal preference matters almost as much as the conditions. While some of us swear by short-finger sailing gloves for the feel and dexterity they offer, it’s just as common to embrace the additional protection of a long-finger pair. You might even find that your crewmates doing the same job on the same boat have different preferences compared with yours.

What isn’t up for contention, however, is how important having the right sailing gloves is. Your hands are involved in almost everything you do on the water, from trimming through to working winches and helming. This means that your gloves need to balance grip, protection, dexterity, durability and comfort, all without getting in the way of any of those jobs. 

To find the right sailing gloves for you, the challenge therefore lies in working out which qualities matter the most for the way you sail. From lightweight or insulated to maximum feel or maximum protection, there are all kinds of decisions you’ll have to make, as well as the question of construction, materials, and the demands you’ll be putting on your gloves when out on the water.

This complete guide to sailing gloves will go through all of these considerations so that you can be confident in your comfort when it matters the most. Rather than recommending one pair of sailing gloves over another, we’ve explored the different types available here at Gill, what they’re designed for, and when they might make the most sense. Let’s get into it.

What Do Sailing Gloves Actually Do?

It can be surprising just how much of a beating your hands take after a full day on the water. But when you combine the friction of lines running through your hands with the need to work a winch or handle sheets, it’s pretty natural that pressure will be placed on your palms and fingers. This is where a good pair of sailing gloves comes in.

The main job of sailing gloves is to provide a layer of protection between your hands and the equipment you’re working with, while giving you the all-important grip needed to stay in control. That said, protection should never come at the expense of being able to feel what you’re doing. The ability to make small adjustments is vital, particularly when racing, and your gloves need to give you:

• Grip to maintain control of lines even when wet

• Protection in the areas (palms and fingers) where you’re most exposed to friction and abrasion

• Dexterity to make small and precise movements

• Durability, because repeated contact will quickly expose any weak points

• Comfort, particularly when you’ll be wearing sailing gloves often for hours at a time

The balance between these qualities will change depending on how you sail, so it’s worth asking yourself a couple of key questions and working through specific glove features and characteristics to work out your priorities.

Short-Finger Sailing Gloves vs Long-Finger Sailing Gloves

Picking between short-finger sailing gloves and long-finger sailing gloves is a good starting point. There is no set answer to this choice; the answer typically depends on whether dexterity or protection is more important in your environment.

Short-Finger Sailing Gloves

Short-finger sailing gloves prioritise feel and dexterity, as they leave your fingertips exposed at all times. In real terms, this usually means that you can make precise adjustments and retain a greater sense of what you’re handling, which can be particularly valuable in racing environments. 

Naturally, short-finger gloves are also well suited to warm weather conditions and high-intensity day sailing, where the added airflow can be highly valuable.

Long-Finger Sailing Gloves

Long-finger sailing gloves, meanwhile, give you complete coverage. With additional material protecting your fingertips, they provide enhanced protection from friction as well as a little more warmth when sailing in cooler conditions. Long-finger gloves are therefore most suitable when you’re working on deck for long periods of time and in ocean and offshore environments where exposure levels are at their highest. 

There are several options within the Gill technical sailing glove collection that allow you to make this decision without compromising on qualities you need elsewhere. Our Pro Gloves, Championship Gloves and Deckhand Gloves are all available in both short-finger and long-finger designs.

The Pro Gloves are designed for those looking for high levels of grip and durability, using Proton-Ultra XD across the palm and fingers alongside Dura-Grip for additional traction.

Shop the Pro Sailing Gloves

Short-Finger

Long-Finger

The Championship Sailing Gloves are probably the most versatile option, with Dura-Grip palm construction and a pre-shaped fit designed to balance grip and flexibility. They’re suitable across multiple disciplines, so great if you want one technical glove you can rely on.

Shop the Championship Sailing Gloves

Short-Finger

Long-Finger

Then there’s the Deckhand Gloves, which use double-layer Amara reinforcement on the palm to provide grip without absorbing or holding water. These gloves are well-suited to dinghy and inshore sailing, with a straightforward but durable construction suitable for regular use.

Shop the Deckhand Sailing Gloves

Short-Finger

Long-Finger

As a general rule of thumb, it doesn’t hurt to have a pair of both styles ready in your sailing bag. That way, you can make a decision based on the demands of the day and even the moment, rather than trying to make one pair work for everything. 

Insulated Sailing Gloves

In the winter and when exposure levels are at their highest, you will want to go one step beyond simply opting for long-finger sailing gloves and make sure that your gloves are appropriately insulated too. 

With fingers becoming less responsive, cold hands will make simple tasks considerably more difficult. A pair of appropriate insulated sailing gloves can address this by providing additional warmth without providing excess bulk. There are different types available depending on the demands you are going to place on them, and it’s not a matter of throwing the same pair of long-finger gloves on no matter whether you’re racing in the cold or passing through the English Channel.

For example, our Zentherm Neoprene Sailing Gloves deliver high-performance thermal protection without excess bulk, making them perfect for racing and dinghy sailing in cold weather. Because they are made from neoprene, these insulated sailing gloves are particularly suitable when it’s simply not possible to avoid contact with spray or cold water, as the neoprene retains its insulating properties even when wet.

On the other hand, our Helmsman Gloves are bulkier, more durable, and fully waterproof. With Thinsulate insulation designed for the very coldest conditions and an extended gauntlet and cuff length, they offer full coverage and remain insulated even when damp. These are the type of insulated sailing gloves you’ll want to reach for on an offshore passage or a night watch when you need complete protection and total warmth.

Do You Need Waterproof Sailing Gloves?

As we’ve touched upon above, sailing gloves can also be waterproof, and this can be a huge benefit if you’re regularly sailing in wet conditions. 

The key is understanding the type of wet conditions you’re sailing in. A bit of occasional spray will have very little impact on your grip and dexterity, whereas you’ll notice the impact of having soaking wet hands when you’re on deck for several hours in driving rain.

Waterproof sailing gloves are particularly suitable for offshore sailing as it’s in this environment that rain and spray can become a constant rather than an occasional nuisance. That said, waterproof sailing gloves can be handy during dinghy sailing to fend off constant water exposure and keep you focused on the small margins that matter on race day. 

If you’re sailing in warm conditions or cruising along the coast, waterproofing probably won’t be necessary, and the breathability and dexterity of a glove like the Championship Sailing Gloves will be more valuable.

How Should Sailing Gloves Fit?

The right type of sailing gloves will only perform as intended if they fit properly. 

Sailing gloves need to:

• Feel secure without restricting your movement

• Have no excess material bunching around your fingers

• Sit smoothly on the palm without moving or shifting 

When it comes to the way sailing gloves should fit, don’t underestimate how long you’ll be on the water. Comfort gets more important the longer you sail, and your gloves need to be as comfortable three hours into a passage as they were when you first put them on.

At Gill, our sailing gloves are available across a range of sizes, so there’s huge scope to find the right fit for you. More importantly, our collection is designed to give you the choice you need when it comes to glove type, from technical sailing gloves through to lightweight options for everyday needs. 

The key is to find the glove that works for you and understand that your preference might change depending on the conditions and even the job you’re carrying out on board. Don’t hesitate to browse our full collection of sailing gloves online and get in touch with our expert team if you require any further guidance.