Still on Gear List: Waterproof Gloves

April 19, 2011 | By | 4 Replies More

It’s the offseason, time to work on shooting and try to plug gear holes. One such hole we haven’t been able to plug in years of trying is waterproof gloves.

We hunt where it’s wet, and we hunt in the rain and snow. Over the years we’ve bought and run through the wringer just about every so-called waterproof item there is. And we’re glad to report that we’re solid on boots, hats, pants and jackets. But we still can’t find truly waterproof gloves.

Such gloves probably do exist, but we’re talking waterproof gloves you can operate a shotgun with, and which can take some punishment.

We’ve tried waterfowling gloves, which you’d expect would fit the bill but they don’t. They’re built for folks who are hunting around water, not in direct, regular contact with it. Or they’re just a camo version of the neoprene fishing glove (below). One example: These from Orvis fit great but are about as waterproof as your average sponge.

We’ve tried innumerable brands of deer-hunting gloves. None have been waterproof. In fact, some have been the least waterproof of any we’ve tested.

We’ve tried fishing gloves. Neoprene fishing gloves actually work great, but one brush against a bush and they’re punctured. A whole day or two and they’re shredded.

We’ve scoured hunt/fish stores in Minnesota, Maine and other chronically wet places where they’d for sure have waterproof gloves if such gloves existed.

Zip.

In other words, we haven’t found a pair of truly or even largely (5 hours?) waterproof gloves that can be used for upland hunting. So we pack half a dozen pairs of gloves apiece, five of which are for wet days. And on those wet days, each of us use two or three pairs.

We’re sure we haven’t tried every brand of glove there is, so we’re looking for recommendations. Have any? Let us know. We’ll even get them custom-made if that’s what it takes….

Category: Gloves

Comments (4)

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  1. LRR says:

    I’ve been using these.
    http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/64390?feat=506573-GN3
    Haven’t gotten them as wet as I could have yet, but so far my hands have stayed dry. My only complaint; the lining slips, making them a bit difficult to don sometimes. One must use care doffing them so as to not completely turn the lining inside out.

  2. Glen Bahde says:

    You can get some latex gloves as an under glove but I think your hand would sweat.

  3. breck says:

    Keep leather gloves and boots “dreessed” with vegatable oil to keep them wateresistant

  4. Jay says:

    I agree with Breck. I’ve been searching for waterproof upland gloves for years. I now scour the hardware stores for tight /form fitting leather work gloves, treat them with snowseal and then use a liner glove when it gets cold.

    I’ll keep looking because I’m optimistic but for now, tractor Supply here I come.

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