Just ten years ago, winter surfers were absolutely exotic. Today, things are different, as the number of people who enjoy a session even in single-digit air and water temperatures is growing steadily. This is clearly due to the ever-improving neos, which in principle make sessions at the frost line possible without any restrictions on manoeuvrability. If only it wasn't for the hands!
More about surfing in cold temperatures
Question of faith: open or closed gloves for winter surfing?
Opinions differ on the question of whether it is better to use open or closed gloves. Both variants have certain advantages and disadvantages: Open gloves offer direct contact with the boom, which guarantees a more relaxed grip and prevents the forearms from swelling too quickly. What is often forgotten: As long as you don't fall too often, open gloves can be just as warm, and they also allow you to breathe in warm air while riding or on the beach - an advantage that is not available with closed models. The situation is of course different in the event of falls and, above all, longer swimming sessions, where water immediately penetrates through the opening on the palm of the hand and the hands quickly become numb. For this reason, less experienced water sports enthusiasts usually find open gloves "colder", while for others the advantages - relaxed gripping and direct contact with the boom - can outweigh the disadvantages.
I used to be an absolute opponent of closed gloves. But I was surprised to find that you can grip quite well with certain models!" (Manuel Vogel, surf tester)
Closed gloves for surfing: Neoprene thickness and coating are crucial
Closed models are available either as mittens or finger gloves. If you want to use your gloves for activities such as surfing or SUPing in addition to windsurfing or wingsurfing, finger gloves are preferable to mittens. The (digital) surf shop offers models with a thickness of up to seven millimetres. This may make sense for surfing, but for windsurfing it is an outright bad buy. To prevent your forearms from immediately rebelling when gripping the boom, the gloves should be a maximum of three millimetres thick in the grip area and coated with an abrasion-resistant material. Nevertheless, gripping with closed models is on average noticeably more difficult than with open gloves. However, as our test showed, there are actually models where the additional effort required is limited. Namely, when two aspects come together:
- Pre-curvature: Certain models are already pre-bent in the way they will later be used in the water, so you are not working against the material the whole time - this saves energy.
- Stretchability of the materialAs pleasant as it feels when a glove fits snugly, it is counterproductive if it stretches too much in the grip area. The material stretches when you grip it, which means you have to exert more grip force and your forearms tire more quickly. If a closed glove combines both aspects - pre-curvature and firm material in the grip area - this is the ideal case.
Neoprene gloves tested on the North Sea and Baltic Sea
To filter out the best gloves, we compared 13 models on several (icy) cold days, with air temperatures of zero to six degrees and water temperatures of three to four degrees. To find out the differences, we always wore different models on the water on the right and left hand. Read on to find out which of the 13 test models impressed us.
I only use open gloves for freestyling. When it gets really cold, I put on the yellow dishwashing gloves underneath (Leon Struppek)
Ascan Polar Comfort
- Thickness: 3/2 mm
- Sizes: S/M/L/XL/XXL
- Price: 28,90 Euro >> available here
Ascan offers the new Polar Comfort model in sizes from S to XXL for 28.90 euros. The glove is snug and stretchy, and the flexible cuff makes it easy to slip on. The three millimetre thick upper side is made of smooth-skin neoprene, which reduces the wind chill effect, while the underside is made of thinner, laminated material.
The high level of comfort is also due to the cosy plush material applied to the back of the hand. Due to the reduced material thickness on the underside and the slight pre-curvature of the fingers, little grip is required for winter use - so nothing stands in the way of long sessions. Only on really cold days are the open models from GunSails or ProLimit slightly superior in terms of thermal insulation, as the fingertip area is slightly thicker.
Relaxed gripping, price-performance ratio
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Not for the really cold days
Ascan Spring
- Thickness: 2/2 mm
- Sizes: S/M/L/XL/XXL
- Price: 39,90 Euro >> available here
Once put on, the soft material moulds perfectly to the hand and water ingress is reduced to a minimum thanks to the sealed seams and the wide Velcro strap on the wrist. The glove is therefore ideal for water contact and longer swimming sessions.
Thanks to the moderately thick and flexible material, dexterity is largely retained - you don't have to take your gloves off straight away to thread a rope. Contact with the boom is less direct and less grippy. Because the neoprene stretches a lot and is not pre-shaped, you have to grip it noticeably tighter than with other models, so your forearms get tired quite quickly in comparison. Unfortunately, even the texturing on the palms of the hands cannot change this. The Ascan model is available in sizes S/M/L/XL and XXL for 39.90 euros.
Very comfortable & tight
Increased grip strength necessary
Rubber coating somewhat slippery
Ascan Thermoglove
- Thickness: 3/2 mm
- Sizes: S/M/L/XL/XXL
- Price: 42,90 Euro >> available here
In contrast to the Spring model, the Thermoglove has thicker material on the top of the hand and a soft lining on the inside. It is also easy to slip on, but there is no Velcro strap on the wrist. Compared to the Spring model, the Thermoglove goes one better when it comes to thermal insulation - the seams are tight, allowing warm fingers even in freezing temperatures.
In the practical test, however, the forearms of this model tire quickly, as the soft material, in combination with the rather slippery rubber coating in the grip area, requires noticeably more grip strength. If you cruise longer distances while hooked in and relaxed, you don't necessarily have to worry about this, but the disadvantages come into play when manoeuvring, freestyling or windsurfing in the waves. The glove is available in sizes S/M/L/XL and XXL and costs 42.90 euros.
Best thermal insulation
Increased grip required
Rubber coating somewhat slippery
GunSails Neo Gloves Gloves
- Thickness: 3/2 mm
- Sizes: S/M/L/XL
- Price: 42,90 Euro
With the Neo Gloves, GunSails has a model in sizes S/M/L and XL in its programme for 42.90 euros, which is supposed to offer maximum thermal insulation. Slipping them on is a little more difficult due to the strongly pre-curved finger areas. However, once you have put them on, your hands are already in the perfect shape to latch onto the boom. The advantage of this shape is greater grip comfort, as you have to work noticeably less against the material than with other closed gloves.
In addition, the structuring in the palm area provides a pleasing amount of grip on the boom. The well-sealed glove successfully keeps cold water out and, in conjunction with the smooth-skin neoprene used on the upper side and in the finger area, the wind chill effect is also noticeably reduced. The bottom line is very good thermal insulation, and not much more grip is required than with open models.
Very warm, only moderate grip strength required
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Dressing comfort
GunSails Neo Mittens
- Thickness: 2.5/2.5 mm
- Sizes: S/M/L/XL
- Price: 19,90 Euro
Available in sizes S/M/L and XL and with a price of just 19.90 euros, the Neo Mittens from GunSails are very attractive at first glance. The wrist area of the gloves is made of stretchy material, making them easy to put on. Smooth-skin neoprene has been used all over the upper side, which allows water to roll off quickly and reduces wind chill.
The opening for gripping is cut a little more generously - making it easier to grasp. Only the design of the underside is not quite ideal - the seam forms a slightly noticeable bulge in front of the cut-out area. Due to the large cut-out, the gloves do not completely enclose the index fingers and little fingers, which results in slightly reduced thermal insulation. Nevertheless, the gloves are an absolute price-performance tip for the not-so-cold days.
Price-performance, grip comfort
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Thermal insulation
ION Hybrid Gloves
- Thickness: 3.5/1 mm
- Sizes: XS/S/M/L/XL
- Price: 64,99 Euro >> available here
The idea is absolutely clever - the inside of the hybrid glove consists of a thin finger glove, which is then covered with a shell to provide additional thermal insulation. The glove, which costs €64.99, is designed to combine the best of both worlds. The inner glove is one millimetre thick and a little more stubborn to put on than stretchy neoprene. Once inside, the material requires pleasantly little grip strength when gripping - also because it adheres well to the boom.
As expected, the thermal insulation is quite low - but this is where the cover comes into play: Once you have put it on, 3.5 millimetres of material thickness at the top provides warmth. In practice, however, you quickly slip out of the cover. As it is sewn on very loosely, it then flaps in the wind - it is difficult to put it back on while riding. The cover also comes off easily from the fingertips when swimming. We were therefore often unable to experience the theoretically good thermal insulation in practice - all in all a good idea, but one that does not yet appear to be fully developed.
Finger feel
Sleeve does not stay in position
Very short cut on the wrist
ION Open Palm Mitten
- Thickness: 2.5/2.5 mm
- Sizes: XS/S/M/L/XL
- Price: 39,99 Euro >> available here
ION also offers a version with an open palm for a relaxed grip. The stretchy neoprene allows you to slip in effortlessly and moulds well to the shape of your hand. In the fingertip area, the index finger is insulated by an additional seam, which effectively prevents it from slipping around in the glove. Water runs off the 2.5 millimetre thick smooth-skin neoprene on the upper side and, in combination with the soft plush on the inside, this results in good thermal insulation for open models.
The opening on the palm is slightly smaller here, but the fact that you grip on a slightly thickened seam only slightly increases the effort required to grip the glove. All in all, the ION model scores highly as a comfortable glove, with minor limitations only on really icy days.
Relaxed, effortless gripping
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Not for very cold days
ION Arctic Gloves
- Thickness: 5/2 mm
- Sizes: XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL
- Price: 54,99 Euro >> available here
Arctic Gloves - the name says it all, with five millimetres of smooth-skin neoprene on the back of the hand. Inside, cosy plush caresses the back of the hand. Thanks to the stretchy material, it's easy to slip into, and the Velcro strap on the wrist makes it easy to tighten the glove and prevent water ingress.
Despite the thick neoprene thickness on the upper side, gripping is relatively effortless, as large parts of the underside are made of a much thinner synthetic leather. In our opinion, the glove could have used a little more pre-bending, as the material wrinkles slightly when gripping - this requires a slightly stronger grip. In terms of thermal insulation, the Artic Gloves play in the top league - the seams are tight, which means that water can only penetrate in droplets at best. The model is available in sizes from XS to XXL for 54.99 euros.
Top thermal insulation
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Slight crease in the grip area
Mystic Ease Glove Open Palm
- Thickness: 2/2 mm
- Sizes: XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL
- Price: 44,99 Euro >> available here
To make it easier to slip on, the manufacturer Mystic has equipped the Open Palm glove with stretchy and laminated material in the wrist area, while smooth-skin neoprene extends over the back of the hand right down to the fingertips. The entire inside is lined with a plush material designed to retain body heat for even longer.
The finger areas are slightly pre-curved, which makes for a very comfortable grip. The recessed area on the underside is quite small, but with a material thickness of just two millimetres, the glove can't quite offer the cold protection of other open models. For moderately cold days, however, the Ease Open Palm glove is perfectly adequate and also very comfortable. The glove is available in sizes from XS to XXL for 44.99 euros.
Relaxed gripping
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Cold protection
Mystic Ease Glove Five Finger
- Thickness: 3/3 mm
- Sizes: XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL
- Price: 54,99 Euro >> available here
The Ease Glove with a thickness of three millimetres (XS-XXL; €54.99) has wonderfully soft cuffs on the wrists, making it easy to slip on and successfully keeping cold water out. The glove moulds perfectly to the contours of the hand.
The thermal insulation is at a good level and lies between the models with an open inner surface and the warmest models such as the Arctic Glove from ION. On the inside, however, the stretchy material tends to stretch, which slightly increases the grip required. Those who favour closed models will still get a good combination of protection from the cold and acceptable grip comfort. By the way: The Ease Glove is also available in a version with a thickness of just two millimetres.
Comfortable & warm
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Grip strength slightly increased
ProLimit Elasto Sealed Skin
- Thickness: 2/2 mm
- Sizes: S/M/L/XL
- Price: 59,99 Euro >> available here
Apart from the grip area, the entire glove is made of two millimetre thick smooth-skin neoprene, the finger areas are cut a little slimmer and still offer enough sensitivity to thread a rope without having to take off the gloves. Thanks to waterproof bonding and blindstitched seams, the icy water only gets in through the wrist, if at all.
Once put on, the Elasto is very comfortable, like a second skin and therefore cosy and warm, even during unintentional swims. The light texturing in the grip area offers a pleasing amount of grip. Overall, the glove is a good compromise between protection against the cold and a reasonable level of grip, although the soft material stretches a little too much for our liking - you have to compensate for this with more grip on the boom. The glove is available for 59.99 euros in sizes S/M/L and XL.
Feel & wearing comfort
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Very stretchy in the grip area
ProLimit Mittens Open Palm Xtreme
- Thickness: 3/2 mm
- Sizes: XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL
- Price: 57,99 Euro >> available here
Compared to other open gloves, the Open Palm XTreme model from ProLimit is quite expensive (57.99 euros), but also offers a few extra features and well thought-out details. The glove is available in sizes from XS to XXL.
They are easy to put on thanks to a Velcro fastener and the finger area has been divided to prevent it from slipping sideways. A large plush lining on the back of the hand provides additional thermal insulation; the material here is three millimetres thick, which is above average. The transition from the finger area to the open palm, on the other hand, is particularly thin, so that there is no seam or thickening to grip - gripping the boom requires pleasantly little grip strength here, making long winter sessions possible. In the practical test, the gloves also set the benchmark in terms of thermal insulation among the open models.
Good features, relaxed gripping
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ProLimit Mittens Closed Palm Direct Grip
- Thickness: 3/2 mm
- Sizes: S/M/L/XL
- Price: 49,99 Euro
In addition to the open gloves, ProLimit also offers a closed model in sizes from S to XL for 49.99 euros. The Closed Palm Direct Grip model has a large area of smooth-skin neoprene on the upper side, which allows water to roll off quickly. It is also easy to slip into, and the material used is stretchy and supple.
On the inside, similar to the ION Arctic Glove, thin synthetic leather ensures direct contact with the sports equipment. However, because the Direct Grip gloves are more pre-curved, the hands almost automatically take on the right shape to latch onto the boom - the additional effort usually required for closed models is fortunately limited with this model. Because the seams are also well sealed, water only penetrates the wrist in droplets at most, so the glove offers comparatively good protection against the cold.
Good combination of warmth & grip comfort
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Velcro strap a little loose
