Best UPF Sun Gloves and Arm Sleeves (2026)

On a long hike the backs of your hands sit on the pole grips in full sun all day, and on a paddle or a bike they are out in front of you, wet or sweating. Sunscreen there wears off fastest. UPF gloves fix that without reapplying, and arm sleeves do the same for forearms on a T-shirt day. The choice is finger cut and length for what your hands are doing.

How we chose: we did not test these gloves or sleeves; we compared UPF ratings and the standards the makers name, finger cuts, lengths and size charts, and kept only products sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on October 3, 2026.

Four gloves and two sleeves side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

What the UPF number on a glove is worth

UPF is a fabric rating. The Skin Cancer Foundation's sun-protective clothing page says a UPF 50 fabric lets through about 1/50 of the UV, and that fabric which gets "stretched or wet" loses some of its protection. A glove is stretched over the knuckles and often sweaty or wet, so a rating someone stands behind matters more here than on a loose shirt.

Buff has outside backing. Its Aqua glove page gives UPF 50 and says the gloves are "Recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation," whose seal requires at least UPF 50.

Coolibar's sun protection FAQ says its UPF 50+ is "guaranteed for the life of the garment as set by ASTM/AATCC standards," which covers the three Coolibar gloves and the Navagio sleeves. ROXUN gives UPF 50+ with no method.

Fingerless, three-quarter or full: pick by what your hands do

Hiking with poles. The backs of the hands face the sky for hours. The Coolibar Ouray is fingerless micro mesh with 4-way stretch and silicone grippers on the palm and fingers, so it breathes on a climb and holds a pole grip. Leave the fingertips free for zips, snacks and a phone.

Paddling. The Buff Aqua's three-quarter-finger length covers more of each finger than a fingerless glove while leaving the tips free, and its pull tabs at the wrist and middle finger make it "easy-off, even when wet," per the listing. The Coolibar Gannett and Perpetua are the wrong choice here: Coolibar says they are not chlorine or salt water resistant.

Driving, gardening and light yard work. The Coolibar Gannett covers every finger and works with a touchscreen. Coolibar recommends it for "light activities like driving, relaxing, or walking outdoors," so for digging or tools, wear a work glove and keep the Gannett for the drive.

Cycling. None of these gloves is padded. On a bike, a sun glove is a sun layer, not a cycling glove; the sleeves below are the easier fit under a short-sleeve jersey.

Whichever you pick, bare fingertips still need sunscreen. Our sunscreen guide explains the FDA's 40 and 80 minute water resistance labels and why hands need reapplying most.

Sizing gloves

Buff sizes its technical gloves by palm circumference, measured around the widest part of the hand: S 17 to 18 cm, M 19 to 20 cm, L 21 to 22 cm, per the size guide on its Aqua+ glove page.

Most sun gloves are sold one size per listing, so check the size before you add one to the cart. A glove that is tight over the knuckles is stretched, and the Skin Cancer Foundation says stretched fabric loses some protection, so between sizes we would take the larger one.

Arm sleeves: when a sleeve beats a long-sleeve shirt

A UPF hoodie covers the arms better than sleeves do, and our sun shirt and hoodie guide compares six. Sleeves make sense when you want a T-shirt or jersey for heat and still need forearm cover, and they come off at a shady lunch stop.

The Coolibar Navagio sleeves come with a size chart on the listing: a bicep opening of 5 in (S/M), 5 1/2 in (L/XL) or 6 in (XXL), and sleeve lengths of 17 1/4 to 18 in. Coolibar names gardening and light yard work among their uses and is plain that they are "not recommended for swimming."

The ROXUN sleeves add thumb holes that the listing says "ensure snug wear" with "no slipping," the fix for a sleeve that creeps up your forearm every time you reach or row. They are one size, with light compression.

The Coolibar Perpetua glove does both jobs: fingerless at the hand and 19 1/2 to 21 1/2 in long, per the listing, so there is no wrist gap to burn.

Which to buy for what you do

• Hiking, especially above treeline or in the desert: the Coolibar Ouray, for breathable mesh and grip on the poles.
• Kayak, canoe or paddleboard: the Buff Aqua. It has the Skin Cancer Foundation behind its UPF 50, and the pull tabs help when your hands are wet.
• Long drives and light gardening: the Coolibar Gannett, for full fingers and a touchscreen tip.
• T-shirt days and cycling: the Coolibar Navagio sleeves for a size chart and a UPF guarantee, the ROXUN sleeves if yours ride up, or the Perpetua if you want glove and sleeve in one.

Buy gloves in the size your palm measures, not the size of your winter gloves, and check that the cuff reaches under your sleeve. If you fish salt water, our sister site SaltProofLab covers fishing sun gloves and UPF arm sleeves for the boat.

Where gloves, sleeves and shirt meet

Burns happen in gaps. Three checks before you start walking or paddling:

• Glove cuff under the sleeve. Pull the glove cuff up, then the shirt sleeve or arm sleeve down over it.
• Sleeve top under the T-shirt. An arm sleeve should reach high enough to tuck under the shirt sleeve with your arm raised.
• Thumb hole or finger loop. Coolibar's Andros hoodie uses a center finger loop and the ROXUN sleeves a thumb hole; either keeps the back of the wrist covered as you reach.

For the neck and face, see our guide to cooling towels and neck gaiters, which compares Buff's UPF 50 gaiters with a UPF 30+ one.

Care

Coolibar says machine wash and tumble dry for the Gannett and Perpetua, and machine wash cold for the Navagio sleeves; ROXUN says cold wash and air dry. Rinse sweat and sunscreen out after each trip, since a stiff glove is harder to pull on and dries slower. Retire gloves that have worn thin at the palm or across the knuckles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do sun gloves replace hiking or work gloves?

No. They are thin knits made for UV. Buff says its Aqua gloves help with "chafing," but for rope, rock, brush or tools, wear a glove built for that job and put sunscreen on the backs of your hands.

Are full-finger sun gloves better?

For sun, yes: nothing is left for sunscreen, which is why the Coolibar Gannett is our pick for a long drive. The trade is feel: bare fingertips are easier for zips, buckles and a phone.

Can I wear sun gloves while driving?

Yes. Coolibar lists driving first among the uses for the Gannett, and the silicone print on its palm and fingers helps with grip on a wheel.

Do arm sleeves keep you cooler than bare skin?

The makers say so; we cannot confirm it. ROXUN calls its sleeves "cooling" and wicking, and Coolibar says the Ouray's fabric keeps skin "cool, dry." What the UPF 50+ rating does confirm is that most of the sun stays off the skin.

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