Best Sun Gloves and Arm Sleeves for Fishing (2026)

On a boat the backs of your hands are in the sun from the first cast to the last, and every fish, rope and rinse wipes sunscreen off them. UPF gloves fix that without reapplying. Arm sleeves do the same job for forearms on a T-shirt day. The choice is about finger cut and palm for the fishing you do, and how the pieces overlap.

How we chose: we did not test these gloves or sleeves; we compared UPF ratings and the standards the makers name, palm and cuff designs and size charts, and kept only products sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on September 29, 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 wet most of the day, so a rating from a named test matters more here than on a loose shirt.

Buff is the one glove maker here with 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, and the listing says the UPF 50 "meets criteria by The Skin Cancer Foundation."

For the sleeves, Coolibar's sun protection FAQ says its UPF 50+ is "guaranteed for the life of the garment as set by ASTM/AATCC standards." Simms, KastKing and ROXUN give UPF 50+ with no method, and Columbia's glove listing gives no number at all.

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

Tying knots and changing hooks. You want your fingertips free. The Columbia Terminal Tackle has a "fingerless silhouette" that Columbia says "makes tying knots a little easier," and the KastKing Sol Armis leaves the fingers open too.

Stripping fly line. The Simms SolarFlex has half fingers, "extended index & middle fingers," and "mapped AxSude designed for stripping guards and line management," per the listing. The open palm gives "direct contact with your oars, rods, and equipment." That is the pick for a fly angler who strips line through the fingers all day.

Paddling and rowing. A padded palm helps with blisters. KastKing reinforces "the primary wear points on the palm" with microfiber, and its extra-long cuff is meant to meet a long sleeve.

Most spin and bait fishing. The Buff Aqua's three-quarter-finger length covers more of each finger than the fingerless styles 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.

Whichever you pick, the 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 for heat and still need forearm cover, or when a club or work shirt is short-sleeved.

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 is plain that they are "not recommended for swimming" and are not chlorine or salt water resistant, so treat them as boat and shore wear.

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

Which to buy for the fishing you do

• Bait and spin from a boat or pier: the Buff Aqua. It has the Skin Cancer Foundation behind its UPF 50, covers more of each finger than the fingerless styles, and the pull tabs help when your hands are wet.
• Fly fishing: the Simms SolarFlex. The open palm keeps rod feel, and the AxSuede on the index and middle fingers is where the line runs when you strip.
• Kayak, canoe or rowing: the KastKing Sol Armis, for the padded microfiber palm at the wear points and the long cuff that meets a long sleeve.
• Gripping a wet rod or wheel: the Columbia Terminal Tackle, with its silicone palm, if you can live without a stated UPF number.
• Short sleeves: add the Coolibar sleeves for a size chart and a UPF guarantee, or the ROXUN sleeves if yours ride up on the cast.

Whichever glove you choose, buy it in the size your palm measures, not the size of your winter gloves, and check that the cuff reaches under your sleeve.

Where gloves, sleeves and shirt meet

Burns happen in gaps. Three checks before you leave the dock:

• Glove cuff under the sleeve. Pull the glove cuff up, then the shirt sleeve or arm sleeve down over it. KastKing designed its long cuff for this.
• 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 on the cast.

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

KastKing says to "machine wash in warm water"; Coolibar says machine wash cold and tumble dry; ROXUN says cold wash and air dry. Rinse fish slime and salt out after each trip, since a stiff, salty 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 protect against fishing line cuts?

Not reliably. Buff says its Aqua gloves protect "from sun, surf, chafing, and cuts," but sun gloves are thin knits; for fighting big fish on braid, use a glove built for that job.

Are full-finger sun gloves better?

For sun, yes: nothing is left for sunscreen. KastKing sells a full-finger Sol Armis Pro, for example. The trade is feel: bare fingertips are easier for knots and hooks, which is why the gloves here are fingerless or three-quarter.

Can I wear sun gloves while driving the boat?

Yes. The silicone palm on the Columbia glove and the partial silicone palm on Buff's Aqua+ help grip a wheel as well as a rod.

Why does the KastKing listing say SPF instead of UPF?

It is a wording slip. SPF is the FDA's sunscreen rating; fabrics are rated in UPF. The glove's Amazon title says UPF50+, and KastKing's product page uses both terms but gives the rating as "UPF 50."

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WildProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. UPF ratings and sizes are the makers' own.