Looking to keep the hands warm this winter? Look no further than this ultimate guide to the best surf gloves for 2021/22.
Every seasoned surfer knows that the first places where the cold water will hit are the feet and the hands. When the H2O dips to the 40s and the 50s (that’s the under 10s for our European readers!) in the PNW or over in New York, up Norway’s coast or on the English North Sea, long boarders, shortboarders and everyone in between will be looking for new rubber to keep the digits and the toes warm.
Yup, surf gloves are an essential piece of kit for those who like to surf the full four seasons, especially as some of the finest storm swells only hit California to Cornwall when it’s chilly.
Cue this guide to the best surf gloves for 2021/22. It’s been curated by our in-house gear experts and contains recommendations that are not only cracking for keeping the hands balmy during those cold-season surf sessions but also pretty easy to get hold of with just a click of the mouse. Enjoy…

We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
Check out our ultimate guide to buying all wetsuits and wetsuit accessories
A quick-jump guide to our best surf gloves
- XCEL 3mm Drylock Texture Skin 5-Finger Wetsuit Gloves – The overall best surf gloves for 2021
- Rip Curl 3​/2 Flashbomb 5-Finger Wetsuit Gloves – Best for upper-intermediate to advanced surfers
- Patagonia R3 Yulex Gloves – The best eco-friendly wetsuit gloves
- Vissla 7mm 7 Seas Wetsuit Mittens – For very cold conditions
- Billabong 3mm Furnace Wetsuit Gloves – The best entry-level glove for beginners
XCEL 3mm Drylock Texture Skin 5-Finger Wetsuit Gloves – The best surf gloves for 2021
PRICE WHEN REVIEWED: $74.95
There’s not much that XCEL can do wrong these days, especially not when we get a-talking about the Drylock range. It’s pretty much changed the way we think about keeping the warmth in while wearing a wetty in the winter. The aim here is all about cutting flushing while adding intelligent thermal tech to the key panels. Cue these gloves, which manage that by utilizing a trademarked donut seal and coupling that with Celliant Black smart fibers.
If you’ve not yet used the Celliant Black stuff that XCEL is adding to its top-of-the-range wetsuits, then we’ll just say this. It’s warm. But, importantly, it also warms up very fast. That helps you dodge that five minutes of pain in the fingers when you paddle out for the first time. Another innovation that helps put these bad boys up there as the best surf gloves for 2021/22 is that Texture Skin lining. It’s crosshatched and bubbled surface is superior at blocking oncoming winds, all while adding good friction to the board surface to keep you popping up right in sub-zero climes.
Generally speaking, the gloves are a middling 3mm. We think that’s pretty good for the vast majority of winter surf sessions in the vast majority of places – not to thick, not too thin. They also follow the XCEL principle of being fast drying, so you shouldn’t find yourself pulling on soggy mitts for two sessions in a row.
Overall, XCEL have created a solid performance glove that is suited to a wide range of surf locations in temperatures ranging from about 49-58; a top all-round choice for surfers of all levels. Expect to pay for the quality.
- Celliant Black insulation that works a charm
- Trademark cuffs that cut water flushing
- Textured exterior panels that add friction and combat wind
- The price
Rip Curl 3​/2 Flashbomb 5-Finger Wetsuit Gloves
PRICE WHEN REVIEWED: $44.95
True to the Flashbomb style, Rip Curl have opted to go for a 3/2 construction here over a classic 3-mil all over. That hints that these gloves are more suited to performance surfers in the intermediate to expert end of the scale. We’d agree with that, and can report that we definitely feel a little extra sensitivity in the hand panels and more flex all round that we do with comparable models. To put it another way, these gloves might not be quite as warm as their compadres, but they bring more manoeuvrability when in contact with the deck and paddling in the water.
We don’t want that to sound like we’re knocking the thermal abilities, though. We aren’t. The Flashbomb range has made a name for itself by striking a great balance between warmth and flex. That’s especially true since the introduction of the E5 lining back around 2016. It’s still going and is the powerhouse behind these gloves, which we’d say manage sessions of 2-3 hours with ease on the West Coast, right up to southern Canada.
The other features are pretty standard but nonetheless helpful. There’s a sold gel palm friction pad that really helps to add friction on the rails, along with a tight seam construction that effectively cuts flushing water without too much hinderance of panel movement.
- Very flexible
- Affordable
- Good gel panels for added friction on the board
- More suited to upper-intermediate and advanced surfers
- Some people might say they are too thin
Patagonia R3 Yulex Gloves
PRICE WHEN REVIEWED: $75


There’s absolutely no question in our minds that these Patagonia hand warmers are the best wetsuit gloves for the most eco-conscious surfers out there. This legendary outdoors company has gone to great lengths to add sustainability to the neoprene industry. They’re solution? Yulex natural rubber, which comes from Forest Stewardship Council-certified plantations of trees that are way more green than anything on the market right now. The whole process also makes use of water-effient dope dyeing and maximizes material usage.
But cutting the carbon emissions isn’t the only reason that Patagonia’s R3 wetsuit gloves make it onto our list. To put it simply: These are darn warm. The Yulex might make Extinction Rebellion happy, but it’s also very efficient at retaining and holding warmth in the water, and we’ve used them in West Coast surf spots that drop to 45 and less, though the gloves perform best in locations between 48-59 F.
If there’s a downside to the Yulex it’s that we find it drys a touch slower than its limestone neo counterparts. To be honest, that’s not such a problem with gloves as it is with wetsuit booties or wetsuits themselves, because you tend to pull these on at the last moment before jumping in the water.
- The most eco-friendly wetsuit gloves out there
- Amazing warmth retention
- Nice design
- Slower drying that other gloves
- The price
Vissla 7mm 7 Seas Wetsuit Mittens
PRICE WHEN REVIEWED: $54.95
If the water you’re planning on surfing is cold – like, super cold – then there are three things you can do about in the world of wetsuit gloves. One is up the thickness of the neoprene. The other is go for a mitten instead of a glove. And the last is go for a very high-quality rubber manufacture. These Vissla 7 Seas Mittens do all of the above!
We’ll go out on a limb and say that there’s hardly anywhere south of the Arctic Circle that could give these a run for their money, even on the coldest December days. They come with a fat 7mm of protection, have blind-stitched seams that keep the water from rolling in and out, and make use of Vissla’s impressive hollow fibre inlays – like loft insulation but for your digits, folks. There’s also a hardy Duramax Exterior, which we do find cuts the flex a little, but fends off wind like it’s nobody’s business.
Look, we’re not going to recommend these if you’re a casual surfer pretty much anywhere from the PNW down. But, if you’re a hardcore wave chaser who cannot shake the idea of that put-hairs-on-your-chest Alaska romp each season, the 7 Seas mitts won’t disappoint.
- Very, very warm
- Mitten construction makes them warmer
- Vissla offers reliable neoprene
- Are heavy
- Designed for the coldest of waters
Rip Curl 3mm Dawn Patrol Wetsuit Gloves – Our best surf gloves for beginner surfers
PRICE WHEN REVIEWED: $29.95
The Rip Curl 3mm Dawn Patrol Wetsuit Gloves cover all the bases without any bells and whistles. They also come in at under $30 a pop, which is great news if you’re just starting out and thinking of dipping the proverbial toe in the proverbial winter waters. We don’t just recommend them because of cost-value balance, though…
These are actually an all-round great surf glove that should keep you going for a couple of seasons. The Dawn Patrol range from RC places a heavy emphasis on heat retention, and they’ve managed that pretty impressively for the last few years running (we’ve surfed sessions of 1-2 hours in them no problem, and have used the booty versions extensively).
On top of that, the 2021/22 iteration comes with a pretty effective O-Ring Cuff entry that minimizes water flushing and the brand’s well-rated Superstretch Neoprene, a well-balanced rubber for hardiness and stretch. It’s basically the dream glove if you don’t want to spend too much but also don’t want frozen fingers. They’re warm, light, flexy, and not to imposing if you’re not yet used to wearing wetsuit gloves.
- Great entry level choice
- Cheap
- Not the warmest gloves out there
- Not the flexiest gloves out there
A quick guide to our top wetsuit gloves for 2022
- Xcel Infiniti 5-finger Glove 3mm Wetsuit Gloves – The best surf gloves for 2022
- C-Skins Session 3mm Women’s Wetsuit Gloves – The best gloves for lady surfers
- Xcel 5mm Infiniti 3-Finger Glove – For the colder destinations in UK and Europe
- Patagonia R3 Yulex – The most eco-friendly surf gloves out there right now
- Rip Curl 3mm Dawn Patrol Wetsuit Gloves – Our best surf gloves for beginner surfers
Xcel Infiniti 5-finger Glove 3mm Wetsuit Gloves
Okay, here it is: We’re a little bit in love with the Xcel Infiniti range right now. Na, scrap that, we’re in love with Xcel right now. Fresh off the back of offering the uber-balmy Drylock X last year, this trailblazing manufacturer has upped the game with this model to involve pretty much EVERYTHING we’re looking for in a surf glove.
Let’s dig deeper. Number one: It’s a casual 3mm. That’s the perfect balance of warmth and thickness for most destinations that we regularly surf in Europe and the UK, but there’s also scope to take care of surf trips to the US and even Scandinavia in the spring and autumn. Number two: These are five-fingered gloves, a format that really lends itself to the bulk of surfers (mittens are so 2015, you feel me?), trading a little warmth for extra dexterity.
But whatever joules you may lose from the extra fingers, you more than gain thanks to Xcel’s awesome rubber. It’s an eco-friendly Japanese limestone that comes with a fleece-like lining that is, quite simply, one of the very best in the business. Finally, the whole shebang is capped with Taitex seam sealants that really chop down water flow, and a rubber palm grip that really helps with rail grabs and pop ups.
It’s a cracking pair of gloves.
- Really light and flexible
- Very warm thanks to Xcel’s trademark lining
- Versatile glove for use in a wide variety of surf locations
- Not the cheapest option on the market
- You do lose some warmth with five-finger gloves
C-Skins Session 3mm Women’s Wetsuit Gloves – The best wetsuit gloves for women
We’ve never been shy of saying just how criminal it is that there’s so little gear tailored towards the female side of the market. Loads of our women surf comrades have found it a nightmare to find everything from fitted gloves to boots to wetsuits in the range they like in the past. C-Skins have made steps to put an end to that, but we don’t JUST list these because they’re one of the few options specifically catered to the contours of the finer sex.
Nope, C-Skins have actually come a very long way since they first entered the market. They’ve developed a fantastic stretch property in the rubber that they’ve branded as Xtend Neoprene. It’s in these gloves and it reminds us a lot of the bouncy-style of older Rip Curl gear that we loved. You’ll also get 3mm of coverage all over the hand and a nifty smart material on the palm that increases grip on the deck of the board.
- Tailored to female hand shapes
- We really like the C-Skins Xtend neoprene
- Good grip on the deck of the board
- As one of the few female-specific gloves they are in-demand
- Thickness isn’t good for uber-cold surf spots – Norway, Iceland.
Xcel 5mm Infiniti 3 Finger Glove
If the water you’re planning on surfing is cold – like, super cold – then there are three things you can do about in the world of wetsuit gloves. One is up the thickness of the neoprene. The other is go for a mitten instead of a glove. And the last is go for a very high-quality rubber manufacture. These Xcel 5mm Infiniti 3 Finger Gloves do just about all of that.
Thickness wise, you’re cranking it up to 5 mils here. It’s a level that we like because it’s not too prohibitive on the flex front and works for most EU and UK surf spots in the middle of winter. Basically, your hands won’t be feeling like breezeblocks once you’re in the water, but you will feel a nice thermo kick from the extra rubber. It’s also not just any old rubber. Here, you get the bonuses of Xcel’s fantastic Infiniti range, complete with Plush Thermo Lite linings that work wonders with heat retention.
What makes them a notch warmer than other options is the mit-style construction. Usually, that means bunching all the fingers together and separating the thumb, but we really like what Xcel have done with the division of forefingers, thumb and other digits. It does feel warmer but you get a little of that dexterity that’s missing with full-on mittens.
- A fantastic neoprene from Xcel
- Mitten shape helps to retain heat
- 5mm to keep you real warm
- Cuffs might be a touch loose for some
- Versatile construction
Patagonia R3 Yulex Wetsuit Gloves – The most eco-friendly wetsuit gloves out there


There’s absolutely no question in our minds that these Patagonia hand warmers are the best wetsuit gloves for the most eco-conscious surfers out there. This legendary outdoors company has gone to great lengths to add sustainability to the neoprene industry. They’re solution? Yulex natural rubber, which comes from Forest Stewardship Council-certified plantations of trees that are way more green than anything on the market right now. The whole process also makes use of water-effient dope dyeing and maximizes material usage.
But cutting the carbon emissions isn’t the only reason that Patagonia’s R3 wetsuit gloves make it onto our list. To put it simply: These are darn warm. The Yulex might make Extinction Rebellion happy, but they are also very efficient at retaining and holding warmth in the water, and we’ve used them in Scottish and Welsh surf spots that drop to under 5 and less, though the gloves do perform best in locations with H2O that’s 8+.
If there’s a downside to the Yulex it’s that we find it drys a touch slower than its limestone neo counterparts. To be honest, that’s not such a problem with gloves as it is with wetsuit booties or wetsuits themselves, because you tend to pull these on at the last moment before jumping in the water.
- The most eco-friendly wetsuit gloves out there
- Amazing warmth retention
- Nice design
- Slower drying that other gloves
- The price
Rip Curl 3mm Dawn Patrol Wetsuit Gloves – Our best surf gloves for beginner surfers
The Rip Curl 3mm Dawn Patrol Wetsuit Gloves cover all the bases without any bells and whistles. They also come in at under £30 a pop, which is great news if you’re just starting out and thinking of dipping the proverbial toe in the proverbial winter waters (or maybe the proverbial finger is better?). We don’t just recommend them because of cost-value balance, though…
These are actually an all-round great surf glove that should keep you going for a couple of seasons. The Dawn Patrol range from RC places a heavy emphasis on heat retention, and they’ve managed that pretty impressively for the last few years running (we’ve surfed sessions of 1-2 hours in them no problem, and have used the bootie versions extensively).
On top of that, the 2021/22 iteration comes with a pretty effective O-Ring Cuff entry that minimizes flushing, along with the brand’s well-rated Superstretch Neoprene, which is very flexy. It’s basically the dream glove if you don’t want to spend too much but also don’t want frozen fingers. They’re warm, light, flexy, and not to imposing if you’re not yet used to wearing wetsuit gloves.
- Great entry level choice
- Cheap
- Not the warmest gloves out there
- Not the flexiest gloves out there
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!