Wetsuit Glove Sizing – How to Get the Right Fit | Video Guide
Not sure what size wetsuit gloves to buy? In this practical video guide, Jeff from Wetsuit Centre demonstrates how to measure your hand and check that your gloves fit correctly. Learn what to look for around your fingers, thumb and palm, how to avoid gloves that are too loose or restrictive, and the differences between five-finger gloves, lobster gloves and mittens.
Video Transcript
Introduction – Choosing the Right Wetsuit Glove Size
Hi there, Jeff here from Wetsuit Centre.
Today we're going to talk about wetsuit gloves and, in particular, how to get the sizing right when buying them online.
Unless you already know your glove size and have experience buying wetsuit gloves, choosing the correct size can be a little confusing.
That's what this video is designed to help with.
We're going to look at my hand measurements as a visual reference, then demonstrate what a properly fitting wetsuit glove should look and feel like.
Hopefully, this will help you choose the right size first time, avoiding unnecessary exchanges or uncomfortable, ill-fitting gloves.
How to Measure Your Hand for Wetsuit Gloves
We've included a diagram showing the measurements of my hand.
I usually wear a size Medium in the majority of wetsuit gloves, and that size fits me well.
Different manufacturers use slightly different sizing, but my measurements should provide a useful reference point when you're shopping online.
Take a look at the diagram and compare the dimensions of my hand with your own.
One important measurement is the length of your hand, from the base of your palm towards the tip of your middle finger.
You should also consider the width and circumference of your hand, as these can affect how comfortably the glove fits.
As a rough illustration, if your hand is around a centimetre longer than mine, you might need to move up a size.
If it's smaller, you may need to go down a size.
However, this isn't a universal sizing rule, because glove sizes and proportions vary between brands.
The best approach is to compare your measurements with the manufacturer's size chart for the particular gloves you're considering.
What If You're Between Wetsuit Glove Sizes?
One of the questions we often get is what to do when you're between sizes.
For example, you might be somewhere between a Small and a Medium.
A lot of this comes down to personal preference and the design of the glove.
Personally, I prefer a wetsuit glove to fit fairly closely.
The reason is that you want to avoid excess space inside the glove where water can collect.
If the glove is too large, water can pool around your fingers and palm.
This can make your hands feel colder and reduce comfort when you're surfing or taking part in other watersports.
Neoprene also has some natural stretch, so a close-fitting glove may become more comfortable as you use it.
However, you don't want the glove to be excessively tight.
If it's pulling your fingers into an uncomfortable position, restricting circulation or making it difficult to grip, it's too small.
The aim is a snug, comfortable fit without loose pockets of neoprene or unnecessary restriction.
How Should Wetsuit Gloves Fit Around Your Fingers?
Let's look at a couple of gloves to demonstrate what a good fit should look like.
Here we've got an O'Neill Psycho Tech glove and a C-Skins Legend glove.
The C-Skins Legend is a more affordable option and has traditionally been one of our most popular models.
When you put a wetsuit glove on, one of the first things to check is the length of the fingers.
You want the material to fit closely around the ends of your fingers without excessive space.
If there's a lot of spare neoprene at the fingertips, the glove is probably too long.
That extra material can make it more difficult to grip your surfboard or other equipment.
On the other hand, you don't want the fingertips to be so tight that your fingers are compressed or forced to curl.
The same applies to your thumb.
The glove should fit comfortably along the full length of each finger and thumb, allowing you to move your hand naturally.
Checking the Fit Between Your Fingers
Another important area is the space between your fingers.
Ideally, the material should sit comfortably into the gaps between your fingers rather than leaving large sections of loose neoprene.
Some gloves have a little excess material in this area, almost creating a webbing effect.
This can be uncomfortable and may allow additional water to collect inside the glove.
It can also interfere with your grip.
When trying on a glove, spread your fingers and close your hand a few times.
Make sure the glove follows your hand movements without pulling uncomfortably or leaving excessive loose material between your fingers.
Checking the Palm and Grip
Next, check how the glove fits around your palm.
You don't want lots of excess material that you can pinch or gather together.
Loose neoprene around the palm can create pockets where water collects, making the glove less comfortable and reducing your grip.
However, you can also experience problems when a glove is too small.
If the material is stretched excessively across your palm, it can begin pulling your fingers into a curled position.
This makes it more difficult to open and close your hand comfortably.
Over time, that additional resistance can contribute to hand fatigue or cramping.
This is particularly important for sports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing, where you're holding onto equipment for extended periods.
If a glove is constantly trying to pull your fingers closed, your hand and forearm muscles have to work harder.
So make sure the palm fits closely without excessive tightness or bunching.
Five-Finger Wetsuit Gloves – Flexibility and Dexterity
Once you've worked out the correct size, the next question is which type of glove you should choose.
There are several different styles, and the best option depends on what you're doing and the conditions you'll be using them in.
Five-finger wetsuit gloves are a popular all-round choice.
Because each finger moves independently, they provide good dexterity.
This is useful for activities where you need to grip equipment, adjust straps or use your hands for more detailed movements.
For surfing, a five-finger glove can provide a comfortable balance between warmth and flexibility.
The thickness you choose will depend on the water temperature and how well you tolerate the cold.
However, in very cold conditions, you may prefer a glove that keeps more of your fingers together.
That's where lobster gloves and mittens come in.
Lobster Wetsuit Gloves – Extra Warmth in Cold Water
Lobster gloves have a different design from conventional five-finger gloves.
They group some of your fingers together while keeping others separate for gripping.
The advantage is that your fingers share warmth, helping reduce heat loss in colder conditions.
This can make lobster gloves particularly useful for winter surfing.
They're worth considering if you're surfing in colder areas such as Scotland, the North Sea, Ireland or Scandinavia.
However, the fit is slightly different from a conventional five-finger glove.
When trying on lobster gloves, check that your fingers reach comfortably towards the ends of the finger compartments.
You don't want large gaps at the ends.
Another useful test is to curl your fingers.
The glove should move naturally with your hand.
If your fingers are moving around independently inside the compartments while the neoprene stays in place, the glove may be too large.
That extra movement can be uncomfortable and may allow water to collect inside.
The aim is for your fingers and the glove to move together.
Wetsuit Mittens – Maximum Insulation
Mittens take the same idea a step further by keeping most of your fingers together inside one compartment.
This generally provides better thermal insulation than having every finger separated.
They're particularly useful in very cold water or for people who tend to feel the cold in their hands.
You'll find wetsuit mittens in different thicknesses, including 5mm and 7mm options.
The trade-off is reduced dexterity.
Because your fingers are grouped together, you can't move them as independently as you would in a conventional five-finger glove.
That may not matter too much when you're surfing in extremely cold conditions, but it can make certain tasks more difficult.
When trying on mittens, check the fit in the same way as lobster gloves.
Your fingers should sit comfortably inside the compartment without excessive movement or spare material.
What Thickness Wetsuit Gloves Do You Need?
Wetsuit gloves are available in a wide range of thicknesses.
At the thinner end, you can find gloves around 1mm thick, while more heavily insulated gloves and mittens can reach 5mm or 7mm.
The correct thickness depends on three main questions:
- What watersport will you be doing?
- Where will you be using the gloves, and how cold is the water?
- How well do you personally tolerate the cold?
For surfing, you may spend a considerable amount of time sitting relatively still in the water waiting for waves.
During those periods, your hands can get cold, particularly in winter.
A thicker glove may therefore be more appropriate.
For activities such as kitesurfing and windsurfing, the situation can be slightly different.
You're often holding onto a bar or boom for extended periods, which makes grip comfort especially important.
Why Thicker Gloves Aren't Always Better
Although thicker gloves provide more insulation, they can also make gripping equipment more difficult.
If you're constantly squeezing through thick layers of neoprene, your hand and forearm muscles have to work harder.
This can lead to fatigue, forearm discomfort or cramping.
That's why some kitesurfers and windsurfers prefer thinner gloves, provided the water conditions allow it.
A thinner glove can provide greater flexibility and make it easier to maintain a comfortable grip.
However, you still need enough insulation for the conditions.
The best approach is to consider the water temperature, how much movement you'll be doing and whether your hands will spend long periods submerged.
You want a glove that provides the right amount of warmth without making it unnecessarily difficult to use your hands.
Final Advice – Getting the Right Wetsuit Gloves
Hopefully, this guide has helped explain how to choose the correct wetsuit glove size and the differences between the main glove styles.
Start by measuring your hand and comparing the measurements with the manufacturer's size chart.
Use the measurements shown in this video as a visual reference, remembering that I generally wear a Medium.
When trying on gloves, pay particular attention to the fingertips, the spaces between your fingers and the palm.
You want a snug fit without excessive loose neoprene, but the gloves shouldn't be so tight that they restrict circulation or make gripping uncomfortable.
Then think about the type of glove you need.
Five-finger gloves provide good dexterity.
Lobster gloves and mittens offer additional insulation by keeping your fingers together.
Finally, choose a suitable neoprene thickness for the water temperature and your activity.
If you're unsure which size or style is right for you, take a look at the Wetsuit Centre website or contact our team for advice.
Hopefully, that's been helpful.
If there are other watersports questions you'd like us to cover in a future video, leave a comment.
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you next time!
Further Wetsuit Glove & Cold-Water Advice
For more help choosing the correct gloves, explore our Wetsuit Gloves collection, where you'll find different thicknesses and styles for surfing and other watersports.
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