Gloves

Why You Need Dive Gloves for Spearfishing

Gloves can be a useful addition to your spearfishing kit so it makes sense to invest in a pair that will offer durability and comfort.  There are plenty of different gloves on the market so you should be able to find the perfect pair for you.

Gloves have three important purposes when it comes to spearfishing

1.      Warmth – the longer you are in the water the lower your body temperature will drop.  This is true even in warmer water conditions.  Your extremities such as your hands or feet will suffer the most from this temperature drop and this can spell disaster for spearfishing trips.  If your hands are numb with the cold you will not able to react quickly and use your speargun effectively when you spot prey.  You can buy speargun gloves with added insulation for cooler conditions and lightweight options for warmer waters.

2.      Protection – spearfishing often involves moving around in the close quarters to wrecks and reefs.  This means you will need to protect your hands against abrasion from rocks, corals and sharp edges. Spearfishing gloves offer an additional layer of protection for your hands when you are in the water.  This leaves you free to manoeuvre around without worrying about injuring your hands.

3.      Grip – when you are spearfishing you can benefit from the additional grip specialist gloves can offer.  You can find spearfishing gloves that are flexible and offer textured palm and finger pad sections.  This gives you more grip when holding your speargun and prey and makes your life much easier.

Choosing Spearfishing Gloves

Think carefully about what conditions you will be spearfishing in before you choose gloves. The thicker the glove the more thermal insulation provided.  This will keep your hands warm but you could be sacrificing flexibility.  Make sure you choose a specially designed flexible option such as Beuchat Elaskin gloves.

If you are swimming in warmer waters you can choose the thinner more lightweight gloves that allow you more freedom of movement.  This will make it easy to operate your speargun.

You need to make sure you get gloves that provide a good fit.  The thicker wetsuit versions are designed to keep your hands warm by allowing a thin layer of water into the glove.  This then heats up with your body temperature.  If the gloves are too loose fitting they will allow cold water to flush in and ruin the thermal effects.  If the gloves are too tight they will cut off the circulation and make your hands feel numb and very uncomfortable.