If you’re drawn to water activities like I am, you likely get your share of blisters and sunburn. Years ago, I started wearing open-finger gloves when kayaking and stand-up paddling, and they’ve made a huge difference.
When I found Mustang Survival Traction UV Open Finger Gloves, they became my go-to water gloves. I pack them on any trip when I’m planning to kayak, SUP, sail, and even fish. They hardly take up any room in my suitcase, and I’d definitely miss them if I forgot to bring them along.
Made from lightweight polyester fabric and spandex knit with UV-treated yarns, the gloves help protect your hands from the sun. I especially like the extended wrist coverage that covers more of your skin than standard paddling gloves that often end at the wrist. Pairing snaps on the gloves aid in keeping them together for storage.
To protect your palms, the gloves have an AX Suede G-Series overlay that provides a grippy surface, abrasion resistance, and perforation for venting—so your skin can breathe. Even in warm weather, the gloves feel comfortable and vent well.
Extended fabric on the index fingers reduce blisters and cuts. I can’t count the times I’ve had both on the skin between my thumb and index finger from on-water adventures. But since I started wearing these gloves, I’ve had exactly zero.
Pull tabs make it easy to pull the gloves on and off, but I’ll tell you a secret: You hardly need them. It’s not difficult to don and doff these gloves.
When you use them in salt water, give them a fresh-water rinse before you let them air dry. They’ll dry quickly and will last longer.
The Traction UV Open Finger Gloves come in white with black suede on the palm, and the unisex sizes range from XS to XL. They list for $44.99 and are available on the Mustang Survival site.