I’ve had people tell me I’m taking this jet ski thing a little too far when I wear my gloves.
Too far??? I don’t think it’s far enough!
I don’t wear jet ski riding gloves to be “that guy.” I wear them because it makes sense! Let’s talk about why gloves make sense and what is the best jet ski riding gloves.
What’s The Best Jet Ski Gloves?
Gloves made for…
Will work for your jet ski! (Pretty much anything that has handlebars will be similar to “jet ski gloves”. Go with whatever is cheaper and most comfortable for yourself!)
I’m personally a fan of fingerless gloves because they allow me to be able to operate my smartphone without taking them off.
What you need might be different from what I use.
So, I’ve listed off the top 3 gloves below:
1. Jettribe GP-30 Pixel Series
What I like most about this style of gloves is that it’s made with watercraft in mind with its padding. Its reinforced palm is a really nice touch, along with a sticky finger silicone grip too (for the throttle and brakes).
You also have the pre-curved fingers and palm with a more natural feel, which also makes it easier to put on and off.
See Jettribe GP-30 Pixel Series here (Amazon Link Ad).
2. BPS Water Gloves
I needed to add neoprene water gloves to the list, especially if you do any riding in the off-season.
This type of glove is what you want as a general-purpose, but also is the good option if you ride when it gets cold.
An interesting thing about neoprene gloves is that they will feel the best just by the nature of neoprene. (I cover this a bit in the life jacket post when talking about neoprene) This is the same stuff wetsuits are made of and if you’re already wearing a wetsuit this will be a practical option to go with it.
See the BPS Water Gloves here (Amazon Link Ad).
3. SANTIC Classic Fingerless Cycling Gloves
A personal favorite of mine. While they might not be personal watercraft gloves, they work great with jet skiing.
They’re built with bikes in mind, but they have the same protection and grip you would expect. Plus, they’re fingerless!!!!!!! Which I love as I can use my phone and get a drink of water more easily. It’s a pain to take gloves off to use your phone, so I go fingerless when I can (((gloves))).
But seriously, I love this style of gloves when I ride. They dry quickly from water or sweat. They’re super easy to take off. And to add to it, they have the soft foam insert to cushion the hands.
Oh, and the price isn’t so bad either.
You can buy them here (Amazon Link Ad).
Why Do You Need Gloves When You Ride?
Riding gloves will make sense once you start riding a personal watercraft a few times, but let me list off the main reasons.
- Better grip – PWCs are a wet ride, and you want a lot of grip.
- Less fatigue – People tend to have a death grip when riding, which wears you out, and gloves help.
- Lots of friction – Along with the grip there is friction which leads to sores, so gloves are a must.
- PWC handlebar grips suck – Especially – Older watercraft have horrible grips, or they’re worn out.
- Dock line friction – Having gloves on helps with the rope burn you may get when pulling dock line out too quickly, or it’s getting jerked away from you.
- Everything is hot – People ride watercraft when it’s warm, so everything you touch tends to be HOT!!! Docks, seats, even the handlebars get hot and having gloves on helps.
- Splinters – Getting a splinter is not a common thing, but older docks and even damaged fiberglass can give you splinters, but having riding gloves on provide some protection.
- Gunk – Things get “goo” on them, even dock line can develop goo on them, and having gloves on is nice and gives better grip against the goo.
- Better visibility – Riding gloves gives you better visibility, especially when in a riding group, as you often communicate with hand signals.
- Winter rides – If you ride in the winter, you’ll need some gloves to keep your hands warm.
Factors To Consider
There are several factors to consider when it comes to gloves.
- Grip.
- Fabric.
- Quick drying.
- Sizing, not too big or small.
- Easy on and off.
- Coverage.
Using all these factors can help you better find gloves that fit your riding style on your jet ski.
The needs of someone who races will be different from someone out on a winter ride or a warm Sunday drive.
Fingerless Vs. Full
You can get riding gloves with a full finger cover, or in a fingerless option.
I’m a fan of the fingerless gloves because I can still use the touchscreen on my phone (or jet ski) and have more precision when doing things.
If it’s winter time, I go with the full covering as I need the warmth.
At the end of the day, it’s more about personal preference. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Where To Keep Them?
I keep my gloves in my dry bag that I use every time I get on my watercraft.
Before I ever get to the water, my stuff is in my dry bag. Once at the watercraft and sitting, I get my gloves out and start my process of riding.
I don’t keep my gloves in my jet ski, mostly because it’s not 100% dry and I don’t want them getting moldy. Also, if I go on a winter ride, I want the gloves to be warm.
When I’m done riding, I put the gloves and other soft items up to let them dry out before they go back in the dry bag on the next ride.
How To Clean
The label and the packaging the gloves came in will tell you how to clean and maintain your gloves.
What I do is put them in the washing machine with my other similar riding gear and wash them on the gentle cycle. I don’t put them in the dryer as it shrinks them and wears them out, so I let them air dry.
It’s similar to washing motorcycle gloves that this website does a good job explaining.
Are Gloves Required?
You do not need gloves to ride a jet ski, and most rental places are fine without you having them.
While you don’t need gloves to drive, I highly suggest you get some. After your first ride, you will quickly learn how nice it is to have some hand and finger protection.
You will need a license in most states, so make sure you have that.
Other Riding Gear You Need
Gloves are not the only needed PWC accessory, there are several.
I have a guide about what to wear on a jet ski, and another guide on jet ski accessories.
I’ve never had the need for gloves…even though the previous owner of my old ski included his when I bought it, so you aren’t alone.
I’m one of those weird guys that doesn’t wear a golf glove either;)