Patagonia Sun Gloves

I’ve fished for so many years without gloves. It seems strange saying this now, but it just never occurred to me to do so. As with most of my favourite gear, shortly after putting these Patagonia gloves on, I more or less forgot I was wearing them.

The build quality was as I expected and the fit was spot on. I think they call it ‘3D Fabric Technology’ and the attention to detail is immediately obvious. Multiple panels, carefully positioned seams and well-placed reinforcement all work together to create a glove that feels remarkably natural. I guess hands are complicated shape to wrap fabric around in a way that goes unnoticed, but these gloves manage to do just that.

It wasn’t until the end of the day that I noticed something missing: the feeling of my hands being blasted by the sun all day long. No matter how much sunscreen I’ve slathered on over the years, my hands have always taken a beating from the sun—something the wrinkles probably attest to. Paired with a long-sleeved top, these gloves simply make a day on the river easier.

Wet, dry or in between they are extremely comfortable with a ‘second skin’ fit. The open fingers allow for unencumbered tying of flies, line management and fish handling without any sense of restriction. The fabric dries extremely quickly so I never hesitate to chuck my hand in the river to retrieve a snagged dropper or release a fish. I genuinely can’t see myself fishing again without these gloves on. I only wish I’d started wearing them 30 years ago. Ah well, better late than never!