"How to" Fitting your new Waterski Gloves!

Most fit complaints we get on gloves are not sizing problems. They are a new pair of gloves behaving exactly the way a new pair of gloves is supposed to behave. Reuben runs through how to measure, what a correct fit actually feels like, and the one test worth doing before you go anywhere near the water.

Reuben on fitting a water ski glove — 2 minutes 27 seconds.

Why the fit matters

A good pair of gloves is worth having whether you are a casual skier or one of the top-end skiers ripping through the course. Get the right pair the first time and you save yourself torn calluses and blisters. You will also hold on longer in high-load situations — slalom and jumping in particular — with less forearm fatigue and your nails protected.

Fitting your gloves, step by step

Measure the widest part of your palm

Run a tape around the widest part of your hand — normally through the centre of the palm — and around the back of the hand. That single measurement is what the size charts are built on.

Check it against the size guide on the product page

Glove sizing is not standard across brands, so there is no universal chart. Every glove we sell has its own size guide on its own product page — use that one, for that glove. Depending on the model, sizes run anywhere from 3XS through to 2XL.

Check the fit: no bunching, fingers at the end, strap secure

Put the glove on and hold something like a handle. There should be no material bunching across the palm, your fingers should sit right at the end of the glove, and the strap should do up securely.

Test it on a handle under tension

Loop a handle over a bollard or have someone hold it, then grip it the way you would behind the boat. Under load is the only way to know: check for bunching against the handle, and check the glove feels close and secure the way you want it to.

Why new gloves are so hard to get on

Brand new and dry, gloves are a fight to get into. Precurved gloves should be very difficult. This is deliberate.

Most water ski gloves are built with neoprene on the back of the hand and Amara on the palm side. Both of those materials stretch with wear and stretch again once they are wet. A glove that slides on easily in the shop, dry, is a glove that will be loose and bunching on the handle by the third set.

Match the glove to your handle

This is not in the video, but it is worth knowing before you buy, because the palm material is not just about durability — it is about what it is gripping.

• Kevlar palms work best against natural rubber handles — the high-end slalom and jump handles.
• Less aggressive palm materials suit EVA and suede handles.
• Neoprene-backed gloves are the comfortable, easy-fitting option, and they give you some sun protection on the back of the hand.

If you are not sure what your handle is made of, our ropes and handles breakdown goes through the grip materials.

Common questions

Why are my new water ski gloves so hard to get on?

Because they should be. New gloves are difficult to get into when they are brand new and dry, and precurved gloves should be very difficult. They are built that way on purpose — they stretch with wear and once they are in the water.

How do I measure my hand for water ski gloves?

Measure around the widest part of your palm, which is normally through the centre of the palm, and around the back of the hand. Compare that measurement against the size guide on the product page of the glove you are looking at.

How should a water ski glove fit?

Snug. No material bunching across the palm when you are holding a handle, fingers right at the end of the glove, and the strap doing up securely. It should feel snug when dry — gloves move more once they are wet.

What are water ski gloves made of?

Most gloves use neoprene on the back of the hand and Amara on the palm side. Both materials stretch with wear and in the water, which is why a new glove feels tighter than a broken-in one.

My gloves feel too tight — should I exchange them for a bigger size?

Not straight away. Fit complaints on gloves are more often a fitting-technique issue than a sizing issue, and a new precurved glove is meant to be hard to get on. Work through the fit checks above first. If you are still not getting the right fit after that, start an exchange through our returns form.

Are precurved gloves worth it?

The precurve matches the shape your hand takes on the handle, so once the glove has stretched to your hand there is less material to bunch up in the palm. The trade-off is that they are the hardest gloves to get on when new and dry.

Do I need different gloves for different handles?

It helps. Kevlar palms grip best on natural rubber handles, which is what high-end slalom and jump handles use. On EVA and suede handles a less aggressive palm material works better. Match the glove to the handle you actually ski behind.

Do water ski gloves actually make a difference?

Yes — fewer blisters and torn calluses, less forearm fatigue, protection for your nails, and you hold on longer under high load. That matters most in slalom and jumping, where the loads are highest.

Related guides

• The Breakdown: waterski gloves — palm materials, finger lengths and what suits which skier.
• The Breakdown: water ski ropes and handles

Shop the gear

• Water ski gloves — sizing charts are on each product page.
• Ski ropes and handles

Between two sizes, or not sure which palm material suits your handle? Give us a call — we fit these in the shop every week.