Best Rain Gloves for Golf
Rain gloves grip better the wetter they get. Here is how they work, when to switch to them, and what to look for in a pair that lasts.
Rain gloves are the rare piece of golf gear that genuinely works better in bad conditions: their synthetic suede-style material grips more strongly when wet, so the soggier your round gets, the more securely the club sits in your hands. They are sold in pairs — you wear one on each hand — and for wet-weather golfers they are one of the cheapest, most effective upgrades in the bag.
A regular leather glove does the opposite: once it soaks through, it turns slick and the club starts moving at impact. This guide covers how rain gloves work, when to make the switch during a round, what separates a good pair from a frustrating one, how to care for them, and the rest of the wet-weather routine that keeps your grip alive.
- Rain gloves use synthetic materials that grip harder when wet.
- They are worn as a pair, on both hands.
- Switch before your regular glove soaks through, not after.
- Fit should be snug — wet conditions punish loose material.
- Dry them flat and naturally; heat ruins the material.
What are rain gloves and how do they work?
Rain gloves are thin gloves made from microfibre suede-style synthetics rather than leather. Dry, they feel slightly less tacky than a fresh leather glove; wet, the fibres of the material bite into the grip and traction actually increases. That inversion is the whole product: instead of fighting the water, the glove uses it. Because the effect works best when both hands connect to the club the same way, they are sold and worn as pairs — which also means your hands stay warmer, a quiet bonus in cold rain.
When should you switch to rain gloves?
Earlier than most golfers do. The common mistake is nursing a soaked leather glove for three holes before giving in — by then you have already hit several shots with a slipping club. Put rain gloves on as soon as steady rain starts or your grips begin to feel greasy, and keep your regular glove somewhere dry in case conditions improve. Some wet-climate golfers simply start the round in rain gloves when the forecast is grim; there is no rule that you must wait for the rain to arrive.
What should you look for in a pair?
Snug fit first: wet-weather golf punishes loose, wrinkled material, so rain gloves should fit like a second skin, slightly tighter than you might buy a leather glove. Look for a breathable back so your hands do not overheat, secure closure tabs, and stitching that survives being wrung out. Beyond that, the honest truth is that most reputable pairs perform similarly — this is a category where the technology is simple and mature, so fit and durability are the real differentiators, not marketing claims.
How do you care for rain gloves?
Let them dry flat and naturally after the round — draped over your bag or a radiator-free rail, never on direct heat, which stiffens and cracks the synthetic material. Most pairs can be rinsed clean of dirt and grass and simply air-dried. Store them dry rather than balled up wet in a bag pocket, where they will mildew. Treated well, a pair lasts seasons; the usual cause of death is being forgotten, soaked, in a side pocket all summer.
How do you keep the rest of your grip dry?
Gloves are half the equation; grips are the other half. Keep a dry towel under your umbrella's ribs and wipe grips before every shot, keep the bag's rain hood closed between shots, and consider that worn, glazed grips are twice as slippery when wet — if rain golf is your reality, fresh grips matter as much as good gloves; see our guide to grips for sweaty hands, which overlaps heavily. And when the rain wins entirely, take the session indoors: our winter and rainy day practice guide covers how.
Rained off completely? Find an indoor golf simulator near you, plan with our winter practice guide, or sort your grip setup with best golf grips for sweaty hands.