Thanksgiving is upon us. While for many of us there is a lot to be thankful for, hardcore Pickleballers out there must not be feeling super grateful given the freezing weather that is rolling in. But for some Pickleball enthusiasts, cold weather isn’t an excuse. All you have to do is bundle up and throw on a warm pair of gloves. For the winter Pickleballers out there, you might have your cold weather Pickleball wardrobe all figured out… except for the type of gloves you wear. If this is you, you’ve come to the right place.
What makes for good cold weather Pickleball gloves?
Just like Tennis, Outdoor Badminton or any other racket sport, you will be gripping and maneuvering a racket (or in this case, a paddle). This being the case, you’ll want gloves that are lightweight enough and have good grip. What is challenging is balancing the warmth that any given glove provides with the flexibility and functional quality of the glove to allow for good performance. The gloves below provide an optimal balance between grip, flexiblity and warmth.
Best Pickleball gloves for chilly weather (not freezing): HEAD Airflow Tour Racquetball Glove
The Head Airflow racquetball gloves are made for racquetball, but serve very well as Pickleball gloves in a chilly environment. For example, if the temperature is about ~55 degrees Fahrenheit and windy, this might be a good choice. The gloves are made with perforated cabretta leather grip in the palm which allows air to breath into your palm while maintaining a solid grip on the Pickleball paddle. This is also a solid glove for racket sports of any kind in mild to chilly temperatures.
Pros
- Good airflow and breathability
- Can be worn for all racquet sports
- Many sizes available
Cons
- Don’t come as a pair (need to buy both left and right hand gloves separate)
- Fit is not accurate (need to order 1 size higher)
- Not the most durable
Price: ~$40.00 (check current price here)
Best Budget Pickleball gloves for freezing weather: OZERO Winter Thermal Gloves
The OZERO gloves check all the boxes if you are operating on a budget. For less than $20 you will get a pair of active winter gloves with solid grip allowing you to play Pickleball in any temperature. The only downside to these gloves really is that in wet weather we have seen that they don’t hold up the best. But we don’t recommend playing Pickleball in wet conditions, especially when it is freezing weather which increases the risk of slipping and falling substantially.
Pros:
- Good for dry, cold weather
- Comfortable and not bulky
- Good all around active winter gloves
Cons:
- Style is catered towards men
- Not the best for super wet weather
- Touch screen finger tips are not water proof
Price: ~$15 (check latest price here)
Best Women’s Pickleball Gloves for freezing weather – Carhartt Women’s The Iris Glove
These gloves are not necessarily made for sports, but are designed optimally for warmth and gripping. Originally designed for better grip and use for your phone in cold weather, The Iris glove has a silicone palm design to improve grip while a stretchy, warm fleece makes up the rest of the glove. This is a great combo for women to grip their Pickleball paddle in that freezing weather.
Pros
- Great for cold, windy weather
- Can Stretch to accomodate for larger hands
- Affordable
Cons
- Questionable in wet weather
Price: ~$25 (check the latest price here)
Best Men’s Pickleball Gloves for freezing weather: Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Ultra Grip Knitted Gloves
While they might not be the best looking gloves for the price, the Sealskinz All Weather Ultra Grip gloves are perfect for any type of cold weather Pickleball. The glove is designed using 3 key materials bonded together to simultaneously keep water out, and pull moisture from your skin helping to keep your hands dry and warm throughout any experience. They also allow for optimal breathability for your cold weather Pickleball play. If you take your cold-weather Pickleballing seriously, it might make sense to fork over some extra cash for this top notch product.
Pros
- Top-notch technology and material engineering
- Great for wet weather
- Breathable & cozy
Cons
- Ugly design (especially the yellow)
- Not very affordable
Price: ~$48 (check the latest price here)
Best Heated Gloves for Pickleball in seriously freezing weather – Savior Thin Electric Gloves
This option is for those of you that need to have the best technology-apparel combo for the cold weather. These Savior electric gloves will warm your hands no matter how cold it is. It could be close to zero Fahrenheit and you could still have warm hands and smoke the competition. These Savior gloves are lightweight enough to play Pickleball in, and have 3 temperature settings based on how warm you want to keep your hands. At the lowest temperature setting, the gloves can last up to 6 hours! That’s more than enough time for a winter Pickleball sesh. These high-tech gloves are pricey, but worth it if you live in some of the coldest areas of the US or Canada and will be spending a lot of time outside this winter playing Pickleball.
Pros
- Warmest gloves you can wear
- Thin and flexible
Cons
- Need to keep charged
- Expensive