Warm gloves for water sports enthusiasts
Testing the Leopard Shark Plus and Orca Plus from Oceania Gloves
When temperatures drop and you want to keep going out on the water in late fall or winter, it’s your hands that feel the single-digit Celsius temperatures most intensely.
In recent years, we have regularly published articles on winter gloves for wingfoilers and windsurfers, and in the spring of 2025, we also covered the models from Oceania Gloves, whose design differs from that of gloves made by other manufacturers.
The gloves from Oceania are inspired by dry gloves for divers - they are largely waterproof, but not made of neoprene; instead, the front section is made of a flexible polyester fabric blend with a cuff made of skin-friendly latex.
It takes some getting used to the rigid ring that connects the two parts of the glove. This special type of bonding is necessary due to the different material properties.
Oceania has now upgraded two models. The front (colored) section of the gloves has been lengthened, the latex cuff has been made shorter and more durable, the bonding process has been optimized, and an additional layer of neoprene has been added to the back of the hand for insulation.
Leopard Shark Plus
Leopard Shark Plus Review
This advanced glove (price: EUR 69.90) can be worn with or without an underglove, depending on the outside temperature. Down to 10°C, this model works very well without an underglove, preventing direct contact between the hand and cold water and allowing for fatigue-free handling. The crimped latex layer applied to the palm ensures a good grip.
Wearing them with an inner glove (price: EUR 5) adds an insulating layer that extends their range of use down to the mid-single-digit temperature range.
Even with both gloves on top of each other, you can still grip things well. But your time on the water is limited, because moisture gradually builds up inside. In moderate temperatures, you can surf for a good hour before your hands start to feel clammy. Unlike thick neoprene gloves, the thin outer layer isn’t enough to provide insulation, and your hands get cold.
Orca Plus with lining
Orca Plus Review
This model is priced at EUR 79.90. The inner lining made of acrylic fibers forms an insulating layer and keeps your hands warm. However, this creates a thicker layer of flexible material between the boom and the palm of your hand, and you have to overcome the resistance it creates when gripping.
In our test while windsurfing in the waves, the glove didn't work for that reason. Just like with thick neoprene gloves, gripping tightly tires out the forearm muscles after just a few minutes.
It’s different with the wing; there, the diameter of the handles is thinner than the windsurfing boom’s spar, and the required grip strength is also lower. Winging with the gloves worked well even at an air temperature of 5 degrees; after an hour, the inside of the glove was dry and the hands were warm.
23.12.2025 © WING DAILY | Text: Jürgen Schall | Photos/Videos: Jürgen Schall