Gear · The Glove Report
The short version
Yes, golf rain gloves work. Their absorbent synthetic fabric takes on water and molds to your hand and the grip, so they grip better the wetter they get.
Which is best? Reviewers in 2026 most often recommend the FootJoy RainGrip. Another option is the EXO glove: an all-weather glove with Zyntech™ nanocell grip pads, built to grip in the rain.
Key facts
- How they work: Rain gloves use an absorbent non-woven synthetic. "Water goes into the material," a FootJoy expert told Golf Digest, "and then the material conforms both to your hand and to the club." (Golf Digest)
- Tested damp and soaked: In 2014, MyGolfSpy tested 8 rain gloves damp (5 sprays of water per side) and soaked (10 seconds under water). Most held; one failed outright, with the club slipping down in the hand during swings. (MyGolfSpy)
- Tested in the rain: Golf Monthly tested 6 wet-weather gloves in the rain (updated July 2026) and recommends wearing them on both hands. (Golf Monthly)
- Price: US list prices run from $20 to $108 across the 8 rain gloves National Club Golfer reviewed in January 2026. (National Club Golfer)
- Tour-trusted: Jim "Bones" Mackay, Phil Mickelson's longtime caddie, on rain gloves: "We always have a pair in the bag." (Golf Digest)
Playing in the rain is a challenge
I have always enjoyed playing in the rain, within reason. Nobody likes a storm where the wind is blowing as hard as the rain is falling.
I tend to play well in the wet, because the conditions force you to concentrate and swing within yourself rather than chase the longest drive of the day.
Regardless, the one thing that was always a challenge was keeping my glove and grips dry, which is a must if you want to play with confidence in these conditions.
Having a caddie can be a massive help. They can keep your spare towel dry and wipe your grips between shots. But it is still hard going, and when you are on your own it is harder still.
There are better ways to handle it than stressing about your leather glove getting wet and slipping on the club.
Rain gloves are the best solution, yet you seldom see golfers use them.
In this article I'll look at whether rain gloves work, how they work, and which ones come most recommended for 2026.
I'll also introduce you to another option: the EXO glove.
It is designed to keep its grip in wet conditions. Full disclosure: I created the glove, so I'm clearly biased, but since switching I no longer worry about what the course throws at me when it comes to my grip and connection to the club.
Rain, heat or humidity, I trust the EXO glove to keep a great grip. For me, that means no more leather and no rain gloves.
Do rain gloves actually work?
Yes, and the evidence is better than you might expect for such a simple product.
When MyGolfSpy tested 8 rain gloves in 2014, testers hit a 7-iron with each glove damp and then soaked. Most held well. Quality varied, though: one glove worked when damp but not in heavy rain, and another failed outright, with the club slipping down in the hand during swings. Brand and model matter.
Golf Monthly tested 6 wet-weather gloves in the rain and says the Mizuno RainFit "will excel in any amount of rain you might be playing in." Tour players trust them too. Phil Mickelson has worn rain gloves in the wet, and his longtime caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay told Golf Digest, "We always have a pair in the bag."
Club golfers report the same. One Sand Trap member who played a wet round in FootJoy rain gloves said his grips "did not slip in my hands during my entire round" (The Sand Trap).
How do rain gloves work?
A leather glove works best dry. A rain glove is built the other way around: it is designed to work with water, not against it.
The palm is an absorbent, non-woven synthetic, often sold as suede or "autosuede." As it takes on rain, the fabric softens and molds to your hand and to the grip, so the two act as one unit (Golf Digest). That is why brands say rain gloves grip better the wetter they get (Golf Monthly), and why Callaway told Golf Digest its version "actually perform[s] better as they get wet."
Most rain gloves come as a pair, because both hands need to hold in bad weather (National Club Golfer). Some golfers wear just one for feel, and National Club Golfer says the TaylorMade Rain Control grips well enough that one glove can work in lighter rain.
Why you shouldn't play a leather glove in the rain
Leather gives great feel on a dry day. In the wet, it works against you in three ways.
- It loses grip. Leather grips well when it is dry but loses friction in drizzle (National Club Golfer). Once the palm is wet, the club can start to move in your hand.
- It dries hard. "If a Cabretta glove gets soaked from rain or excessive sweat and isn't dried properly, it can become stiff and crusty" (CaddieHQ). As it dries, the salts and oils left in the leather "crystallize and harden" (CaddieHQ).
- It costs you a glove. One soaked round can be the end of a leather glove, and it is worse still if you go through two or more during a rainy 18 holes. That can get expensive if you play a lot in the rain, or even in humid conditions.
That is why golfers who play in the wet switch to a glove built for it. We go deeper in cabretta leather vs synthetic golf gloves and how long a golf glove actually lasts.
The best rain gloves for 2026
Most recommended: FootJoy RainGrip
The FootJoy RainGrip is the glove 2026 reviewers recommend most often: it appears in the Golf Monthly, National Club Golfer and Today's Golfer roundups.
US prices below are list prices published by National Club Golfer in January 2026, except the Mizuno and Cobra prices, which are from Amazon in October 2026. Prices change, so check whether a price is per glove or per pair before you buy.
| Glove | Best for | US list price | What reviewers say |
|---|---|---|---|
| FootJoy RainGrip | Best overall | $25 | "One of the best golf rain gloves out there" (Golf Monthly); "among the very best" (Today's Golfer); very grippy in the wet and strong value (NCG) |
| MacWet MicroMesh Original | Durability | $55 | Excellent wet grip and durability, highly recommended (NCG); Today's Golfer calls MacWet's Aquatec "the ultimate wet weather golf glove" |
| TaylorMade Rain Control | Wearing one glove in lighter rain | $39.99 | Excellent wet grip and a good fit (NCG) |
| Zero Restriction Rain Glove | Maximum wet grip | $108 | Top wet-grip performance in NCG's list, but expensive; size up |
| Mizuno RainFit | The wettest days | $24 | Grips better the wetter it gets; "will excel in any amount of rain" (Golf Monthly) |
| Cobra StormGrip | Phone users | $25 | Excellent wet-weather grip and a touchscreen-compatible index finger (Golf Monthly) |
| Stuburt Rain Gloves | Value | $20 | Good in wet and dry, easy to remove, good value; may need to size up (NCG) |
| EXO | One glove for dry and wet rounds | $59 | Synthetic base absorbs moisture while water-repellent Zyntech™ nanocells do the gripping; customers report steady grip in wet weather (reviews) |
EXO is the only glove on this list we make.
How to choose:
- Pair or single. For a full round in steady rain, a pair is the safer choice. For passing showers, a single glove can do the job.
- Warmth. Most rain gloves add little. Golf Monthly says the FootJoy RainGrip "won't keep hands overly warm"; for cold, wet rounds it includes the FootJoy WinterSof, designed to be worn "from 1st tee to 18th green" (Golf Monthly).
- Fit. Several models run large or small, so check reviewers' sizing notes. A loose rain glove gives up the snug fit that makes it work.
Another option: the EXO glove
Our approach: one glove for every condition
Rain gloves are a specialist tool: you carry them for wet days and swap them in when the weather turns.
EXO takes a different approach.
It is one glove designed for every condition, so you don't need to change gloves when the rain arrives.
It has Zyntech™ nanocell grip pads on the thumb, palm and fingers over a synthetic base, rather than leather that goes slick and stiff when it gets wet.
It is designed to perform in heat, humidity, sweat and rain (The EXO glove).
In one way, EXO works like a rain glove. The base material on the palm absorbs moisture, just as a rain glove's fabric does. The difference is on top: the Zyntech™ nanocells on the palm repel water. So the base takes up the moisture while the nanocells keep gripping the club.
Here is what golfers who have played it in the wet told us in their reviews (read all reviews):
"Grip remained solid then the rain came, played 2 1/2 holes in moderate rain grip no problem." Jim, EXO customer
"The glove performs far better than any other glove in hot, humid and rainy conditions." Janus, EXO customer
"Wet weather last week and no real [loss] of grip." Bruce, EXO customer
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To help you decide, a few honest notes:
- These are golfers' experiences, not a lab test. We have not yet run a controlled wet-grip test, and individual results vary.
- It is designed as a single glove. In theory you could wear two, one on each hand, but EXO wasn't designed that way, and personally I have yet to find a need for a second. If you do wear two, please know we have not tested durability with two gloves, and the nanocells may peel prematurely on your bottom hand (the right hand for right-handed players).
- Cord grips are not recommended. Their abrasive woven texture can cause the nanocell surface to peel early (The EXO glove). This isn't the case for every golfer who has used EXO with cord grips, but we have had enough feedback that we feel it is worth mentioning.
If you want one glove that holds its grip when a dry round turns wet, start with Why EXO, which explains what we set out to fix. Our glove sizing guide helps you find your size.
Until next time, play well!
Paul,
Founder EXO
Frequently asked questions
Do golf rain gloves really work?
Yes. Testing by MyGolfSpy and Golf Monthly found most rain gloves hold the club well in damp and soaking conditions, though quality varies by model. Jim "Bones" Mackay, Phil Mickelson's longtime caddie, said they always had a pair in the bag. EXO offers a different route: one glove with Zyntech™ nanocell grip pads, designed to hold in dry and wet conditions.
How do rain gloves work?
Rain gloves use an absorbent, non-woven synthetic fabric. As it takes on water, the fabric softens and molds to your hand and the grip, so the glove and club act as one unit. That is why they grip better the wetter they get, while leather loses friction in the rain and can dry stiff afterward.
What is the best golf rain glove for 2026?
The FootJoy RainGrip is the most widely recommended, appearing in 2026 roundups from Golf Monthly, National Club Golfer and Today's Golfer, at around $25. MacWet is a favorite for durability, the TaylorMade Rain Control grips well enough to wear singly in lighter rain, and Zero Restriction offers top wet grip at a premium price. Another alternative is the EXO glove: a single all-weather glove with Zyntech™ nanocell grip pads, designed to grip in wet and dry conditions.
Do you need rain gloves on both hands?
For a full round in steady rain, a pair is the safer choice, because your bare hand can slip even when the gloved one holds. That is why most rain gloves are sold as pairs. Some golfers prefer one glove for feel, and in passing showers a single glove plus a dry towel is often enough.
Is the EXO golf glove good for playing in the rain?
EXO is designed to perform in rain, humidity and sweat, and customers report steady grip in wet weather. It is a single glove, not a rain pair, and we have not yet run a controlled wet-grip test, so results vary. It is not recommended with cord grips. In all-day heavy rain, a rain-glove pair may still suit you better.
One glove for dry days and wet ones
Zyntech™ nanocell grip pads on the thumb, palm and fingers, on a synthetic base built to outlast leather. Machine washable.
See the EXO GloveSources: Golf Digest · Golf Monthly: best rain gloves 2026 · National Club Golfer (best rain gloves 2026, how rain gloves work) · Today's Golfer · MyGolfSpy · CaddieHQ (glove materials, stiff gloves) · Forum thread: Sand Trap. Prices are US list prices published by National Club Golfer in January 2026, except Mizuno and Cobra (Amazon, October 2026). Customer quotes are from reviews on our product page; individual results vary.