TRUCK Gloves Review: Goatskin Leather Gloves for Boat Mornings and Cold Hands

Made by TRUCK: See the TRUCK Gloves on truckgloves.com

TRUCK gloves are goatskin leather work, ski and bike gloves sold direct by a Salt Lake City company, and they suit anglers who run boats, row rafts and handle cold, wet gear. They trade the clammy feel of synthetic gloves for a leather palm that grips and breaks in. FFIP score: 8.1/10.

The FFIP Scorecard

Criterion	Weight	Score	Why
Weather/sun protection	30	7	Good wind block and warmth for cold boat rides, but not waterproof.
Breathability/comfort	20	8	Leather breathes better than the synthetics I have worn; fine until it gets really hot.
Fit/mobility	15	8.5	Snug, and I can still feel the trim switch and throttle; I take them off to tie knots.
Durability	20	9	Tough goatskin; the palm patches stand up to the throttle and anchor rope.
Value	15	8.5	Sold direct, fair for leather that lasts, and cheap enough that I am not precious with them.
Overall (weighted)	100	8.1

How Are TRUCK Gloves Built? The Engineering Behind Them

Goatskin leather: why the hide matters

Most TRUCK work, ski and bike gloves are made from goatskin; only the Trooper is cowhide, according to the maker's product pages. Leather is a network of collagen fibers, and the way those fibers are packed decides how a glove behaves. Goatskin fibers run in tight, tangled bundles, so a thin piece of hide resists tearing and abrasion better than you might expect from its weight. On a boat that shows up where your palm drags across a throttle grip, a gunwale or wet rope.

The palm is the working surface

The palm and finger pads carry almost every task an angler does with a glove on: gripping an oar, hauling an anchor, pulling a cord. Leather has natural surface texture and a slight tack that many smooth synthetics lack. TRUCK describes the M1 and M1 PRO palms as water-resistant goatskin, so the leather sheds light moisture rather than soaking straight through.

Back of hand, lining and membrane

The back of the hand is where TRUCK varies the design. The M1 uses a breathable 4-way stretch back so your hand does not overheat while working hard, and the WG lists a breathable back as well. The MxMaster swaps in a soft-shell back and a Porelle waterproof-breathable membrane, which is a thin film with pores large enough to pass water vapor from sweat but too small to pass liquid water. That is the same idea behind many wading jackets.

Insulation: fleece and Polyfil

Warmth in a glove comes from trapped air, not from the material itself. Fleece lining and Polyfil (a synthetic batting) hold still air against your skin. TRUCK lists the M1 with a 250g Polar Fleece lining and 40g of Polyfil, and the M1 PRO with the same fleece and 80g of Polyfil on the back of the hand. More trapped air means more warmth and a little less finger feel, which is the core trade-off in any insulated glove.

Pattern details: keystone thumb and closures

A keystone thumb is cut so the thumb joins the palm at an angle that follows how your hand closes. That cuts fabric bunching across the palm and reduces hand fatigue on long grips. Closures matter too: the WG's hook-and-loop strap lets you adjust fit at the wrist, while models with elastic gathers rely on stretch. TRUCK also rates its work gloves on a scale for dexterity and abrasion resistance, with the WG at Great dexterity and Moderate abrasion resistance, and the Trooper at Good dexterity and Very High abrasion resistance.

Which TRUCK model did I test?

The pair I use is the TRUCK M4 Work Glove in size 8: tan goatskin leather with black reinforced palm patches. The engineering above applies across the goatskin models; check any model you are considering against the maker's page for lining and membrane details.

On the Water with the TRUCK Gloves

These gloves went on at first light on the back of a powerboat in Alaska, with a low golden sun coming up over the water. The morning was cold and calm, and I had a hot drink in the cup holder (a Katmai Trophy Lodge tumbler, if you spot it in the photo). This was a boat run out to the water, not a fish shot.

I have a few trips on this pair so far. The moment that sold me was simple: hand on the trim switch, coffee next to me, sun just coming up. My fingers were warm and I could still feel the controls.

A glove on a boat has to do three jobs at once: protect your hand from wind and spray, give you a firm hold on the throttle and trim, and keep enough feel to work the controls. I take mine off to tie knots. For more on the small gear that makes launch ramps and parking lots easier, read our parking lot gear guide, and for caring for the kit you buy, see maintenance that protects your fly fishing investment. If your boat mornings involve wading too, our wading safety guide is worth a read.

How Do the TRUCK Gloves Score, Criterion by Criterion?

Weather/sun protection (Score: 7/10)

A leather glove blocks wind well because the hide has no open weave for air to pass through, and that is the first thing your hands notice on a 6 a.m. boat ride at speed. TRUCK describes its goatskin as water-resistant on models such as the M1 and M1 PRO, and lists a Porelle waterproof-breathable membrane only on the MxMaster. That means a spray of river water beads and soaks in slowly, but a full dunk will eventually wet any non-membrane leather glove. Sun is a quieter factor: leather over the back of the hand shades skin that would otherwise burn on open water. In my experience they give a good wind block and enough warmth for cold boat rides at first light. They are not waterproof, so I do not count on them in a soaking rain. You can treat them with Nikwax or another waterproofing product to help, but they are leather, so rain eventually gets in.

Breathability/comfort (Score: 8/10)

Leather breathes by letting moisture vapor pass through its fiber structure, but less freely than a mesh or stretch panel. That is why TRUCK pairs the leather palm with a breathable back of hand on some designs (the WG Work Glove lists a breathable back, and the M1 lists a 4-way stretch back). Comfort also comes from the lining: the M1 uses a 250g Polar Fleece lining with 40g Polyfil, and the MxMaster adds an internal fleece lining. Unlined work models trade warmth for a thinner, cooler feel. Leather breathes better than the synthetic gloves I have worn, and my hands do not get clammy. They are fine until it gets really hot.

Fit/mobility (Score: 8.5/10)

Mobility depends on pattern more than material. TRUCK describes a keystone thumb on the WG and MxMaster, a pattern that sets the thumb at an angle so it does not bunch when you close your hand around a throttle, oar or rod grip. The WG also uses a hook-and-loop closure at the wrist, which lets you cinch the glove over a jacket cuff. Leather stretches and molds to your hand, so a snug size in the box often fits correctly after a few days of use. Mine are snug on the hand, and I can still feel the trim switch and throttle. I do take them off to tie knots.

Durability (Score: 9/10)

Goatskin has a reputation for toughness relative to its thickness because its fibers are tightly packed, which is why it is common in work and ski gloves. TRUCK says it controls its leather production through a direct partnership with its factory and tanneries, and it sells Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative for care. On a boat, the wear points are the palm and the fingertips; reinforced palms and double stitching in those zones matter more than any marketing line. Goatskin is tough, and the palm patches stand up to the throttle and anchor rope just fine.

Value (Score: 8.5/10)

TRUCK sells direct and says it ships from its own Salt Lake City warehouse with no stops or markups in between, so its prices run well under many brand-name leather gloves. At the time of writing its work gloves list from $18 to $45 per pair depending on model, per the maker site. Whether that is good value for you depends on how many seasons of boat mornings you get from a pair. They are sold direct, so the price is fair for leather that lasts, and cheap enough that I am not precious with them.

Who Should Buy the TRUCK Gloves (and Who Should Skip It)?

Choose TRUCK gloves if you spend cold mornings running a boat, rowing a raft or handling gear around the launch, and you value leather that molds to your hand and lasts several seasons. Anglers in colder climates should look at insulated models such as the M1 PRO; anglers who run hot should look at lighter unlined or breathable-back models.

Skip them if you need to keep fingertips free to tie knots all day, since a full-finger leather glove costs you touch. If you fish in persistent rain, a waterproof model such as the MxMaster, or a purpose-built waterproof fishing glove, is the better fit.

How Does the TRUCK Lineup Compare?

Because TRUCK sells several goatskin gloves, the useful comparison is within the brand. These figures come from TRUCK's own product pages at the time of writing.

Model	Type	Key feature	Price (per maker)
WG Work Glove	Goatskin, hook-and-loop work glove	Great dexterity, breathable back, keystone thumb	$23
M4	Goatskin, unlined work glove	Relaxed fit, Good dexterity	$28
MxMaster	Goatskin, waterproof insulated work glove	Porelle waterproof-breathable membrane, fleece lining	$45
M1 PRO	Goatskin, insulated ski glove	250g fleece plus 80g Polyfil on back of hand	$65

For wet, cold boat work the MxMaster is the model that lists waterproofing. For general leather feel at low cost, the WG and M4 are the simpler choices. I use the M4 in size 8; it runs snug on my hand and, at $28 per the maker, it is cheap enough that I do not baby it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are TRUCK gloves waterproof?

Most are not. TRUCK describes the M1 and M1 PRO as water-resistant goatskin, and only the MxMaster lists a Porelle waterproof-breathable membrane. A water-resistant glove sheds spray and light rain but will soak through if it is submerged or worn in steady rain.

What are TRUCK gloves made of?

TRUCK makes most of its work, ski and bike gloves from goatskin leather. The Trooper is cowhide. Some models add fleece lining, Polyfil insulation, a stretch or soft-shell back of hand, or a waterproof-breathable membrane.

How do you care for leather TRUCK gloves?

Let wet gloves air dry away from direct heat, since fast heat stiffens leather, and condition them occasionally. TRUCK sells Obenauf's Heavy Duty Leather Preservative for this purpose and publishes a glove care page on its site.

Where is TRUCK based?

TRUCK says its gloves are designed in-house, sewn by factory partners and warehoused in Salt Lake City, Utah, then shipped direct to customers.

Final Verdict

A simple, tough glove that is great for running a boat and handling rope in the cold. They are not waterproof, and you will take them off for fine work. For the price I am happy with them.

Christian's Pro Tip: Let them dry slowly away from heat and rub in a little leather conditioner when they stiffen up.

Tight lines, everyone!