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If you have ever stood in front of the sailing glove rack wondering which Rooster Pro Race glove is right for you, you are not alone. The Pro Race 2 and the Pro Race 5 look almost identical on the hanger, share the same build, and carry the same price. So what actually separates them? It comes down to one thing: how much of your fingers they cover.
Both gloves come from the same Rooster Pro Race family. Steve Cockerill and the team at Rooster spent years developing them, then tested them hard for over eight months across a range of conditions. The result is a pair of race gloves built for grip, comfort and longevity. Here is how the two compare, and how to pick the right one for your sailing.
Before the differences, it helps to know what both gloves have in common, because it is a lot. Both use the same fine Japanese grip across the palm and fingers, the material that gives you confident purchase on a wet sheet or a loaded control line. Both add top rated abrasion resistant Amara where supple durability matters, so the grip lasts season after season.
Both are cut with a 3D shaped palm and fingers for a pre-formed fit that feels broken in from day one. You also get individual finger reinforcement, unrestrictive stretch panels across the back of the hand, and a wraparound grip for comfort. The wrist fastening is shaped and positioned to sit clear of your watch strap, with a fail safe tab that keeps it secure when you are hiking hard or working the boat. Whichever you choose, the engineering underneath is the same. To keep them at their best, hand wash in warm soapy water and let them air dry.
The Rooster Pro Race 2 is the long finger glove. All of your fingers are covered apart from the thumb and index finger, which are left open at the tips.
That combination is clever. The three covered fingers give you more coverage and a little extra warmth, useful on cooler days or longer sessions on the water. Meanwhile the exposed thumb and index fingertips keep the dexterity you need for the fiddly jobs: tying knots, cleating and uncleating, threading shackles and handling small fittings. You get protection where you want it and feel where you need it.
The Pro Race 2 is our best selling of the Rooster sailing gloves, and it is easy to see why. For a lot of sailors it is the do everything option that copes with most conditions and most jobs on the boat.
The Rooster Pro Race 5 is the short finger glove. Every fingertip is left exposed, cut back so all five fingers are open at the ends.
This is the choice for maximum feel. With every fingertip free, you get the most direct contact with ropes, sheets and controls, which many sailors prefer for fine sail trim and quick handling. It is cooler and airier in warm weather, and nothing gets in the way when you need to grip and release in a hurry. The palm still gives you the full Rooster grip and abrasion protection, so you give up nothing on durability, only finger coverage.
| Feature | Pro Race 2 | Pro Race 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Finger style | Long finger | Short finger |
| Finger coverage | All fingers covered except open thumb and index fingertips | All five fingertips exposed |
| Best for | More coverage and warmth, with dexterity on your two key fingers | Maximum fingertip feel and warm weather sailing |
| Palm grip | Fine Japanese grip with Amara reinforcement | Fine Japanese grip with Amara reinforcement |
| Wrist closure | Shaped strap with fail safe tab | Shaped strap with fail safe tab |
| Adult sizes | Small to 2XL | Small to 2XL |
| Junior sizes | 3XS, 2XS, XS | 3XS, 2XS, XS |
| Price | £39 adult, £32.50 junior | £39 adult, £32.50 junior |
Prices accurate at the time of publish, prices subject to change.
Here is the honest answer: neither glove is better than the other. They are built to the same standard, cost the same, and protect your palms just as well. The decision really comes down to personal preference and how much finger coverage you like.
If you want a bit more coverage and warmth while keeping dexterity on your two most used fingers, go for the Pro Race 2. If you want every fingertip free for the most direct feel, the Pro Race 5 is your glove. Plenty of sailors keep a pair of each and switch depending on the day. The best way to decide is to think about how you sail and what your hands want once the pressure is on.
Both gloves come in junior sizes too, which is welcome news for younger sailors and smaller hands. The Junior Pro Race 2 and Junior Pro Race 5 carry the same design and grip as the adult versions, just scaled down into sizes 3XS, 2XS and XS. They are ideal for kids racing dinghies who need proper protection and grip rather than a cut down adult glove that never quite fits.
Whichever you pick, you are getting a race proven glove that will earn its place in your kit bag. Compare the Rooster Pro Race 2 and Pro Race 5, and if you want to see how they stack up against the rest of your options, browse our full range of sailing gloves to find the pair that suits your hands and your sailing.
