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From lightweight layers to heavily insulated options, we found the best winter gloves for every budget, temperature, and snow-centric sport and activity.
Keeping your hands warm during winter can make the difference between a memorable time outdoors and a miserable one. Frozen fingers can stop a day on the slopes, end a hike early, and just be painful and uncomfortable. Whether you need more hand heat than your body can generate or you’re looking for a light layer to keep your fingers warm when you set out for a run, there’s a winter glove out there that’s ideal for you.
And while there isn’t a single winter glove that suits everyone, we broke them into categories so you can make an informed choice based on your needs. For more help finding the right fit, be sure to check out our comparison chart to help you steer your decision-making. Also, check out the buyer’s guide and FAQ section at the end of this article for additional tips.
Otherwise, scroll through our collection of best picks for winter gloves for 2024.
Editor’s Note: We updated our winter gloves buyer’s guide on October 31, 2023, to include 23 sections that support education about winter gloves for you, whether you’re playing or working in the snow.
If you want warm hands this winter regardless of what you’re doing, the Norrøna trollveggen GORE-TEX ($229) is our pick for the best winter glove. It’s made for mountaineering with a mid-length cuff and goat leather palm.
But you don’t need to have big-mountain summits on your bucket list to wear them. These gloves are significantly lighter and more supple than other big mitts, with a tough cuff that’s light, flexible, and trim, which makes them easy to slip on.
On blustery days, keep the warmth in with the low-profile, one-hand tighten-and-release wrist strap, or seal your hands inside with a pull tab on the cuff. A wool liner under the synthetic-insulated shell wasn’t as fuzzy as fleece but gave the gloves dexterity for gripping a ski pole, a mountaineering axe, or holding onto a sled handle.
It also kept the inside from ever feeling sweaty. Use the stretchy, removable wrist straps to prevent dropping them in the snow when you take these off to send a text or snap a pic. Overall, the Norrøna trollveggen GORE-TEX tops our list as a formidable, versatile, and comfortable glove that still allows for dexterity.
For less than a bowl of chili and a hot chocolate at the ski resort, the Jeniulet Winter Gloves ($20) provide good warmth, quality materials, and touchscreen compatibility.
Don’t expect these gloves to offer the performance or durability of our all-around top pick. Still, they’re quite impressive for the price. Made from six layers of wind-resistant and high-density fabrics, these gloves kept many users’ fingers warm and comfortable in temperatures down to -30 degrees. The surface of the palm area is leather, which improves grip and dexterity whether you’re riding a bike, skiing, or working with a snow shovel.
Though they do run quite large, the Jeniulet Winter Gloves simply don’t have many flaws, especially considering they cost less than half that of most competitors.
Designed by professional snowboarder John Jackson, the Black Diamond Legend Gloves ($150) are — no surprise — high-quality with all the features that you need. They are completely waterproof and breathable with an inserted GORE-TEX membrane, so they’ll hold up even on the snowiest of days or while digging pits in the backcountry. If it’s more than 20 degrees and sunny outside, opt for a thinner independent hand liner as the interior can get a bit swampy during activity.
With 170 grams of PrimaLoft Gold on the back of the hand and 60 grams on the palm, we found our hands stayed warm with these puppies on, though dexterity was a bit compromised. Regardless, clipping in and out of snowboard bindings was still easy thanks to the palm’s grippy goat leather. Plus, the gloves have removable wrist straps, so the chance of dropping and losing one is slim.
Depending on the day or athlete, an undercuff might be preferred over a larger gauntlet. The Black Diamond Legend Gloves will keep you comfortable and happy on snowy, deep-powder days with a sturdy, neoprene undercuff that easily and efficiently slides under jacket sleeves with little bulk. There isn’t a pull tab to get these on quicker, but there is a large hook-and-loop closure strap to tighten and seal out any cold air or snow.
The 4-Season Give’r Gloves ($119) have been such a hit with wearers over the years that they made a pair of mitts, too. The versatile gloves have a following and it’s no surprise why. The Give’r Gloves have the old-school aesthetic but with all the features and tech that a solid winter glove needs.
The all-leather cowhide exterior is paired with a 100% waterproof and breathable Hipora membrane, so your fingers will stay dry in whatever condition you wear these in. For warmth, the gloves have a Thinsulate inner layer, 150 grams of insulation on the palm, and 260 grams of insulation on the outside. A reflective heat shield is also on the front of the glove.
At first try, the leather mitts feel a bit stiff, and take some break-in time to truly feel the most comfortable and malleable. To keep the Give’r 4-Season Gloves lasting for as long as you plan to use them, wax them every season with a waterproofing wax, like Sno Seal Beeswax Waterproofing. Although a solid winter glove, the elastic undercuff with the short leather cuff did feel a bit bunchy under a ski and snowboard jacket.
Even though mitts are usually warmer than gloves, they can sacrifice the use of your fingers if you don’t take them off. The long-cuffed and fully waterproof Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Gloves ($100) offer the best of both worlds: top-notch warmth and dexterity.
The gloves are equipped with Hi-Loft insulation and a waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX membrane. Seams stitched on the outside, not the inside, reduce pressure points if you’re poling while splitboarding. On the palm, you get full coverage with durable, goat leather for a better grip whether it’s for a grab or ratcheting your binding.
As an added bonus, the removable and stretchy glove liner of the Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Gloves is touchscreen-compatible. Gone are the days of chilly fingers resulting from cold air exposure after sending a quick text. For all-day shredding on the mountain, these are the best winter gloves for the job.
Slipping your hand into the Hestra Army Leather Patrol Gauntlet Gloves ($165) is like putting on your favorite sweater. The three-layer dobby polyester melange is soft and molds to your hand over time. The proofed goat leather palm material is durable and water-resistant. Overall, this is a reliable glove fully equipped for harsh conditions.
Inside, the removable five-finger liner is deliciously cozy and warm but not bulky. We like the extended wrist cuffs and integrated Velcro cinch. Even on the deepest of days, these gloves keep bits of snow from entering at the opening.
We recommend the Hestra Army Leather Patrol Gauntlet Gloves to skiers who spend lots of time in cold conditions with lots of snowfall. They are certainly on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but if you’re looking for high performance and durability, the Patrol Gauntlet is a solid value.
Though they aren’t ideal for the coldest of winter days, The North Face Etip Recycled Glove ($45) is perfect for wintertime active use and is made from 93% recycled polyester. From trail running to skiing, these lightweight yet warm gloves are highly versatile and can serve as a glove liner when you need a little extra insulation.
It’s difficult to strike a balance between insulation and breathability, but the Etip Recycled Gloves are up to the challenge. During high-intensity winter activity, these gloves allow ample airflow and prevent sweating. Silicone texture added to the palms provides solid holding power on ski and trekking poles, while the stretchy fabric allows for freedom of movement.
Of all the touchscreen-compatible gloves on the market, the technology of The North Face Etip Recycled Glove is among the most consistent and reliable. Wearers of these gloves will appreciate frustration-free smartphone operation.
Cycling in winter conditions exposes your hands and fingers to the harsh bite of frigid air. The Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster Evo Gloves ($95) have been designed specifically with cold-weather riding in mind, and for 23/24, the silhouette received an overhaul.
In this updated version, the placement of the index and middle fingers are separated to enhance dexterity and ease of device use. The former version bundled the two digits together. (The old version is still available, called the Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster Gel Gloves, if you prefer!) Yes, the fabric is touchscreen compatible.
Insulated with 170 grams of PrimaLoft Gold insulation and incorporated aerogel particles, these split-finger, lobster-style gloves offer top-notch warmth without sacrificing dexterity.
Gripping handlebars with cold hands is painful. In addition to ample insulation, these gloves include 3D-shaped gel palm pads, which reduce bulk and improve grip comfort. Palm patches of Ax Suede Laredo synthetic leather help ensure reliable grip when steering and braking, even in wet conditions.
Fat bike enthusiasts and year-round commuters rejoice — the Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster Evo Gloves are the best winter gloves for the job.
In cold and damp conditions, the Mechanix Wear Coldwork Original ($33) winter work gloves provide reliable warmth, grip, and protection. For an affordable price, Mechanix gloves are the real deal. With a wind-resistant outer layer, a Thinsulate fleece lining, and Armortex reinforcement in the thumb saddle, these gloves are perfect for cold-season manual labor.
Thanks to built-in touchscreen compatibility, you won’t need to remove the Mechanix Wear Coldwork Original to answer a call or send an urgent text. Though they’re primarily made for working, many users report these gloves also perform well for skiing, cycling, and other forms of winter recreation.
For some folks with chronically cold hands, no amount of passive insulation will solve the problem. When you’re wearing the battery-powered Black Diamond Solano Heated Gloves ($400), even arctic temperatures won’t keep you inside.
For a battery-operated glove, the Solano is relatively low-profile, with a rechargeable unit in the cuff and heating elements that wrap around the inside of your wrist, where blood is close to the surface and can best absorb the heat.
The new Solano has more synthetic insulation in the back of the hand (200 g) and the palm (100 g) than previous versions, but not so much that it’s hard to grip a ski pole or handlebar.
An easy-to-operate switch on the back of this GORE-TEX-lined goat leather glove lets you choose from three settings. We wore the Black Diamond Solano Heated Gloves in the deepest freeze that Vermont could muster, alpine skiing, and fat biking down to -20 degrees. Our hands remained toasty and warm throughout.
The Gordini Fayston Gloves ($65) are simple, elegant, and a solid value. For running errands in Breckenridge, Truckee, and the rest of the great mountain towns, the Fayston is perfect everyday attire.
As this glove is more in the lifestyle category, it isn’t really meant for heavy outdoor activities but is a great pick for running around town. The Thindown insulation and moisture-wicking lining are designed to keep your hands cozy while walking to the bar, going for a stroll, or shopping at the resort base area.
We tested the Gordini Fayston Gloves on chilly morning walks in the Colorado Rockies and were impressed with the elegant design and general comfort. For such a thin glove, the Fayston kept our hands comfortable in temps as low as 10 degrees. Men’s and women’s sizes are available.
For those who prefer gloves without a gauntlet, the Oyuki E-Jack GTX Glove ($130) is made with the ideal undercuff. There is a side zipper so you can easily fit them over large hands but still zip ’em up for a streamlined hug around the wrist.
The bottom of the gloves have a large pull tab, which is a unique rectangular cutout in the cuff’s goat leather — an excellent tool for gloves with undercuffs. The opening is large enough to get a gloved finger through to yank on the opposite hand, so you can quickly get your gloves back on without removing the other.
A midweight option, these gloves boast PrimaLoft Gold insulation on the top and palm, which kept our hands warm enough when biking home on a zero-degree night. That said, the E-Jacks weren’t the warmest on very cold, windy days at the ski area, but did keep our hands comfortable in the mid-to-low-20s with a decent wind.
Because of the low profile, the Oyuki E-Jack GTX Glove provides great dexterity, which makes them ideal for winter biking, transitioning in the backcountry, and holding onto ski poles for downhilling, snowshoeing, or splitboarding. Overall, it’s no surprise that these gloves are all-around an excellent tool for the kit, as they were designed by professional snowboarder Eric Jackson, and built with performance in mind.
For Nordic skiing, less is more. We picked the Hestra Windstopper Tour ($75) for its lightweight profile, grippy goat leather palm (that never got saturated with snowmelt or sweat), and stylish look.
This Windstopper pair is internally lined with GORE-TEX Infinium micro-check material, which keeps the windchill out without sacrificing breathability. Though these gloves include minimal insulation, a layer of fleece on the backhand provides just enough warmth for cross-country touring and other active outdoor activities.
Like all Hestra products, the Hestra Windstopper Tour is well-made and plenty durable for regular use. From a versatility standpoint, we love that these gloves also work well for jogging, running errands, and simply getting your hands warm throughout the winter.
Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Shell/Material, Cuff Type, Insulation, Waterproof.
To find the best winter gloves, we put dozens of winter warmers to the test. We worked outside and in the yard, shoveled mounds of snow, and ran errands in storm flurries. We also played: alpine, backcountry, and Nordic skied, snowboarded, hiked, fat biked, snowshoed, skated, sledded, dog walked, and had snowball fights in more than 30 pairs of gloves in the American Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest as well as the Rockies, Canada, and Iceland. Temperatures ranged from -20 degrees to the 40s.
One of the lead testers, Mattie Schuler, is no stranger to cold weather — she grew up in Wisconsin and has called Colorado home for a decade. Schuler spends her days outside teaching kids at an outdoor school — even in cold, windy, and wet weather. Schuler has tested dozens and dozens of gloves and mittens for personal and professional use, so she’s established a good metric on the basics like warmth and comfort. She’s admittedly quite picky about certain things like exactly where the nose wipe is located and if the wrist leashes are too long or too thick.
While testing to find the best gloves for winter, our team considered waterproofness, breathability, durability, and how well they kept the weather out as well as ease of on and off, taking a phone photo, gripping a ski pole, steering and opening a vehicle door, riding a bike, leveraging a shovel, or packing a snowball while wearing these pairs. Many of our testers live in frigid climates and use winter gloves on a daily basis while running errands and commuting including our Senior Editor, Morgan Tilton, who specializes in our snowsports buyer’s guides and grew up in the Colorado Rockies, where she lives today.
As new winter glove styles hit the market this season, we’ll be sure to keep this list updated with our current favorites. At any given time, our roundup will include the best of the best.
“Winter gloves” is a massive category that encompasses many different types and styles. The recommendations that we’ve included on this list represent a broad spectrum of options, and it can be tricky to identify the best pair for you.
Overall, in your go-to collection of gloves, you should have a few pairs that range from super warm to lightweight, with a medium warmth in the middle. That way, you aren’t sporting a thick, heavy glove when it’s a 35-degree sunny day outside. You’ll have a pair that fits exactly the conditions you need, whether that be a warmer, waterproof pair during super cold temps or a lighter design or liner during warmer winter days.
While some winter gloves are versatile enough for all sorts of applications, others are specifically designed for a singular purpose.
When choosing a pair of winter gloves, there are many important factors to consider. In this handy how-to-choose guide, we break down each of these factors to help you streamline — and hopefully enjoy — the selection process.
If you’ll be using your gloves as an activewear accessory — such as holding onto a ski pole, ice axe, or chainsaw — choose a glove that offers dexterity. The most dexterous gloves will allow you to articulate each finger independently for improved grip and active functionality. On this list, The North Face Recycled Etip Gloves offer uninhibited dexterity.
If you’ll be using your gloves strictly to keep your hands warm while commuting or walking outside, dexterity and workability are less important. If this is the case for you, we recommend gloves that are warm and well-insulated.
If you don’t need dexterity, you may as well take advantage of maximum warmth. On this list, the Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster Evo Gloves may not be the most dexterous, but they are impressively warm and eye-catching.
We focus on winter gloves here. But for those who regularly suffer from uncomfortably cold hands, mittens are the warmest form of hand protection. When encased in a mitten, your fingers are able to keep each other warm by proximity.
The major downside to mittens is loss of dexterity. When you need the use of your fingers while walking around town or snowboarding, for example, mittens are great, but for manual labor or gripping a ski pole, mittens aren’t ideal.
Lobster claws are the middle ground between gloves and mittens. Usually, one or two fingers are isolated from the other 3 or 4, resulting in two separate “claws” that can move independently. This style may be a good option for those who have chronically cold hands but still need some dexterity.
Still, lobster claws are significantly less dexterous than traditional gloves. Winter mountain bikers commonly choose to wear lobster-style gloves. On this list, the Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster Evo Gloves are excellent.
While all of the gloves on this list are high-quality options and well-qualified for winter use, not all of them are ideal for skiing and snowboarding. Skiing and snowboarding gloves need to be reliably waterproof, and durable enough for active use including ample friction with ski poles and bindings or backpacks and carrying gear. They also need to be comfortable in a wide range of conditions, because you’ll be out there with ’em on for a while and the weather can turn upside down.
On this list, the Dakine Leather Titan, Hestra Army Leather Patrol, and the Oyuki E-Jack are solid choices for bell-to-bell shredding at the ski resort or in the backcountry. Otherwise, read more about our favorite ski gloves.
One very niche feature of some winter gloves, and specifically ski gloves, is their ability to connect to ski poles, like with those from Leki.
Leki has the Trigger System, which offers a built-in, tiny loop in the thumb saddle of some of their mittens and gloves that then connects to the brand’s ski poles. This helps provide more user control and a quick and easy on-and-off, but is also supposedly safer with a rapid-release mechanism.
If you’ve got Leki poles but aren’t a fan of their gloves, you can also use one of their Trigger S straps, which is a harness that goes over your gloves to still be able to connect to the poles.
Durability is an important consideration when choosing winter gloves. Our hands make contact with surfaces more than any other part of our body, and the constant movement and action can cause gloves to wear rapidly.
Ultimately, a glove’s durability comes down to its construction and materials. The longest-lasting gloves tend to be made of high-quality leather and many have added reinforcements. The Mechanix Wear Coldwork Original includes textile reinforcements on the thumb saddle, and the Norrøna trollveggen has additional leather in high-wear areas, like the palm and fingertips.
On this list, the Norrøna trollveggen leather gloves and Give’r 4-Season Gloves are among the most durable we’ve ever tested. The downside of leather gloves is that they require regular maintenance. A waterproofing treatment such as Sno-Seal or Nikwax can significantly help maintain the waterproofing ability and general quality of a pair of leather gloves.
Nylon outer shells can also offer long-lasting durability. Though not as supple as leather, nylon is hardy and requires less maintenance.
Aside from nylon and leather, many thinner winter gloves are made from wool, fleece, and cotton. Generally, cotton is not ideal, as it takes a long time to dry and tears easily.
Choosing a glove that has a large gauntlet cuff or a small undercuff comes down to the amount of protection you need from snow, wind, and cold temperatures, as well as personal choice and style plus your layering system.
With a larger gauntlet cuff, the cuff goes over the cuffs of your winter coat, like with the Hestra Army Leather Patrol Gauntlet Gloves. Then, tightening the wrist cinch makes it so no snow or wind gets in during a long day. Wrist cinches also help to ensure a secure, proper fit on your hands.
With an undercuff, like the 4-Season Give’r Gloves, you’ll have less bulk around your wrists, but a higher chance of snow or wind getting near your wrists and into your coat.
If your coat or midlayer has built-in wrist covers and thumb holes in the sleeves, then a gauntlet or undercuff comes down to personal preference, as your wrists will be covered and protected from any snow getting in.
Insulation is the part of the gloves that adds that extra padding and warmth around your fingers, palms, and back of your hand. There are two main types of insulation, down and synthetic, or a product can include a mix of both.
The majority of our favorite winter gloves are made with synthetic insulation, which has a strong resilience to getting wet or damp, so the gloves can retain their warmth properties.
Natural down fill is often made of duck down or geese down (the finest, lightest feathers), and is extremely lightweight, very packable (like what you want in a down jacket), and is overall warmer than synthetic down. The Gordini Fayston gloves use natural down. The down is technically Thindown, a natural goose down fabric that is RDS-certified or post-consumer recycled. The material is packed into a streamlined, flat layer that resembles a piece of fabric, rather than the down being stuffed inside stitched-together fabric.
Synthetic insulation, however, keeps you warm even when damp because it is made from polyester, and keeps its insulation power and ultimately dries faster. Many more companies are opting for recycled synthetic fill, like in the Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster Cycling Gloves.
Winter gloves can include a mix of insulation with both synthetic material and down fill.
When you see a number in grams next to a pair of gloves, that’s the amount of synthetic insulation.
If the glove is made with natural down feathers, the most common notation is the fill power like 800-fill mittens for hunting. Typically expressed in the hundreds, the value reflects the loft of down inside the product. That volume is calculated based on the number of cubic inches that one ounce of that particular down can take up. Loftier down will have a higher fill, which means more warmth at a lighter option.
None of our selected winter gloves on this top picks list have down fill. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the amount of synthetic fill offered in each pair:
Not every activity warrants the warmest glove. If your gloves are too hot, you’ll end up with hands somewhere between sweaty and swampy. Ultimately, you will want to pick gloves based on your body’s comfort level and temperature regulation, as well as the outside temperature and your chosen activity.
Offering adaptability, the Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Gloves have a small zipper pocket on the top of the glove, so you can either open it for some extra ventilation or pop in a handwarmer for added warmth.
Some companies provide a warmth rating in degrees, while others have a rating system to rate the warmth of the gloves to other gloves in their brand’s lineup. Warmth can be tricky, as materials and fill do influence the amount of overall insulation value and heat retention, but so does a person’s physical ability to generate heat and their personal preferences.
Here is the warmth value of our selected winter gloves based on ambient temperature:
To give us a more general idea of functionality, here is the warmth value for our selected winter gloves based on how those models compare to other products within their brand’s family (warm, warmer, warmest):
If you seem to always have cold hands regardless of how thick your gloves are, we recommend that you try a battery-powered self-warming option. They can be a game-changer for people who have Raynaud’s disease or chronically cold hands.
On this list, the Black Diamond Solano are high-quality self-warming gloves with plush comfort and impressive battery life.
Depending on your needs, waterproofing may be a non-negotiable priority. If your primary winter pursuit is manual labor, snowball fights, or clipping in and out of your snowboard bindings in deep snow, consider choosing a glove with a waterproof membrane such as the Norrøna Trollveggen or the Black Diamond Legend Gloves. Waterproof membranes help keep water out but aren’t quite as breathable as a glove without a waterproof membrane.
If you’ll be actively generating heat while running or Nordic skiing, consider a glove without a waterproof membrane, such as The North Face Etip.
If you are using the gloves for something right in the middle — not too wet but not completely dry — you can opt for a glove with water resistance. A waterproof glove aims to never let water in, so the gloves stay dry all the time. With water resistance, water can eventually seep in, but only after long periods of time or a high volume of water.
You can also apply waterproofing to your gloves, like Nixwax, which includes options like a wash, a spray, or waterproof creams for leather gloves. The Give’r team with the all-leather 4-Season Give’r Gloves recommends using Sno Seal Beeswax Waterproofing on leather gloves once a season.
The best winter gloves should keep your hands warm. But if your hands get too warm and sweaty, that can actually make them feel colder. That’s where breathability is important. Heavy-duty winter gloves are made with a waterproof and breathable membrane, which keeps water droplets out but allows for vapor to seep through, like the Oyuki E-Jack GORE-TEX Gloves.
If you aren’t going to be using gloves in extremely wet weather, but want something that is super breathable, opt for The North Face Etip Recycled Glove, which strikes a near-perfect balance between warm insulation that is still breathable.
Alternatively, some gloves have ventilation options in the form of small zipper pockets, like on the Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Gloves. Zip it open to let some air in if your hands are hot, or use it to stash a hand warmer for extra heat.
On gloves with shorter cuffs or undercuffs, getting them pulled on all the way can be a bit tricky. Thankfully, the Norrøna trollveggen gloves have a streamlined pull tab and the Oyuki E-Jack GTX glove has a unique cutout that works just like a pull tab — you can use both to easily pull the gloves on for a secure fit.
Wrist leashes are your best friend if you tend to take your gloves off often.
With a wrist leash, you get a stretchy leash that attaches to your glove and then goes around your wrist, so even if you let go of your gloves, it’s still securely attached to you.
Some wrist leashes are sewn on and not removable, while others are easy to remove and use from glove to glove, like on the Oyuki E-Jack GTX glove.
You’ll also find wrist leashes that might be too short for your liking or the wrist cuff feels too tight or too large. If the leashes are removable, you can easily change these out to your liking.
Not all winter gloves are touchscreen-compatible. If you will need to access your phone or tablet in cold conditions, look for a pair labeled with “touchscreen compatible” or “e-tips.” Meaning, the construction includes conductive fabrics that transfer your body’s electric current into the device.
Constantly taking your gloves on and off gets old (and cold) fast. Being able to text your buddy from the chairlift comfortably is a welcome asset, like with the exterior coatings on the fingers of the Jeniulet Winter Gloves or the Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Gloves, which come with a touch-screen compatible glove liner.
It is important to choose properly sized gloves. As always, we recommend trying gear on before purchase to ensure a good fit. If you can’t try on the glove, most websites have accurate sizing guides and charts where you simply measure the circumference of your hand and the length from wrist to fingertips.
Be sure to pay attention to the specific metrics on the chart, as well as the difference between men’s and women’s gloves, which can differ from product to product and brand to brand.
Extra space inside an oversized glove is additional air that your hands have to heat before they feel warm, which isn’t necessarily good but isn’t detrimental. However, gloves that are too big can feel more cumbersome, sloppy, or flop off.
When gloves are too tight, they may restrict blood flow, worsen circulation issues, and cause pain. One way to tell if gloves are too small is if getting them on and off hurts or rubs. You should be able to slip them on and off with relative ease.
More companies are moving towards using sustainably sourced materials as well as recycled materials.
PrimaLoft is a leader in sustainable fill options, as seen in the Oyuki E-Jack gloves, Norrøna trollveggen, and the Black Diamond Solano and Black Diamond Legend Gloves.
The brand PrimaLoft has a few different iterations — Gold, Grip, and more — and produces synthetic fill that doesn’t require animal-sourced materials. Rather, the process takes retired plastic bottles and turns that rubbish into fibers that insulate gear. Plus, gear with PrimaLoft fill can also be recycled and turned into another piece of gear. Pretty cool, right?
Thindown is another fill option, though it is comprised of naturally occurring down. The down is sourced ethically and certified RDS (Responsible Down Standard) and is able to be recycled meeting the Global Recycled Standard.
Taking an inspection of the exterior textiles and interior liners, we’re starting to find more gear with recycled polyester, like in The North Face Etip Recycled Glove.
Other companies use fabric that is Bluesign-certified, like the Norrøna trollveggen, which means you are getting a product with fabric that has been tested to not be harmful to humans or the environment. Similar certifications include OEKO-TEX-certified fabric and Fair Trade sewing.
Topically, materials are often treated with chemicals for water repellency. When you see PFC-free water repellency, that means the application is free of toxins or perfluorochemicals, which are harmful to human health and the environment.
To help your gloves last from season to season, washing and treating is also a good end-of-season practice, but make sure to follow the instructions for each pair.
For pairs with removable liners, you can wash the liners in a gentle cycle with cold water and a mild detergent, like a fine fabric wash, then air dry. Do not use bleach, fabric softener, or a harsh detergent.
Those pairs that don’t have removable liners or are mostly leather: Use a damp rag to spot clean and wipe away any dirt or debris. If they still need to be cleaned more, hand wash with a mild detergent and let air dry.
Then, leather gloves can be treated once they are dry with a waterproofing treatment such as Sno-Seal or Nikwax. That routine can significantly help maintain the waterproofness and quality of leather gloves.
Our budget pick in this lineup is the Jeniulet Winter Gloves ($20) followed by the Mechanix Wear Coldwork Original ($34) for outdoor, winter work.
The next price tier includes winter gloves that are still below $100, but use more durable materials for a higher-quality glove. That includes the touchscreen-compatible The North Face Etip Recycled Glove ($45), the lifestyle glove Gordini Fayston ($65), the Nordic touring glove Hestra Windstopper Tour ($75), and the Pearl Izumi AmFIB Lobster Evo Gloves ($95) for cycling.
For gloves that are more ski and snowboard-ready with higher insulation, durable leather, and necessary features (like wrist leashes and nose wipes), this third bucket rounds up the Dakine Leather Titan GORE-TEX Gloves ($100), which is a superb deal for a GORE-TEX glove. For a bit more, there are the full-leather 4-Season Give’r Gloves ($119), the Oyuki E-Jack GTX Glove ($130), and the Black Diamond Legend Gloves ($150).
The Hestra Army Leather Patrol Gauntlet Gloves ($165) are just a bit more pricey than some of the other gloves and have similar features and insulation: Check the overall fit and comfort to see what your personal best choice is. The Norrøna trollveggen GTX gloves ($229) are less than the battery-powered Black Diamond Solano ($400), but cost more than the other gloves in the guide. That’s because they are made for the coldest pursuits in the mountains and don’t disappoint. The priciest gloves on our list are the Black Diamond Solano ($400), which are battery-powered and will truly withstand cold temperatures — they are rated to keep your digits warm down to -20 degrees Fahrenheit, well below zero.
On this list, the Norrøna Trollveggen are extremely warm and highly durable gloves. If you suffer from Raynaud’s disease or simply deal with chronically cold hands, it may be worth considering upgrading to battery-powered self-warming gloves.
The Black Diamond Solano gloves are exceptionally warm, well made, and offer impressively long battery life.
For warm winter gloves, you can also look for a pair that has added synthetic or down insulation in the back of the hand and on the palm, like with the Black Diamond Legend Gloves or the Oyuki E-Jack GTX Glove. Down insulation is warm and light, but loses its insulation power when wet, while synthetic insulation still works when wet and dries much faster.
Choosing between gloves and mittens is a matter of personal preference. Each option has pros and cons, and it is important to understand these before choosing.
Gloves offer improved dexterity but reduced warmth. Because every finger can move independently while wearing gloves, this option is better for gripping ski poles, swinging ice axes, or performing manual labor.
Mittens are very warm, but they seriously reduce dexterity. We don’t recommend mittens for activities that require you to use your hands to grip or squeeze.
On this list, we have included many high-quality winter gloves with a broad range of price tags. Some of the cheaper options include the Jeniulet Winter Gloves and the Mechanix Wear Coldwork Original.
Though affordable winter gloves do exist, cheaper options tend to be less effective and durable. Premium materials and construction cost more, but they also add up to a higher quality product. It is worth considering making a greater initial investment in your winter gloves so that you won’t have to replace your new pair in just a season or two.
If you are going to play in the snow with your gloves, make sure to get a pair that has a waterproof and breathable membrane to keep you dry and warm. GORE-TEX is known for superb waterproofness that doesn’t compromise breathability, like in the Black Diamond Solano and Oyuki E-Jack GORE-TEX Gloves.
If you don’t select a waterproof glove, at least choose a glove that is treated with DWR (durable water repellency) on the exterior, and preferably, a PFC-free DWR treatment that is void of harmful chemicals also known as perfluorochemicals.
Also consider a pair that has a long gauntlet cuff, so you can use the wrist cinch to tighten it over the coat sleeves and deter any snow from getting in.
If your hands are warm and dry in your pair of winter gloves, adding a liner isn’t necessary.
But if you find that your hands are still cold in your go-to pair of winter gloves or you are heading out on a bone-chilling day, consider putting on a slim, moisture-wicking liner beneath your winter glove.
This layering system can be similar to what you do for your core on a cold day: Pull on a base layer against the skin first, then a midlayer that insulates, followed by an outermost layer that is waterproof or windproof.
While wearing the liner, if your hands are getting too hot, you can simply ditch those compressible liners in a pocket. Using an extra liner is also helpful for a day of touring, where you’ll be hot and sweaty on the ascent and want to drop the outer glove.
Liners can be useful at the ski area if you need to take your hands out of your glove — but don’t want to expose your skin to the cold air or wind or precipitation — to operate a phone, fix laces or buckles, adjust your hair under your helmet, or any other fine movements that require fingers.
Technical glove liners are touchscreen compatible, which works very well, and some of our favorite winter gloves even include a pair with purchase.
Cotton gloves are easy to repair yourself, as the material is thinner and a simple sew job can bind a hole. You can also easily repair holes in thin leather gloves, or other materials with a similar thickness, where the edges of rips can easily connect back together. Afterward, add a waterproof sealant like Seam Grip Waterproof Sealant by Gear Aid.
For heavier-duty gloves made from leather or synthetic material, mending a hole yourself might not be the way to go. Jordan Martindell is an avid outdoorsperson and owner of SewBo, a fabric store in Boulder, Colo., that offers sewing classes, camps, and more. Martindell recommends not mending high-quality gloves yourself. “If something can be fixed with the no-sew patch, then yes,” she says, give it a try yourself. “If you can’t do it with that, though, hire someone, especially if the gloves need to remain waterproof,” she adds.
Our team of experts found the best ski gloves of 2024. Whether heading to the resort or into the backcountry, we’ve got your digits covered.
Keep your hands warm with the best winter mittens of 2024. From Colorado to Minnesota, we put these mitts through the ultimate test.
Austin Beck-Doss is a Staff Writer at GearJunkie. Austin has been writing about climbing, hiking, and snowsports for 6+ years. Prior to that, Austin worked as a rock climbing and wilderness guide.
Mattie Schuler is a freelance writer for GearJunkie. She has been writing about gear and outdoor adventures for more than 10 years, including winter sports, trail running, backpacking and hiking, and travel. She also covers kid’s gear and early childhood education.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, Mattie has also written for REI, Outside , Women’s Health , Insider, Origin Way, Men’s Journal , Backpacker , Openfit, We Are Teachers, Gear Patrol, and Gear Institute. If she’s not writing or teaching little kids outside at forest school, she is probably out snowboarding, trail running, camping or hiking, mountain biking, and finding dogs to pet.
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