A must-have for safe hiking and scrambling in the chilly months - here's a round-up of our favourite gloves to keep you warm this winter, including options from Montane, Sealskinz, 66° North and many more...
Winter gloves are a crucial part of any kit list as the weather gets colder. Never mind if you’re hiking, running, mountaineering or something in between, it’s important to keep your hands warm and dry.
You can quickly lose the use of your fingers to cold or – in an extreme worst case scenario – lose pieces of them to frost bite. Hopefully you’ll never get anywhere near that, but it’s the least we can do to make sure we’re still able to look after ourselves in the mountains. That means having functioning hands. It’s always nice to avoid hot aches where possible too.
What To Look For When Buying Winter Gloves
There are a few things to consider when buying winter gloves. The first is simple: what are you going to use them for? If you’re going to be stationary for a long time in a cold environment, you’ll want thicker gloves. If you’re going to be moving fast, you will be producing more body heat and can generally get away with a thinner glove. (Note: we’ve got some handy reviews for running gloves too.) There are all sorts of weights (warmth levels) of glove here: from thin softshell liners to bracing the weather at 8000m.
For hands-on activities, like winter mountaineering with one or tow ice axes, you’ll want very different gloves to, say, a winter trail runner. Winter gloves need to have good grip and durability if you’re going to be holding technical kit. No one wants to have an ice axe slip out of their hands at a crucial moment. Nor do you want to worry about making holes in your gloves due to abrasion from rocks or ropes.
Another consideration is just how much precipitation you’re expecting. As much as we’d like to imagine winter as pristine snow conditions and blue skies, the reality is often much more brutal (Scotland we’re looking at you). There could be horizontal hail, damp snow or even torrential downpour. So consider if you need your gloves to be waterproof. If you’re most likely to be in very damp places, maybe even without snow, in the colder months of the year, you might find it essential.
A Winter Gloves Fitting Guide
In terms of fit, the biggest consideration is dexterity, including whether or not to choose a women’s specific fit. We’d encourage you not to think about that as a boy/girl blue/pink kind of decision. If you have slimmer hands, regardless of gender, it’s worth considering a women’s fit glove. The main difference is width of hand relative to finger length. Unisex gloves could leave you with extra folds of fabric between thumb and forefinger, which frankly get in the way. Or maybe mean you have an extra half a fingernail of space at the end of each finger. This can be fine until you’re trying to put on a pair of crampons in a snowstorm. Basically, women’s fit is definitely worth considering for people with long and narrow hands.
On dexterity, if you just want a pair of gloves to keep your hands from falling off in the cold, that’s fine. But if you want to be able to use your hands – do up zips, unscrew carabiners or even take photos, then fit becomes all the more important. Definitely measure your hands (usually circumference of knuckles and length finger to wrist) and compare to the size guide before purchasing. It can be a pain to keep taking gloves on and off, even if you are wearing liner gloves underneath.
Finally, consider whether you want your gloves to fit over or under the sleeves of your waterproof jacket. This may sound silly, but some gloves have huge, sturdy cuffs that won’t fit under a slimline sleeve. That means if you’re walking in the rain, for example, then all that water will run down your coat sleeve and pool inside your gloves. Big cuffs are great in drier situations, or where all precipitation is frozen – and when you can expect to have your hands above waist height. For instance climbing up a gully with ice axes.
The Best Winter Gloves | Our Favourites
Best Winter Gloves for Hiking: Extremities Capitol Peak
Best Winter Gloves for Mountaineering: Norrøna Lofoten Gore-Tex thermo100
Best Winter Gloves for Everyday Walking: Arc’teryx Venta
Best Winter Gloves for Running: 66°North Snaefell Gore-tex Infinium
Best Hiking Mitts: Black Diamond Mercury Mitt
Best Waterproof Gloves: Sealskinz Fusion Control™ Insulated Cold Weather Gloves
The Extremites Capitol Peak Glove is a big winter glove, designed for the coldest of weather. But we can’t go any further without talking about the lining – the most luxurious our testers had ever come across. Putting your hands inside this glove feels a million dollars. On the flip side, this fluffy polyester fabric may be simply too warm for some.
Photos: Terra Nova
The palms have PU fabric reinforcement that extends up and over the tips of the fingers. It is also doubly reinforced between the index finger and thumb where a rope might pass through and rub. There is an elasticated wrist with a big compression strap and a long cuff. These cuffs can be cinched in at the bottom too, using the elasticated cord and toggle. A connecting clip means you don’t accidentally lose one glove when storing.
Overall, a very comfortable, very warm glove that is still completely practical for hands-on outdoor use.
Full Specifications
Sizes S – XL / Primaloft Gold Eco insulation / PU palm / 100% polyester outer and inner fabric / Extremities X-Dry fabric gives waterproof and breathable protection.
Norrøna’s Lofoten Gore-Tex Thermo 100 gloves are medium weight gloves that are designed to take a lot of abrasion. The entire hand and most of the back hand are made of leather, treated with a waterproof DWR coating. They are your winter equivalent of rope gloves and definitely have a work glove look about them. That’s not to say they aren’t insulated too: the inner lining is a soft and warm polyester fabric.
The cuffs are a fairly thin and flexible lined softshell material, adjusted at the wrist with a velcro strap. There are useful leashes – that can be removed when not in use – made of a single elastic tape and loop that goes around your wrist. We found this to a comfortable solution. There is a small pairing clip at the wrists and a leather loop on a finger for carrying, plus a generous suede nose wiping pad on the back of each thumb. With both short and long options available; these’ll see you through some bitterly cold conditions.
Full Specifications
Sizes XS – XL / DWR treated Pittard goat leather and softshell outer with GoreTex lining / Bluesign Certified and Oeko-Tex Certified Fabrics / more than 50% recycled synthetic fibers / suede nose wipe / seamless palm / velcro cuffs / removable leashes.
The Venta gloves from Arc’teryx are a great choice for everyday use around and about your local walking spots. Featuring a GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ softshell fabric that blocks the wind and offers some resistance against rain and snow, there’s enough weather resistance here for moderate weather conditions here in the UK. Anything more extreme and you’re better off with the likes of the Norrøna Lofoten or the The North Face Montana Pros.
That being said, there’s also a moisture-wicking fleeced interior that adds some nice warmth to glove, as well as TPU reinforcements at the palm and fingers for extra grip and durability against abrasive surfaces. There’s also some secure elasticated cuffs to trap in the heat and a handy carabiner clip-in loop so you don’t lose your kit to the trail.
Full Specifications
XS to XXL / GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ softshell fabric (bluesign approved) / Octa® Loft breathable insulation / windproof / water resistant / high-loft fleeced interior / TPU palm and finger reinforcements / touchscreen sensor compatible / reinforced leather tab with carabiner clip-in loop / slim fit elastic cuffs / PFC-free DWR.
This pair of gloves from Icelandic brand 66°North suit casual outdoor activity through winter; anything from hiking and trail running to road cycling and mountain biking. They also have a casual look and day-to-day functionality, so we’d say they’re a pair you can simply wear on your commute through winter.
They feature Gore-tex Infinium fabric. Unlike standard Gore-tex, this fabric isn’t waterproof but it’s totally windproof and it offers excellent breathability. That therefore makes these gloves suitable for those kind of activities where you want the wind chill kept off when you’re going slow and then to have breathability when you’re picking up the pace on a winter run.
During our tests, they were comfortable, good at repelling light rain and we liked the fact they can be scrunched up small enough to easily fit inside the chest pocket on a waterproof jacket.
Price: £115 Weight: 268g Best for: Mountaineering Key attributes: Flexibility of use, durability Sizing: Men’s and Women’s
The Black Diamond Mercury Mitts are gloves that can take the worst that the weather has to offer. And yes – they are mittens, so you don’t have the dexterity of independent fingers, but they are still surprisingly dextrous for that. Better still, you almost get two pairs of gloves for one. The thick inner liner can be entirely removed from the rugged outer shell, via a circle of velcro in the cuff. Once removed, this Primaloft and fleece lining is a mitten in its own right, leaving a separate waterproof shell mitten. This shell could be used as an extra weather barrier over another pair of mountaineering gloves, for example, not just with the liner as sold. It’s easy to get the liner back in place too.
Together, the liner doesn’t move or wrinkle and is both very warm and comfortable. The entire front of hand and over the fingertips is reinforced with leather – with extra reinforcement on top of that in the arch between thumb and index finger for ropework. The cuffs are extra long too, going out beyond the end of the liner with a single-hand toggle closure at the end. This again gives more flexibility – allowing the cuffs to potentially seal under a jacket sleeve, not just over it.
These are the perfect mitts to pull on when the weather is throwing it all at you, but you still need to use your hands for basic functions and stay warm. They’re also high up the list on our all-rounder rating for this review. Having the fully detachable lining makes them very versatile and adaptable to many uses.
Full Specifications
Sizes XS – XL / BD.dry waterproof insert and GTT Empel DWR treated shell (PWC free) / 100% recycled shell fabrics / up to 170 g PrimaLoft Gold insulation / removable inner liner / attachment loop / suede nose wipe on thumbs.
Sealskinz have made their name as the go to brand for waterproofing. These Sealskinz Extreme Cold Weather insulated gloves are no exception – and it’s safe to say their key feature is their waterproofing. Pretty much everything else comes across as secondary. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing, because if you need to deal with wet winter weather, these could be the gloves for you.
The gloves are constructed with a polyester outer, upper insulation and leather palm. Sealskinz’s trademarked Fusion Control technology basically means that both the outer and liner are bonded to the waterproof membrane and feel completely connected. So there is zero chance of you pulling out the inner lining as you take the glove off (which used to be a feature of waterproof gloves way back when). The fabrics are tough yet still flexible enough for good dexterity and a fairly snug fit. However, the lining is not particularly soft to touch. The wrist can be adjusted using a velcro cuff strap and a mini clip allows the gloves to be paired when not in use. It’s also worth noting that, according to the label, these gloves cannot be washed – so keep that in mind before you trip face first into a bog.
In all, these are the ideal gloves for when keeping your hands dry is the priority.
Full Specifications
Sizes S – XXL / 100% waterproof fabric / Primaloft Gold Bio Insulation / Pre-curved fingers / Leather palm / Inner layer 84% Merino wool / Fusion Control bonding between inner and outer layers.
From the original inventors of the ski boot heater, here we have the Ultra Heat Boost gloves from Therm-ic. Ideal for extremely cold conditions when you need battery-assisted heat, these are some pretty unique winter gloves.
The Ultra Heat Boost gloves are designed to distribute heat 360° around the fingers for up to 10 hours at a time with the option of 3 different heat settings. When the battery runs out, they are charged via a USB cable.
They additionally feature PrimaLoft Gold insulation, 90% recycled polyester, a waterproof membrane, and a PFC-free durable water repellant treatment. Other handy features include: a flexible thumb strap, a safety cord so you don’t lose them, and a drawstring to trap in the heat.
Full Specifications
Various sizes available / 10 hours of warmth (3.7V; 3600mAh) / 3 heat settings / USB-chargeable / PrimaLoft Gold Insulation / PFC-free DWR / 90% recycled polyester composition / partly made of genuine leather / waterproof and breathable membrane.
The Mammut Astro gloves feature a windproof and breathable GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER® material combined with a tough synthetic leather. GORE® WINDSTOPPER® is great for shielding and insulating your hands from cold weather, while the synthetic leather offers abrasion resistance against rough terrain on the trail.
There’s also an elasticated cuff (made with recycled nylon) to help trap in the heat, a connection hook to attach the gloves together, and an ergonomic design that adapts to the natural shape of your hand. From our experience, the connection hook is extremely handy when trying to avoid losing your gloves… Take it from us, mismatching gloves does not make for a fun hike.
Full Specifications
Sizes 6-12 / 64g / WINDSTOPPER® by GORE-TEX LABS / windproof and breathable / durable synthetic leather / slim fit / inserts for touchscreen operation on thumb and index finger / abrasion resistant / elasticated cuff with recycled nylon / connection hook to attach gloves together / ergonomic design.
Price: £140 Weight: 210g (size dependant) Best for: Alpine sports Key attributes: Made from cowhide, fleece and foam insulation Sizing: Men’s and Women’s versions
Built for freeriding, snowboarding and skiing, the Fall Line Five Finger from Hestra is an excellent choice for a wide range of winter sports. Made primarily from a hard-wearing impregnated cowhide, there’s also a removable synthetic inner made from Bemberg fleece, and some foam G-Loft insulation. All in all, this amounts to a highly warm and windproof glove.
There are also technical details such a wrist strap, a handy carabiner for attaching your gloves to your kit, a neoprene cuff that fits neatly under a shell jacket, and some tough outseams for grip out in the elements.
Full Specifications
Sizes 6 to 11 / six fun colour options / made from impregnated cowhide / windproof / removable synthetic inner made from Bemberg fleece / foam G-Loft insulation / elasticated wrist / Neoprene cuff with Velcro fastener / wrist strap included / carabiner included.
Price: £35 Weight: 55g Best for: Ultralight Key attributes: Warmth, packable Sizing: Men’s and Women’s versions
The Montane Prism Gloves are like an insulated jacket for your hands. Made with PrimaLoft Gold insulation, they are ideal for runners or anyone moving fast and light – unsurprisingly for Montane. Given the outer fabric is Pertex, so the gloves are mostly composed of insulation, they pack down into an impressively tiny stuff sack, provided. The gloves have a thin mircofleece lining and touch screen patches on forefinger and thumb. There is elastication at the wrists and at the end of the medium length cuff. These are a snug fit (in women’s), which is great for dexterity, but made it a little difficult to get them on with cold, damp hands.
The gloves have no reinforcements and aren’t designed for heavy abrasion – the insulated jacket analogy is a good one. They’re perfect for the moment you stop moving and want to retain your body heat as quickly as possible. We found them perfect for throwing on at camp to keep your hands toasty but are probably too warm for many to wear when working hard.
Full Specifications
Sizes XS – L Women’s, S – XL Men’s / Incredibly lightweight and packable / 60g/m2 Primaloft Gold 55% recycled insulation / Touch screen compatible / Pre-curved digits / Elasticated wrist / Pertex Quantum Eco 100% recycled outer with DWR.
These gloves are a top of the range offering from The North Face and are specifically designed for activities in harsh mountain conditions – things like ski touring and freeride skiing. During our tests ski touring in the snow-coated mountains of Italy they proved to be warm and cosy and we liked the fact that you could easily cinch in around the wrist with the webbing strap and then seal off over your waterproof jacket sleeve using the bungee cord.
The waterproof Gore-tex membrane does what it says on the tin and the inner lining wicks away sweated moisture well. During our tests, these never felt clammy to wear. The materials throughout them are excellent quality, with goat leather palms, microfleece thumbs (perfect for wiping your nose on!) and tough ripstop synthetics on the back of the hand and on the gauntlet. Credit to The North Face for using recycled materials throughout the Montane Pro too.
Price: £70 Weight: 150g Best for: Mountaineering Key attributes: Hard-wearing, dexterity Sizing: Men’s and Women’s versions
The Mountain Equipment Guide Glove, pictured in women’s, are what you might call your Big Gloves. The ones that come out when the weather’s grim and you need to work with your hands on ropes and ice axes or rock. The gloves are made with a polyamide shell which feels tough and durable. Goatskin leather palms, that continues to round over the ends of the fingers, provide durable reinforcement. The lining is soft and warm with a thin fleece to palm and a fluffier fleece on top.
The large cuffs are elasticated at the wrist for a snug fit and have an elasticated draw cord at the bottom. We particularly appreciated the single-hand operation toggles. The cuffs also have a small hidden loop each to help you pull the gloves on with cold or damp hands. You could use them to attach the gloves together to a carabiner but there is also a finger carry loop, allowing the gloves to be hooked cuff-down onto a harness so snow doesn’t accumulating inside. It’s details like this, and the suede patch on the back of each thumb for nose wiping, that show the Mountain Equipment Guide Gloves have been developed with a true understanding of the end user.
These gloves have good dexterity, as well as being durable and waterproof, making them an excellent choice for winter mountaineering.
Full Specifications
Sizes S – XXL in both Men’s and Women’s / DRYLITE waterproof lining is waterproof and breathable / Polyamide shell and leather palm / Karabiner carry loops / Removable wrist tethers / Reversed suede nose wipe / Pre-curved fingers / Single handed drawcord closure.
Price: £65 Weight: 50g Best for: Running or all-round liner Key attributes: Snug fit Sizing: Unisex
The Haglöfs Bow Gloves are a lightweight pair of gloves, providing less warmth than thicker counterparts that have appeared in this round up. The simplest and most minimal gloves in this guide, they are made of a GoreTex Infinium brushed-fleece fabric. The palm has been printed with a silicone ridge patter for extra grip. These are lines are surprisingly sticky and add a lot of gripping power to the glove. The bonded inner and outer feels like a single skin glove, with good windproofing capability – the fabric is robust although not particularly soft.
The forefinger and thumb have conductive tips giving touch screen capability. Although the material here is very slippery and makes a crinkling noise when moved, so there is some compromise for being able to your gadgets. Despite being unisex, the gloves have a very snug fit – you really do need the cuff loops to help pull them on. But once they are on, you have great dexterity – its designed to be like a second skin and that really does deliver. You won’t risk pulling these off under another glove or let any cold air get in while you’re wearing them.
These gloves would be great for people moving fast in the winter mountains or as a liner glove under some thicker gloves or mitts.
Full Specifications
Sizes 6 – 11 / GORE-TEX Infinium 100% Polyester, two thin warming Micro-Fleece layers laminated to a Windstopper ePTFE membrane 319 g/m2 / anatomical fit / touch screen compatible / grip enhancing silicone print.
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