The Best Winter Gloves of 2024
This article originally appeared on Outside
The glove is a humble piece of equipment. It lacks the technical wizardry of a binding, the heft and drama of a ski, or the dynamism of an airbag pack. But don't be fooled: Gloves are a critical safety tool and can add major style points to your kit. Whether you're spinning inbounds laps or heading on a multi-day backcountry mission, the options below will keep you warm and dry, so you can focus on hauling uphill and ripping down, all day long.
The Winners at a Glance
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Auclair A-Peak 2-in-1 Mitt
Gordini Cirque 3-Finger Glove
Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Thermo200 Mitten
Rab Khroma Tour GTX Gloves
Flylow Super D Lobster
The North Face Montana Pro Gore-Tex Glove
Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Glove
Beyond Guide Lite Glove
Black Diamond Spark Mitts
The Reviews: The Best Winter Gloves and Mittens of 2024
Auclair A-Peak 2-in-1 Mitt ($135, includes liner mitt)
Sizes: S-L (women's)
Weight (per pair): 7.6 oz
Pros:
Comes with a liner mitt
One of the warmest options we tested
Cons:
Doesn't offer the best dexterity
Auclair has been making bomber gloves and mittens that withstand gnarly Canadian winters for over 75 years, and their new A-Peak 2-in-1 Mitt is a testament to the brand's focus on quality and fit. This women's-specific offering is part of the brand's all-mountain lineup and a solution for ladies who struggle with cold hands. A goatskin leather shell and powder cuff keep the elements out, while warm Thinsulate insulation and a soft-to-touch liner add the coziness factor. But the mitt's best feature is a removable inner mitten. This butter-soft fleece liner with added ripstop over the knuckles and the inside of the hand for durability proved to be a lifesaver on colder days. It easily snaps back into the shell glove, so you won't pull out the liner everytime you take the mitten off. Sizing note: Our tester has small hands and found that the medium fit well without much room to spare, so consider sizing up.
Bottom line: An excellent choice for ladies who need an added layer of protection for cold resort days.
Gordini Cirque 3-Finger Glove ($150)
Sizes: S-XXL (men's)
Weight (per pair): 8.3 oz
Pros:
Lobster claw offers great dexterity for a mitten
Low-profile cuff fits snugly under jacket sleeve
Cons:
Lobster claw design may not be for everyone
The lobster claw really is all it's cracked up to be, offering the dexterity of a glove and the warmth of a mitten. These became a go-to for lift-accessed skiing with lots of hike-to terrain, striking the right balance of warmth for uphill and downhill movement. They're all leather, with well-designed articulation across the back of the hand for a great range of motion and reinforced panels on the fingers for extra protection. Bonus: the low-profile cuff fits neatly inside your jacket sleeves.
Bottom Line: This is a great daily driver for inbounds skiers and backcountry skiers alike.
Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Thermo200 Mitten ($229)
Sizes: XS-XL (unisex)
Weight (per pair): 6.3 oz
Pros:
Nice balance of warmth and dexterity for a mitten
Slimmer profile makes these more versatile than your average mitten
Cons:
May not be the best option for skiers who contend with wet snow
All of the gloves in Norrona's Lofoten line are sleek, simple, and stylish, featuring buttery-soft, durable goat leather and a wind- and water-resistant recycled polyester, nylon, and elastane blend. The latest addition to the lineup, the Thermo200 mitten, uses just the right amount of recycled insulation to make this a versatile, do-anything option that's ready for wet storms and cold days, but not so warm that you suffer on the bootpack.
Bottom line: This is a do-it-all mitten for the frontside and the backcountry.
Sponsor Content
Seirus HeatTouch Hellfire Mitt ($499.99)
For customizable warmth on demand, you need to get your hands into the HeatTouch Hellfire Mitt--the warmest and most durable mitt by Seirus yet. With Heatlock insulation for unmatched warmth, this stylish mitt is designed to thrive in extreme environments. Plus, the advanced Dryhand insert provides breathable waterproofing to shield against rain, snow, and slush. But what truly sets the Hellfire apart is the exclusive Flexible Fusion heat panel. With the press of a button, this cutting-edge technology activates and distributes warmth evenly across the entire glove back and fingers for a next-level heating experience. With three heat settings to choose from, you have the freedom to customize your comfort zone like never before.
Rab Khroma Tour GTX Gloves ($150)
Sizes: XS-XL (unisex)
Weight (per pair): 5.7 oz
Pros:
Excellent dexterity
Ideal for backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering
Cons:
May not be warm enough for inbounds skiers
Rab set out to offer supreme dexterity, ample warmth, bomber waterproofing, and adequate breathability in this backcountry-ready glove that performed in all conditions. Whether testers were tying in for glacier travel, rappelling into a line, or digging a snow pit, these gloves were workhorses. Elements like externally sewn seams on the palm and a naturally curved design ensured a secure grip and a big range of motion, while soft goat leather and a polyamide-elastane blend offered waterproofing, wind resistance, and warmth.
Bottom line: This is a quiver-killer glove for ski mountaineers and backcountry travelers.
Flylow Super D Lobster ($125)
Sizes: XS-XL (unisex)
Weight (per pair): 5.7 oz
Pros:
Burly design
Best option for powder hounds
Cons:
A tad bulky
Flylow upped its glove game this year, releasing a line of burly, feature-filled gloves and mittens that carry the same down-to-earth energy as the classic work gloves they sold in the brand's early years, just with better engineering and design. This goatskin leather-and-polyester lobster mitt features a generous over-the-sleeve cuff for colder temperatures, catering to skiers who prefer to tuck their sleeves in. The three-finger design struck a nice balance between dexterity and warmth, and a wool-blend lining kept us warm even when our palms started sweating at the top of a line.
Bottom line: A lobster glove tailor-made for serious chargers who line up for first chair and rope drops in freezing temps.
The North Face Women's Montana Pro GTX Glove ($150)
Sizes: XS-XL (women's)
Weight (per pair): 11.6 oz
Pros:
Bomber glove for cold temperatures
Over-the-sleeve cuff seals out cold and snow
Cons:
May be overkill for some skiers
If you're looking for ample warmth in a five-finger format, the Montana Pro GTX glove has you covered. Using a proprietary synthetic insulation with impressive durability, The North Face created a big-mountain glove for mid-winter weather. It's fully featured, with an over-the-sleeve cuff, a soft patch of fabric for nose wiping, a wrist leash, and a pre-curved design for dexterity and comfort.
Bottom line: This is the glove you'll want while heli-skiing in Alaska.
Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Glove ($189)
Sizes: XS-XL (unisex)
Weight (per pair): 6.4 oz
Pros:
Great option for skiers who value dexterity over excessive warmth
Very durable
Cons:
Skews towards backcountry use over inbounds skiing
Eddie Bauer recently updated its longstanding Guide Pro glove, which had been our lead tester's go-to glove for the last six years. It's ideal for a skier who prioritizes dexterity and runs hot--it's lightweight and low profile, fitting neatly into a jacket cuff and making it easy to tie knots, set up a tent, and pack a backpack. This glove shined in the backcountry for all of those reasons, but it's also a great daily driver inbounds, especially if you're regularly sidestepping or bootpacking to get to your favorite lines. Bonus points for durability: It took five years of heavy use before our tester needed to replace hers.
Bottom line: This is a lightweight, versatile, and highly durable option for ski mountaineers, patrollers, and anyone else whose ski days involve doing more than hanging onto ski poles.
Beyond Guide Lite Glove ($95)
Sizes: XS-XL (unisex)
Weight (per pair): 4 oz
Pros:
Ideal for high-output backcountry ski missions
Good value
Cons:
Not insulated, so may not be the best choice for skiers who run cold
This non-insulated uphill glove will become your go-to for uphill travel and touring days. Made of soft cow-belly leather and a softshell polyester and nylon blend, the Guite Lite Glove offered enough wind resistance and warmth to keep testers comfortable moving uphill even when the temperatures were as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit, but they were breathable and cool enough to wear on sunny days that climbed above freezing. The leather palm offered great grip and durability on a mixed-climbing approach to a ski line, and the versatile gloves proved to be a favorite for cold hikes, rock traverses, and even winter bike rides around town.
Bottom line: The Guide Lite Glove is a versatile, durable touring glove.
Black Diamond Spark Mitts ($120)
Sizes: S-XL (men's); XS-L (women's)
Weight (per pair)t: 7.1 oz (men's)
Pros:
Fun colorways
Great dexterity for a mitten
Cons:
Not the warmest mitten in our test
Full disclosure: Our lead tester is not a mitten gal. She happily tested them, but turned to gloves or lobsters for her daily drivers. Then she met the Spark Mitts. It helps that they look good--all leather with great colorways, as we've come to expect from Black Diamond. But the well-articulated construction, with reinforced padding on the back of the hand, made these mittens feel almost as functional as gloves when unzipping bibs for a backcountry bathroom break or tightening ski boots at the top of a techy line. They were warm enough for most inbounds ski days in the Rockies, and a low-profile cuff helped them fit neatly inside our jacket sleeves.
Bottom line: If you're a mitten lover who primarily sticks to the resort, you'll dig the Black Diamond Spark Mitts.
FAQ
Are Gloves or Mittens Better for Skiing?
It's mostly a matter of personal preference, though generally speaking, a pair of well-fitting mittens made of the same materials as a pair of well-fitting gloves will be warmer. Mittens keep your fingers together, which generates more warmth than when fingers are separated in gloves. But gloves generally provide better dexterity.
Are Leather Gloves Better than Other Gloves?
Leather is a durable material that is treated to withstand wear, tear, and weather. A pair of leather gloves or mittens will almost always last longer than gloves or mittens made of synthetic materials.
How Should a Ski Glove Fit?
A ski glove should fit snugly around your whole hand, with just a little bit of space at the end of your fingers to keep your fingertips from being jammed up against the end of the glove. The cuff of the glove should also cover your entire wrist.
Should Ski Gloves Be Waterproof?
When skiing, it's inevitable to come into contact with snow, so ski gloves should be waterproof. Most gloves and mittens designed for snowsports are made with a waterproof, breathable barrier that prevents moisture from getting in while allowing sweat to escape. Gloves that are waterproof are also windproof.
How to Buy Ski Gloves
Ski gloves are not one-size-fits-all. Chances are high that your preferences are different from your ski buddy's, and your own needs will change based on the weather and your objectives. A few things are constant, though: You'll want to look for durability, dexterity, and a snug, comfortable fit. Leather palms offer better durability in high-wear areas than synthetic blends. Thoughtful seam placement and articulations on the front and back of the glove will help with fit and range of motion.
Then, think about your own specific needs: do you run hot or cold? Do you ski in Wyoming or California? Over-the-sleeve cuffs tend to be a little warmer and burlier, better insulated gloves are ideal for chilly skiers in colder climes. In the backcountry, you'll want something breathable on the way up, and dexterity will be more important than at the resort. If you regularly storm ski, build jumps, or dig around to evaluate the snowpack, you'll want to look for a glove with Gore-Tex.
How We Test
Number of products tested: 25
Number of testers: 3
Locations tested in: Washington, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Alaska, Oregon, British Columbia, Switzerland
Range of temperatures during testing: -0 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit
Everyone has a different preference: mittens or gloves? Down or synthetic? Lightweight or heavy duty? Over or under the cuff? We tested pieces from every category and handpicked these standouts that will fit every type of skier and winter athlete, whether you run hot or cold.
Meet Our Testers
Abigail Barronian is a skier based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a senior editor at Outside. She has a penchant for dawn patrol ski tours, bell-to-bell lift laps, long days in the backcountry, and springtime volcano ski missions.
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