If You Haven't Tried A Pair Of Heated Gloves Yet, Umm What Are You Waiting For?

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We're in depths of winter—a.k.a., when your fingers and toes might freeze off if you don't have the proper cold weather gear. If you’re hoping to throw on your ski pants and stay on the slopes for hours or you’re on shovel duty this season, a pair of heated gloves is a must-have.

Yup, heated winter gloves for women are totally a thing. Even if you've never heard of them before, you’ve likely used the same technology to beat the winter chill before and not realized it, says Bill Carroll, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University Bloomington. “What these gloves are like is a very small electric blanket wherein you have a very small amount of power that generates heat in a very small area,” he explains.

If you're still unsure, take it from a fashion stylist who spends basically every weekend at the mountain: "If I had to point to one item that has been life-changing, it's a pair of heated gloves," says Shana Draugelis, who is also a blogger.

I don't know about you, but wrapping my hands in a cozy, warm mini blanket (aka heated winter gloves) is definitely something I'd be into. Now, use those chilly fingers to scroll down and find a list of the eight best heated gloves for women to keep your hands and fingers warm all winter long, according to editors who tested pairs and customer reviews.

Meet the experts: Bill Carroll, PhD, is an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University Bloomington. Maggie D'Aversa, PhD, is a materials scientist and textile engineer at the Textile Society of America. Shana Draugelis is a fashion stylist and blogger of The Mom Edit.

Heated Gloves

Running on a rechargeable battery, these gloves will have your fingers thawed in minutes. Plus, there are three heat settings, so you can keep your hands at your ideal temp whether it’s just slightly chilly outside or you’re spending the afternoon shoveling snow. The lambskin fabric on the palm also adds an extra bit of overall softness.

Reviewers say that they work super well—even in 28 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. One reviewer says that they're so warm, the low temperature works just fine while they work outdoors in Chicago (and Chicago winters are infamous for being frigid). They also say that they usually wear them for four hours at a time, and they always hold a charge.

Rave Review: "I first tried the gloves on and went outside to put lights up—and wow, heat goes throughout the whole glove. It's such a nice feeling of heat, too. The gloves lasted all day outdoors and they still had life left for the next day, too."

Guide Pro Smart Heated Lite Gloves

Women's Health editorial assistant Sabrina Talbert tested these gloves while on morning walks, and loved them. What makes these guys special is that they sync to an app on your phone where you control the temperature. "As a cold-sensitive person, I am always on the hunt for a pair of gloves that will keep me warm, but for some reason, I always end up feeling colder," she says. "With these heated gloves that's literally impossible."

Talbert loved how these gloves auto-adjust to the temperature around her, but she can also manually change the temperature. (They even turn on and off automatically whenever she puts her hands into the glove and then take them out!) Plus, it was easy to pair them with the app.

Rave Review: "I used these during -20 degrees Celsius weather today and they work as advertised...I even used them for shoveling snow at -28 degrees Celsius and they kept my hands toasty. Highly recommend!"

Heated Mittens

Wind and water-resistant on the outside with a cozy fleece lining on the inside, these mittens are the best of both worlds. According to users who tested these gloves, they're high-quality, and even soft, which is rare to see in a pair of thick gloves like these. While these are technically mittens, they do have individual sleeves for each finger within, which keeps the fingers extra warm, people say.

The rechargeable batteries will keep both hands toasty warm for up to six hours, depending on which of the three heat settings you choose. The little zippered wrist pocket also keeps things, like your credit card and keys, safe while you’re off on the slopes.

Rave Review: "The quickness of the heating elements in these gloves (is impressive). My husband loves them! 'Cold hands, warm heart!'"

Read more: Best Winter Gloves

Heated Glove Liners

These gloves were a huge game-changer for WH deputy art director Christine Giordano, who spends most of her weekends watching her kids place ice hockey—and also struggles with cold hands. "These gloves kept my hands and especially my fingers toasty through the games," she says. "The gloves were super thin almost like a liner, so for outdoor activities you have the option to wear under your gloves."

When testing these gloves, she also loved that they were easy to set up, and the batteries charged quickly. Since they only have three modes, they didn't overheat, which she also liked. She plans to keep wearing them in the coming colder months.

Rave Review: "...they are by far THE WARMEST HEATED GLOVES ON THE MARKET I have tried thus far!!!! Craftsmanship and overall design is fantastic!! Very fashionable, too!"

Heated Glove Liners

For those extremely frigid days, slip on a pair of heated liners under your favorite pair of gloves. These ones from Savior Heat are made from super soft lycra (that also helps absorb moisture) feature thermal elements on the fingers and back of the hand, and are heated by rechargeable batteries. The three heat settings also allow you to warm up your hands according to your heat preference.

Reviewers say that they love how soft and cozy they are, and that they're especially helpful for driving in the cold. They heat up quickly, and they're thin enough to still touch your phone while you're wearing them.

Rave Review: "I love that they can turn any pair of gloves into heated gloves. They are thin and fit comfortably inside other gloves. They are very luxurious and heat both the front and the back of the hands."

Heated Gloves

The pair with the longest battery life on this list, Brigenius’ heated gloves will last up to eight hours, giving you plenty of time to conquer those black diamonds. They warm up pretty quickly, they're durable and secure, and they even feel protective, customers say.

The waterproof, but breathable material will also keep snow out by letting sweat and moisture escape. BTW, these are also touchscreen-compatible, so no need to take them off to send a quick text.

Rave Review: "They are great for being outside watching my kids play sports. I like that the batteries are inside a pocket of the gloves and there are no external cords. I can't wait to try them while snowmobiling."

Read more: Warmest Winter Coats

Electric Ski Gloves

With these heated gloves from Mia & Coco, you’ll start to feel the warmth in just three seconds. Windproof, waterproof, and insulated, your hands will also stay toasty for hours. The power indicator also lets you know when it’s time for another charge.

Yup, these babies are totally affordable and effective, reviewers say. Several customer say they like their design. The gloves are made with non-slip material and a safety reflective strip on the back. Plus, they're super comfy. One user also says they even lasted for six hours when using the medium setting! That's heat that lasts, my friend.

Rave Review: "Even if you never plug in the battery for these gloves, they are thick and warm [on their own]. They are perfect for skiing, snowmobiling, and any outdoor activity in the snow and cold."

Heated Fleece Glove / Mittens

While not as fancy as rechargeable heated gloves, HotHands have been around forever because they work. Air-activated, the warmers included in the pack provide up to 10 hours of heat. You can’t argue with a classic.

Even customers say they stand the test of time. One user with Raynaud's syndrome—a condition that causes some areas of the body to feel cold and numb—says these have been very helpful to them. Other reviewers say they pair perfectly with glove liners, since they run big, but that they heat their hands very well.

Rave Review: "I bought these to take on a back-packing trip to Patagonia. So far they are perfect for the wintry weather in the DC area, and I am hoping they'll continue to perform equally as well on my trip as well."

How our team chose the best heated gloves

For the past year, Women’s Health editors, including contributor Emily Becker and editorial assistant Addison Aloian, researched the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated heated gloves for women. Our team consulted adjunct professor of chemistry Bill Carroll, Ph.D., materials scientist and textile engineer Maggie D'Aversa, Ph.D., and fashion stylist Shana Draugelis, and then evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best heated gloves for a wide range of preferences and sizes.

What should I look for in heated gloves?

If you're ready to get cozy, Maggie D'Aversa, Ph.D., a materials scientist and textile engineer at the Textile Society of America, suggests you first need to think about your must-haves.

Battery Life

Battery life is very important for heated gloves—especially if you're someone who likes to ski or snowboard all day. So, look into the battery of the gloves you're shopping. "To preserve it, I'll always start on the low setting, and see how long I can stay on low before bumping up the setting—which shortens battery life," says Draugelis.

Flexibility

Some gloves feel stiffer or are much bulkier than others and that's something to keep in mind when shopping. "Understand your requirements, such as how flexible a 'touch' you require for the glove," D'Aversa says. "In other words, do you want to use your phone, manipulate zippers, or other fine motor activities with these gloves?" Then, shop for gloves according to your preferences.

Fit

Fit is "the most important thing when choosing heated gloves," says Draugelis. Since most heated gloves are unisex, you'll want to read over the size chart to make sure your gloves aren't oversized, she says.

Settings

It's imported to find heated gloves that offer different settings—like high, medium, and low, Draugelis says. The gloves should also have accessible buttons that'll let you change temperatures quickly. This will make the gloves suitable for a variety of conditions, and help you avoid situations where your hands feel too hot or cold without having any solution.

Other Features

Think about things like touchscreen capability, whether they're machine-washable, how long you want the battery to last, and how breathable of a fabric you want because your hands will sweat, D'Aversa points out.

How do heated gloves work?

At their basic function, heated gloves are using electricity to generate heat. In gloves, this electricity is being pulled from the battery by wires that run through the fabric.

In terms of fabrics, you're likely to see an outer shell made out of something synthetic, like nylon or polyester, says D'Aversa, with a down alternative insulation on the inside to keep the heat from escaping.

Carroll points out that technology like this is used every day. For example, every time you turn on an electric stove, you are using the same technology on a much, much larger and more powerful scale.

Are heated gloves safe?

If you’re still wrapping your head around the idea of heated gloves, know that there is little risk involved in wearing them. According to Carroll, the battery is so small, it’s “not even close” to generating the amount of heat that would cause damage to your skin or result in your glove suddenly catching fire.

The only thing Carroll imagines could go wrong is possibly feeling that your gloves have 'hot spots,' or, in other words, warm certain parts of your hands more than others, which would happen if they're poorly designed, he says.

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