Gloves or Mittens?

With the same construction – fabrics, insulation and so on, mittens ARE warmer than gloves, but many people prefer gloves.

Mittens are not as breathable – there’s less overall surface area so sweat escapes more slowly.

It’s easier to use your hands and keep them warm at the same time with gloves – if you’re wearing mittens you might have to take them off to do up a zip or answer your phone.

Gloves usually give a better “feeling” on a ski pole than mittens do as well.

Three-finger gloves can be a good compromise.

Dual Chamber Gloves

Dual chamber gloves are a versatile option – there are two “chambers” where you can put your hand.

In cold weather, insulation is on both sides of the hand. When it’s warmer, all of the insulation is on the back of the hand for more sensitivity and better pole grip.

Snowboard Gloves

Board gloves are more prone to damage than ski gloves. The way the board is carried means they’re more likely to be cut by the edges, and tricks or scraping your fingers on the snow can also damage your gloves.

Board gloves tend to be made of stronger fabric than ski gloves, with more reinforcement in heavy-wear areas. This is ideal for snowboarding but most people find them too stiff to hold a ski pole comfortably, so they’re not really dual-purpose.

Some board gloves have integrated wrist guards, others are designed to be worn over separate wrist guards. If you have your own wrist guards already, make sure you wear them when you’re trying on new gloves.

Snowboard Gloves

Board gloves are more prone to damage than ski gloves. The way the board is carried means they’re more likely to be cut by the edges, and tricks or scraping your fingers on the snow can also damage your gloves.

Board gloves tend to be made of stronger fabric than ski gloves, with more reinforcement in heavy-wear areas. This is ideal for snowboarding but most people find them too stiff to hold a ski pole comfortably, so they’re not really dual-purpose.

Some board gloves have integrated wrist guards, others are designed to be worn over separate wrist guards. If you have your own wrist guards already, make sure you wear them when you’re trying on new gloves.

Spring Gloves

Spring Gloves are made of light, breathable, windproof fabrics such as Polartec Powerstretch and Powerdry, for protection without warmth.

They are also very comfy and great for holding ski poles allowing for a very sensitive and accurate feel.

Park/Pipe Gloves

Park/Pipe gloves are thinner and more flexible for more sensitivity, but they have very little insulation so they’re not ideal for general use in cold weather. Textured or silicon palm prints aren’t just for the look – they increase grip too. Park gloves can double as spring gloves for skiing too.

Waterproof Breathable Fabrics

It’s very important that your gloves are both waterproof – to stop snow or rain getting in from the outside – AND breathable, to get rid of sweat from the inside.

Sweat trapped inside your gloves will quickly start to freeze leaving your hands inside a block of ice, and gloves that aren’t breathable can also smell REALLY bad!

Most low-end gloves are only water-resistant, so while they will resist light rain or snow they won’t keep your hands dry for long in a blizzard. They’re often also not very breathable.

Good gloves usually use a waterproof/breathable treatment or insert, the best known is Goretex. Some are better than others and one of the main advantages of buying higher end gloves is usually a higher level of waterproofing and breathability.

Getting The Right Size

The right size is very important not just for comfort but for sensitivity of grip and dexterity too.

Gloves which are too small will be uncomfortable, but as well as that they won’t keep you as there’s not enough space round your fingers to trap the warm air needed for warmth.

If your gloves are too big – or the fingers too long – you won’t be able to hold your poles properly, open and close zips or buckles easily or just generally use your hands. You’ll get cold hands with big gloves too, as there’s too MUCH air space around your hand for your body to heat up and keep warm effectively.

If you’re a skier, a great tip is to hold a ski pole when you’re trying on gloves.

Down -

Down is the lightest, warmest insulation there is when it’s dry, but make sure you get a good waterproof fabric as down totally loses its insulating ability when it gets wet – brrr!

Thinsulate -

Thinsulate – One of the good quality synthetic insulation fabrics on the market, warm and light.

Primaloft –

Primaloft – Probability the best synthetic insulation, very close in warmth to down plus it stays warm when it gets wet. Also very soft, comfortable and light – Primaloft gloves feel great!

Fleece -

Fleece - common as a lining material and sometimes as insulation too, it wicks sweat away well and can absorb a lot of moisture without feeling wet.

Outlast –

Outlast – a temperature regulation material, not an insulation fabric, so Outlast on its own will not keep you warm. It stores excess heat generated in periods of activity and releases it when cool down to keep your temperature constant and comfortable – but you have to generate excess heat in the first place for it to work!

Articulation –

Articulation – most good gloves have articulated or pre-bent fingers – this means tough fabrics can be used without making the glove stiff and uncomfortable to wear.

Leather -

Leather - gives great sensitivity so leather patches are quite common on the palm of good gloves, and because leather moulds well to the shape of the hand, fit and sensitivity get better over time.

Synthetic Leather Patches -

Synthetic Leather Patches - the same look as leather but don’t mould to your hand over time so don’t give the same great fit and sensitivity.

A Removable Liner -

A Removable Liner - a great idea as you can take it out to dry easily or remove it in hot weather.

External Seams -

External Seams - give a closer fit and more sensitivity. They’re quite common in leather or partly leather gloves.

Security Leash –

Security Leash – A great feature to stop you dropping your glove off a chairlift. Particularly useful for children!

Stretch Inserts -

Stretch Inserts - on the palm, fingers or the back of the hand give plenty of flexibility and means the glove can be closer cut and less bulky.