When you’re out on the slopes, your hands are exposed for long periods of time. So you need a pretty good pair of ski gloves to keep them nice and toasty whilst offering maximum comfort and flexibility.
To help you avoid freezing cold hands and unbearably numb fingers, we’ve put together this handy guide explaining some of the features you might want to consider before buying any ski wear, like gloves.
First things first, you need to decide whether you would prefer gloves or mittens. Gloves are better for dexterity, whereas mittens offer much more warmth.
Mittens a good choice for snowboarding, when you tend to use your fingers much less. For skiing, however, gloves come in useful when you need to adjust your bootstraps or clothing.
Related: Ski Jacket Buying Guide
It’s important that your gloves fit you properly. When you try them on, they should feel nice and snug while having about a quarter of an inch of room at the end of outstretched fingers. Also, make sure your palm fits completely inside the cuff so that your wrist remains covered.
Manufacturers use different sizing techniques to measure handwear, normally measuring the circumference around the widest part of the hand in inches or centimetres, so be sure to consult their sizing chart when buying.
In the wintery ski conditions, wet hands can quickly become cold hands. So it’s important to choose a glove that keeps water out without giving you the clammy feeling from perspiration.
A waterproof and breathable membrane, such as GORE-TEX allows water vapour to escape without allowing rain or snow in. This means you can keep your hands nice and dry, even if you do spend your day elbow-deep in snow.
There’s nothing worse than frozen fingers, so your ski gloves should have some kind of insulation to prevent heat loss on the slopes. Properly insulated gloves should provide superior warmth and breathability, without restricting movement or a compromising fit.
Some brands use their own insulation technology, while others use name brands such as PrimaLoft or Thinsulate.
Adjustable cuffs – Go for fitted cuffs to be worn under your sleeves or long, gauntlet-style gloves that tighten over the top of your jacket to keep snow out when you inevitably fall.
These Reunited II Ski Gloves from Trespass are a great choice for making the most of your day out on the slopes. Your hands will be kept warm and dry thanks to the innovative Tres-Tex technology, which provides excellent waterproof and breathability ratings. The palms enable good grip on ski poles, while the plastic clip will prevent you from misplacing a glove on the mountainside.
A wet weather beater, the Dare 2b's Worthy Ski Glove features new technology to ensure your hands stay warm and dry. The fabric has been treated with a water repellent finish for superior levels of waterproofing and breathability. This ensures snow and rain stay out while internal moisture can escape. Adjustable cuffs and lower wrists ensure a personalised fit.
The Rocket Ski Gloves by Manbi features a waterproof and breathable insert as well as a Thinsulate thermal layer. This makes them ideal for keeping your hands warm and comfortable when out on the slopes. The Rockets are practical thanks to their tough Windex snow-resistant outer layer and a longer length snow cuff, which include a closure wrist strap for a secure fit.
Designed with winter in mind, Dare 2b's Mischievous Ski Gloves have all the features and technology needed to keep little hands warm and dry to enjoy the ski season. Their outer fabric has been treated with a Durable Water Repellent finish and paired with an internal waterproof insert. This makes them perfect for snowball fights and enjoying their ski runs alike.
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