How to choose the best ski gloves in 2024

We know how hard it can be to navigate the snow gear market. With every brand saying their stuff is the best, it’s hard to know which way to turn. And even when you have an ‘industry standard’, the industry goes and turns that on its head! And ski gloves are certainly no exception to this rule.

With everything from fully-sealed synthetic gloves packed with insulation, to all-natural leather gloves, to lightweight park gloves — and that’s not even mentioning mitts, triggers, and liners — things are more murky than ever. But fear not because we’ve gone through the list, checked it twice, found out which gloves are overpriced, and which are just nice… We've created this guide to help you understand what to look for in a ski glove, and we've also laid out our top choices for you below.

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Types of ski gloves

Let's start off with the different types of ski gloves and get you up to speed on what’s waiting for you out there on the world wide web, and of course in your local ski shops.

Knowing the different types will help you to better understand which gloves will suit your needs and style, as well as which glove religion you’re going to pledge your allegiance to. The finger-glove lovers, or the mitten admirers.

Finger gloves

First of all, we have the classic 5-finger gloves. In a finger glove, as the name suggests, all the fingers are separated. 

The finger glove is the most common choice amongst skiers. This is probably down to the higher dexterity these ski gloves offer in comparison to mittens.

With finger gloves, it’s much easier to hold ski poles, grab hold of straps, and make adjustments to your ski gear like your goggles or your helmet, without having to take them off. 

However, finger gloves don’t store heat as efficiently as mittens, because the fingers are separated so they can’t share heat. And overall design means there's a larger surface area and more seams, which increases the heat loss from each finger, and the seams can be a weak point where water can seep in over time.

Mittens

The next type of ski glove we want to talk about is the mitten glove. In a pair of mittens, the thumb is separated, but the remaining four fingers are kept together in a single compartment.

The mitten is generally more popular amongst snowboarders, who do not have to handle poles. As such they are less dependent on the dexterity offered by a classic finger glove. It’s also easy to tighten and undo bindings, even in mittens.

Mittens have one big advantage against the good old finger gloves. Mittens have a better capacity for storing heat. As the fingers are not separated in a mitt, they can share heat inside an enclosed space, making them far warmer than a pair of gloves. They also have fewer seams and less surface area, making them more resistant to heat loss and moisture ingress.

The major downside of a mitten is the lack of dexterity. It can be very hard to do things with your hands while wearing a mitten like grab a zipper, adjust a strap, or anything that requires fine motor skills.

Trigger mittens

This type of ski glove is still fairly new to the market, but more and more brands are beginning to join the movement. The trigger mitten — or lobster claw mitten — combines the best attributes of both gloves. The thumb and the index finger are kept separate from each other and the rest of the fingers, while the other three fingers are held together in a single compartment.

This allows for much better heat retention and added moisture resistance, while providing a much-needed dexterity boost, making things like grabbing zippers and clasps a lot easier.

The best of both worlds, in theory, the trigger mitten should be the ideal glove for everyone. But in reality, you will have to make compromises regarding both dexterity and warmth, as well as have less choice, and pay a little extra for them as they’re still the ‘new thing’. 

Liners

Liner gloves are lightweight gloves designed to be worn underneath your mittens, effectively ‘lining’ them. The great thing about liner gloves is that they’re dextrous and usually smartphone compatible, which means you won’t need to take them off! When you’re skiing in colder conditions, this can be a lifesaver, especially when it comes to fumbling with pockets and lift-passes — an impossibility in bulky mittens!

You might be able to wear liners with regular ski gloves, too, depending on the space you have inside them. Though they’re more common (and comfortable) with mittens, and are often made from a soft shell polyester or fleece material. They aren’t designed to be waterproof, but just to provide a little extra warmth and protection from the cold. You can buy them separately or they may come with a pair of mittens. Either way, they’re good to have in the back pocket for those extra chilly days, whether you’re out riding or sitting on the terrace with a cold drink in hand.

How to choose the right ski gloves

Before choosing a ski glove, you should think about what your needs are and what kind of conditions you are going to be using them in.

Make sure to consider the different features of a ski glove before buying and think about what suits your needs. This will help to guarantee a great time on the slopes or in the backcountry and ensure that your hands stay dry and warm when you need it the most.

In the following section, we will explain different features and capabilities of gloves, and which type of ski glove suits which conditions, so you can make an informed choice.

Gloves vs mittens

Let’s go back to the main question when it comes to buying a ski gloves: finger glove or mitten? 

There is no right answer to this question, as it depends on your personal preferences. Some skiers prefer gloves, other skiers prefer mittens. But we will try to break down the pros and cons for you!

The big plus of gloves is that it is a lot easier to do things with your hands while wearing them. With gloves it is easier to buckle your ski boot, to hold our poles or to adjust your goggles or helmet when needed. This is why the classic glove is the choice for most skiers.

Nevertheless, mittens can be quite versatile as well – especially if combined with a pair of liners. Some mittens come with a pair of liner gloves that provide the dexterity that is missing from a mitten. Just remove the mitten itself and make your adjustments, and then put them back on. In most conditions, this doesn’t make your hands too wet or cold!

The big plus of mittens is the additional warmth that is generated from the contact of your fingers in the main compartment of the glove. The warmth through body heat is hard to beat with the insulation of a finger glove. 

But let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?

Dexterity

First up, let’s look more into the dexterity of a ski glove. What makes a ski glove dexterous and why is it useful that a ski glove is dexterous?

The dexterity of a glove describes, how easy it will be for you to perform tasks like holding your poles, opening your ski boots or adjusting your goggles while wearing the gloves. And generally speaking, the dexterity of a glove decreases with the warmth, as the warmth generally relates to the thickness.

Skiers love dexterity! The main reason why skiers love flexible ski gloves is that they have to do quite a lot of things with their hands while skiing. For snowboarders, dexterity is rather secondary as they don’t have poles and their bindings are a lot easier to handle. But what makes a ski glove dexterous?

Like we mentioned before, finger gloves are the clear winner when it comes to dexterity. But not all finger gloves are created equal. The material plays an important role here, as leather gloves are generally more dexterous than synthetic gloves, which can feel more stiff.

Another factor, is the amount of insulation. As a general rule, the less insulation a glove has, the more dexterous it is, so it's often a trade-off between warmth and dexterity, and you should consider what climate you will be skiing or snowboarding in. If you're fingers feel frozen, you won't benefit from extra dexterity in the glove itself, so make sure the insulation is sufficient for your climate and riding style.

Warmth

Let's talk more about warmth, as it's one of the most critical factors for every ski glove owner. Snow is cold, after all. Many people would say the warmer the better, but we would have to disagree with that!

The warmth of your future ski glove should highly depend on the conditions in which you want to use them, as well as your own riding style. If you want to use your new ski gloves in the deep Canadian winter, you will need more insulation than if you want to use it for spring skiing in the Dolomites! 

Gloves are usually insulated with a fleece or synthetic insulation that determines how warm your glove will be. Generally speaking, the more filling, the warmer the glove. With some gloves, you will find information about how much filling (in grams) was used for the insulation. This can be a good indicator for the warmth of a glove.

If you get cold easily, the good old mitten is hard to beat. The warmth of a mitten is provided by natural body heat, without a crazy amount of insulation needed. 

Other than by the filling, the warmth of a ski glove can also vary depending on the cuff length, the shell material, the waterproofing, and the type of glove. 

It may sound counter-intuitive, but if you're someone who rides hard and quickly works up a sweat, you may find that heavily insulated gloves are too warm, causing discomfort and sweaty palms. This is something you'll work out over time, but if you're a beginner, don't be afraid to bring more than pair of gloves on your ski trip. And if you don’t want to own two or three pairs of different gloves, there are plenty of gloves out there that can be used in various kinds of conditions. Just to name some examples: 2-in-1 gloves, liners, gloves with a heat-pocket. But more on those later!

Leather vs synthetic gloves

Another thing that will influence your choice is the material used in the gloves. Some skiers prefer leather and some prefer synthetics, and once again, both have benefits and drawbacks.

Leather gloves are more dexterous than synthetic gloves and they have good waterproofing qualities if they are taken care of. But here’s the downside: you will have to take care of them! If you buy a pair of leather gloves, be aware that you need to maintain the waterproofing of the leather shell by applying wax or a waterproofing treatment from time to time. 

Synthetic gloves are the better choice for easy handling and when it comes to waterproofing and require no maintenance. The outer shell is made from either nylon or polyester. For added protection from water, synthetic gloves can have a waterproof layer between the outer layer and the insulation usually called a ‘membrane’. This way, your hands will be protected from water coming in. But this can also affect the breathability — which we’re covering next. 

Waterproofing

If you've spent any time in cold climates, you'll already be aware that wet = cold, so even the warmest glove will not keep your hands dry if it's not sufficiently waterproof. 

This is not as simple as choosing a glove that's 100% waterproof, because such a glove would also be 0% breathable, and you'll get sweaty, wet hands anyway (think of wearing a pair of rubber cleaning gloves for an extensive period of time, not pleasant, right?). So waterproofing is always a trade-off with breathability and once again, your riding style will come into play.

If you're a beginner, you're likely to spent more time with your hands directly touching the wet snow, and thus should go for a pair of gloves which higher waterproofing. If you're and experienced skier og snowboarder, who enjoys cruising the resorts, you might find that your hands don't actually come into contact with the snow very often, and a pair of super breathable gloves will be more comfortable to wear all day long.

How is waterproofing achieved?

Some brands will use a membrane between the shell of the glove and inner material in order to keep your hands dry. One of the most common membranes is manufactured by GoreTex, but like all products that use GoreTex fabrics, these gloves tend to come with a hefty price tag. Other brands may use plastic-based membranes, which also offer great waterproofing at a reduced cost, but with the drawback of very low breathability, which can lead to sweaty hands. 

Other brands opt for ditching the membrane altogether in favour of increase breathability. In these cases, a DWR-coating (durable water repellent) is applied on the outer layer of the glove, combined with an outer shell that has water-resistant properties itself, similar to the coating on ski jackets. The great thing about gloves with a water resistant coating on the shell is a high breathability, and often far lower prices than, for example, Gore-Tex products. However with these gloves, wear can be an issue. Over time, the DWR-coating can degrade, and the material can become damaged or worn, which will reduce the waterproofing over time.

Breathability

We can't talk about waterproofing, without discussing breathability. The breathability of a ski glove is surprisingly important for both performance and comfort, but often gets overlooked when buying ski gloves. 

A big misconception about gloves is that warm hands equal dry hands. This is simply wrong. If your hand starts getting too warm in your glove, you will start sweating. In a glove made with non-breathable materials (like the plastic membrane mentioned above), the heat and moisture released through the skin will condense on the cold non-breathable membrane inside the glove, and will make your hands wet.

This is why it is important that you not only look out for a sufficiently waterproof glove, but also for one that has excellent breathability. Synthetic gloves usually are more breathable than leather gloves, because modern fabrics can be used to maximise the waterproofing and breathability characteristics of the ski glove. 

Durability

A pair of gloves can be expensive, and you want them to last, right? That's why durability is a notable factor, when choosing a the best ski glove, because a glove that doesn’t last longer than one season isn’t much good, no matter how much of a deal it was.

The durability of a glove is strongly connected to the material of the glove. Leather gloves are more durable but are harder to maintain (and often more expensive). Synthetic gloves are often less durable but the simpler choice when you don’t have the spare cash to spend on a leather glove. Of course, there’ll be leather gloves that aren’t super durable, and expensive synthetic gloves that’ll last a lifetime! This is one of those subjects were customer reviews and recommendations from friends can really help.

Sizing

Another important thing to think about when buying a ski glove is the sizing. But how do you find out which size is right for you?

When walking into a store, it is quite easy to try on different gloves and figure out which size is right for you. The glove should not be too loose and not be too tight around your wrist and there should be some space to move your fingers a little bit. 

When buying a glove online, the story is a different one. But don’t worry! Online retailers developed different ways of determining their sizing. Some use only the hand’s width as a guideline, while some additionally use the fingers’ length to find out which size is suitable for you.

If you want to wear a liner under your glove for additional warmth, we recommend you to go for one size larger in the glove or mitten.

Features

Last but not least, we want to talk about all the small features a ski glove can have. These are not necessarily ‘needed’, but they can often impact the experience of wearing the glove, and may help you make a decision when it comes to buying.

Dual Layer (2 in 1) Gloves – Some gloves are sold as a dual-layer, which means that you get two gloves for the price of one – the main glove plus a pair liners to wear underneath. 

Gauntlet vs Under Cuff Gloves – Gauntlet gloves reach far over the wrist and offer more protection against snow than under-cuff gloves (which fit under the cuffs of your jacket). On the flipside, they are a lot bulkier than short cuffed gloves, and usually most suitable when riding powder.

Pocket for hand warmers –  Some gloves have a separate pocket that you can place "hand warmers" into. This is a great feature for those who get cold hands during skiing, or who are travelling to much colder places to ski!

Wrist band – The wrist band is a very common feature on ski gloves. It can be attached around your wrist so you don’t lose your gloves during heavy falls or when cooling off on the chairlift.

Wrist cinch – The wrist cinch is an adjustable cord at the bottom end of the glove. It can be mostly found with gauntlet-style gloves with long cuffs. 

Touch screen compatibility – Some of the newer glove models are touchscreen-compatible which allows you to take photos or send a quick message while wearing your gloves. An alternative to bulky touch screen gloves are liners with touch screen compatibility.

Best gloves for different situations

Depending on the situation you’re in, you may need a different pair of gloves. While no one pair is perfect for everything, advancing material and insulation technology means its possible to get damn close. So, let’s round up our top picks below!

1

Best all-round ski glove - Montec Kilo

Warmth

3

Dexterity

4

Waterproofing

4

Value for money

5

Check availability

When it comes to choosing one glove to keep you going all season long, there’s no better choice than the Montec Kilo. Balancing waterproofing, breathability, dexterity, and, of course, warmth, the Kilo wins out over almost every other glove out there. And it’s why it’s my go-to every day I ride.

Utilizing a 100% polyester shell with fully integrated waterproof membrane combined with a neoprene cuff and a layer of insulation for added warmth, and a leather-look polyurethane palm for insane durability and waterproofing, these gloves are built to take on whatever the mountain can dish out.

Now featuring a slimmer, fitted cuff, along with fingertip reinforcement, the Kilo don’t require strapping up, and simply pull on without issue with the neoprene providing a snug and comfortable fit. The backs of the thumbs are also coated in a reinforced faux suede, perfect for wiping off goggle fog (or a runny nose!), all of which makes the Kilo gloves the ideal choice for a rider who likes to lap groomers, thrash trees, and tweak grabs all in one day.

Read our Review

2

Best all-round snowboard glove - Dope Ace Mittens

Warmth

4

Dexterity

2

Waterproofing

4

Value for money

5

Check availability

The Dope Ace mittens are definitely something you want to have up your sleeve on a cold day — bad-dum-tss! All jokes aside, these are some serious gloves with some serious credentials. Made from a mix of neoprene, polyester, and polyurethane, the name of the game is warmth, waterproofing, and durability. Luckily, they come in equal measure.

The PU palm looks like leather, but features enhanced durability and grip, even in wet conditions, as well as being kinder to cows than its natural counterpart. The back of the hand is composed of polyester paired with a wateproof membrane for better waterproofing and breathability. The neoprene cuff is free of any extra straps, meaning these gloves are pull-on and offer a slimmer profile for improved sleeve fit as well as snugness around the wrist, keeping warmth locked in.

Finishing off, these mitts feature a faux-suede thumb-back for wiping off your goggles, or your snotty nose, as well as a wrist strap to make sure you never drop them off a chairlift. Honestly, they’re a life-saver! All of this means the Ace are a top choice for any snowboarder, and won’t balk at grabbing some burred edges thanks to their bombproof durability.

Read our Review

3

Best liner glove - Montec Utility

Warmth

2

Dexterity

5

Waterproofing

2

Value for money

5

Check availability

When it comes to the best liner gloves, two things come to mind. Okay, three. No, wait! Four. How warm are they? How light are they? How waterproof are they? And how dextrous are they?

The Utility liner gloves from Montec benefit from a 100% polyester softshell design, complete with DWR coating. While not waterproof, they’re definitely water resistant, and that’s really quite good for something this light. Moisture will bead up on the surface instead of sinking in, which is good for two reasons! One, they won’t get wet from outside when you take off your mittens, but also, sweat from your hands won’t cling to the fabric, and instead will be let out, keeping your hands dryer, and therefore warmer.

In terms of how light they are, the answer is ‘very’. I keep a pair in my jacket pocket at all times and honestly just forget they’re there most of the time. Which definitely feeds into the final part of our review: how dextrous are they? You’ll find a really nice fit on these gloves, tailored for men and women separately, along with a non-slip patterned palm, and full touchscreen compatibility. All of which means dealing with zippers and text messages is a cinch — something of the utmost importance. Nothing worse than having to shed your mitts in a snowstorm to fish your phone from your pocket, is there?

Read our Review

4

Best glove for cold climates - Montec Roast Mittens

Warmth

5

Dexterity

2

Waterproofing

5

Value for money

5

Check availability

What about if you live in a ridiculously cold place and need some extra warm gloves? Enter the Roast mittens from Montec. They’re a little bulkier than the Kilo mitts, sure, but you also get extra insulation and an extended wrist cuff for added weather protection.

Built on the same polyester and polyurethane platform as the Kilo mitts, you’ll get bombproof durability, along with top notch waterproofing, all wrapping up a heavyweight layer of insulation guaranteed to keep you warm in all weathers.

The extended cuff comes with a drawstring, too, for added versatility, as well as a wrist strap to keep them attached even in the blusteriest white-outs. Few people will actually need to make the jump from Kilo to Roast, but if you find the mercury a little too low for conventional gloves or mittens, then it’s time to make the switch. The Roast are called that for a reason, and if that sounds like something you need in your life, well, there’s no better choice.

Read our Review

FAQ's

Now that we've covered all the basics and shared our current favourites, let's answer some of the most frequently asked questions we've received about gloves and mittens for skiing and snowboarding.

Mittens or gloves for skiing?

For skiers, we would recommend going for leather gloves or synthetic gloves with good waterproofing and breathability. Gloves are the better choice for skiers, as they offer better dexterity, which is needed for grabbing a ski pole. For mitten fans, we recommend getting gloves with liners or to buy extra liner gloves to be as flexible as possible. Or, to make the jump to Trigger Mittens!

Should a ski glove be waterproof?

Ski gloves should definitely have good waterproofing characteristics to keep your hands dry and warm. At the same time, they should be breathable so that moisture can leave the glove at the right time before condensing. You should make sure that your new glove has both good waterproofing and breathability if you want it to be really useful on the mountain.

Are leather gloves better for skiing?

Leather gloves are a great choice for skiing as they are more dexterous than synthetic materials and are really waterproof. They give a very natural feeling to your hands and they are super comfortable as well. Make sure to take proper care of your leather gloves, though, to maintain their waterproofing, or you might end up with soaking wet hands!

What is a hand warmer pocket?

A handwarmer pocket on a ski glove is a pocket which has the perfect size for one-time hand warmers that you can buy in little bags. They can look like tea-bags, and can be activated by oxygen when you open them, or by rubbing them sometimes! They emit a gentle heat for up to 12-hours, that when placed in the handwarmer pocket, can keep your gloves toasty all day.

What to wear under your gloves?

On cold days, we recommend wearing liner gloves under your glove or mitten. Liner gloves are thin gloves, that are the perfect companion for cold days or for doing things with your hands while skiing. Simply take off your outer glove and you will have all the flexibility thanks to the liners underneath, without suffering windchill on your bare skin. Some liner gloves are touch-screen compatible so you can snap a selfie while enjoying a rest in the chairlift.

Can I put gloves in the washing machine?

If you decide to put ski gloves in the washing machine, you should follow the washing instructions on the label of the glove. Though be careful, because sometimes it can affect the performance of a glove anyway, even if you follow the instructions. A DWR coating can be washed off, which can really reduce the waterproofing. As such, we generally recommend to not put gloves in a washing machine. Even if the DWR coating doesn't wash off completely, any wash, cold or not, will cause it to degrade. If your gloves are dirty or smell, then leaving them in a warm, dry place to air out can be a good idea, or you can use a fabric freshener spray applied directly into the glove itself in order to help neutralise odours and bacteria. If you are going to wash them, get specialist detergent that won't affect waterproofing, and then reapply the DWR coating afterwards. There are lots of products on the market that are designed just for this!

Wrapping up

That was it guys! Our ultimate buyer’s guide for ski gloves. We hope that we made the decision a bit easier for you and that you (with a little help from our end) found the glove of your dreams. 

If you already have a glove and are interested in buying a new ski jacket, a new pair of ski pants, or a new pair of goggles, have a look at our related reading section and get inspired! 

See you on the slopes, and stay stoked!

Related reading:

• How to choose the best ski helmets
• How to choose the best ski goggles
• Men's ski trousers / Women's ski trousers
• What size skis do I need?