Best Ski Gloves And Mittens 2023

Arc’teryx Fission SV Gloves

Material: Leather, Fortius 1.0 | Waterproofing: Gore-Tex | Insulation: Octa Loft Synthetic, Primaloft

Hugely respected and for good reason, the Fission SV is a brilliant all-round winter sport glove. Few, if any, options have this level of waterproofing, while at the same time managing to be comfortable, dexterous and toasty warm.

Our old friend Gore-Tex has a lot to do with the performance here, but the waterproof and breathable membrane is ably assisted by water-resistant materials including the four-way-stretch Fortius 1.0, and plenty of goat leather in key abrasion zones.

As with much Arc’teryx gear, extraneous features are kept to a minimum, but the long elasticated gauntlet can be worn inside or over most jackets and the wrist straps can be removed if necessary. But don’t forget your tissues, as there’s no soft wipe zone on the back of the hand.

These gloves do come up quite large, so check your measurements carefully before buying, but once you get the fit right, you’ll be surprised by the level of dexterity afforded to your fingers. This is doubly impressive given the amount of insulation used and how warm your fingers will stay. If you’re having to fiddle with kit in serious sub-zero temperatures, you’ll be thankful you spent the extra money here.

Pros:

• Incredible warmth and dexterity
• Maximal waterproofing
• Hardwearing materials withstand wear and tear

Cons:

• Beyond expensive
• Design lacks soft material for wiping your nose

Black Diamond Mission MX Mittens

Material: Reinforced goat leather, polyester | Waterproofing: Gore-Tex | Insulation: Primaloft Gold

Stylish, protective and blissfully warm, these mittens from Black Diamond have been tested to keep you comfortable down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. As we would expect, they come with a full, 100% waterproof Gore-Tex Plus Warm membrane topped off with masses of Primaloft Gold (340 grams on the back of the hand, 170 grams on palm). They’re also available in a women’s-specific fit, and have had their price cut this season too.

More insulating than their five-fingered equivalents, we simply can’t imagine anyone complaining of cold hands, and while more warmth with mitts often means having hands like pillows, these are actually quite flattering, even for our giant hands. Don’t expect to do your laces up wearing them, but we certainly appreciate the svelte aesthetic.

The palm comes with reinforced goat leather, which offers plenty of grip, the back of the hand is padded and made from a durable ripstop, and the cuff, while quite short, is insulated to help minimize any possible cold spots.

Pros:

• Extreme warmth without bulk
• Great value given the materials and quality
• Insulated cuff

Cons:

• Not as dexterous as gloves
• Cord wrist leash not as comfortable as a flat design

Material: Goatskin leather, recycled polyester | Waterproofing: Gore-Tex | Insulation: 100% recycled polyester

While we appreciate that $124 isn’t ‘cheap’ for a pair of gloves, if you want premium features, you will need to invest. And with Backcountry’s exclusive All-Mountain glove, you get the works; supple goatskin leather, Gore-Tex waterproofing, long, easily adjustable gauntlets to keep powder out and bags of recycled polyester insulation.

No, they don’t have the same ‘I know what I’m doing on the mountain’ aesthetic as a pair of Hestra gloves, but they perform admirably in all departments. The stretch-woven sections across the knuckles give some flex (although don’t expect to solve a Rubik’s Cube on the lifts in them), and the long leash helps ensure you’ll still wind up with a pair at the end of the day. There’s attention to detail too, with elastic loops and flaps, to keep straps and buckles tidy.

They’re not gloves designed for the very coldest days, and while true-to-size in general, we would suggest sizing up if you want to boost insulation with a liner. And finally, if you prefer a shorter glove, Backcountry has you covered with the equally impressive, and even cheaper, leather Gore-Tex Snow Glove.

Pros:

• Superb gauntlet
• Ample insulation
• Fully waterproof

Cons:

• Size up if you use liners

Burton Gore-Tex Mittens

Material: Dryride, faux-leather, microfiber | Waterproofing: Gore-Tex | Insulation: Synthetic

A favorite among value-focussed powder hounds and for good reason, the Burton Gore-Tex Mittens are warm, comfortable, good looking and a great option for those in need of a mitt that doesn’t break the bank. Available in a host of cool colorways, there’s far more to this humble design than meets the eye.

Warmth comes courtesy of reliable Thermacore insulation while a removable liner features four-way stretch and touchscreen-compatible fabric for ultimate dexterity as you snap a few chairlift pics. There’s also more heat to be had from the brushed microfiber lining that pulls moisture away from your hands. These components make this design an incredibly warm option for the price, and while we wouldn’t recommend them for multi-day hut trips, we can all but guarantee they’ll keep you warm on- or off-piste.

Waterproofing comes via a Gore-Tex membrane located underneath the outer shell and Burton’s Dryride two-layer fabric that’s breathable, waterproof and quick-drying. This level of protection makes it easy to carve through (or dig out of) powder without a worry in the world, but if your hands start to heat up, simply unzip the vent pocket to dump unwanted warmth (or toss in a hand warmer to make things extra toasty).

These mitts also come with essential extras such as a leash, smartphone-compatible fabric about the palm and soft nose wipe patches, and the fabric feels robust for the modest price point. Just don’t expect to be doing anything dexterous in them.

Pros:

• Loads of insulation for superior warmth
• Great choice of colors
• Incredible value for money

Cons:

• Cumbersome

Rab Khroma Tour Gore-Tex Infinium Gloves

Material: Pittards Armortan leather, stretch nylon | Waterproofing: Gore-Tex Infinium | Insulation: Synthetic

Ski gloves are typically either warm and bulky, or dexterous and cold, but with the Khroma Tour, Rab might have managed the perfect balance of both. Designed specifically for ski mountaineering and touring, they’re low-profile yet warm, sensationally comfortable, impressively breathable and you can actually use your fingers while wearing them.

They’re brilliant for high output activities like ski touring, when you need protection from the elements—your fingers shouldn’t overheat as you skin up the mountain, and will remain warm as you enjoy the ski down. What’s more, the slim profile and stretch elements means you should even be able to remove skins and adjust bindings in them, which is a rare treat and welcome change to a super-thin liner, although you do sacrifice touchscreen compatibility. The reinforced construction should be good for multiple seasons, too.

Be aware, however, that while exceptionally breathable and windproof, Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper is not 100% waterproof. They are water resistant though, and the gloves have a DWR coating, but we’d swap styles in very wet conditions.

And while we’d happily reach for them on warmer days, if the temperature drops and you’re lapping the resort (instead of earning your turns) your fingers will notice the lack of insulation on the lifts. If warmth is more important than breathability, we highly recommend the Primaloft Gold-stuffed, fully waterproof, Rab Khroma Freeride GTX.

Pros:

• Warmth with dexterity
• All-day comfort
• Impressive temperature regulation

Cons:

• Chilly fingers if you’re sat on a chairlift
• Not 100% waterproof

Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski Mittens

Material: Goatskin Leather, polyamide | Waterproofing: DWR | Insulation: S G-Loft insulation, removable liner

Arguably too much mitten for casual laps around the resort—it’s nigh on impossible to safely hold a cup of hot Gluhwein wearing them—but if you’re a skier who loves to be out for long days in all conditions, you won’t find better than Hestra’s Army Leather Heli Ski Mittens.

Originally created for ski guides in western Canada, they’re made from goatskin leather with a three-layer synthetic fabric for impressive waterproofing. Hestra also has Heli Ski Gloves and Lobster Claw styles, but the Mitten wins for ultimate warmth.

The inside has a 100% polyester fleece lining that wicks moisture away from the hand quickly, but the mitten is also supplied with a removable liner that’s available separately ($45) and helps extend the life of the gloves. There’s a wider choice of liners too, for varying degrees of temperature, including a battery powered heated liner that costs a whopping $320 extra.

And while it might seem trivial to some, the relatively large metal carabiner and eye loop fastening used on these gloves means that, unlike the puny little plastic clips found on almost all other gloves, you can actually clip them on your bag or jacket securely.

Pros:

• Superb warmth and durability
• Practical features
• Removable liners

Cons:

• Too much mitt for most

Burton Kids Vent Mittens

Material: Blue Sign Polyester | Waterproofing: Dryride | Insulation: Synthetic

Burton boasts an impressively comprehensive range of kid- and toddler-specific skiing gloves and mittens and while you can spend more and opt for Gore-Tex designs, we think the combination of two-layer Dryride waterproofing and neat, child-friendly features make the Vent mittens and gloves ideal for most youngsters.

We’ve focussed on the mittens here simply because they’re warmer, which should mean the kids can stay out skiing for longer periods of time. Both designs have a small zipped pocket that can be used to vent excess heat in the spring, but there’s also space for a hand warmer which can make all the difference on bitter days.

Add in a soft microfiber liner, a pre-curved, natural fit, inclusive sizing, a wrist leash, plenty of insulation and a host of very cool colorways, and you’ve got all bases covered.

As is often the case, the new season brings a host of cool design, but if you look around, you might be able to pick up 2022 season styles for as little as $24.

Pros:

• Stylish, feature packed mitts for the kids
• Warm and waterproof to protect their little hands
• Boost heat with the handwarmer pocket

Cons:

• Design lacks any Gore-Tex material

Kinco Axeman 1930 Lined Grain Cowhide Mittens

Material: Cowhide leather | Waterproofing: None | Insulation: HeatKeep Lining

Strictly speaking, these gloves aren’t designed for skiing or snowboarding, but they have found a devoted following among tour guides, mountain patrol workers and instructors who love their warmth, comfort and durability, not to mention, bargain price.

This heavy-duty work glove is made using cowhide leather that moulds wonderfully to your hands for a superb fit, and has a super fleecy five-finger HeatKeep thermal liner that does a remarkably good job of keeping your fingers warm.

They’re generously sized and the leather offers a certain degree of waterproofing, but they are not waterproof, so you will need to treat them regularly (Nikwax Glove Proof or a simple waterproofing cream will do).

As mittens, they offer a good level of dexterity—they’re thinner than most ski-specific mitts which helps—so you won’t feel like a toddler incapable of basic motor tasks, and the short cuff makes them easy to pull on or off as needed.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Robust materials
• Dexterous in spite of mitten design

Cons:

•  Require waterproofing

Materials: Flextron, goat leather, Czone laminate| Waterproofing: Yes | Insulation: G-Loft synthetic

Veteran skiers and snowboarders are probably familiar with Hestra, the Scandinavian glove expert with almost a century of experience. Hestra’s gloves have demonstrated their effectiveness in extreme temperatures, from the Arctic to Everest and beyond, and this impressive history is one of the factors that led us to choose the Power Gauntlet as our top recommendation among heated options.

The Gauntlet’s heating system features a rechargeable battery stored in a wrist pocket, heating elements in the backhand and each finger and a logo button just above the wrist. Our tester appreciated the slim batteries, roughly the size of a floss container, and the user-friendly button, even in the midst of a snowstorm. With three power settings, the Gauntlet aids in preserving battery life during extended ski trips.

Pros:

• A trusted name in ski gloves
• Premium build quality
• Effective heating system

Cons:

• Very pricey
• Heat settings and battery life may not be enough on very cold days