Gear Institute called the Guide Gloves “heavy duty work-horse gloves that will last years and keep your hands warm in nearly any condition.” They also mentioned the sacrifice of dexterity for bulk and warmth but deemed it a worthy sacrifice.

Last Frontier Heliskiing (in their guide of “what to bring and what not to” calls the Kinco Pigskin Leather Glove, “Pretty much the workhorse of professional ski patrols across North America. It’s cheap, tough, and comfortable.”Colorado Mountain School Guide, Russell Hunter, says he couldn’t do his job without the Guide Gloves. Part of the reason these mittens have such good value is the multitude of different features and functions they have. This includes a removable liner, loops for hanging the mitts, cinch straps to keep the snow out, a nose wipe and several other quality inclusions. What I Like Use glove leashes: Many ski gloves come with wrist leashes to prevent you from losing them on the mountain. Always attach the leashes to your wrists to ensure you don't drop or misplace your gloves. Cleaning and drying instructions We researched gloves that had withstood not only temperature tests but rugged use, too. For that, we looked to guides, outdoor professionals, rescue workers, and the military for their take on “heavy hitters” that could handle a hard day on the slopes, as well as a hard day’s work. DEXTERITY As we researched, we narrowed our criteria to meet seven main themes: overall, budget, extreme weather, powder days, heated, upgrade, and winter mountaineering.

Gear Institute said, “Arc’teryx’s Fission Gloves are good all-around gloves and a great choice in most conditions for skiers who prefer over-the-cuff design. They’re lightweight and comfortable with good dexterity, but don’t offer enough warmth to make them a good choice for extremely cold weather.” Of course, a ski or snowboard glove can have crossover uses (they would be great for shoveling out that driveway!), but they’re primarily used for the sport of skiing or snowboarding. For example, warm gloves are a huge necessity for Raynaud’s sufferers whose fingers are perpetually cold. Since snow gloves are designed to keep you warm, dry, and mobile, they are great options for someone with restricted blood flow to their fingers. The Vent mittens have Burton’s DryRide two-layer shell for waterproofness and breathability and Thermacore synthetic insulation. The mittens also have a grip texture feature on the palm, and a soft, fixed microfiber lining to keep hands and fingers cozy inside. Powder Magazine told the tale of a ski professional noticing Kinco Leather Gloves at the beginning of his ski coaching career, only to notice that all of the old-timers (aka, the best skiers on the hill) were all wearing them.If you’re seeking the highest level of waterproofing mittens can offer, be sure to select a style with a GORE-TEX (or similar brand) membrane, like the Outdoor Research Alti II GORE-TEX Mitts. All leather options, like the Give’r Frontier Mittens or the Flylow Oven Mitt, won’t provide full waterproofing, but with an additional wax coating, you’ll get pretty close. The Stio Hardscrabble Mitts are low-profile yet very warm; (photo/Eric Phillips) Sizing Thindown is a constructed fabric made of natural goose down rather than the down being stuffed between layers of textile in a traditional baffled design. One of our lead testers has found that Burton’s kids’ gloves are durable, based on years of experience teaching students in an outdoor class with activities like climbing and digging — usually, their miniature Burton gloves hold up well. With an undercuff, like the Give’r Frontier Mittens or the Salomon Fast Wing Winter, you’ll have less bulk around your wrists, but a higher chance of snow or wind getting near your wrists and into your coat. Waterproofing: One of the biggest complaints people have about ski gloves is that they wet through. Waterproofing doesn’t last forever, but you can restore the waterproofness of your gloves. To maintain or restore the waterproofing of your gloves, consider using a waterproofing spray or wax designed for gloves. See our section above on Waterproofing gloves for step-by-step instructions and always follow the manufacturer guidelines.

Aimed at the shivering hands of high-altitude mountaineers, these mitts do command a higher price, but we’d pay it every time to receive the warmth these mittens pump out.

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While snowboarding at the resort, these mittens withstood 10-degree weather with windchill, light snow, and sunnier windows in the 30s. The design provided warmth without bulk, allowing hand control when tinkering with our bindings. The thumbs are generously covered with a smooth polyester nose-wipe panel. Cleaning: Clean leather ski gloves by wiping them with a damp cloth. Avoid using harsh detergents or immersing them in water. If necessary, use a leather cleaner specifically designed for ski gloves. The GORE-TEX Infinium Thermo Split Gloves are well designed to be able to access your phone while on a bike ride. The Burton Women’s GORE-TEX Under Mittens are likewise touchscreen compatible with a grippy, synthetic leather palm and a liner with touchscreen compatible fingertips. While you can do your homework, not all systems are foolproof: the liners are more functional than the touchscreen compatible leather palm on the Under Mittens, for instance. Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Materials Editor’s Note: We updated our winter mittens buyer’s guide on September 21, 2023, adding 14 sections and 5 FAQs and reworking several additional sections in the buyer’s guide to support buyer education. The Best Winter Mittens of 2023-2024

While this list doesn’t cover every mitten ever made, suffice it to say we’ve been thorough in narrowing it down to our favorites. These are the best winter mittens that we can’t stop raving about — the ones we recommend and rely on all winter long. Waterproof gloves are usually made of a breathable waterproof material like Gore-Tex (made of nylon or polyester and treated with polyurethane), TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane), or Nanotex (“a type of textile finishing that uses nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale, to alter the properties of a textile to increase resistance to spills and stains”). GORE built these mitts for deep winter and extreme cold, but if the mercury plummets to the teens or single digits, a set of pogies like Bar Mitts will (most often) afford you the extra warmth you need on top of these mittens. If you choose a Nikwax product, they advise you not to warm your gloves before applying the wax. (Room temperature is ideal.) However, if you’re applying Sno Seal, they recommend warming your gloves up to 120 °F , maximum (or to your comfort level as you’re handling the gloves). You can do so using a hairdryer, heat lamp, or sunny window. (NOT the oven!)

Kids’ Burton Vent Mittens: Manufacturer confirmed they do not publish fill amount of Thermacore insulation Gently squeeze out excess water, and allow the gloves to air dry at room temperature. Avoid using direct heat sources, as they can damage the materials. If the gloves are saturated, consider having a spare pair to switch out during the day. How often should I replace my ski gloves? More and more companies are using PrimaLoft synthetic insulation, which is a fiber made from recycled plastic bottles. PrimaLoft fill can also be recycled into another piece of gear. Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Shell/Material, Cuff Type, Insulation, Warmth. Mitten Some standouts of the clim8’s are that they feature a hands off user system once you heat the gloves up with an app to determine your heating preferences. From there, the gloves turn on when you wear them.