gear guide

The Best Ski Gloves to Buy This Season

Cold hands can put a damper on your whole day — use these highly-rated ski gloves to stay warm on the mountain

By Oscar Hartzog

Oscar Hartzog

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February 28, 2024

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Hestra

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At a Glance: The Best Ski Gloves to Buy Right Now

Our fingers are often the first things to freeze up on the mountain, and it’s a shortcut to ruining the whole day — there’s usually no getting back to warm hands. If you’ve been getting chilly digits this season, it’s probably time to upgrade your gloves. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best ski gloves to buy right now.

In This Article

The Best Ski Gloves to Buy Right Now
Ski Glove Shopping Guide
How We Chose the Best Ski Gloves

The Best Ski Gloves to Buy Right Now

After consulting with mountain gear experts, combing through forums and reviews, and, of course, testing ski gloves ourselves, we think the five picks below are the best ski gloves to buy this season. We’ve included links to both men’s and women’s options at various big-name retailers.

Note on men’s vs. women’s sizes: If a pair of gloves uses S/M/L sizing, check if you’re looking at a gendered product listing and be sure to size accordingly (women select one size below their usual). A numbered size listing corresponds directly to hand circumference (in inches unless otherwise stated).

1. Hestra Army Leather

editor’s pick

Amazon

Family-owned Swedish brand Hestra has been making ski gloves since 1936, and the dedication is obvious when you try on best-sellers like these Army Leather gloves. Made of leather (lots of it) and some synthetic, the gloves feel extremely soft and very dextrous when pulling up a gaiter or buckling boots. But they’re still prepared for blizzards thanks to synthetic insulation and fleece lining, plus a Gore-Tex membrane for waterproofing. Long-term users report excellent durability, so you can expect these gloves for at least through a few, if not several seasons of hard use.

$184.95

Buy army leather at Amazon

$142.46 $189.95 25% off

Buy army leather at bakccountry

Promising Customer Feedback: “Right out of the box, not impressed. Five days later, the gloves were tested. All day snowstorm in Michigan, average 25 deg. F. Total of six hours outside, two-hour intervals doing snow removal. Fell in love with fit and comfort. No longer in doubt, money well spent.” — Rob

2. Swany X-Cell

Runner-Up

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Backcountry

If you’re looking to stay toasty in any conditions, these Swany X-Cell gloves are another excellent pick. The gloves’ advanced insulation, called Tri-Plex, does a great job of trapping heat for all-day warmth. We also love the gloves’ Volcotek Heat Shield, which further improves warmth but also lets moisture escape for less sweat. Waterproofing is equally high-quality thanks to a powerful membrane. We’re big fans of the gloves’ overall feel too, as they provide plenty of dexterity — especially considering all that warmth.

$179.95

Buy x-cell at backcountry

$132.99

Buy x-cell at Amazon

Promising Customer Feedback: “Just used these gloves out west in Vail and Beaver Creek. Best gloves I’ve ever had! The comfort and warmth were perfection!” — Jam22

3. Kinco Premium Ski Gloves

Budget Pick

Amazon

Finding great ski gloves under $100 can be tricky, which is why these Kinco gloves are such a steal at just $52 (as of writing). The naturally waterproof pigskin leather gloves feature thermal insulation for gobs of warmth, and the overall build is way better than we would expect for sub-$50 gloves (or even sub-$100 gloves, for that matter). Whether you’re just dipping your toe into skiing or snowboarding, or you’re shopping on a tight budget, these are an excellent choice.

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$35.92

Buy kinco gloves at Amazon

Promising Customer Feedback: “Kinko is basically standard gear for ski patrols all over us and it’s because they are simple, bulletproof gloves. I’m an expert skier, ski 125 days a year, and am serious about gear. This model with insulation is now my go-to on cold days.” — Keith

4. Outdoor Research Carbine Sensor

Touchscreen Compatible

Backcountry

Smartphone usage is now a frequent part of any ski day, whether you’re taking pictures or coordinating with friends. Surprisingly, though, most gloves are not touchscreen-compatible. If you hate removing your gloves to use your device, we suggest these Carbine Sensor gloves from Outdoor Research. Besides touchscreen-compatible thumbs and index fingers, the gloves boast a durable yet cozy leather, nylon, and polyester construction. They stay very dry too thanks to Gore-Tex inserts.

$71.97+

Buy OR Carbine gloves at backcountry

$56.83 $115 51% off

Buy OR CARBINE GLOVES AT rei

Promising Customer Feedback: “I don’t have the greatest circulation in my hands but these babies kept them toasty on several days when the mercury dropped below -20C, even at rest.” — Matt

5. Hestra Windstopper Touring

backcountry pick

Amazon

For higher-intensity activities like backcountry skiing, we like these Windstopper gloves from Hestra. The glove is designed to protect your hands from biting winds while still letting them breathe freely. On the backside is a thin fleece lining, offering a great amount of warmth for those high-output days.

$74.95

Buy windstopper gloves at Amazon

Promising Customer Feedback: “I was on the lookout for gloves that would keep my hands warm but still allow me to move my fingers. Oftentimes it is a tradeoff; you stay warm but lose out in finger dexterity or you have finger dexterity but deal with cold hands. I think these gloves were a nice compromise in that they allowed me to retain most of the finger movement while keeping mostly warm” — Lamdav

Best of the Rest

Here are some other picks worth checking out, if none of the above options strike your fancy.

6. Outdoor Research Prevail Heated Gloves

Heated

Backcountry

At a certain temperature, no gloves can trap enough hand heat to stay warm. If you’re dealing with those kinds of conditions, consider these heated Prevail gloves from Outdoor Research. In addition to high-quality insulation and a durable, weatherproof exterior, the gloves come with battery-powered heating technology that warms your hands for up to eight hours at a time. This heat is controlled via a switch on the gauntlet, and it’s adjustable between three temperature settings. Like other Outdoor Research pieces we’ve tested, the gloves are also very well made for multiple seasons of use.

$237.26+

Buy OR Prevail gloves at backcountry

7. Give’r 4-Season Gloves

Give’r

Need gloves that can tackle tough work, as well as the slopes? Try these 4-Season gloves from Give’r. They come extremely highly-rated, with customers raving about the gloves’ ultra-durable build quality, and many noting the gloves’ surprisingly good ski/snowboard performance.

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$119

Buy 4-season gloves at give’r

8. Gordini Gore-Tex Gauntlet Gloves

Amazon

Another solid budget pick is these gauntlet gloves from U.S.-based brand Gordini. They feature the same Gore-Tex inserts you’ll find on $150+ gloves, as well as a warm synthetic insulation and a moisture-wicking lining. The difference? These are just $33 on Amazon (as of writing), and they might not last as long as the pricier options above.

$44.95 $64.99 31% off

Buy gordini gloves at Amazon

9. Dakine Titan Gloves

Amazon

At around $80 (depending on your size), these Titan gloves from Dakine are a good mid-budget option. They’re extremely good at keeping out water thanks to the combination of durable water-repellent-treated shells and Gore-Tex inserts. We also love that these gloves have a removable liner that’s touchscreen-compatible. This lets you remove warmth if things get toasty, or use your phone without subjecting your bare hands to the cold.

Ski Glove Shopping Guide

Before selecting your new pair of ski gloves, here are a few things to consider while you shop:

Size: If you don’t know your hand size, grab a piece of string and a tape measure. Measure your hand circumference (palm and around the back) and length (tip of middle finger to bottom of palm). Use these measurements when consulting size guides on retailer or brand websites.

Insulation: Gloves’ first job is to keep us warm, of course, but you might not want too much warmth if you’re prone to overheating on the mountain. Be sure to note how much insulation a pair of gloves has to make sure it’s right for your needs (and cold tolerance).

Materials: Leather vs. synthetic fabric is a hot debate among ski gear enthusiasts. Leather is typically more comfortable and more durable, but you’ll have to re-apply a waterproof treatment intermittently to make sure the gloves stay weatherproof. Synthetics, on the other hand, often do a better job of keeping out water, but you sacrifice comfort, durability, and (to an extent) style.

Features: Look out for big features like touchscreen compatibility or electric warming, but, as with any ski gear, also look for small features that you like. Convenience features like removable linings, velcro closures, and wrist leashes can go a long way.

How We Chose the Best Ski Gloves

To make this list, we first combed through gear forums, talked to skiers, and poured over roundups from other experts. After identifying all the candidates, we tested several gloves at Mammoth Mountain in California. While testing gloves, we looked for warmth at temperatures ranging from about 18 to 40 degrees, including windy peaks and sunny lodges. We also tested for dexterity by swapping goggle lenses, buckling boots, removing helmets, and anything else you might encounter. Throughout all this, we also took basic notes of our hands’ comfort level. After picking our favorite gloves, we made sure they were sold online through a trusted retailer and had an average user rating of at least 3.7/5 stars.

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