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Are you seeking the best ski gloves for your snow adventures? We have tested 74 pairs in the last eleven years. For this update, we pit 22 top gloves and mittens for skiing and snowboarding against each other. Our experts took these models on snow for rigorous examination. The trial grounds are the same places you will use your gloves — ski resorts, backcountry laps, cross-country, on snowmobiles, and ski mountaineering missions spanning across the US, Canada, and Europe. We also put them through controlled temperature and water-resistance tests. Hands-on experience with each pair informs our assessments, focusing on the areas of performance you care about most.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on April 27, 2024, to provide readers with advice about buying information and include additional specifications for each glove.
133g Primaloft Gold Eco and 200g Primaloft Silver Eco
The Arc'teryx Fission SV is the all-around highest-performing glove in our review. Other gloves might be better for specific tasks, but nothing performs as well. If we could have only one glove for skiing and snowboarding, this model would be it. This glove particularly excels in weather resistance, dexterity, and durability. It is the most storm-proof glove on the market, with a Gore-Tex membrane and water-resistant materials. The fingers are packed with insulation, but that doesn't hinder their dexterity, and they are the most dexterous gloves for the warmth they provide. We used this glove for about 150 days before the leather on the fingers and palm started to wear out, which is excellent compared to other models on the market that tend to fall apart more quickly.
We have very few complaints about the Fission SV. It doesn't have an adjustable wrist cinch strap and has only an internal elastic wrist strap to keep the glove tight on the hand. Our testers also found that this glove runs slightly large, so unless you plan to wear a thin liner underneath, we recommend purchasing a size down from your regular glove size. The Fission SV is a great glove for most skiers and riders who demand the utmost weather resistance and dexterity. They are also perfect for snowshoeing and cold urban travel. The one metric they didn't blow us away with was warmth. If warmth is your main concern, check out the Outdoor Research Prevail Heated Gore-Tex Gloves. They have much lower dexterity than the Fission but are heated to keep your hands extra toasty.
The Black Diamond Mercury Mitt is the best overall mitten in our test group. Users who prefer mittens generally like their warmth, compared to ski gloves, and these are the warmest mittens on the market thanks to their insulated liners, fleece lining, and roomy hand cavity where fingers can share warmth. They are also effective at sealing out liquid water, thanks to a waterproof membrane and large gauntlets. The construction is solid as well, promising a long life. We also like the additional features like the hanging loop for quicker drying and the comfortable nose wipe patch.
The major downside of mittens is that you can't use your individual fingers, and these mitts are not outliers here. The Mercury Mitts have the worst dexterity of any model we tested. When warmth is the main concern, dexterity might take a backseat, but these mitts are hard to use for even the most basic tasks, like zipping up a jacket or buckling boots. They don't come with a wrist leash, which means they can potentially be lost when taken off, which is bound to happen often due to their lack of dexterity. Still, most folks seek mittens because they find gloves too cold. If that's you, these are the best mittens we've ever tested. If you can tolerate less water resistance and want to save money, check out the The North Face Montana Ski Mitts below.
In the outdoor industry, products tend to come and go, but the Gordini GTX Storm Trooper II has been around for a long time, and we hope it stays that way. Our testers are continually impressed by how well this glove can hang with the high-end competition while costing significantly less. This glove is more than capable of meeting the needs of the average resort skier. It has a lot of leather for the price, boosting its longevity into multiple ski seasons. It's also very waterproof — we never experienced cold or wet hands in these gloves.
While these gloves are warm enough for most days at the ski resort, they can't compare to other well-insulated or heated models. They pack insulation around the fingertips, which hinders dexterity for general tasks and rules out fine motor skills, like opening small zippers or searching for items in pockets. We'd recommend a more dexterous glove for users with more refined dexterity needs, like on-snow professionals or parents. Still, for the price, these shortcomings are minor, and we recommend these gloves to anyone who needs high-performance gloves at a bargain price. If you can tolerate a little less warmth and water resistance, the Gordini AquaBloc Down Gauntlet Glove is even less expensive. And if you want more warmth at the expense of dexterity, check out the The North Face Montana Mitts.
Back of hand: 250g Heatseeker Eco
Palm: 160g Heatseeker Eco
If you're looking for a toasty, comfortable pair of mittens that fits into a tighter budget, The North Face Montana Ski Mitts are an affordable option worth considering. They score only a little lower than the Black Diamond Mercury Mitt but are half the price. The lofty synthetic insulation and fleece lining combine to provide impressive comfort and plenty of warmth for those uber-cold days. The nylon shell fabric is coated with a DWR (durable water repellant), and these mitts feature a DryVent waterproof membrane that keeps moisture from penetrating along with a gauntlet cuff that can be cinched closed to keep out the elements. They also come loaded with useful and user-friendly features like a soft nose wipe, elastic wrist leashes, a wrist cinch strap, and a touchscreen-compatible thumb material.
One of the biggest drawbacks of any mitten is lack of dexterity, and the Montana Ski Mitts are among the least dexterous models we've tested. Due to their design and relative bulk, you'll probably have to remove these mitts for virtually any tasks involving fine motor skills. That said, most folks seeking the warmth and comfort of a mitten are aware of this and willing to accept the tradeoff in dexterity for happy hands. Either way, these are a great pair of mittens that will keep your digits toasty on the coldest days without breaking the bank. If you're in the market for a basic version that's even more affordable than these, check out the Flylow Oven Mitt.
The Outdoor Research Prevail Heated Gore-Tex is packed full of performance in every metric that we test. It has three battery-powered warmth settings to keep you warm all day on the slopes and plenty of insulation to keep you toasty if the batteries die. It has excellent construction quality, protecting your investment, and the gloves effectively seal out unwanted water and snow from the outside environment. Dexterity is what sets these gloves apart from the competition. Other heated gloves are generally clumsy in the fingers, but in the Prevail, we can use our fingers to perform detailed tasks. That helps these gloves edge out the competition. They also have all the features we could ask for in a quality glove.
Not surprisingly, adding batteries and heating elements to a pair of gloves comes at a price, and the Prevail Heated Gore-Tex gloves aren't exactly cheap. That said, they are less expensive than some other options, and we feel they perform better. While the price may be a deterrent, these gloves could be the ticket for those with chronically cold hands or who ski in especially cold environments. If you are looking for the warmest glove that doesn't require recharging, check out the Black Diamond Guide.
The Black Diamond Tour is a backcountry-specific glove with minimal insulation and a light set of features. It's perfect for skinning, bootpacking, and ski descents in warmer conditions, but it doesn't pack enough punch for most resort skiing. It has a soft fleece lining and a proprietary waterproof/breathable membrane, both of which are effective enough for the backcountry, where your body heat is enough to keep your hands warm and dry. However, in cold winds and driving snow at the ski resort, these gloves don't offer enough protection.
While other gloves provide an extensive set of features, these gloves have only a nose wipe and a keeper clip. While this might not seem like much, we found that these are the only features we really need in the backcountry. They are also surprisingly durable, given their soft leather construction. Usually, our professional testers burn through leather gloves quickly, but these gloves are still going strong after an extensive test period. If you're in the market for a highly dexterous glove that won't break the bank, check out the Hestra Ergo Grip Active.
The Black Diamond Tour has good dexterity and warmth for backcountry skiing, even in snowy weather.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
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Lead tester Jeff Dobronyi at home in the Teton backcountry, hard at work testing ski gloves and guiding skiers.
Credit: Sam Willits
How We Test Ski Gloves
To find the best ski gloves and mitts available, we started by digging deep into the market. After extensive research of high-quality and popular gloves, we purchased the most intriguing models and sent them to our expert testers. Then we thoroughly used and evaluated each pair and scored them in key performance metrics. We tested warmth by riding chairlifts and skiing in the Cascades, Alps, Wasatch, British Columbia, Jackson Hole, and Northeast US, as well as working in the field with avalanche forecasting teams. We tested dexterity by buckling our boots, writing notes with the gloves on, tying boot laces, and unlocking car doors. We also tested water resistance by dunking the gloves in a bucket of water for two minutes and comparing the results. For more about our testing, see our How We Test article.
We use five rating metrics in our ski glove testing:
Warmth (25% of total score weighting)
Finger dexterity (25% weighting)
Water and weather resistance (25% weighting)
Overall durability (15% weighting)
Key features (10% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
IFMGA Mountain Guide Jeff Dobronyi leads our test team for this comparative review. Jeff leads skiers on powder safaris worldwide to the best resorts, sidecountry freeride runs, and backcountry ski tours. He logs over 120 days on skis each year and needs gloves that will keep his hands warm and keep water out. He goes through a few pairs of gloves each season and knows which gloves will last and which will fall apart after a few weeks. From rappelling into steep couloirs to digging snow pits and skiing deep powder day after day, Jeff's gloves take a beating.
Testing the Arc'teryx Fission SV on a cold January day.
Wetting out in the Legend gloves after relatively few days of employment.
Spraying while wearing the Mercury Mitts.
How to Choose The Best Ski Gloves
Finding a pair of gloves can feel overwhelming, with so many options on the market. To help narrow down your choices, we've put together a few key buying considerations that summarize our more complete Buying Advice article.
What Materials Should You Choose?
Ski gloves come in various natural and synthetic materials, the main idea being protection from the elements. Leather is great for its durability but takes more maintenance to keep its waterproofing. For those who work in their gloves, leather is a popular choice, but synthetics tend to offer more dexterity and can provide better breathability. Synthetic gloves are often cheaper than high-quality leather gloves but typically don't last as long. If you're having a hard time choosing between the two, consider how important the longevity of your gloves is and how often you plan on using them. Leather will work best as a daily driver, but synthetic is cheaper and can be just as waterproof in many cases.
A water-resistant shell can be especially important in wet climates and extra damp days.
Credit: Amber King
How Important is Waterproofing?
While most ski gloves will have some level of waterproofing, deciding how much is necessary will largely depend on your climate and use on the hill. For those in wetter climates, a good pair of Gore-Tex style gloves becomes necessary, while someone in a drier climate may opt for more insulation than ultimate waterproofing. To narrow your choices, consider your climate and how much time you spend using your gloves in the snow, whether working or playing.
Does Cuff Style Matter?
The decision between gauntlet vs undercuff style gloves is largely a personal preference, but the cuff of your jacket is also a factor. If you prefer to keep your gloves tucked under your cuff, undercuff-style gloves can feel more comfortable and provide better dexterity. Gauntlet-style cuffs are best for folks who want to avoid any chance of snow creeping into your glove by using a cinch over the sleeve of your jacket. When deciding between the two, factor in the size of your jacket's cuffs and make a call on whether your glove could reasonably fit under your jacket cuff.
How Much Dexterity Do You Need?
If you work in the elements, have to tend to your kids on the slopes, or just prefer more dexterity while on the mountain, finding gloves with mobility can be a high priority. Generally, thicker gloves are warmer but have less dexterity. Striking a balance between warmth and dexterity is key to finding a suitable glove on the slopes.
For tasks like tying shoes, you'll want a dexterous glove.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Analysis and Test Results
As consumers, we have high expectations of our gloves. Gloves and mittens create a haven for our hands and protect them from the harsh bite of winter air. We rely on our gloves to keep our sensitive fingers warm and sheltered from the elements while resort riding or touring. We don't want them to be too bulky or cumbersome, yet we don't want to sacrifice weather resistance or warmth. If the gloves can perform in all conditions and be versatile across many outdoor sport disciplines, even better.
Ski glove purchase decisions are dependent on how cold it is, where you ski, or snowboard, how wet it is, and your needs in dexterity, durability, and ease of use.
Credit: Joshua Cole
All of the gloves featured in this review are great products that stand above the vast majority of the market offerings. A low score in our review doesn't mean that the glove is unworthy of your attention. We had to be picky to find the best of the best. All scores are relative to the other products reviewed, and each performance metric is weighted relative to its general importance, which produces an overall score.
Value
Every skier has a budget, and although we strive to test gear without regard for price, we also make a note of products that score above or below what we think is reasonable, given their price. While many of the best gloves are also the most expensive, there are a few options that provide excellent performance at a lower price than similar products. We bought several promising, affordable gloves, and the Gordini GTX Storm Trooper II impressed us the most. It covers the bases better than any model in its price range. It keeps our hands warm and dry and has displayed excellent durability. Similarly, The North Face Montana Mitts are a super warm, comfortable, and fully-featured pair of mittens that rival the performance of more expensive options at a much lower price.
Field testing ski gloves in Colorado.
Credit: Laraine Martin
In general, the less expensive gloves have less of a focus on durability and dexterity in their materials and construction. When treated properly, real leather should last longer than synthetic fabrics, especially in high-use areas like the palms and fingertips. Genuine leather is also more expensive, which means you'll have to pay more for higher-quality gloves. Warmth is usually correlated with price, as more insulation makes a glove more expensive. Water resistance can be achieved without using expensive Gore-Tex or similar membranes, although, in general, Gore-Tex gloves proved more weatherproof in our tests than the less expensive alternatives.
The Rab Khroma Freeride Gore-Tex is an excellent ski glove that competes with the best of them, and costs a bit less.
Credit: Sam Willits
It takes skilled garment designers to put all of the components together in a warm, waterproof, and durable glove without sacrificing dexterity. We were impressed by the Arc'teryx Fission SV because it combines all of the performance attributes into a comfortable and streamlined glove that is a pleasure to wear. However, you'll pay for this performance. The warmest gloves on the market have battery-powered internal heating devices, which are nice for early mornings on the slopes and during the winter's coldest days. These gloves are universally more expensive than even the most pricey unheated model.
The Fission SV excelled in a variety of conditions and lasted a long time. As such, it is a great value despite its high price tag.
Warmth
Every skier and rider demands a different level of warmth from their gloves or mittens. Some people run cold and are always taking breaks to warm up their hands. Other people can ski all day wearing no more than leather work gloves. Skiers and riders in wetter climates, like the rainy Pacific Northwest or Atlantic Northeast, need gloves that will repel water and remain breathable on warmer days. In contrast, skiers in the drier, colder climates, like the Rocky Mountains, need a lot of warmth for below-zero temperatures.
We spent over 100 days skiing and snowboarding in these gloves with a backpack full of contenders, cycling through them all day. Testers also wore different gloves on each hand during the same runs and chairlift rides to make a true side-by-side warmth comparison. We tested palm insulation by holding ice axes and ski poles on cold ski tours.
Testing warmth during a high-altitude traverse.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Except for the heated gloves (more on that below), the warmest glove we tested was the Black Diamond Guide. Tester Ian Nicholson used them to summit two mountains over 20,000 ft above sea level and never changed into his mittens despite summit temperatures as low as -42F. The Gordini Storm Trooper II, Fission SV, Swany X-Change, and Outdoor Research Carbide Sensor also provide enough warmth for our testers on cold winter days at a ski resort. On the other hand, the Black Diamond Tour has little more warming capabilities than your average leather work glove, and are best used by backcountry skiers who create heat while climbing uphill. The Hestra Ergo Grip Active has no insulation at all.
The resounding favorite among our testers, the Fission SV provides enough warmth for all but the coldest days in the mountains.
Mitten Warmth
This one was pretty easy to determine. We found the Black Diamond Mercury Mitt to be the top dog by a wide margin. The North Face Montana Mitt is nearly on par in terms of warmth with a similar overall design, lofty insulation, and cozy fleece lining. Both mitten options are warmer than most of the unheated glove options.
Mittens provide more warmth than gloves. If you get cold hands easily or ski in very cold climates, mittens might be the right choice for you.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Heated Glove Warmth
Many manufacturers now offer gloves that produce heat electronically instead of solely retaining your hand's natural warmth. We've tested several over the years, and the Outdoor Research Prevail Heated is our current favorite. These kinds of gloves usually have three heat settings. The lowest settings generally last all day on a full charge, while the highest setting usually drained the batteries within a couple of hours during our tests. Heated gloves are able to take our hands from numb to warm in a matter of minutes at the press of a button. Some of our testers preferred to blast the heater on high for a few minutes and then turn them off to save battery power.
The heated Solano gloves in action. We usually use the low setting, which keeps our hands warm and preserves the battery.
Dexterity
To test dexterity, we skied in the gloves all day and attempted to perform every necessary task without removing them. We also performed objective tests by doing a series of side-by-side tasks to make clear distinctions between products. These tasks included reaching into pockets for car keys, attaching lift tickets to pockets, using zippers, adjusting goggles on a helmet, lacing up winter boots, tying climbing knots with rope, and writing legibly with a pen on paper.
The Hestra Ergo Grip Active easily wins the dexterity category with its thin fingers and nonexistent insulation. This glove is specific for backcountry users on the warmest days of the ski season. We also love the Black Diamond Tour for dexterity, which features excellent tailoring and soft leather for ideal grip. The Hestra Leather Fall Line also provides plenty of dexterity and slightly more insulation. We were impressed by the dexterity of the relatively warm Black Diamond Legend, but the supple leather on the fingers and palm wore out quickly. The Fission SV is close behind, with great dexterity and none of the aforementioned downsides. That balance is a significant reason why the Fission SV is our top choice overall.
The Hestra Ergo Grip Active is one of the most dexterous winter gloves we've tested.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Among the warm mitts, The North Face Montana and the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts both make major sacrifices in dexterity for the warmth they provide. The nature of mitten designs is the primary cause, with one cavernous space for the fingers that simply doesn't allow the fingers to manipulate anything independently, like gloves. The lofty insulation is also quite bulky, making fine motor tasks much more challenging. Both of these mittens need to be removed for most tasks. If you need the warmth of a mitten but don't want a heated option and require some dexterity, the BD Guide Glove is almost as warm as a mitten.
Jussi Tahtinen with the Hestra Army Leather showing that its dexterity is up to the task while climbing ladders out of the Pas de Chèvres, Switzerland.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Water Resistance
In some climates, like the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast, water is encountered regularly. In others, like the Rocky Mountains, dry snow is the norm. We wore each glove in wet weather in Washington and British Columbia and tested for water resistance using a 2-minute submersion test in a water bucket. The best gloves kept all liquid water out of the interior chamber and resisted soaking in the outer shell fabric. The worst performers soaked through quickly and lack an adequate waterproof membrane.
The Fission SV and Rab Khroma Freeride are the most water-resistant gloves in our review. Their softshell exterior and sturdy leather easily repel water droplets, and their Gore-Tex membranes prevent any water from penetrating the interior of the glove. A large gauntlet and cinch cord further sealed out the elements. We were also impressed by the weather resistance of the Black Diamond Guide. The Montana and Mercury mitts also performed well during water resistance testing and kept water out completely.
Here we are testing the different models during our two-minute “bucket of water” test.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Aside from the fabric itself, water can also enter a glove through the wrist opening. Most gloves in our review feature a large wrist gauntlet with a drawstring closure that overlaps with a jacket's wrist cuff, making a formidable defense against water trying to enter the glove. This gauntlet, as seen on the Mercury Mitt, BD Guide, Fission SV, Rab Khroma, Swany X-Change, and OR Prevail, can be worn on the outside or the inside of a jacket sleeve.
The Swany X-Change has a large storm gauntlet that easily cinches over the cuff of any hardshell jacket.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Durability
We measured durability based on our experiences with each model. We punished these products during the testing period with daily and prolonged use over multiple ski seasons when possible. We also utilized valuable input from dozens of other users and OutdoorGearLab friends.
We're continually impressed with Hestra's offerings, which feature high-quality materials and excellent design and craftsmanship, model after model. Other impressive gloves are the Black Diamond Guide,Rab Khroma, and Arc'teryx Fission SV. All have burly leather exteriors and stood up to whatever our testing team tossed their way. Regarding the budget-friendly options, the Gordini GTX Storm Trooper II provides impressive longevity, and the inexpensive Black Diamond Tour was surprisingly durable, given its soft and supple leather.
Well-tailored fingers and low-profile leather reinforcements of the Fission SV make this one of the most dexterous of the warm gloves that we tested.
The goat leather palm is soft and supple, yet quite durable.
We were disappointed in the Black Diamond Legend's durability, which has incredibly supple palm leather, but wore down and developed holes quickly. This was a bummer because if the leather were a bit more durable, the Legend would be a top contender.
After relatively gentle use, the Legend already showed signs of wear on the palm during our test period, including holes in the leather and thin spots.
The thick pigskin leather of the Ridge Glove should help them last several seasons.
Features
Ski gloves come with a set of features that augment the glove's performance and make your day more convenient and comfortable on the ski hill. We inspected and used all of the features on each glove to get a good idea of which had a robust set of tools and which were bare-bones. We compared features such as gauntlet or cuff closures, wrist cinches, nose wipes, wrist leashes, clips, and heating elements. We also noted if the gloves came with liners.
The nose wipe on the BD Mercury Mitt is soft and comfortable.
Credit: Jackie Kearney
We were impressed with the Mercury Mitt's thoughtful design, including features like a wrist cinch, nose wipe, and removable liners. We also liked the set of features found on the BD Guide. Surprisingly, the Gordini Storm Trooper II also packs a full set of features, including a nose wipe, wrist cinch, thoughtful gantlet, and clips.
Phones are now baked into our daily lives, and the glove market has recognized that many people are using their phones on the slopes and have started providing touchscreen-compatible gloves. The liners of the Dakine Titan are touchscreen compatible. Many gloves claim to include sensitive pads on the tips of the forefingers, but in our tests, cold phone screens and even colder gloves had a hard time getting along.
A large wrist gauntlet and a nylon pull strap are useful features.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Conclusion
With so many ski gloves and mittens on the market, it can be daunting to try to find the best pair for your needs. Our expert testers sorted through the field and tested the best of the best. They assessed each pair's strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to easily find the best glove or mitten for your preferences and your budget. From light and dexterous gloves for warm spring days to heavily insulated options for the coldest winter ski trips, there is something in this review for everyone. We'll see you on the slopes.
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Jeff Dobronyi, Ian Nicholson, Jeff Rogers, and Travis Poulin
