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Winter brings cold weather and plenty of seasonal fun, whether it’s hitting the slopes, hiking among the snow-covered trees, or skating at an outdoor rink. And just because it’s cold doesn’t mean that working outside and tackling projects come to a halt. Your hands turning blue can ruin any of these pursuits, not to mention being a health hazard. Your best defense is a warm pair of gloves that insulates and can handle seasonal precipitation.
Winter gloves made from leather are great for working through winter while nylon and lighter synthetic make for a good pair when skiing, biking or running. Many use the same insulation as reliable down jackets to ensure your hands stay toasty. If you want a pair for everyday, consider a pair that’s touchscreen compatible so you don’t have to pull gloves off every time you check your phone.
Whatever your chosen activity, there’s a pair of gloves out there to keep you warm for it. Here’s what you need to know to pick the best winter glove so you can spend less time researching and more time outside.
The Best Winter Gloves
- Best Overall: Carhartt Waterproof Insulated Winter Glove
- Best Budget Option: Moreok Winter Gloves
- Best Mittens: REI Co-op Guide Mittens
- Best Everyday Gloves: Hestra Wakayama Gloves
- Best for Winter Sports: The North Face Montana Ski Gloves
What to Consider
The shell is your first defense.
Leather is excellent for its durability and heat-trapping abilities. Because of this, it can be less breathable, making full-leather gloves best for low-intensity activities when you aren’t working up a sweat, like riding your quad or taking a walk through the snow.
Note that gloves that use leather in the palm or fingertips as reinforcement to other materials can remain quite breathable. A lot of manufacturers also use textured polyester for extra grip.
Nylon is durable and water-resistant but can be on the delicate side. It also doesn’t offer much warmth, so the gloves need to be well insulated to adequately protect you from the cold. Still, this material is ideal for a variety of outdoor activities.
Fleece—polyester or cotton that’s brushed for a lofted finish—is soft and warm on the skin, especially in the absence of rain or wind. Gloves made from this material are lightweight but not water-resistant, so fleece gloves are best for activities where you’ll stay dry. Alternatively, you can add another shell over them to keep the fleece dry.
Consider what’s next to your skin.
Down insulation is compressible, durable, and has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than synthetic alternatives. On the flip side, it can lose effectiveness when wet and is typically more expensive than alternatives. Synthetic insulation, such as PrimaLoft or 3M’s Thinsulate, is water-resistant and hypoallergenic, but it’s bulkier than down, which can limit motion.
There are also uninsulated gloves to consider. These simply offer a layer of fabric between your hands and the cold air. Because these usually consist of just one layer, they offer excellent dexterity for activities like lacing up skates. They are also suitable for layering or wearing during high-intensity activities, like winter running.
Wet and cold is a terrible combination.
Some winter gloves have waterproof membranes, such as Gore-Tex, that block water from entering your gloves while still allowing sweat vapor to exit for breathability. These will keep you dry in severe rain and snow, and ideally keep your hands from sweating.
Other gloves are treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating that creates a water-resistant exterior. Materials like leather and nylon are naturally water-resistant, preventing water from seeping through and making them a good choice for light showers and snow.
How We Tested and Selected
To recommend the best winter gloves, I compared the style, construction, insulation, features, performance, and cost of various models. I called in a few pairs that looked promising and those that coworkers and I were previously familiar with to see how they performed. I combed through customer reviews from reputable retailers as well as checking Reddit threads for some hands-on intel of pairs I couldn’t test (redditors are rarely kind so when they say something is good, it’s a pretty vetted opinion). No matter how you enjoy (or survive) the cold, there’s a pair or two that will be right for you.
Pros
Soft nose wipe- Waterproof
Cons
- Not suitable for temps below 32°F
This glove from Carhartt is excellent for both daily errands and working on job sites. It has a thin layer of insulation, so it’s best suited to above-freezing temperatures. A waterproof membrane should keep your hands dry in wet conditions.
Whether you’ll be walking, hiking, or even skiing and snowboarding, this is a go-anywhere, do-anything pair of gloves. The soft nose wipe discreetly manages a runny nose, and the textured palm gives you a firm, no-slip grip. An adjustable strap on the wrist gives you a secure fit that seals out the cold.
Key Specs
| Shell | Polyester and leather |
|---|---|
| Lining | Synthetic |
| Weatherproofing | Waterproof membrane |
| Touchscreen Compatible | No |
2
Best Budget Option
Moreok Winter Gloves
Now 28% Off
Pros
- Textured palms
- Can double as a glove liner
Cons
- Not water-resistant
These lightweight gloves can be easily stashed in your coat pocket or kept in your workbag for emergency situations. The shell is made of polyester and has textured palms for some extra grip. The index, middle, and thumb fingers are touchscreen compatible so you don’t need to pull them off every time you check your phone.
A standout feature is the 3M Thinsulate lining that ensures your hands stay warm—usually gloves in this price range rely on synthetic insulation. They provide great dexterity and have a sleek profile. Note that these aren’t weather-resistant, though they’re ideal to wear as liners under bulkier waterproof gloves.
Key Specs
| Shell | Polyester |
|---|---|
| Lining | Flannel, 40g Thinsulate insulation |
| Weatherproofing | None |
| Touchscreen Compatible | Yes |
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Pros
- Double-stitch construction
- Soft, suede nose wipe on thumb
Cons
- Cuffs aren’t adjustable
Mittens are warmer than gloves because your fingers share warmth and don’t have you losing heat between fingers as you do with gloves. This leather pair from REI’s in-house brand has a soft shearling fleece lining, and also DWR-treated and packed with synthetic insulation. Double-stitch construction bolsters durability.
They also feature polyester panels on the back of the hand near the wrist for some added flexibility and textured palms for grip. The mittens clip together so you don’t lose one when it’s time to store them away.
Key Specs
| Shell | Leather, polyester |
|---|---|
| Lining | Synthetic insulation, shearling fleece |
| Weatherproofing | DWR treated |
| Touchscreen Compatible | No |
Pros
- Real wool shearling lining
- Wrist leashes for easy on and off
Cons
- Require some break-in
These are old-school gloves that rely on natural materials like wool and leather to keep your hands warm in winter. The hefty leather shell is wind-resistant and should prove durable over time.
A paracord pull-tab lets you cinch the wrists to seal out wind and cold. The leather construction is heavy-duty but requires a slight break-in period as most leather goods do. The interior is lined in 100 percent wool, which provides excellent insulation and wick away sweat.
There’s just enough neoprene on the cuff to give you a snug fit yet they’re easy to pull on and off. They have an elastic leash that can be removed for a cleaner look if you don’t plan to pull them off and on a lot.
I’ve had these gloves for over a year now and the break-in was a lot faster than I expected. Though they’re not DWR-treated they’ve held up in light showers and snow—and that was before I even treated them with Filson’s oil finish wax.
Key Specs
| Shell | Cowhide leather |
|---|---|
| Lining | Wool |
| Weatherproofing | None |
| Touchscreen Compatible | No |
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Pros
- Insulated
- Waterproof inserts
- Good dexterity
Cons
- Bulky
These gloves are made for the slopes, with layers of insulation and a waterproof insert to stay dry. Adjustable straps at the wrist and cuff allow you to fully seal out cold and precipitation. The fingers are touch-screen-compatible, but elastic leashes keep them close at hand in case you need to pull them off.
The interior features two layers of water-resistant insulation and a cozy sherpa fleece lining to keep your hands warm and dry. Faux leather panels on the palms provide grip when skiing or shoveling snow in the driveway.
The nylon shell can handle daily wear and tear but is delicate compared to a leather or denser nylon, so these gloves are not suited for work.
Key Specs
| Shell | Recycled nylon |
|---|---|
| Lining | Sherpa fleece |
| Weatherproofing | Waterproof inserts, DWR finish |
| Touchscreen Compatible | Yes |
Pros
- Wax coating and waterproof membrane
- Heat-resistant
- Durable four-layer construction
Cons
- Require some break-in
The 4 Season gloves from Give’r have a rugged leather shell, a waterproof membrane, a heat reflector layer, and a layer of Thinsulate insulation to keep your digits toasty. The waterproof membrane keeps moisture out and the leather is wax-coated to bolster protection. The leather is thick enough to be abrasion- and heat-resistant.
These gloves are a great option to use for working outdoors. The rib-knit cuff hugs the wrist but is on the shorter side, and you might need more coverage on particularly cold days.
They fit snug at first but break in over time and form to your hands, so don’t let the stiffness intimidate you. After a couple of weeks these felt comfortable. I especially like the rib-knit cuffs on this pair. They seal in the warmth for each glove, and haven’t stretched over time.
Key Specs
| Shell | Leather |
|---|---|
| Lining | Fleece, 40g Thinsulate insulation |
| Weatherproofing | Waterproof membrane, wax coating |
| Touchscreen Compatible | No |
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Pros
- Moisture-wicking
- Great dexterity
- Packable
Cons
- Not very warm
The Etip gloves have a snug fit and are made of lightweight materials that make you forget you’re wearing them. They don’t hinder dexterity, and their sleek profile makes them easy to stash into a jacket pocket or pair of running tights.
The polyester fleece shell has a textured palm, index and middle finger, and thumb so you don’t drop your phone, and the interior employs a warm micro-fleece. These gloves wick moisture so your hands won’t get weighed down with sweat when running or hiking. They’re slim enough to use as a pair of liners.
I use these during winter runs and they’re perfect for staying warm without feeling like I have Mickey Mouse hands. They wick away sweat and I can navigate the Strava app without taking them off. I used them recently for a marathon and they stashed easily in my half tights when I warmed up. Gloves always feel cumbersome to me, so I like that these feel barely noticeable.
Key Specs
| Shell | Polyester, stretch fleece |
|---|---|
| Lining | Fleece |
| Weatherproofing | None |
| Touchscreen Compatible | Yes |
Danny Perez
Commerce Editor
Danny Perez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.
