Buy Ski Gloves

Welcome to our Ski Glove Buyer's Guide. In order to assist you in buying the right gloves or mittens we have created this comprehensive information guide about every variable of ski glove design and materials used in their construction.

buy ski gloves

1. Which style, short or long? This really comes down to whether you prefer to wear your glove cuffs under your jacket sleeves. Short-cuffs are essential for wearing under your jacket sleeve. They are functional irrespective of weather. Long-cuff (gauntlet-style) gloves offer an ease of putting them on/removing them that short cuffs with Velcro do not. Long cuffs are King when the snow is deep and the weather is foul. Learn more about the pros and cons of each style

2. Removable or sewn-in fixed liners ? Removable liners can be really nice. They can be exchanged with other liners, removed for faster drying or machine washing and they can be used by themselves as an effective second pair of light mittens/gloves. The problem with removable liners is that they are often difficult to re-seat in the correct position inside the shell. And when your hands are sweaty, it could be trouble. That's less of a problem with mittens, but gloves can be a crap-shoot, depending on the design of the glove. When you try them on at the store, make sure they come apart and go back together easily, because when you're out in the elements it will be much harder. The fundamental problem with removable liners, that's hard to avoid in most ski gloves, is that the liner is not fixed so the gloves rarely fit exactly right, and dexterity is often compromised. The liner (in most designs) moves relative to the shell every time you move your hands. Learn more about the pros and cons of different ski glove liners

The amount of insulation is usually measured by its weight in grams (per square meter). The amount and warmth depend on the type of insulation, but generally, anything under 100 grams is for warmer days, 30+ degrees F or for those whose hands run warm. 100 grams is just about perfect for your average winter day, 20-30 degrees F. 100 grams or more is for cold days, below 20 degrees F. It's great to have such gloves or mittens for the cold days, but they have more limited use unless your hands are always cold, you are outdoors with low activity level, or the gloves are extraordinarily breathable. More than 200 grams is for seriously cold conditions, sub-zero, and expeditions in the high mountains or Arctic.

4. Battery Powered: ski gloves with heaters have become very popular. In theory, that seems like a great idea to guarantee toasty hands. In practical use, they present several inescapable problems. Learn more about battery powered heated ski gloves

6. Grip: The grippiness of a glove or mitten is created primarily by the surface of the palm. Sometimes grip patches, common in work gloves, are helpful, but in my experience they are mostly just cosmetic. They exist to make you think they grip well. Soft leather offers the best grip. And the real secret is in the tanning process of the leather. Free the Powder makes the grippiest gloves on the market due to our process of emulsion in fatliquors. Learn how Free the Powder Gloves are made with such grip

7. Mittens or Gloves? For many of the reasons listed above, a mitten gives away some dexterity but offer more flexibility in a range of temperatures. Your fingers together retain a lot more heat, which might make you think your hands would get sweatier than wearing gloves. Not necessarily. I find having more air around my fingers allows for better circulation and breathability. I have poor circulation in my extremities so mittens are a much better one-glove solution for me. It really is up to individual needs and preference. Gloves v. Mittens Guide

As a glove designer, I spent an entire ski season (100+ days) wearing a membrane glove on one hand and a non-membrane glove on the other. The rest of the design characteristics were exactly the same. Most of the time, membranes caused me to have clammy hands, whereas the non-membrane glove was almost always dry. On days when it was raining, both gloves got saturated with water. For me and my team of testers, the membranes were much less effective in most conditions than the ultra-breathable, no-membrane gloves. Learn more about the importance of breathability in ski gloves

9. Wrist leashes: (often referred to as glove leases, wrist straps, idiot leashes, or retention straps) these sometimes-helpful additions to gloves and mittens are very popular, especially with snowboarders, climbers and kids. It's really up to your personal preference whether you want to be tethered to your gloves. Here are instructions to add wrist leashes to our gloves or any others.

The history of ski gloves is ruled by the axiom "you get what you pay for," but not with Free the Powder Gloves. We sell the highest quality gloves for less. Why? Because that's what we always looked for when shopping for gloves ourselves. And after too many years of being unable to find them, we decided to make them ourselves. I hope our ski glove buyer's guide was helpful in your buying process.

Without warm, dry hands, a day in the mountains can become pretty miserable in no time at all. Cold fingers at any age can be excruciatingly painful, so choosing the ideal pair of gloves or mittens will allow you to have fun for longer. But because options abound, we've delved into the latest waterproofing and insulation technology to help you make the right buying decision. Do you need waterproof gloves for slushy spring conditions, or do you prefer maximum dexterity? Mittens are naturally warmer than gloves, but whether you need to use your fingers during the day will shape your options.

From the plushest, most comfortable all-leather gloves to 3-in-1 designs and backcountry-ready Gore-Tex options, we've got gloves to suit your needs whatever the location or conditions. In our experience, good gloves make for happier families and safer days on the hill, which results in more skiing, bigger smiles and a whole lot less time in the lodge defrosting digits.

Read on to discover our picks for the best ski gloves and mittens for the long, cold, awesome winter ahead. Choose from a wide range of styles and budgets, and get expert tips from ski professionals in the buyer's guide below.

Well-priced and for good reason, few gloves are as hard wearing, warm or comfortable as the Hestra Fall Line. Made from supple leather, the finger seams are stitched on the outside for added, noticeable comfort, and the insulation is instantly appreciated when you pull them on.

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.

Both gloves function well on their own, but when the temperatures plummet, combine the two for another serving of warmth. There's even a small waterproof zipper on each side that's just big enough for a handwarmer or electronic RFID lift pass.

With decades of personal experience and on-snow testing, Liam Griffin, Co-Founder and COO of the Natural Selection snowboard competition, knows a thing or two about keeping your hands warm on the mountain. We asked him for his essential tips when the time comes to invest in the best ski gloves and mittens.

Leather is another popular choice of outer material, and Liam swears by it. And while often more expensive, it is soft, durable and naturally water resistant. Leather gloves are beautifully comfortable, although you will need to treat them every season to ensure they remain in prime condition. Many premium gloves use a combination of synthetic stretch material and soft leather in key high-use areas such as the palm for a best-of-both-worlds performance.

Pockets: A small pocket on the back of each hand can be invaluable if you suffer from very cold fingers, as you can put a small handwarmer inside. Liam also points out that if, "I use the sticky backed toe warmers inside the back of my gloves, they stay there all day and warm the blood going into my fingers."

Black Diamond's Legend appeals to the touring crowd with a low-profile insulated, waterproof, and primarily leather design that fits under the cuffs of a ski jacket. The glove nicely balances protection and weight with high-quality PrimaLoft Gold synthetic fill and a water-resistant Pertex shell along the back of the hand. Finally, fit and finish is a step up from our previous Legend gloves, which were overly stiff and fell short of the premium Hestras above.

Kinco started the leather ski glove craze in the 1980s, and it wouldn't be a proper list without including them here. To follow in a long line of ski bums and resort employees, simply plunk down the $36 or so bucks these gloves were selling for at press time, buy some Sno-Seal to condition the leather and make it more water-resistant (finish the job with a hair dryer if possible), and ski until your heart's content.

You won't find a more economical glove option than the Kincos, and this system works surprisingly well if the conditions aren't too cold or wet. It's best to step up to a more waterproof design in the wet snow of the Pacific Northwest, but the gloves are a great match for areas with dry snow like Colorado and Utah. Don't forget to grab a PBR at the lodge to complete your get-up, and per tradition, retire them at the end of the season and repeat.See the Kinco Pigskin Leather Glove

Located between the shell material and insulation in a fully waterproof design is a membrane or insert. Gore-Tex offers the best combination of waterproofing and breathability on the market. Cheaper gloves often use a non-Gore-Tex insert of varying names (BD.dry, DryVent, etc.) and degrees of efficiency. Keep in mind that if you choose a cheaper ski glove in the $70 range, you can expect decent waterproofing but it likely won't hold up as well over time or on particularly wet days. Entry-level gloves can be fine for those who ski occasional sessions at the resort, but serious skiers will want a serious glove to stay comfortable throughout the day. 041b061a72