Outdoor Gloves & Mittens Buying Guide
Choosing the Right Outdoor Gloves
When temperatures start to fall, keeping your hands warm and protected becomes an important part of your outdoor clothing system.
Modern outdoor gloves range from thin thermal liner gloves through to insulated windproof and waterproof gloves designed for much harsher conditions. The right choice depends not simply on temperature, but also on wind, rain, activity level and how much dexterity you need.
For particularly variable or cold conditions, gloves can also be layered in much the same way as outdoor clothing.
Lightweight Thermal Gloves
Lightweight thermal gloves are useful during cooler autumn and spring conditions and for active pursuits where heavily insulated gloves may become too warm.
They can also be used as liner gloves underneath heavier gloves or mittens in colder conditions.
Because they're relatively thin, lightweight gloves generally provide better dexterity than heavily insulated alternatives. This makes them particularly useful when you regularly need to operate equipment, adjust clothing or handle small objects.
Depending on the design, features may include:
- grip patterns on the palms and fingers
- touchscreen-compatible fingertips
- stretch fabrics for a close fit
- moisture-management properties
- lightweight thermal insulation
Some lightweight thermal gloves provide sufficient warmth to be worn on their own during relatively mild winter conditions.
Liner Gloves
Liner gloves provide a thin insulating layer next to the skin.
They can be worn independently in mild conditions or underneath a heavier outer glove when temperatures fall.
A layered glove system has the advantage of being adjustable. You may be able to wear just the liners while you're active, add insulated gloves when the temperature falls and use an additional weatherproof outer layer when conditions deteriorate.
Thin liner gloves can also allow you to remove the outer glove briefly without immediately exposing bare skin to the cold.
However, make sure the additional liner doesn't make the outer glove too tight. Compressing the insulation and restricting movement can reduce comfort rather than improve it.
Windproof Gloves
Wind can rapidly make exposed hands feel colder, particularly during activities such as walking, cycling and running.
Windproof gloves use fabrics or membranes designed to reduce the penetration of cold air through the glove.
They may also incorporate:
- thermal linings
- softshell fabrics
- reinforced palms
- grip prints
- stretch panels
- adjustable cuffs
It's important to distinguish between windproof, water-resistant and waterproof.
A windproof fabric may also resist light rain, but that doesn't necessarily make the finished glove waterproof. Water can eventually enter through seams, cuffs or other areas unless the complete glove has been constructed to provide waterproof protection.
Waterproof Gloves
For prolonged use in wet weather or snow, waterproof gloves provide greater protection than water-resistant alternatives.
These commonly use a waterproof membrane positioned within the glove construction, often combined with an outer fabric and an insulating or comfortable inner layer.
The construction needs to balance several requirements:
- keeping external water out
- allowing moisture generated by your hands to escape
- providing sufficient insulation
- maintaining useful dexterity
- remaining durable
No glove will prevent your hands from perspiring during strenuous activity, so breathability and moisture management remain important even with waterproof designs.
Waterproof Overmitts
A lightweight waterproof overmitt provides another approach to hand protection.
Rather than combining insulation and waterproofing in a single glove, an overmitt can be worn over an existing thermal glove.
This creates a simple layering system:
Liner or thermal glove → waterproof outer mitt
The advantage is flexibility. The waterproof shell can remain packed away until rain, wet snow or strong wind makes additional protection necessary.
This approach can also allow you to change the insulating layer according to the temperature while retaining the same waterproof outer protection.
Gloves or Mittens?
Gloves provide individual fingers, giving considerably more dexterity for tasks such as operating equipment, adjusting clothing and handling walking poles.
Mittens group most of the fingers together in a single compartment.
This generally sacrifices some dexterity but can make it easier to retain warmth because the fingers share heat and there is less exposed surface area around each individual finger.
As a general guide:
Choose gloves when dexterity is particularly important.
Choose mittens when maximum warmth is more important than fine finger movement.
Some outdoor users carry both, particularly in very cold conditions.
Insulated Gloves
The amount of insulation you need depends heavily on both the conditions and your activity level.
A heavily insulated glove might be appropriate when standing around in freezing temperatures but excessively warm during a strenuous climb.
Likewise, a lightweight glove that's comfortable while walking quickly may provide insufficient warmth when you stop for a break.
For variable conditions, carrying a combination of lighter and heavier hand protection provides more flexibility than relying on one pair for every situation.
Grip and Palm Protection
Many outdoor gloves incorporate additional material or printed patterns across the palm and fingers.
These can improve grip when using items such as:
- walking poles
- tools
- handlebars
- ski poles
- outdoor equipment
Reinforced areas can also improve durability where the glove regularly comes into contact with equipment.
If grip is important for your activity, look at the palm construction rather than considering warmth alone.
Touchscreen Gloves
Using a conventional touchscreen normally requires contact with a conductive material.
Touchscreen-compatible gloves incorporate conductive material into one or more fingertips, allowing compatible devices to be operated without completely removing the glove.
This can be particularly useful for checking maps, taking photographs or using a phone outdoors.
Touchscreen performance varies between gloves and devices, and thick insulated gloves will naturally provide less precise control than bare fingers or thin liner gloves.
Children's Gloves
Children need appropriate hand protection just as adults do.
Children's outdoor gloves can broadly be divided into the same categories:
- thermal gloves
- wind-resistant or windproof gloves
- waterproof gloves
- insulated winter gloves
Fit is especially important.
Gloves that are too large can make it difficult for children to grip objects or use their hands properly, while gloves that are too tight may be uncomfortable and leave insufficient room for insulation to work effectively.
For wet winter conditions, waterproof protection can be particularly useful because children are often more likely to put their hands directly into snow, wet grass and puddles.
Getting the Right Glove Size
A glove should fit securely without feeling restrictive.
Excess material around the fingertips can reduce dexterity, while a glove that's too tight can compress insulation and restrict comfortable movement.
Check the relevant manufacturer's measurements rather than assuming you always wear the same glove size.
When using liner gloves underneath an outer glove, make sure the outer glove has enough space to accommodate them comfortably.
Our individual glove size guides provide measurements for the different ranges we stock.
Cuffs and Wrist Coverage
Don't overlook the point where your gloves meet your jacket.
Some gloves have shorter cuffs designed to sit underneath a jacket sleeve, while others use longer gauntlet-style cuffs that can extend over the sleeve.
The most suitable design depends on the activity and conditions.
In heavy rain or snow, the interaction between your glove and jacket cuff becomes particularly important because gaps can allow water, snow and cold air inside.
Building a Glove Layering System
For colder or more changeable conditions, consider your hand protection as a layering system rather than relying on a single glove.
A flexible system might consist of:
1. Liner glove
A thin thermal layer providing basic insulation and dexterity.
2. Insulating glove
A warmer layer added as temperatures fall.
3. Weatherproof outer layer
A windproof or waterproof glove or overmitt providing protection from the elements.
You won't necessarily need all three layers at once.
The advantage is being able to adapt your hand protection as your activity level and the weather change.
Which Outdoor Gloves Should I Choose?
Start by considering the conditions you're likely to encounter and what you'll need to do while wearing the gloves.
For cool weather and active use, lightweight thermal gloves may provide sufficient protection.
For cold, windy conditions, look for windproof gloves with an appropriate level of insulation.
For wet weather and snow, choose genuinely waterproof gloves or combine thermal gloves with waterproof overmitts.
For very cold conditions, insulated mittens or a layered glove system may provide greater warmth.
For activities requiring dexterity, avoid unnecessarily bulky insulation and consider close-fitting technical gloves.
For children, prioritise correct fit, warmth and appropriate weather protection.
There is no single glove that's ideal for every outdoor activity. Much like the rest of your clothing, the most versatile approach is often to choo