Ski season has a way of punishing people with poor circulation, and Outside Online has teamed up with SKI testers to settle the question of what to wear when your fingers give up before your legs do. After testing dozens of pairs, the team narrowed it down to seven gloves and mittens, spanning budget picks to battery-powered heated options.
The top non-heated mitten honors go to the Mainers Mitts, which trace their lineage to a parent company that builds protective gear for cryogenics labs — scientists working below minus 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The mitts use a waterproof Gore-Tex liner and recycled 3M Thinsulate insulation that stays warm without bulk, so even glove loyalists were won over by the dexterity. The main catch: they need a few wears to break in.
For glove fans, testers crowned two winners. The LEKI Griffin Pro Zero packs PrimaLoft Gold insulation into a full leather shell with padded fingers, touchscreen-friendly tips and a grippy feel — but it's water-resistant rather than waterproof, so save it for dry, cold days. The Hestra Fall Line, voted most rugged, pairs a leather-balm-treated cowhide exterior with foam and brushed polyester inside, plus small touches like a seam position that eases pressure points on pole grips. Like the Mainers, it's stiff out of the box and softens with use.
The Gordini Alp Pro Mitt took the versatility prize thanks to waxed leather that holds heat in and moisture out while staying breathable — one tester called it one of the nicest mitts they'd ever worn. The trade-off is cleaning: waxed leather doesn't like soap and water.
Budget travellers should look at the Columbia PowBound Gloves, which offer proper weather protection and 200g insulation at a fraction of the price of the rest, with wrist straps and a pairing clip so nothing gets dropped from the chairlift. They run snug, so size up, and expect a few seasons of use rather than a decade.
Two heated options round out the list. The Swany Nexus Heated Glove is the premium pick, with ewool heating elements that push warmth into every fingertip, up to eight hours of battery on low, a charging port built into the cuff, and TSA compliance for carry-ons. The Outdoor Research Sureshot Heated Soft-Shell Gloves are the everyday alternative — lighter, breathable, touchscreen compatible, and warm even when wet, though not built for the coldest days on the mountain.
Why does this matter if you're not a skier? Cold hands ruin everything from a mountain town city break to a Christmas market stroll, and the logic here applies broadly: mittens beat gloves for pure warmth, insulation quality matters more than bulk, and heated gloves have quietly become viable for everyday travel in winter destinations. Anyone heading to the Alps, Rockies or Japan's ski resorts this season will find a pick here at nearly any budget.
