I live in the Colorado mountains, where the temperature is regularly in the single digits. So whether I'm out on a quick walk with my dog, scraping ice off my car before a morning workout, or skiing all day, I rely on quality winter gloves.
The best winter gloves for women combine warm insulation, protection from wet snow and icy wind, and have features like touchscreen compatibility so you can stay warm while living your life. But not all gloves are built the same — how many times have you worn a pair of gloves out only to realize they're too thin, or don't have enough grip for you to hold onto a cold steering wheel?
After testing over 20 pairs in the dead of winter, I've found the best options that balance warmth, waterproofing, and dexterity. From heavy duty ski gloves to lightweight, tech-friendly mittens, these 8 pairs will help keep your hands warm and toasty.
Best overall: Magne Mitt Heatwave Soundtouch Summit
A touchscreen-compatible glove-mitten hybrid, wrapped in insulated leather with an ingenious magnetized split down the top of the hand. This way you can switch between gloves or mittens without exposing your hands to the cold.
- Dexterity of a glove with the warmth of a mitten
- Inner glove liner is touchscreen compatible
- Waterproof
- Very warm
- Too warm for mild winter days
- Snow cuff not long enough for deep powder
Anyone who lives in a cold climate will tell you: Mittens are way warmer than gloves. The problem, of course, is you can't do anything with mittens on. The Seirus Magne Mitts are the best of both worlds: a liner glove, wrapped in an insulated leather mitten.
The liner is made with Seirus' Heatwave technology, which reflects your body heat back to you. I liked how the stretchy liners fit snugly, but they're non-constricting. Plus, I can wear them and still use the touchscreens on my phone and smart watch.
The outside mitten is made from leather and fortified with 320 grams of insulation. Combined with the liner, these gloves are very, very toasty — they kept my hands perfectly warm while the temperature was in the 20s.
The magnetic closure is strong, but it opens fairly easily. Just pull your fingers back inside when you're done typing, and the magnet snaps closed seamlessly. I wore these gloves on two dozen occasions and the closure worked perfectly each time.
I appreciated the small nice-to-have features of these winter gloves, including soft nose wipes on the thumbs, wrist clips, and an inner liner cuff that you can cinch shut for a close-to-skin heat lock.
The snow cuffs are a little too short for serious skiing, but they're fine for everyday winter activities. The drawback is that the liners aren't removable for cleaning or more mild winter days (though Seirus makes a liner-less version, which you can pair with your own removable liners).
Best budget: Outdoor Research Deviator Gloves
These gloves are water-resistant, lightweight, and they pack down small. They’re great gloves for winter exercise, and will keep your hands toasty down to freezing temperatures.
- Breathable so sweat doesn’t build up
- Well-insulated
- Easy to put on and take off
- Not the sleekest style
- Not warm enough for below freezing
- Unisex fit means fingers may run long
Of all the gloves I tested, I reached for the Deviator Gloves the most because of their comfort, warmth, and compactness. They weigh just 2.6 ounces and neatly fold up into a small bundle that fits in my coat pocket. And their comfortable, roomy fit doesn't impede my finger dexterity.
These gloves have stretchy cuffs and durably-stitched pull tabs, so they're very, very easy to slide on. I also appreciate that they're designed with strategic patches of leather from the pointer finger to thumb, as well as across the palms, so I have more traction when I'm handling my steering wheel or my dog's leash. These leather overlays extend to all five fingertips for phone screen compatibility.
I found the Deviator gloves work best on active winter or shoulder season days. They're made with a stretchy nylon shell, 40 grams of insulation, and two layers of heat-reflective material inside. The result is a glove that's water-resistant, wind-resistant, and super breathable. However, they're not quite warm enough in situations where you're not generating a lot of body heat and the temperature is around freezing.
At $69, these are a great value for a super versatile glove that'll keep your hands warm in most winter conditions. One downside: they're unisex sizing, so the finger tips may run a little long (though it shouldn't be an issue if you follow the size chart, as I did).
Best ski gloves: Free the Powder SX Pro Glove
The SX Pro Gloves use unique materials to deliver a shocking amount of warmth for a ski glove — more warmth than many mittens, in fact.
- Extremely warm, even at their fingertips
- Removable liner
- Decent finger dexterity
- Comfortable, adjustable cuffs
- No petite sizing options
- Liner was difficult to detach and re-attach
Any skier worth their salt will tell you: Mittens are better at gloves when it comes to keeping your fingers warm. As someone who skis for over 30 days a year, I would never reach for gloves over mittens. Even though I longed for the dexterity to pop buckles and unzip my jacket more easily in lift lines, my fingers have gotten so cold in gloves that I've had to borrow mittens.
The Free the Powder SX Pro Gloves, however, defy everything smart skiers swear by.
I wore these gloves skiing in Aspen, Colorado in damp and snowy February conditions, when the temperature was in the teens. I was shocked to find my hands stayed seriously warm and seriously dry. In fact, these gloves kept my hands warmer than many ski mittens I've tested in similar conditions.
Free the Powder points to their unique material technology for five-finger warmth: The outer material uses a plush leather on the palm for traction and durability, and breathable, softshell on the back of the hand. Most importantly, their removable liners are filled with a highly dense insulation, which packs a lot of warmth with minimal bulk or moisture build-up.
Warmth-factor aside, these gloves are very much designed by people who actually ski. They have comfortable straps, and the stretchy Velcro wrist cuffs can fit under my jacket's sleeves (but if you prefer a gauntlet cuff that goes over your sleeves, I recommend the RX Pro Gloves).
The overall design gives you pretty unencumbered use of your fingers. In these gloves I was able to pop Boa dials, grab the toggle of my Walk Mode lever on my ski boots, and zip up my jacket. They also come with strategically-placed palm reinforcements that add better durability when you're gripping your ski poles.
I really like that the liners are removable, so you can lower the warmth level when it's time for spring skiing or ski touring. But the liners were pretty difficult to take out, unless I took one glove off entirely and pried the Velcro apart. This wasn't a problem for resort skiing, but if you're someone who need to slide their glove shells off often, I recommend the Black Diamond Guide Gloves instead.
Best heated gloves: Outdoor Research Sureshot Heated Softshell Gloves
The Sureshot Heated Softshell Gloves were the most comfortable heated gloves we tested — and at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. They heat the entire length of your fingers using three heat settings.
- 3 heat levels — even the lowest setting is toasty warm
- Very comfortable, non-bulky softshell material
- Lightweight wrist battery
- Not fully waterproof
- Poor touchscreen compatibility
- Runs slightly large
Heated gloves are an amazing innovation for anyone who has poor circulation. I've tested four pairs of heated gloves, and Outdoor Research's Sureshot Heated Softshell Glvoes are by far the most comfortable. Plus, they're more affordable than most heated gloves.
They're warm even before you turn the battery on. Crafted with a 2-way stretch soft shell, these water and wind-resistant gloves are packed with 100 grams of insulation for warmth. They also have a leather patch across the palm for more grip. I did however find that they run slightly large, and the touchscreen compatibility wasn't reliable.
The Sureshot gloves flow heat up and down each finger, which felt much more effective than palm heating. They have three heat settings — the highest being so warm that I had to turn it down when I was on a walk with my dog in 15 degree weather.
They heat with rechargeable batteries that are stashed within the inner wrist's zippered compartment. The battery life lasts 6 to 8 hours on low, 3 to 4 hours on medium, and 2 to 3 hours on high. They're smaller and more lightweight than the batteries found in comparable pairs, and they're easy to remove, recharge and replace.
I do wish these gloves were fully waterproof and windproof, as they're not ideal for skiing. I also wish the heat level indicator wasn't a pair of very large, bright LED lights, which disoriented my night vision and made me feel a little exposed when walking in the dark.
Best heavy-duty waterproof gloves: Black Diamond Guide Gloves
These work gloves are rated down to -15°F, with huge snow cuffs and a highly durable construction that held up in gnarly winter conditions. The removable liner is very well-insulated and allows you to adjust for dexterity, while the waterproof GORE-TEX exterior keeps you protected from snow and sleet.
- Extremely warm
- Designed for rugged performance
- 2-in-1 waterproof liner
- Bulky fingers
- Liners were difficult to detach and re-attach
- No petite size options
- Too warm for mild winters
Developed for backcountry ski guides, the Guide Gloves are exceptionally warm and durably constructed, while maintaining as much dexterity as can be expected for their burliness.
I wore these in the Colorado mountains in single-digit temperatures and my hands stayed perfectly toasty. They're rated to perform even down to -15 degrees.
These gloves are essentially two in one. The outer shell is made from an abrasion-resistant nylon for good finger and hand articulation, with goat-leather palms and protective back-of-hand patches. They also have foam padding on the knuckles to absorb impact. The outer glove is very durably stitched and strategically patched. I appreciated the thoughtful features like a huge cinchable snow cuff, adjoining clip, and suede leather nose wipe on the thumbs.
What makes these gloves really great, though, is the removable liners. These are insulated with 200 grams of PrimaLoft fleece in the palm, and cozy boiled wool on the rear. Then, they're protected with a fully waterproof and breathable GORE-TEX outer layer. That said, these liners aren't so easy to detach on-the-fly.
Another drawback: the dexterity definitely leaves something to be desired. I couldn't zip a jacket with these gloves on, but the trade off is superior warmth and durability. It's also worth mentioning that these would also make for very solid ski gloves, albeit with more bulk than my favorite pair.
Best running gloves: Smartwool Active Fleece Wind Mitten
Made from a sweat-wicking, temperature-regulating fabric, these tech-friendly running gloves have grip all across the palm to hold onto your phone or water bottle. They come with stashable wind mitten hoods to further block out the elements.
- Snug fit
- Naturally insulating materials
- Convertible design for better warmth & wind protection
- Wide size range
- Elastic cuff may too narrow for wide hands
- Not warm enough for conditions below 30°F
The Smartwool Active Fleece gloves are perfect for winter runs. They're made from a Merino wool-polyester blend, so they're great at wicking away moisture (and as any winter athlete knows, sweat on your skin will make you feel colder than ever). This creates a light heat shell with Merino wool's natural heat-retention properties.
These gloves also have nylon wind hoods that better protect and insulate your fingers. These hoods have reflective details and can tuck away neatly into the back of your hand. It doesn't feel bulky, and you can store each without taking your other glove off.
I wore these on my winter runs around freezing temperatures and to start, my hands felt a little cold. But once my blood was pumping, they offered the perfect amount of insulation and wind protection.
I greatly appreciated the full-palm grip texture, as I run with my phone in my hand. The index finger touchscreen compatibility worked well, too. The cuffs felt a little narrow at first, but the material is durable and stretchy so you can really yank your hand inside (though I'm still testing to see how many yanks it'll take before the stitching rips). That said, this tightness was crucial for keeping my wrists warm.
Best touchscreen gloves: The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves
These stretchy fleece gloves not only have touchscreen compatibility in all five fingers, but also a strategically-placed grippy texture for a secure hold on your phone or steering wheel.
- Five finger touchscreen compatibility
- Well-placed grip
- Designed for mobility and dexterity
- Not warm enough for freezing conditions
The North Face's Etip gloves are lightweight, stretchy, warm, and best of all: they let you use your phone with ease.
Crafted from a mix of polyester and four-way stretch fleece, these gloves feature a conductive polymer coating that enables touchscreen use. The touchscreen gloves are also tailored to maintain a natural, relaxed position (something The North Face calls "radiometric articulation technology"), which just means they feel more natural to type on your phone with.
Our style editor Amir Ismael tested the men's version and praised their sleek fit and dexterity. "Just about anything you can do without gloves on, you'll be able to do while wearing The North Face Etip Gloves," he says.
In addition to having more surface area that's compatible with a touchscreen, Amir likes that these gloves have grip across the palm and first two fingers, which means you'll have a more secure hold on your phone or steering wheel.
Their warmth is more akin to heavy duty liners than truly winterproof gloves, but Amir reports that they've worked well down to 25 degrees in New York City. If you need an even warmer touchscreen glove, I recommend the Apex Insulated Etip Gloves, which I wore while the temperature was in the low 20s in the Colorado mountains.
Read more in our full review of The North Face Etip Gloves.
Best mittens: Smartwool Smartloft Mitten
These mittens are lightweight, comfortable to wear, and surprisingly warm. With a stretchy cuff and wide design, you can slide liners underneath for more warmth, too.
- Mitten design keeps fingers much warmer than gloves
- Lightweight and packable for minimal pocket bulk
- Versatile combo of Merino wool insulation and stretchy nylon
- Wide size range
- Touchscreen compatible
- Not warm enough for windy, single-digit conditions
I am very, very obsessed with these mittens. I live in Colorado where most winter days are in the 20s, and though I've certainly tested more heavy-duty pairs, the Smartwool Smartloft Mittens are the best option for most people.
For starters, they're incredibly lightweight and sleek. Inside they're insulated with 60 grams of a Merino wool-polyester blend. On the gloves' outside, its nylon shell is treated with Durable Water Repellent (DWR), so they're highly water-resistant and windproof.
Across the palm and fingers is a grippy texture that enhances the accuracy of the touchscreen compatibility. If you jam a finger onto your phone or smart watch face wearing these gloves, this traction makes for a very effective swipe.
I also really appreciate how versatile these mittens are. Thanks to Merino wool's temperature-regulating properties and breathability, they're equally great for casual wear as they are for sweaty winter workouts. And for their weight, they're surprisingly warm. When I tested these in extremely cold conditions, I was able to slide heavyweight liners underneath them thanks to their long, stretchy, fleece-lined cuffs and roomy top oval. Lastly, for the warmth and comfortable design, the price really can't be beat.
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