Cold, wet hands ruin ski days, and they’re entirely avoidable with the right gloves. The fundamental choice is gloves versus mittens. Mittens keep your fingers together so they share warmth — significantly toastier for people with cold hands — at the cost of dexterity. Gloves let you handle zips, buckles, and phones but run colder. We ranked the best on warmth, waterproofing, durability, and fit, across both styles.
Gloves or mittens? Choose mittens if you suffer from cold hands or ski in deep cold — they’re noticeably warmer. Choose gloves if you value dexterity for fiddly tasks and ski in milder conditions. A 3-finger “lobster” hybrid splits the difference. Whatever you pick, a removable liner glove doubles versatility and speeds drying.
The gloves, ranked
- Durable army leather that lasts many seasons with care
- Removable wool-blend liner adds warmth and dries fast
- Excellent dexterity for a warm glove
- Treat the leather annually and it just keeps going
- Leather requires occasional conditioning to stay waterproof
- Not the warmest option for genuinely frigid days
- Among the warmest hand options available — fingers share heat
- Removable fleece liner can be worn alone or dried separately
- Tough leather palm and long gauntlet seal out snow
- Strong value for the warmth delivered
- Mitten format limits dexterity for fiddly tasks
- Bulkier than a glove
- Warm, waterproof, and inexpensive — a sensible first ski glove
- Touchscreen-compatible fingertips on many models
- Widely available and frequently discounted
- Good enough for occasional skiers and milder climates
- Synthetic materials won't last as long as leather
- Not warm enough for the coldest days
Side by side
| Glove | Price | Type | Warmth | C&F Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hestra Army Leather Heli | $170 | Glove | Very good | 9.1 |
| Black Diamond Mercury Mitt | $130 | Mitten | Excellent | 8.8 |
| Gordini / OR Glove | $70 | Glove | Good | 8.3 |
| Hestra Fall Line | $150 | Glove | Good | 8.2 |
| Dakine Titan | $60 | Glove | Fair | 7.6 |
What to skip
Thin “fashion” gloves with no waterproof membrane. Knit or unlined gloves soak through in minutes and leave you with painfully cold hands. A ski glove needs a waterproof, breathable membrane and proper insulation — not just a water-resistant shell.
Gloves with no gauntlet or wrist closure on powder days. Short-cuff gloves let snow pack into your sleeve. A gauntlet that goes over the jacket cuff (or a snug knit cuff under it) keeps snow out — essential if you fall or ski deep snow.
Ignoring liner gloves. A thin liner glove worn inside your main glove adds warmth, lets you remove the outer for fiddly tasks without bare hands, and speeds drying. For a few dollars it’s the best cold-hands insurance there is.
How to choose
For most skiers, the Hestra Army Leather Heli is the do-it-all choice — durable, warm enough, and dexterous, with a liner for versatility. If you have genuinely cold hands or ski deep winter, go straight for a mitten like the Black Diamond Mercury. On a budget, a synthetic Gordini or Outdoor Research glove covers the basics well. Seek out a removable liner whatever you buy.
Warm hands start with a warm core — make sure your base layers and jacket are doing their job too.