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Mar 14, 2025

The 9 Best Ski Gloves, Tested and Reviewed

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Keep your fingers toasty on the slopes with these skier-approved gloves. In This

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

Keep your fingers toasty on the slopes with these skier-approved gloves.

In This Article

Travel + Leisure

Don’t let cold hands be the reason you have to cut your ski season short. Ski glove technology has come a long way in the last few years, and we’ve never had a wider selection to choose from. In fact, there may be too many pairs on the market. Because you belong on the mountain enjoying a bluebird day, not navigating a crowded mall under fluorescent lighting, we’ve spent the last couple of months testing more than two dozen pairs of ski gloves.

Sure, we had a lot of fun during testing — whether we were skiing five days in a row at Big Sky, Montana or day-tripping up to the resort — but we also seriously gauged several factors, including comfort, warmth, weatherproofing, and design.

Personally, I have been looking forward to singing the praises of my favorite ski glove (spoiler alert: it’s a mitt) for years. I bought them for a 12-day trip to Antarctica in 2022, and let’s just say they’ll be the first item I pack if I ever get invited on a trip to space. That said, I’m now keen to add the “army leather” glove (that we deemed the best overall) to my collection. It’s from a brand in Sweden that has been keeping skiers’ hands cozy since 1936.

The gloves are outfitted with handy features like a leash, wrist cuffs, and removable liners.

While they feature a DWR (durable water repellent) coating, they’re not technically waterproof.

You don’t have to be heli-skiing on a glacier in Alaska to fully appreciate the Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski glove that came out on top out of all 25 pairs we tested. They look and feel high quality, which is to be expected with premium goat leather. Our tester comfortably wore them for eight hours of nonstop snowboarding and had zero complaints. They also noted how these gloves performed better than their other ones, which they’ve had, and loved for years.

One big selling point is how easy it is to do things — such as zipping up zippers, pulling your phone out of your pocket, and adjusting your helmet chin strap — that would normally require removing your gloves while wearing them.

It’s important to note that this model was made for ski patrol and professional guides who spend all day, every day, on the mountain during ski season. That said, the price point doesn’t scare away the casual skier, and Hestra is a brand that’s been trusted for nearly 100 years, so you know you’re in good hands (literally and figuratively). While they’re not marketed as waterproof, minimal seams where moisture can seep in and a durable water-repellent coating kept our tester as dry as Death Valley.

The Details: Sizes 5 to 13 | Goat leather, polyamide, and synthetic G-Loft insulation | Removable liner and leash

This cozy mitt boasts longer-than-average wrist gaiters to keep snow and wind outside, where they belong.

Because they feature Gore-tex, they require a special detergent to keep them waterproof.

Not unsurprisingly — Stio is synonymous with high-performance outdoor gear — the Stio Objective Insulated Mitt not only survived testing in three states, including heavy, wet East Coast snow and the howling winds of Wyoming, but it thrived. In fact, T+L associate editor Anna Popp’s fingers only started getting cold after half a day of nonstop skiing in negative temperatures. Despite the fuzzy lining, these mitts don’t feel restrictive, and she never experienced overheating. These mitts get serious points for versatility because they work well in a variety of conditions.

If you’re looking for a mitt with longer wrist gaiters, look no further because these extend pretty far up your arm. They also clip together, so you don’t need to worry about losing one.

Details: Sizes XS to XL | Leather, PrimaLoft synthetic insulation, and merino wool blend lining | Gore-tex insert | Removable leash

These gloves are so high quality we’re surprised they don’t come with a lifetime warranty, and we love that they’re made in Vermont.

These gloves start out a bit stiff, and ideally, they’d be more breathable.

No detail was spared to ensure the longevity of the Baïst Classic Glove. Every high-impact area features reinforcements — even the leather is double-reinforced. Of course, the sacrifice for maximum durability is less flexibility. In terms of bells and whistles, one cool thing about these gloves is they come with an attached microfiber cloth (which stashes inside the glove) that you can use to clean your goggles. The Baïst Classic Glove also features a removable fleece liner, a Snowlock pull cord, and a pull strap, so you can customize the fit to some degree and rest assured that drafts and flurries don’t sneak inside.

Size up as our tester found them to run small, which is probably why they don’t come in an XS but come in a 3XL. And don’t plan on shopping for ski gloves again anytime in the near future since we’re confident these are built to last.

The Details: Sizes S to 3XL | Waterproof goat leather shell and Cordura | Removable fleece liner

Our tester found that they perform well for their price point, and the extended cuffs that keep snow out are a nice bonus.

They’re a bit on the bulky side.

After nearly 40 hours of testing in temperatures in the negatives, our tester liked these mitts so much that she bought a pair for her son. They’re a steal considering how warm they are and the fact they come with thoughtful touches like a hang loop for convenient drying and storage, a removable leash made of recycled material, and a suede nose wipe. It’s also worth mentioning that they’re made with Gore-tex, the gold standard for waterproofing.

Our tester also found these mitts to be more lightweight than they expected, and they appreciated how the extended wrist cuffs allowed them to wear them over their jacket. In terms of laundering, these mitts didn’t show any piling or shrinkage after washing, and all dirt and stains came out easily.

The Details: Sizes XS to 2XL | Gore-tex-coated polyester body with microfleece lining | Removable leash

For being made of leather, they offer an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio and a relatively short break-in period.

Our tester wishes the wrist gaiters were longer to prevent powder from creeping in.

Our tester, a downhill alpine ski racing coach, says investing in the Gordini Men's Cirque Glove is worth it for the warmth alone. In terms of fit and comfort, expect it to take about three days for the leather to loosen up, but that’s to be expected given the fact they’re made of goatskin. Thanks to the PrimaLoft synthetic insulation, you don’t have to worry about your digits going numb, even in sub-zero temps. In fact, our tester went so far as to call them a “life saver” on extra cold days when exposing your skin to the elements for even just a few minutes can result in frostbite.

That said, don’t expect to overheat too easily. These gloves are lightweight and offer enough breathability that you don’t need to worry about sweating. And as long as you have the cuffs cinched (they’re adjustable), your hands should stay 100 percent dry. Our tester didn’t have any issues, and they skied in rain and sleet often.

The Details: Sizes S to 2XL | Goatskin leather shell and PrimaLoft synthetic insulation | Leash

These fit so well that they’re the closest thing to treating your hands to tailor-made gloves.

These gloves are warm enough that the handwarmer pockets may be a moot feature.

Despite encountering high winds and white-out conditions while skiing and snowmobiling near Yellowstone National Park in January, our tester was beyond impressed with their experience testing the Gordini Men's GTX Storm Glove. Of course, thanks to their temperature-regulating properties, they perform just as well on calmer, and warmer days. “I never felt a need to remove the gloves, even on long chairlift rides,” recalled our tester.

The price point is attractive, and despite being made of synthetic materials, they look sleek and could pass as leather. They also look as good as new after getting wet and even being washed. What would we change about or add to these gloves if we could? Absolutely nothing. And with more than 25 years of skiing under his belt, most recently in some pretty intense conditions, it speaks volumes to the quality of these gloves.

The Details: Sizes S to 2XL | Polyester | Handwarmer pocket

They marry the warmth of a mitt with the dexterity of a glove.

They don’t always dry out overnight.

“Forever a fan of this design,” said Popp, who wishes she’d discovered the three-finger style sooner. While the feel and fit may take some getting used to, there’s no break-in period for this goatskin leather glove-mitt hybrid. The super soft fleece lining does not go unnoticed, and the adjustable wrist straps come in handy for keeping out the cold while making it easy to slide these mitts under your ski jacket cuffs.

“I reach for these nearly every ski trip because I’m just obsessed,” raved Popp, who has worn them at resorts in Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, Vermont, and New York. While they get flying colors for keeping hands dry during ultra-wet conditions ranging from downpours to blizzards, they do seem to take longer than average to dry. Still, don’t let that minor detail deter you from treating yourself to the flexibility of a glove combined with the coziness of a mitten.

The Details: Sizes XS to L | Goatskin leather, PrimaLoft Gold synthetic insulation, and fleece lining | Wrist loops

These aptly-named mitts kept our tester’s fingers toasty in sub-zero temps everywhere from Antarctica to Arctic Norway.

They’re oversized; even the XS fits more like a women’s medium.

I never thought I’d pay more than $200 for a pair of ski gloves. But then again, after three decades of skiing, I never thought I’d find the cure for cold hands. In my opinion, it’s as simple as splurging on the Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Gore-tex Mitt. Each pair is a prime example of you getting what you pay for. Between the 800-fill goose down (goose is far superior to duck) and the PrimaLoft Gold insulation, Mountain Hardwear didn’t skimp on materials.

Most recently, these mitts allowed me to be outside all day while chasing the aurora in Arctic Norway where it was so cold my nose hairs froze. I also skied with them last month in the Dolomites on the course that will be featured in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. On days above freezing I did get jealous of my companions who had sleeker gloves (my hands definitely overheated). But if you plan on skiing in sub-zero temps, these mitts have your name written all over them.

The Details: Sizes XS to XL | Goat leather, 800-fill goose down, PrimaLoft Gold insulation, and fleece lining | Leash

They provide all-over heat, and the batteries last longer than advertised.

They don’t have a feminine fit, and care-wise, they’re spot-clean only.

Hands down — pun intended — these Outdoor Research Prevail Heated Gore-tex Gloves are the most expensive pair of ski gloves on this list. But the higher price tag isn’t hard to justify if you ski a lot and consider they come with built-in battery-powered heaters. Choose from three heat settings, including a high that our tester found to be perfect if you need a short burst of instant warmth.

It takes approximately 7 hours to fully charge the batteries using the included adapters (there’s one for the U.S., U.K., and EU), and they have an impressive battery life. On high, they last 3.5 hours, and on low, you can expect to use them all day and still have about 8 hours of heat left. While our tester wishes they were less bulky, they can’t deny that they’re like portable saunas for your paws. They’re also some of the best heated gloves we tried, so you can’t go wrong with using them for skiing in our eyes.

The Details: Sizes XS to L | Goat leather, EnduraLoft synthetic insulation, and fleece lining | Gore-tex insert | Rechargeable batteries included | Removable leash

Hestra Leather Fall Line: Ski coaches and professionals love this line, and we praise its relatively affordable price point for quality leather gloves. That said, they run small, so size up.

Kinco Premium Leather Work and Ski Mitt: This workwear-inspired mitt costs less than $50 and looks like the coolest lift operators would have; however, because they feature pigskin leather, they take a while to break in.

Revolution Race Cabin Ski Glove: From fingertip to wrist, these gloves kept our tester warm in a variety of; however, the Tofu (off-white) color is hard to keep looking clean.

Travel + Leisure

Our testers came from a variety of ski backgrounds including backcountry, downhill, alpine racing, resort, and cross country. Testers used each pair for a minimum of three times while skiing everywhere from the East Coast to Colorado, Big Sky, and even the Italian Alps. All gloves were washed, following the manufacturer’s instructions, at least once during the testing period, and testers monitored how long they took to dry.

Testers also took copious notes on how each pair performed across a variety of categories, including comfort, warmth, weatherproofing, design, and value. All testers personally own the gloves they tested and will continue testing them for the rest of the season, for a total of six months, to see how well they hold up over an extended period of time. Of course, should anything change — for example a manufacturer issues a recall or we discover a better pair of gloves — this article will be updated.

Don’t get us wrong, we love the look and feel of leather. But it comes at a cost, and not just a higher price point. Leather gloves typically require one to three days on the mountain before they feel broken in, and they’re usually not machine-washable. For that reason, consider synthetic materials, which are cheaper and require less upkeep. While leather is more durable and tends to last longer, synthetic materials usually dry faster which can be a huge plus.

There’s a reason “fits like a glove” is a popular phrase. Size is extremely important when it comes to ski gloves because if they’re too big, it’s easy for your hands to get cold. Similarly, if they’re too small, and your wrists are exposed, snow can get in. More importantly, gloves that don’t fit well can be dangerous if your fingers are swimming in material or feel restricted, rendering you unable to properly hold your poles. You should be able to make a fist comfortably and have just enough room to wear a thin liner or hand warmers if needed.

Most people think gloves are better for skiing because they offer better dexterity. But if keeping your hands warm is more important to you than having flexible fingers, you’ll want mittens. It just depends on your priorities.

Despite looking kind of like lobster pincers, three-finger gloves are great for skiing because they combine the best of both worlds: the flexibility of gloves with the warmth of mittens.

How you clean your ski gloves depends on the materials they’re made of. Follow the included care instructions. As a general rule, you’ll want to hand wash or spot-clean most gloves and let them air dry to avoid shrinking. If your gloves are waterproof (i.e. Gore-tex), you’ll want to wash them with a technical detergent like Nikwax that doesn’t erode the durable water-repellent coating.

Katie Jackson, an avid skier for 30-plus years, put together this guide using the latest data and anecdotes provided by several other experienced skiers. Jackson wears her beloved Mountain Hardwear Absolute Zero Gore-tex Mitts at least 90 days per year, whether she’s cross-country skiing at home in Montana or carving tracks on another continent. She’s tested outdoor gear for a decade and prides herself on high standards. As a full-time travel writer, she often lives out of a suitcase and can’t afford to pack anything that doesn’t pull its weight.

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