Cold hands end more ski days than tired legs. When your core temperature drops even slightly, your body protects its vital organs by narrowing the blood vessels in your hands and feet. Less warm blood reaches your fingers, and no glove can create heat that is not there. So keeping hands warm is a two-part job: keep your core and head warm so blood keeps flowing, and choose handwear that holds on to the heat it receives.
How a ski glove is built
A ski glove looks simple from the outside, but a good one is a small layering system of its own:
- Shell. The outer fabric resists abrasion from ski edges, poles and rope tows, and carries a water-repellent finish.
- Waterproof insert. A thin membrane bag between shell and insulation. This, not the outer fabric, is what keeps water out.
- Insulation. Synthetic fill that traps air. More on the back of the hand, less on the palm so you keep your grip.
- Lining. Soft fleece or brushed fabric that wicks sweat and feels warm the moment you put the glove on.
Knitted or fashion gloves have none of this. They soak through on the first fall and freeze on the next lift.
Gloves or mittens?
Mittens are warmer for a simple reason: your fingers share one air space and warm each other, and there is less surface area to lose heat from. Gloves give each finger its own compartment, which is colder but lets you grip, zip and buckle.
| Choose gloves if... | Choose mittens if... |
|---|---|
| You ski mostly in average winter temperatures | You ski in very cold climates or get cold hands easily |
| You adjust boots, bindings and zips often | You mostly hold poles or ride a snowboard |
| You use your phone on the mountain | You are happy to take them off for fiddly jobs |
For most resort skiers, a well-insulated glove is the better all-round choice. Our waterproof insulated ski gloves are designed for that balance: a waterproof insert, warm lining, a grippy reinforced palm and touchscreen fingertips.
The details that make the difference
- Cuff style. A long gauntlet cuff goes over your jacket sleeve and seals with a drawcord, which is best for powder and for beginners who fall often. A short cuff tucks under the sleeve for a cleaner, lighter feel.
- Wrist strap. Tightening the glove at the wrist keeps the insulation in place and stops snow working its way down.
- Leashes. Elastic wrist loops mean you can take a glove off on the chairlift without watching it fall forty metres.
- Reinforced palm. The palm and the area between thumb and index finger take the most wear from poles.
- Touchscreen fingertips. Checking the piste map should not cost you a warm hand.
How to measure your glove size
Wrap a tape measure around your dominant hand at the widest part of the palm, just below the knuckles and excluding the thumb. Then check the table.
| Size | Palm circumference (in) | Palm circumference (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| S | 7 to 7.5 | 18 to 19 |
| M | 8 to 8.5 | 20 to 21.5 |
| L | 9 to 9.5 | 23 to 24 |
| XL | 10 to 10.5 | 25.5 to 26.5 |
The right fit leaves about half a centimetre of space at the fingertips. Too tight and you compress the insulation and restrict blood flow, which makes hands colder. Too loose and you lose grip and warm air. If you are between sizes or plan to wear liners, size up.
Liner gloves: the cheap upgrade
A thin liner glove under your ski glove adds warmth, wicks sweat away from the skin and means your bare hand is never exposed when you take the outer glove off. On very cold days it is the simplest way to extend the range of the gloves you already own.
Do not forget your head
The old claim that you lose most of your body heat through your head is a myth, but an uncovered head and ears still lose heat quickly, and your body responds the same way as always: by cutting blood flow to your hands. Your helmet handles this while you ski. The moment it comes off, for lunch, the walk through the village or the drive home, a beanie takes over.
What to look for in a winter beanie:
- A fleece lining for warmth without the itch of bare wool or acrylic on the forehead.
- A fold-up cuff that doubles the fabric over your ears.
- A low-profile shape that fits under a jacket hood and packs flat into a pocket.
- Stretch rib knit that stays put without squeezing.
Our fleece-lined knit beanie ticks all four and weighs next to nothing in a jacket pocket.
Seven habits for warm hands
- Keep your core warm. Warm hands start with the right layers. See how to layer for skiing.
- Start with dry gloves. Damp insulation does not insulate.
- Put gloves on indoors, while your hands are still warm.
- Do not grip your poles too hard. A tight grip restricts circulation.
- Swing your arms. Big windmill circles push warm blood to your fingertips in seconds.
- Eat and drink. Your body needs fuel to make heat.
- Keep gloves on the lift. Every time they come off, the lining cools and collects snow.
Drying and care
Dry gloves every evening, standing upright with the cuffs open so air can circulate. Keep them away from direct heat: radiators and stoves can crack palm materials and damage the waterproof insert. Never wring gloves out, which can tear the insert. Hand wash occasionally with mild soap and re-treat the shell with a water-repellent spray once a season.
The short version: gloves for control, mittens for extreme cold, liners for both. Fit them with a little room at the fingertips, seal the cuff, keep your core and head warm, and dry everything overnight.
Browse our beanies and gloves to complete your kit.
