Frozen hands can ruin your ski day, whether you're on groomed slopes or exploring backcountry lines. The best ski gloves and mittens keep your hands warm and dry, offering comfort and dexterity without needing a long break-in period. Different skiing adventures require different gloves. Spring skiing gloves will not be the same as the best for sub-zero chair lift laps.
We tested over three dozen pairs of ski gloves and mitts, from Vermont to Wyoming, Chamonix to Japan. When testers refuse to return the test gloves because they just want to wear them for one more storm cycle, that glove is clearly a winner. This year it was Helly Hansen’s fully waterproof Odin Winter Glove.
Here’s a detailed look at some of the top performers:
6 Best Ski Gloves In 2025 To Stay WARM During Skiing
Top Ski Gloves and Mittens at a Glance
- Best Overall Men's Ski Glove: Hestra Army Leather Heli Glove
- A Close Second (With Better Waterproofing): Black Diamond Guide
- Best Overall Men's Ski Mitten: Black Diamond Mercury Mitt
- Best Budget Men's Ski Glove: Gordini GTX Storm Glove
- Best Budget Men's Ski Mitten: Outdoor Research Revolution Gore-Tex Mitten
- Best Backcountry Ski Glove: Rab Khroma Tour Windstopper
- Best Heated Ski Glove: Outdoor Research Prevail Heated GTX Gloves
- Best Heated Ski Mitt: Hestra Power Heater Gauntlet Mitt
- Best Men's 3-Finger Ski Glove: Oyuki Pep GTX Trigger Mitt
- Best Leather Work Glove for Skiing: Flylow Gear Ridge Glove
Detailed Reviews
Helly Hansen Odin Winter Glove
Developed with ski patrollers, this glove is built like a leather work glove. The Odin has reinforcements in the pole contact zone and around the pointer finger. But despite the utilitarian design, this glove impressed us with its supple feel right out of the packaging (no break in required!). Polyester fabric at the wrist easily slides under jacket cuffs, and low-profile pull tabs made getting these on and off quick and seamless.
Read also: Staying Warm & Dry with Burton Gore-Tex
These gloves saw us through most of a deep season frontside and backside in Vermont’s Green Mountains. And they occasionally doubled as work gloves for sawing a tree out of a line. Hang loops on the middle finger let us clip these to a harness in the Chamnonix backcountry, and also kept gloves out of the snow when we took them off. These gloves were perfect for skiers who run average to warm.
The PrimaLoft Black Eco insulation paired with fleece lining was toasty and supple. It helped make these gloves versatile and so comfy to wear.
Black Diamond Mercury Mitt
For keeping your hands as warm as possible, you just can’t beat a mitten design. By keeping your fingers together, you get extremely efficient warmth thanks to your fingers warming each other. The Black Diamond Mercury is our favorite mitten option for offering the expected increase in warmth without a significant price increase. It’s also made with a four-way stretch in the shell and includes removable split-finger liners, making it very user-friendly.
As with other BD ski gloves we’ve worn, the Mercury features a durable construction that should withstand plenty of wear and tear. Really, the only downside is whether or not you’re comfortable wearing a mitten. We still find gloves to be more convenient and effective for skiing, especially if you’re one to unbuckle your boots on the lift.
The Mercury, in particular, is a bit bulky for handling a pole or adjusting buckles-you can achieve a bit more dexterity with a sleeker or non-leather design.
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Columbia PowBound Glove
For price-conscious skiers and riders, there is no better glove. Columbia’s PowBound is made from a durable polyester shell with a supple goat leather palm that made it easy to hold onto a pole from bell to bell when combined with the articulated fingers. The polyester insulation made these gloves warm enough for skiers and riders on most days.
While these gloves won’t be the longest wearing, they should last for multiple seasons and keep your hands warm and dry. Both men and women get two colors each to choose from.
Hestra Fall Line 5 Finger
“Ski day after ski day this winter in the Tetons, sliding my hands into Hestra’s Fall Line 5 Finger was a warm and delicious experience,” wrote one Wyoming-based tester. And the rest of the test team couldn’t agree more. The tough cowhide outer is treated with a durable water-resistant wax that keeps the gloves from wetting out even in soggy conditions and even though they’re technically not waterproof.
Insulated with brushed polyester and foam, with a warm and soft removable fleecy inner glove that stayed lofted even when testers’ hands got sweaty, this glove was a great everyday glove with a wide temperature range. Skiers and riders who run cold wore these gloves into the teens. Testers who run hot wore them in all conditions.
The gloves’ fingers are sewn seams-out to reduce pressure points-a thoughtful design feature that made a difference. We’re big fans of removable liner gloves that add a little extra warmth on cold days, and can be taken out on warmer days and washed throughout the season to keep them in good shape.
Read also: Easton Gloves: Are they right for you?
An included carabiner let us clip the gloves to a pack, harness, or jacket so we didn’t lose them during aprés. These gloves are made to last with tough leather on the outside. That also meant that they required some break in.
Burton Gondy Gore-Tex Mitten
Sometimes simple is best, and that’s exactly what testers loved about these Burton mitts, whether they were skiing Utah champagne powder or carving Vermont’s Green Mountain groomers. Pre-curved and finger-free inside, the Gondy mitts are made from soft-to-the-touch goat leather with a suede snot wipe.
A waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex liner paired with thin and warm synthetic high warmth-to-weight insulation and a cozy brushed fleece lining meant that we reached for these on really cold days, and they were the mitt of choice for testers with cold hands on any day. Bonus: The recycled insulation and responsibly sourced leather tread lightly on the planet.
But the warmth isn’t without bulk: Testers said these were somewhat less dextrous than other mitts we loved.
Minus 33 Merino Wool Ski Glove
Gauntlet gloves can get too hot, but Minus 33’s lavalan wool helped these gloves adapt to our body temperature. Testers’ digits always stayed the right temperature, even while ski touring. The waterproof leather shell and polyester shell-made from renewable, biodegradable material-proved more breathable than most other gloves thanks to the merino wool.
Testers appreciated the clip that locks these gloves together and made it easy to sling over a pack’s chest strap when they needed bare hands, and the touch screen fingertips when they needed to protect their digits. One Utah tester praised that, on storm days, a cinch-to-pull bungie on the skirted cuff sealed out the blustery weather.
All told, testers wore these gloves in Vermont, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming, and on most days our fingers were perfectly warm.
Swany X-Cell Glove
Looking for your new favorite pair of gloves? Swany’s X-Cell Glove is engineered for all-mountain versatility, featuring performance leather construction for superior durability and grip. A waterproof and breathable insert keeps hands completely dry, while the Volcotek Heat Shield reflects body heat back to your fingers for warmth.
Flylow Gear Lobster Mitt
Flylow upped its glove game last year, releasing a line of burly, feature-filled gloves and mittens that carry the same down-to-earth energy as the classic work gloves from their early years-but better engineered and designed. This leather-and-synthetic lobster mitt features a neat under-the-sleeve cuff for colder temperatures, catering to skiers who prefer to keep things low-profile at their wrists.
One tester who works in excavation liked them so much he started wearing them as his winter work glove. The three-finger design struck a nice balance between dexterity and warmth, and a brushed-tricot polyester lining kept us warm even when our palms started sweating at the top of a line.
Black Diamond Tour Pro Glove
It’s hard to get an uphill glove right: Breathability and warmth are often at odds, leaving you with either sweaty paws or chilly fingers. That’s why the Tour Pro is so ingenious. A stowable wind-mitt stays rigged and ready at your wrist, so when you’re taking a breather on the uphill-or you’re making a rapid transition to ski downhill-you can quickly and easily add warmth.
They became one tester’s go-to on chilly morning ski tours, and performed well on a trip to Alaska in the early spring.
Astis Soldierwolf Mitts
Yes, the elaborate Kevlar-threaded bead work, rabbit fur cuffs (a food byproduct), and statement-making fringe on the Astis Soldierwolf mitts are attention-grabbing on the slopes. But they’re more than a fashion accessory. The silicone injected suede leather is highly breathable and water resistant in winter conditions, while the soft and luxurious hi-loft Polartec fleece lining is long lasting-we’ve been wearing Astis’ Longcuff mitts for a decade-and can be replaced.
The mid-forearm cuffs keep snow out, but they’re still easy to get on and off. On the coldest days, there’s room for a glove liner or heat pack inside. While the price and style won’t work for everyone, testers who loved these gloves found them irresistible, and everyone agreed that because they don’t have a waterproof breathable liner, they seemed to regulate temperature better than most other gloves and mitts.
They’re too hot for spring skiing and a tad heavy for carrying when skinning.
Oyuki Pep GTX Trigger Mitt
The lobster claw really is all it’s cracked up to be, offering the dexterity of a glove and the warmth of a mitten. These became a go-to for lift-accessed skiing with lots of hike-to terrain, striking the right balance of warmth for uphill and downhill movement.
They’re all leather, with well-designed articulation across the back of the hand for a full range of motion and reinforced panels on the fingers for extra protection. A soft patch on the thumb makes for easy, comfortable nose- and goggle-wiping, and the low-profile cuff fits neatly inside your jacket sleeves.
Skida x Vermont Glove Mitten
Two beloved small companies collaborated to make this low-profile, stylish mitten. Skida, a woman-owned hat and accessories brand out of Vermont, is known for bright, fun patterns, which adorn simple, uphill-ready hats and neck gaiters. Vermont Glove has been making durable, functional gloves for over a century.
Together they created a cozy mitten with a buttery goat leather outer that keeps you dry in wet conditions and a sewn-in shearling fleece liner that wicks sweat during hard use. A colorful paracord cinch strap adds a little Skida flair and a secure fit.
Black Diamond Spark Mitts
Even skiers who prefer gloves or lobsters will like the Spark Mitts. It helps that they look good-a sleek, waterproof leather outer mitt, with a couple of colorblock options, as we’ve come to expect from Black Diamond. But the well-articulated construction, with reinforced padding on the back of the hand and internal finger slots, made these mittens feel almost as functional as gloves when unzipping bibs for a backcountry bathroom break or tightening ski boots at the top of a techy line.
Yuki Threads Arashi GTX Glove
This Japanese brand’s gloves are, unsurprisingly, dialed for storm riding. The Arashi GTX glove was remarkably water-resistant, even on wet Pacific Northwest days. A removable fleece liner insulated with 60-gram PrimaLoft Gold keeps things cozy and reduces time on the drying rack after a big day.
Soft, flexible goatskin leather through the hand and the palm offers great dexterity and durability, and an extended wrist cuff is ideal for skiers who like to pull their gloves over their sleeves.
Dakine Titan Gore-Tex Gloves
The Dakine Titan Gore-Tex Gloves are an affordably priced and waterproof glove suitable for anyone spending prolonged periods in wet snow and cold temperatures. It’s hard to find a glove under one hundred dollars that performs as highly as the Titan. It’s warm enough for most winter temperatures, and waterproof giving it excellent versatility.
Worn by gear analyst Miles Knotek for multiple years, the Titans are a dependable glove for a variety of winter sports and outings. We love the removable liner with touchscreen capability for its versatility.
While the Gore-Tex insert of the Titan does keep water from reaching the skin, the Polyester outer shell absorbs water making it heavy and awkward to wear when wet. With a surprisingly durable construction, the Titan is sure to last you multiple seasons. The Titan is a versatile winter glove that lends itself to snowsports and winter hiking excellently.
For a glove of its warmth and size, the Dakine Titan is surprisingly dexterous. For a budget-priced glove, we were impressed with the Titan’s dexterity and comfort.
Thanks to its breathable Gore-Tex insert, the Dakine Titan manages internal moisture by wicking sweat away from the skin. We skied and hiked uphill in these, and waded through thigh-deep snow.
During our immersion test, water did not penetrate the glove to the skin. After four minutes, it was still completely dry inside. However, when we removed the glove from the water, it was noticeably heavier. We wrung out the glove and a large amount of water was squeezed from the hand and fingers.
How to Choose Ski Gloves and Mittens
Choosing the right ski gloves or mittens comes down to your personal needs-whether your hands run cold, get sweaty, or you split time between the resort and the backcountry. A glove or mitten should feel snug but not tight, with enough room to move your fingers. Try them on while holding a ski pole to make sure seams and stitching don’t pinch.
When it comes to winter hand-wear, everyone has different preferences: Mittens or gloves? Down or synthetic? Lightweight or heavy duty? Waterproof or breathable? Over or under the cuff? Understated or attention-grabbing? For cold hands or hands that run hot? We tested pieces from every category in mountain ranges across North America as well as in Europe and Asia.
Here are some key considerations:
- Style: Over-the-cuff (gauntlet) or short-cuff.
- Material: Leather or synthetic.
- Warmth: Insulation type and thickness.
- Waterproofness: Gore-Tex or other waterproof membranes.
- Dexterity: How well you can perform tasks with the gloves on.
Table: Comparison of Key Features
| Glove/Mitten | Style | Material | Insulation | Waterproofness | Dexterity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hestra Army Leather Heli | Gauntlet | Leather/Synthetic | G-Loft Synthetic & Fleece | Water-Resistant (Requires Maintenance) | Good |
| Black Diamond Guide | Gauntlet | Nylon/Leather | PrimaLoft One & Wool | Gore-Tex | Below Average |
| Black Diamond Mercury Mitt | Gauntlet | Nylon/Leather | PrimaLoft Gold | Waterproof Membrane | Low |
| Gordini GTX Storm | Gauntlet | Polyester | Polyester | Gore-Tex | Reasonable |
| Outdoor Research Revolution GTX Mitten | Gauntlet | Polyester | EnduraLoft | Gore-Tex | Low |
| Rab Khroma Tour Windstopper | Undercuff | Nylon/Leather | Fleece Lining | Windstopper | High |
| Outdoor Research Prevail Heated GTX | Gauntlet | Nylon/Leather | EnduraLoft & AltiHeat | Gore-Tex | Low |
| Dakine Titan Gore-Tex | Gauntlet | Polyester | Polyester | Gore-Tex | Good |
How We Test Ski Gloves and Mittens
To give readers a better appreciation of how gloves perform in different conditions, we tested these gloves in every possible real-world skiing condition we could - from blue-bird days on the resort to cold, wet, blizzardy conditions that keep most sane skiers home. Because warmth and waterproof are such critical elements, we also subjected each of the gloves to an ice-bucket challenge where the gloves were worn for 30 minutes while submerged in a bucket of icy water.
Each of the gloves were tested in a variety of real-world skiing conditions to see how warm they kept our fingers while moving down the mountain as well as riding up on the chairlift. The gloves in the test were ranked on the grip they provided on ski poles in a variety of conditions.
Good dexterity is a difficult goal to achieve with ski gloves designed to keep fingers from freezing. To see which gloves stood out from the others, we performed as many everyday tasks as possible with each of the gloves on - from operating zippers and reading trail maps to adjusting goggle straps, boot buckles, and even trying to play a round of poker while sitting on the deck between runs.
There’s really only one way to determine how comfortable a glove is, and that’s to wear it-a lot. When everything else is equal, it’s often the little things that make the biggest difference. Ski gloves are no different.