As winter approaches, finding the right gloves becomes essential for staying warm and connected. Whether you're a runner braving the cold, or simply need to keep your hands cozy while using your phone, the market offers a wide array of technologically advanced winter gloves.
Let's explore some of the best options available, focusing on materials, warmth, visibility, and touchscreen compatibility.
Key Considerations for Winter Gloves
Materials
Winter runners should look for a pair of lightweight gloves that are warm enough to keep your hands cozy, but breathable enough to let air circulate. Look for technical fabrics-Polyester and other synthetic materials are often your best bet for finding that balance.
Some blends are better than others though. In case of bad weather, it also makes sense to keep an eye out for a weather-resistant material that can protect against rain and snow, as well as cold, cutting winds. Moisture-wicking materials, such as Merino wool, can also help deal with sweat and mitigate the impact of cold rain.
I also like when a glove fabric contains a small amount of a stretchy material, such as Spandex or elastane, to ensure the gloves fit comfortably and snug. That said, skip the stretch if you like a glove that feels roomy inside.
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On the other hand, I recommend avoiding heavy gloves made from nylon or polyurethane. These materials are often thicker, warmer and weatherproof, so they’re more likely to make you overheat. (Depending on the design, they may also make it hard to use your phone or check your smartwatch.)
Warmth
Everyone has their own Goldilocks spot for how much warmth they need from their gloves. The important thing to keep in mind is that your body feels warmer while you’re running-speaking broadly, we recommend dressing for a run as if it's 10- to 20 degrees warmer than the temperature outside (including the wind chill.) That’s a good rubric for determining both when to start wearing gloves in the winter, and the level of protection you want against the cold.
Thinking about gloves specifically, your running gloves probably shouldn’t be as warm as your everyday winter gloves. A warmer glove will keep you going in colder temperatures but will cause you to sweat more, so it may not feel comfortable for long.
Visibility
Winter nights come early, so visibility is an essential concern for all cold-weather running gear. If you frequently run near a road, or in areas with little street lighting, every item of clothing you wear, head to toe, should feature a reflective or high-visibility element.
In fact, gloves are among the most important pieces of reflective running gear you can wear. They catch drivers’ eyes especially well because your hands move as you run, creating a more noticeable effect.
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Top Picks for Winter Gloves
The North Face Etip Trail Gloves
I tried on a lot of gloves for this list, but I knew the North Face Etip Trail was going to be my favorite from the moment I put it on. They’re soft but durable, fitting snugly with just enough stretch to avoid restricting your fingers. There are warmer running gloves out there, but I found that these kept me perfectly warm in cool to moderately cold temperatures.
They have windproof mitts that flip over your fingers for extra protection against frigid breezes. It’s a convenient extra layer that’s built into the glove, but stays hidden when they aren’t in use.
They also feature five-finger touch-screen capability, which makes it easier to use your phone. Beyond that, it would be nice if the trail gloves were available in more colors like the other Etip variants, but these are an incredibly well-rounded pair of gloves and perfect for runners.
Key Specs:
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- Material: 93% polyester, 7% elastane
- Warmth: Medium
- Visibility Element: Reflective logo
New Balance Lightweight Touchscreen Running Gloves
For less than $20, the New Balance Lightweight Touchscreen Running Gloves are comfortable and have some well-considered features for runners, making them an easy pick if you’re shopping on a budget. They’re made from a pleasantly snug, stretchy material, with effective moisture-wicking to keep moisture away from freezing on your hands and prevent odor build-up.
My favorite parts of these gloves, though, are the wrist gaiters. They keep warmth in without feeling overly structured and restrictive. The touch-screen capacity on the pointer finger and thumb are also fairly reliable, while a raised pattern across the palm provides plenty of grip.
Key Specs:
- Material: 86% polyester, 14% spandex
- Warmth: Medium
- Visibility Element: Reflective logo and fluorescent color options
TrailHeads Touchscreen Running Gloves
If you find yourself constantly changing songs or checking your health data mid-run, then you need a pair of gloves that allow you to control capacitive touch screens quickly and precisely. The most screen-friendly fingertips I found were these TrailHeads gloves, which feature a “conductive” fabric on the thumb and pointer finger.
I also like the silicone grips on the palm, which you keep a solid grip on your phone.
Key Specs:
- Material: 87% polyester, 13% spandex
- Warmth: Light
- Visibility Element: Reflective back-hand pattern
Black Diamond Heavyweight Screentap Gloves
The Black Diamond Heavyweight Screentap is a heavy glove made for winter hiking and other cold weather sports. They’re thick, but not overly heavy or cumbersome, and still manage to give you a reliable level of touch-screen control. I’ve worn them in snowy weather and found they provide ample warmth, and their soft fleece interior feels great on the skin. They’re also DWR-treated for water resistance, and are durable enough to last for years.
Key Specs:
- Material: Polyester, fleece, nylon, leather
- Warmth: Heavy
- Visibility Element: None
Smartwool Active Fleece Gloves
Smartwool’s Active Fleece Gloves are perfect for weather that is cool, but not quite cold-think chilly autumn evenings, long before there’s snow on the ground. Smartwool’s signature Merino wool blend is breathable and wicks moisture well, so they’re a good choice for the shoulder seasons, when you aren’t sure whether it’s cold enough to wear gloves.
They also have their fair share of running-friendly features: There’s a patch of windproofing on the back of the hand, a reflective band around the wrist adds some visibility, and they come in a few different colors.
Key Specs:
- Material: 47% polyester, 38% Merino wool, 15% elastane
- Warmth: Light
- Visibility Element: Reflective logo and trim
Brooks Shield Lobster Glove 2.0
If cold winds are your primary concern, try a lobster glove-a hybrid mitten that keeps the pointer finger separate from the main finger pouch. The thicker mitten-style padding provides plenty of wind blockage and warmth, and the independent pointer finger makes it easier to turn keys, open doors, or open a water bottle.
Brooks makes a lobster glove for runners, the Shield Lobster Glove 2.0, which feels plenty warm and soft, but is also breathable enough to prevent overheating. The wrist cuffs are warm and snug but not too tight.
Key Specs:
- Material: 79% polyester, 21% spandex
- Warmth: Medium-heavy
- Visibility Element: Reflective logo
TrailHeads Convertible Running Gloves
To that end, I’m a big fan of the Convertible Running Gloves from TrailHeads, which feature a breathable inner glove and a warmer waterproof mitten shell. This lets you adjust between letting your hands breathe in cool, dry weather and shielding them from the cold and rain. Their insulation is warm, making them a good option for low temperatures. At the wrist, their extra-long cuffs help keep rain from running up your sleeves, too.
These gloves also offer above average visibility, are secured together via magnet, and their touch-screen compatibility is among the best on the list.
Key Specs:
- Material: 87% polyester, 13% spandex
- Warmth: Medium-heavy
- Visibility features: Reflective pattern and fluorescent color option
ReflecToes Fluorescent Reflective Gloves
If you’re a consistent night runner, the ReflecToes Fluorescent Reflective Glove is the undeniable grand champ of high-vis running gloves. Most of the backs of the hands are covered with large reflective elements for high visibility at night. Though they come in a few colors, we recommend going with a fluorescent color to add additional visibility in the early evening, before cars turn on their lights.
They feel soft and comfortable, and are surprisingly warm for their weight. I also really like that they have a soft spot on the back of the thumb that allows you to wipe sweat from your brow or a runny nose without causing painful chafing. They allow for above-average precision with touch screens, as well.
Key Specs:
- Material: Polyester
- Warmth: Medium-heavy
- Visibility Element: Reflective pattern, fully fluorescent color option
Touchscreen Gloves for Everyday Use
Moshi Digits Touchscreen Gloves 3.0
If you need to type when it’s cold out, we recommend the unisex Moshi Digits Touchscreen Gloves 3.0. After multiple years of testing, we think these are the best touchscreen winter gloves. They’re easier to type in than the competition, they’re warm enough to use for your winter commute, and-following a redesign to include larger hands-they fit a wide range of hand sizes.
All of the fingers have conductive fiber sewn in-that’s what makes it possible to use gloves with a modern touchscreen-so you can type text messages with your thumbs or poke with your pinky.
Key Specs:
- Sizes: S to XL (unisex)
- Colors: light gray (S, M, L), dark gray (M, L, XL)
- Materials: polyester, acrylic and nylon shell, with fleece lining
Black Diamond Heavyweight Screentap Liners
The unisex Black Diamond Heavyweight Screentap Liners have a stretchy second-skin fit that hugs your hand, making it easy to type. Since they’re liners, they’re not the warmest, but their fleece material does block out wind better than traditional knit fabrics. They work best at keeping you warm if you pair them with an outer glove or if you wear them solo when you’re being active.
All of the fingers on the gloves are conductive, though it’s easiest to type with your index fingers because the fit there is the best.
Key Specs:
- Sizes: XS to XL (unisex)
- Color: black
- Materials: 94% Recycled Polyester, 6% Elastane (shell); 60% Recycled Polyester, 32% Polyester, 8% Elastane (palm)
Glider Gloves
These thin knit gloves don’t offer a ton of warmth or insulation-they’re best for temperatures above 40 °F-but they are comfortable, well priced, and very accurate for typing. And since copper yarn has been interwoven into their entire surface, the whole glove (not just the fingers) is touchscreen-compatible.
Key Specs:
- Sizes: S to XL
- Color: black with a mélange pattern
- Materials: acrylic, nylon, spandex, copper yarn
Canada Goose Workman Glove
If you’re looking to invest in warm, dressier-looking men’s leather gloves that provide touchscreen compatibility, our favorite luxury pair is the Canada Goose Workman Glove. The plush, thick Workman gloves are the warmest pair of touchscreen gloves we recommend.
Key Specs:
- Sizes: S to XL (men’s)
- Color: black
- Materials: goatskin leather, wool trim, polyester faux fur lining
Kent Wang Deerskin Touchscreen Gloves
For a sleek, refined, and accurate pair of unisex touchscreen leather gloves that will never go out of style, look no further than the Kent Wang Deerskin Touchscreen Gloves. They’re on the thinner side and look and feel expensive-with calf-skin palms, deerskin backs, and luxe cashmere lining-but they aren’t exorbitantly priced.
Key Specs:
- Materials: calf-skin palms, deerskin backs, and luxe cashmere lining
Sizing and Fit
A good running glove should fit snug around your hand. If there’s room for your hand to move inside the glove, your skin may rub against the fabric and start to chafe. At the same time, it’s important to make sure they aren’t too tight, which might reduce circulation.
One way to check if you have the right fit is by doing a pinch test. Put on one glove, then pinch the fabric at the tip of a finger with your other hand. Ideally, you should have about a quarter-inch of extra room.
Most glove brands use one of two measurements to determine sizing: The circumference of your fingers at the knuckles (without the thumb), and full hand length from the base of the hand to the tip of the middle finger. Check the product listing on the glove to see how the brand measures.
Quick Comparison Table
| Glove Model | Material | Warmth | Visibility | Touchscreen Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The North Face Etip Trail Gloves | 93% polyester, 7% elastane | Medium | Reflective logo | Five-finger |
| New Balance Lightweight Touchscreen Running Gloves | 86% polyester, 14% spandex | Medium | Reflective logo and fluorescent color options | Pointer finger and thumb |
| TrailHeads Touchscreen Running Gloves | 87% polyester, 13% spandex | Light | Reflective back-hand pattern | Thumb and pointer finger |
| Black Diamond Heavyweight Screentap Gloves | Polyester, fleece, nylon, leather | Heavy | None | Reliable |
| Smartwool Active Fleece Gloves | 47% polyester, 38% Merino wool, 15% elastane | Light | Reflective logo and trim | Questionable |
| Brooks Shield Lobster Glove 2.0 | 79% polyester, 21% spandex | Medium-heavy | Reflective logo | None |
| TrailHeads Convertible Running Gloves | 87% polyester, 13% spandex | Medium-heavy | Reflective pattern and fluorescent color option | Above average |
| ReflecToes Fluorescent Reflective Gloves | Polyester | Medium-heavy | Reflective pattern, fully fluorescent color option | Above average |
| Moshi Digits Touchscreen Gloves 3.0 | Polyester, acrylic, nylon, fleece lining | Medium | None | All fingers |
| Black Diamond Heavyweight Screentap Liners | Recycled Polyester, Elastane (shell); Recycled Polyester, Polyester, Elastane (palm) | Light | None | All fingers |
| Glider Gloves | Acrylic, nylon, spandex, copper yarn | Light | None | Entire glove |
| Canada Goose Workman Glove | Goatskin leather, wool trim, polyester faux fur lining | Heavy | None | Index fingers |
| Kent Wang Deerskin Touchscreen Gloves | Deerskin, calfskin, cashmere | Medium | None | Entire glove |
