Ski Glove Buying Guide and Care Tips
There are countless ski gloves out there, and warm, comfortable gloves are a must in the mountains. Choosing the right glove in the right material and style can be tricky, though. In this guide we'll help you work out which style and which material you should go for. We also share care tips so your gloves last a long time and perform at their best. There's a wide range of styles and materials to choose from, and below we go through the most common choices you'll face.
Different types of ski gloves
Mittens
Mittens are the warmest type of glove and are ideal if your hands and fingers get really cold.
Three-finger ski gloves
Three-finger ski gloves are the style for you if your hands and fingers get very cold but you find mittens too clumsy. Because your thumb and index finger are free, it's easier to use your hands without taking your gloves off. Some models also have touchscreen-compatible material so you can easily use your smartphone without removing your gloves.
Classic five-finger gloves
Classic five-finger gloves give you the best dexterity, so you don't have to take them off as often. Some models offer material that works directly on your smartphone, letting you use your phone with your gloves on. This glove gives the best grip on your poles and the greatest freedom of movement. The downside is that each finger has to keep itself warm, so these gloves aren't as warm as a mitten.
Liner glove with shell/gloves with a removable liner
A liner glove with a shell, or a glove with a removable liner, lets you easily regulate the warmth. With a liner and shell, you simply pull the shell on when you need it and take it off when it gets too warm. With a glove that has a removable liner, you can take the liner out or put it back in and choose whatever suits the weather best. A handy option when the weather changes or if you tend to switch quickly between feeling cold and sweating. This type of glove is available both as a mitten and as a five-finger glove.
Outer material
Once you know the styles, it's time to look at which outer material you should choose. It's important that your gloves can breathe and wick moisture away to keep your hands both dry and warm. There are generally two options to choose from:
Leather gloves
Leather gloves are very hard-wearing, windproof and water-repellent, with good flexibility and some breathability. Leather gloves are often not made entirely of leather but combined with synthetic materials that offer better insulation and breathability where it's needed. Natural leather is often a little more expensive, but lasts a very long time if you look after it properly. Take a look at our care tips below on how to look after leather gloves and preserve the leather's good properties.
Synthetic materials
Synthetic materials come in many different variants, and the quality varies a lot. With gloves, price often reflects quality, although there are of course exceptions. Generally speaking, the more expensive a glove in synthetic material is, the better its breathability, insulation and durability. The advantage of synthetic materials is that it's easier to find a glove that meets your requirements for breathability, insulation and warmth, as this type of material can be constructed in different ways.
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Inner lining
If you're going for a glove with an inner lining, it's worth knowing the different materials available. We go through the four most common ones below:
Down is very warm and works best in dry conditions. This type of lining is best suited to moderate activity in cold but dry weather, so that not too much condensation or moisture builds up inside the gloves. If down gets wet, its insulating ability drops significantly and it takes a relatively long time to dry.
Wool has excellent insulating and warming properties. Wool also works in wetter weather, as it doesn't lose its insulating properties if it gets soaked or if condensation or moisture builds up inside the glove.
Primaloft is a patented insulation material made from synthetic microfibre. It keeps your body warm and helps you conserve energy. Primaloft is good for wetter conditions because, like wool, it doesn't lose its insulating ability when it gets wet. It isn't as warm as down, but has other useful properties: it's water-repellent, breathable and compressible.
Thinsulate lets you use your hands freely, as the material is made from ultra-thin microfibre. Despite being thin, it still insulates very well.
Ski glove size guide
Finding the size that fits you and your hands is really easy. Follow the steps below and you'll quickly know which size is right for you.
- Stretch out your hand and keep your fingers together.
- Extend your thumb so your hand forms an “L”.
- Measure the widest part of your hand (across the knuckles, not including the thumb).
- This measurement is your size. For example, if you measure 7.8 centimetres, you take a size 8 in gloves.
- Sometimes you may need to go up or down a size, though. This might be because you have long fingers or very “flat” hands, for example. It can also come down to how the glove is made, and sizing can differ between models and brands.
Care
Caring for your gloves is important so they keep their fit and their properties. The best way to look after them depends mainly on what material they're made of. Below we list general tips, as well as tips specifically for leather gloves. Glove care can be divided into two categories: washing and drying, and maintenance.
Washing and drying tips for your ski gloves
- Dry your gloves at room temperature. (Avoid open fires, heaters, tumble dryers, etc.)
- Gloves dry best standing upright.
- Don't turn your gloves inside out when washing or drying them. (It can be difficult to get the lining back in place, which can impair their performance.)
- Don't wash them too often, especially leather gloves, as this dries out the material. If you wash leather gloves or multi-layer gloves, use warm water and soap. Gloves without leather or multiple layers can be machine-washed. Follow the care instructions for the gloves – usually a maximum of 40 degrees, and preferably lower.
Maintenance/other
- If you have leather gloves, you should treat them regularly so they can better withstand wear and moisture. Here's how to treat your gloves: Lightly dampen the leather. Use a cloth to rub the leather balm into the leather (don't use too much – it's better to apply a little at a time). TIP! Treat your gloves in the evening so the balm has soaked into the leather by morning and they're ready to use.
- If you have gloves made of a breathable material (such as GORE-TEX), avoid silicone-based waterproofing. Silicone clogs the material's pores, which reduces breathability.
- Bleached or dyed leather can transfer colour when the material is wet. Be careful not to put wet gloves on clothes or materials of other colours. Leather in its natural colour won't transfer colour.
- Gloves often come with a karabiner clip or similar, making it easy to attach them to your backpack, for example, so you don't lose them. Hanging them up also helps the gloves keep their shape while drying.
- The most common causes of damage to gloves are ski or snowboard edges and the buckles on bindings and ski boots. So take care to avoid unnecessary damage to your gloves.
