Best Winter Gloves (For Cold) in 2023

Black Diamond Soloist Gloves

If you want proper winter gloves that you can wear in extreme colds, the Black Diamond Soloist are one of your best options. They are insulated with Primaloft, which is one of the best and warmest synthetic insulations that exists.

These gloves are also entirely waterproof and they actually consist of two parts. The waterproof part is the outer shell, while the warm insulated liners can be worn separately. This also means you can wear the outer shell over any other thin liners if you like, which makes these gloves exceptionally versatile.

You can also wear the liners on their own, on those days when you just need the added warmth and not protection from wet weather. Also, the synthetic insulation is able to keep you warm even when wet, so it’s not going to be the worst thing in the world if you wear the liners alone on rainy days.

One great thing about these gloves is that they’re actually designed for alpine climbing. This means that you have excellent dexterity in these, especially considering that they’re pretty bulky gloves.

The outer shell of these gloves features goat leather on the palms for improved grip. The leather also extends to the fingertips, for even more warmth. And, although it’s not specified anywhere, I’m pretty certain that the leather is compatible with touchscreen devices, allowing you to use your phone when you’re wearing the Soloist gloves.

The only problem is that these are pretty bulky, so typing is going to be a bit awkward.

These winter gloves run true to size, so get them in the glove size that you usually wear. They are primarily men’s gloves, so women should probably go a size down for the best and most comfortable fit.

Outdoor Research Illuminator Sensor

The Outdoor Research Illuminator Sensor gloves are designed for serious outdoor pursuits in the cold such as alpine climbing or skiing. They are very well designed for such sports because they are very warm without being overly bulky. This allows for increased movement that the hands need in such situations.

In terms of materials, there are also a few good choices here by Outdoor research. They have used a spandex weave to increase flexibility and added leather to the palms to increase endurance.

Two things that are super important in outdoor sports gloves.  Outdoor Research has used Primalofts Silver insulation inside this glove, which is not a bad decision but won’t lead to the warmest glove on the market.

Overall, for the price point it is a good glove in mixed conditions that will hold up well in the cold, but not extreme weather.

Anqier Winter Gloves

The Angier winter gloves are a good option if you’re looking for a thinner pair. They are not very bulky, so they’re great for working and activities when you need the full use of your hands.

This also means they’re not the most comfortable option for holding onto trekking poles for several hours, so keep that in mind.

These are unisex gloves, so they work well for both men and women. Just make sure that you’re getting a size that will fit you well – it’s recommended that men go a size up for the best fit.

The gloves are mostly made from water resistant lycra, which is soft, stretchy, and warm. Their interior is actually lined with fleece, for that extra toasty feeling during chilly days. However, these gloves are not warm enough for extreme colds, and I would not recommend them if you’re looking for something for temperatures way below zero.

They’re also not entirely waterproof, so you might want to avoid wearing them when you know you’ll get drenched. They are water-resistant to a degree, and they won’t get wet in light rain or snow. But they’re not suitable to be submerged underwater, and they can’t handle heavy downpours – especially because of the cuffs.

They are windproof though, thanks to the elastic cuffs on the wrists. And they are touchscreen compatible, with conductive material on the index finger and thumb. Since the gloves are not very bulky, it should be pretty easy to use your phone and other touch-sensitive devices without any major issues.

In addition to that, these gloves have anti-skid silicone on the palms, which is great for lots of things. For one, it makes the gloves great for driving, since the silicone ensures you have excellent control of the steering wheel.

This feature also ensures great grip with smaller devices like your phone or a camera, ensuring that you won’t accidentally drop anything.

Snow Deer Heated Winter Gloves

I’m a big fan of the heated winter jackets, so I had to include at least one pair of heated gloves. If you’re always cold no matter how many layers you put on, you should at least consider getting the Snow Deer heated gloves.

They have heating elements in the fingers and the back of the hands, which do a great job at keeping your hands warm in extreme cold. There are three different heating levels you can set them to – low, medium, and high.

Obviously, the higher the setting, the warmer the gloves. However, keep in mind that the battery lasts much longer on the lower settings (up to six hours), which is optimal for longer days outdoors.

The best way to use these would be to put them on high for 10-15 minutes, or until your hands are sufficiently warmed up. And then go down to the medium or low setting, to preserve their battery life. The gloves have fleece liners inside, so they are pretty warm even when you don’t turn on the heating element.

One thing I really like about these is that the battery doesn’t get in the way. It has its own pocket on the wrist, and you don’t even feel it when you’re wearing the gloves. These also have an extra pocket for cards and cash, which is pretty convenient. And the palms feature non-slip material, for improved grip on skiing and trekking poles.

In addition to that, the Snow Deer gloves are highly breathable, so they should keep your hands warm and stay dry even if they sweat a little.

However, the excellent breathability also means that some of the warmth does escape the gloves, which is a shame. You can always tighten up the Velcro at the wrists, to really trap that heat as much as possible. The gloves are also water-resistant, but they are not entirely waterproof.

Mountain Made Outdoor Gloves

The Mountain Made gloves are a unisex pair that’s perfect for people who want to retain the function of their hands and fingers when wearing gloves. This is a pretty thin pair, meaning you can handle even some rather small objects without worrying you will drop anything.

That’s a big plus if you need gloves that you can use for work. Also, these feature YKK non-slip zippers that allow you to tighten or loosen up the gloves, in order to truly get them to fit perfectly. The zipper also helps lock in the heat, which will be convenient in really cold temperatures.

These are suitable to use with touchscreen devices, so they’re perfect for those of you who love photographing and filming their hikes.

Especially since they’re so thin it will almost feel like you’re handing the device with your bare hands. And, keep in mind that the palms of these are adjusted for better grip, guaranteeing items won’t just slip out of your hands.

One thing to note is that the Mountain Made hiking gloves actually run small, so you might have to go a size up. Especially if your measurements are really close to a particular size.

These gloves feature quick drying lining that’s highly absorbent, but also very breathable. There’s even anti-microbial coating on the inside, which ensures that even if your hands start sweating, the gloves won’t retain any odors.

The downside is that they’re not actually very warm. It’s recommended that you wear them in temperatures of 32° F or above, which isn’t ideal for taking on those snowy peaks but might be ok for shoveling snow.

But you can’t have both supreme warmth and full function of your fingers – a compromise has to be made, and if you want the ability of fiddling on the GoPro settings, you’ll have to give up on the warmth.

Gordini Men's Gore-Tex Gauntlet Mitts

Personally, I’m not a big fan of mittens because you pretty much loose the function of your hands. But even I can’t deny that the Gordini gauntlets are an excellent option if you’re going to be carrying trekking poles in your hands for the majority of the day. They will protect your hands from blisters, and they’re able to keep you warm even in extremely cold weather.

You can also pair the mittens with thin liners – the double protection would keep your hands warm and dry even on the North Pole. And you would be able to take off the mittens if you need to check your phone or something, without actually exposing your hands to the cold.

The exterior of the Gordini mittens is made from waterproof polytex fabric, with leather and polyurethane on the caps and palms.

The latter is actually anti-skid inserts that ensure improved grip. And that’s what makes these gloves excellent for holding trekking poles – you will have great grip, and they’re thick enough to keep you comfortable even after hours on the trails.

In addition to that, the mitts also feature synthetic insulation that provides an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. Plus, considering that these gloves also have Gore-Tex inserts, you can expect them to be very breathable.

Meaning that even if your hands start sweating, the droplets should evaporate pretty soon and your hands will stay dry. At the same time, the Gore-Tex ensures that no moisture is able to penetrate the gloves from the outside, keeping your hands protected in really wet weather.

These are primarily men’s gloves, so they might be a bit big for the ladies. But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear them, just that you should go a size down for the best fit. These run pretty true to size and they’re very roomy, so you will be able to comfortably wear liners underneath without any issues.

FRDM Convertible Liner Gloves

If you’re looking for liner gloves that you can wear underneath a waterproof shell, these are a great option. The FRDM gloves are thin, lightweight, breathable and surprisingly warm considering  how thin they are. That’s thanks to the stretchy fleece inside the gloves, which does an excellent job at keeping your hands warm even cold weather.

These are unisex gloves, so they’re perfectly suitable for both men and women. They normally run true to size, but they can be a bit big. If you want a really snug fit (which is recommended if you plan to wear another pair over them), then it’s best to go a size down.

The fact that these fit almost as tight as surgical gloves mean that they have excellent wind resistance, and that not a single drop of rain will be able to get inside the gloves.

Also, they feature slip-through thumbs and index fingers – even though they’re not fully compatible for use with touchscreen devices, these convenient features give you access to your phone by exposing just a single fingertip. Plus, touchscreen conductive material is actually sewn into the thumb and index finger so you can even operate touch-sensitive devices without exposing any fingers.

The palms of the gloves feature silicone inserts that really help improve the grip. This is pretty useful when you’re wearing these gloves on their own since it guarantees you will be able to firmly hold onto things.

One thing I have to point out is that FRDM liners are not great as standalone gloves. They are warm, but not warm enough for extremely low temperatures – they’re more like gloves for chilly mornings. Also, they aren’t waterproof or water-resistant at all. If you plan to wear these for hikes in snowy or rainy weather, I can’t stress enough that you also need a thick, waterproof outer shell over them.

And if you plan on using them down to something like -20C / -5F then you will want to layer them with some other gloves. Be sure you leave the room so they breathe as I have tried layer in -20C last weekend with two pairs of gloves and they were tight – it did not help! You need space between, at least a little.

The North Face Men's Montana Etip GTX Glove

If you want a very warm pair of gloves, the Montana Etip ones by The North Face are a really good option. They are men’s gloves that are available in four different sizes, but they run a little small. If you’d rather the gloves be a bit loose than too tight, it’s best to go a size up.

Especially since there are elastic wrist leashes that let you tighten the openings of the gloves, which will really help if you find them to be a bit loose. But, the primary function of this feature is to keep the snow out of the gloves, and that’s even more convenient.

These North Face gloves actually designed for skiing, so there’s no doubt they will be able to keep your hands warm even in really harsh conditions. The gloves are insulated with TNF’s Heatseeker – a synthetic insulation they often use in winter jackets and other outdoor gear. And that’s just on the back of the hand; the interior of the gloves is lined with brushed tricot, with Gore-Tex inserts for even better performance in the cold.

In addition to that, the North Face Montana gloves are also fully waterproof, thanks to the nylon construction with DWR coating. The Gore-Tex inserts also help with waterproofing, as they create a membrane on the gloves that are able to let moisture escape, but don’t let moisture penetrate the gloves from the outside.

Another great thing about these North Face gloves is that they feature Etip functionality that works with touchscreen devices. Meaning you can easily use your phone with gloves, and even operate other touchscreen gadgets like smartwatches or DSLRs.

This is a very convenient feature for people who are used to using a lot of tech on their hikes and don’t want to have to take off their gloves every single time when they want to snap a photo.

Cevapro Unisex Winter Gloves

The Cevapro winter gloves are a great budget option. They retail for about $20, which is a really good deal for a pair of insulated and waterproof gloves. These actually feature a TPU layer sewn into the gloves, as well as thermal insulation that can keep your hands warm in temperatures as low as -30℉.

At least that’s what the company claims. The reality is a bit different – they will protect your hands from frostbite at such low temperatures, but they won’t keep you toasty warm.

These gloves for hiking feature PU leather in the palm, for easier, anti-slip grip. This makes it easier to hold onto stuff, especially items like your phone or a camera that don’t feel that secure in your hands when you’re wearing gloves.

Additionally, the index fingers of both gloves are made from conductive silicone, for a smoother experience when handling touchscreen devices.

But I’m not sure if the silicone makes such a big difference, considering that the fingers of the gloves are so bulky it’s virtually impossible to press just a single key.

Another great thing about the Cevapro unisex gloves is that they have elastic cuffs. This feature helps lock in the heat, ensuring that your hands are always toasty warm, and dry. And it also keeps out the snow and rain from the inside of the gloves, which is pretty convenient.

However, bear in mind that the elastic fabric is not entirely waterproof, and it can get soaking wet.  And, while the cuffs do a great job at keeping the wind out of the gloves, they don’t make them entirely windproof.

The Cevapro gloves run true to size, but they do fit a little snug. If you want to wear liners underneath, you will definitely want to go a size up. Also, these are pretty bulky, so they’re not a great option if you need to work with the gloves on.

Carhartt Men's W.P. Waterproof Insulated Gloves

Men’s Carhartt gloves are waterproof, insulated and extremely warm. They’re primarily designed as working gloves, but considering just how well these are at heating up your hands, they make pretty good hiking gloves as well.

These feature a durable polytex shell that’s fully waterproof and highly abrasion-resistant.

In fact, because these are primarily designed for work, they are able to withstand a lot more abuse than a standard pair of sports gloves. Which means you will get more years out of them, and that ultimately translates to better value for money.

The interior of the gloves features FastDry lining that wicks away moisture, keeping your hands dry and sweat-free. And considering that the stretch fleece on the wrists really lets you lock in that heat, the breathability is certainly a welcome feature.

And let’s not forget about the webbing buckle – if you tighten up, not only will you lock in the heat, but you can also guarantee 100% that the gloves won’t accidentally slip off your hands.

Another great thing about these gloves is that they have reinforced PU palms, with some of the material extending onto the thumbs. This is actually there to allow you to use your smartphone, as the PU is compatible with touchscreen devices.

The hand dexterity in these is okay, but definitely not so great that you’ll feel like your hands are bare.

But, compared to the mittens and other bulky gloves, these are as good a choice as any pair, considering you’re not aiming for that surgical-glove feel. And if you are, then you should only be looking at some really thin (non-waterproof, non-insulated) options.

The Carhartt men’s gloves mostly run true to size, but it’s recommended you check the size chart. They can be a bit on the small side, so you can go a size up if you don’t want them to be too snug on your hands, or if you want to wear liners underneath.

Black Diamond Men's Heavyweight Screentap Fleece Gloves

The Black Diamond Screentap gloves are a good option if you aren’t looking for anything ridiculously warm. These are suitable for temperatures of  25°F or higher, so some mild weather. And they’re great hiking gloves because they are pretty thin, meaning you have excellent dexterity when you’re wearing them.

Also, these are made for people who use their phones a lot while they’re hiking. Whether you’re just tracking the hike or always taking photos, these gloves will not get in the way.

With goat leather on the palms and special touchscreen conductive material on the fingers, you will be able to use your phone as you do with your bare hands.

Additionally, the leather on the palms helps ensure you have great grip no matter what you’re holding onto, and that is a big plus – especially for shoveling show.

If you’re used to carrying trekking poles, the extra grip guarantees you won’t accidentally drop them. And if your phone is constantly in your hands, the leather ensures it’s not going to slip out.

The shell of these Black Diamond gloves is made from Polartech stretchy fleece, which is very warm. It’s also coated with DWR, which means that the gloves have really good water resistance. They aren’t entirely waterproof though, so I would avoid wearing them in really heavy downpours.

These fleece gloves run true to size, so you should order them in the size you normally wear. They are supposed to fit snug on your hands, and they’re stretchy enough that you shouldn’t have any issues when putting them on.

Because of the snug fit, these gloves are also a great option for women. But ladies, you should definitely check the size chart on the Amazon listing, because you will probably need to go a size down if you have small hands.