Why Good Ski Gloves Are Worth It: The Reusch Ski Glove Guide

The first lift of the morning, the sun still behind the ridge. The wind sweeps across the chair, and before long you can barely feel your fingertips. By the third run, you’re thinking more about the hut than the piste.

Most skiers choose their skis and boots with care, then pick up gloves almost as an afterthought. Yet it’s the gloves that decide how long a day on the slopes stays enjoyable. Reusch has been making gloves for winter sports for decades.

On the way down, the wind chills your fingers. At lunchtime the sun warms them, and in between you dig into the snow to clear your binding. Through all of this, your glove should keep you warm and dry, fit well and give you a secure grip on the pole.

That’s harder than it sounds. More insulation makes a glove bulkier. A fully waterproof glove can quickly trap sweat. And hard-wearing materials are often stiff.

Several layers work together to keep your hands warm.

The insulation holds the heat. Down gives the most warmth for its weight but collapses when it gets wet. Synthetic fibres such as PrimaLoft Gold or Reusch’s R-LOFT keep insulating when damp.

The membrane is a thin layer between the outer fabric and the lining. It keeps moisture out and lets sweat escape as vapour. Reusch uses GORE-TEX and its own R-TEX XT membrane.

Leather and softshell shape the feel. Leather on the palm gives a secure grip on the pole. Softshell, a stretchy and windproof fabric, keeps the back of the hand flexible.

The Lobster, also called a three-finger glove, has three compartments: one for the thumb, one for the index and middle fingers, and one for the ring and little fingers. It keeps you almost as warm as a mitten while giving you more feel on the pole.

A glove that presses on your hand keeps you less warm, because the insulation has no room for air. If it’s too loose, it slips on the pole. So try it on with your hand in a fist: your fingertips should have a little room at the front.

After a day on the slopes, let your gloves dry at room temperature. A radiator makes the leather hard. A little leather care keeps it supple and grippy.

The wind is howling at the summit and the snow is turning wet. This is the kind of day the Down Spirit is made for, and it’s one of Reusch’s most popular models. Down keeps you warm, a GORE-TEX membrane keeps moisture out, and the palm is goatskin.

It comes in four versions: the Down Spirit GORE-TEX SC with a short cuff that tucks under your jacket sleeve, the classic Down Spirit GTX, the Down Spirit GTX Mitten for anyone who feels the cold, and the Down Spirit GTX Lobster as the middle ground.

Down does have its limits in steady spring rain. On those days, synthetic insulation is the better choice.

A freshly groomed piste, clear visibility and the urge to feel every turn. On days like this, feel matters more than thick padding. Both models combine goatskin with softshell and R-LOFT insulation and fit close to the hand.

The Alpha Pro is built for performance and fits precisely. The Alpine Heritage is a Reusch classic in oiled goatskin that looks just as good on the hut terrace.

For icy days, though, both are too slim.

At minus fifteen degrees, your breath freezes on your scarf. Now you need a glove that keeps you properly warm.

The Tiffany R-TEX XT is insulated with PrimaLoft Gold and has a very soft lining on the back of the hand. The Sonja R-TEX XT Mitten is a down mitten with a long cuff, and its ThermoHood technology adds extra warmth around the fingers.

The warmest option is the Advanced Heat R-TEX XT Mitten. According to the manufacturer, its battery heats for up to nine hours. The trade-off: you need to charge it before your day on the slopes, and it’s heavier than an unheated glove.

• You feel the cold easily → Sonja R-TEX XT Mitten
• It’s bitterly cold → Advanced Heat R-TEX XT Mitten
• You want warmth and feel on the pole → Down Spirit GTX Lobster
• You ski dynamically → Alpha Pro
• You like a classic look → Alpine Heritage
• You want an all-rounder → Down Spirit GTX