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Outdoor Gloves

While you are moving, a thin, windproof glove is enough. If you stand around a lot or feel the cold quickly, reach for mittens, and for rain and wet snow add a membrane.

Guide

Outdoor Gloves

If you keep moving in the cold, a thin windproof glove is enough.

Key points

On the move, a thin windproof glove is enough.
Standing a lot or cold hands? Insulated glove or mitten.
You only need a membrane in rain and wet snow.

Which glove for which activity?

Use	Choice	Limit
hiking, everyday wear, ascents	ChoiceGloves	Limitfingers sit apart, so they chill sooner in hard frost
winter walks, snowshoeing, cold hands	ChoiceMittens	Limitlittle dexterity
cold days with poles	Choice3-finger gloves	Limitcolder than a mitten
under a glove, alone in mild weather	ChoiceLiner gloves	Limitlittle wind or rain protection alone
via ferrata, cycling, belaying	ChoiceFingerless gloves	Limitno protection from cold

Types compared

Gloves
For hiking, everyday wear and ascents.
- Advantage: Grip, poles, zips
- Drawback: Chill sooner in hard frost
Example: Rab Cresta GTX Gloves ›
3-finger gloves
For cold days with poles.
- Advantage: Index finger free
- Drawback: Colder than a mitten
Example: Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski ›
Mittens
For winter walks, snowshoeing and cold hands.
- Advantage: Warmer than gloves
- Drawback: Little dexterity
Example: Black Diamond W Mercury Mitts ›

What to check before you buy

Question	In short	Why
Gloves or mittens?	In shortMittens are warmer	WhyMittens are warmer than gloves because they trap more air and your fingers sit together. Gloves win for zips, laces, poles and phones.
Which warmth level do I need?	In shortLight to Extra Warm	WhyLight for moving fast, Warm for ordinary winter days, Extra Warm for standing around and hard frost. The three levels are our shop's classification, not a standard.
Do outdoor gloves need to be waterproof?	In shortOnly in the wet	WhyIn rain and wet snow, yes: pick a waterproof membrane such as Gore-Tex. It lets less sweat escape, so for fast movement in dry cold a windproof glove is the better choice.
What does a liner glove add?	In shortabout 20% warmer	WhyA thin liner glove can make a glove about 20% warmer, according to Hestra. Slip the thick glove off to read the map and your fingers stay covered.

Frequently asked questions

How do I wash outdoor gloves?

By hand. Wash Gore-Tex gloves in lukewarm water with a little liquid detergent and no fabric softener.

Are leather gloves waterproof?

No, leather alone will not keep out sustained wet. Goat leather is naturally resistant to moisture, according to Hestra, but still needs leather balm regularly.

Which gloves do I need for a via ferrata?

Robust, close-fitting gloves with bare fingertips.

Is there a standard for warm gloves?

For work gloves, yes: EN 511 covers protective gloves against cold and rates convective cold and contact cold from 0 to 4 each, plus 0 or 1 for water penetration.