Gloves and Mittens

Featured review by Go Time! (Jesse Maloney)

I’ve used my Alti Mitts for years and have found them to be of the highest quality. They have outperformed every other mitt I have owned prior to them.

Fit and Comfort: Although dexterity is somewhat limited in a thicker mitt, I am more than willing to trade a lack of digit wiggling for warmer hands. I live in MN where temps often fall below 0°F. From my 5 years of experience with the Alti mitt, they perform exceptionally well in temperatures down to -20°F (assuming little activity—e.g. sitting in camp. If moving and working, they perform well below -20°F). When slipping on this version of the Alti model, you’ll notice right away that the sleeve is longer than the insert.

Read more: Outdoor Research Alti II GORE-TEX Mitts reviews (6)

Reviewed by BigRed

The SealSkinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet is a well-constructed, warm and waterproof glove for getting out and about in the cold. Ideal for downhill skiing and backcountry ski descents when temperature fall below -10˚C / teens F, and as a camp glove in somewhat higher temperatures.

Preliminary Review Sealskinz has provided me with two pairs of gloves to put to the test, these and the All Weather Glove. Sealskinz specializes in waterproof/breathable socks, gloves, mittens, and hats, with nearly 50 options just in the gloves and mitten department. In most garments, waterproofness and breathability are a tradeoff, but Sealskinz claims its products offer “100% waterproof protection whilst being incredibly breathable and dexterous”. Depending on conditions and activity, these two characteristics may be more or less desirable—to have both in abundance could be a dream come true.

Read more: SealSkinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet review (1)

Reviewed by Sean Van Cleve

Black Diamond's Dirt Bag Mitts are a very warm, durable product at a spectacular price-point ($44.95 USD). These highly water resistant mittens are made with a goat leather outer which is built to last. Ideal for temperatures well under freezing (30°F or less), the Dirt Bag Mitts are designed for snowsports, hiking/backpacking, or general outdoor activities and chores. Note: Black Diamond also offers a Dirt Bag Glove counterpart.

When warmth is a necessity, quality hand-wear is absolutely indispensable. Black Diamond’s new Dirt Bag Mitt falls under the ‘WOW’ category, especially when considering the quality-to-price point ratio. Black Diamond has shown to be a frontrunner in apparel for quite some time, and their gear can be seen everywhere from the trail to the climbing gym since 1957. Although designed as a ski mitt, the Dirt Bag excels as a durable, general-use outdoor mitten.   Specifications: Price: $44.95 USD Size: XS-XL Gender: Unisex Material: Goat leather shell; thermal foam & 100g fleece lining; acrylic knit cuff Color availability: Natural only Weight: 154g/5.5oz (pair) Temperature range: 20-35°F (Black Diamond’s spec)  Note: The Dirt Bag...

Read more: Black Diamond Dirt Bag Mitts review (1)

Reviewed by Andrew F.

This is a lightweight shoulder season glove, or it’s also useful as a liner glove. I like the larger-than-normal "grab loops" because they’re easy to snap into a light carabiner. The swirlies on the palm look funky, but don’t expect them to provide much grippiness. The pointer fingers are touchscreen compatible. Pricy, but very useful.

 BACKGROUND The gloves. They clip together, nice for such a light glove. out for a walk, mid-30s.  backhand view Sized from XS to XL, the R1 Daily gloves are a successor to gloves Patagonia used to sell as capilene liner gloves. The polyester fabric feels like relatively substantial stretch fleece. It’s smooth on the inside, no grid like some of Patagonia’s other R1-named products.  inside surface; cuffs are finished inside and out. Some basic features/upgrades from basic liners: large loops are easy to clip to a small carabiner.

Read more: Patagonia R1 Daily Gloves review (1)

Featured review by Phil Smith

Warm, lightweight, wind and water-resistant gloves. The e-tips work every time, and for me at least they’re warm at temps much lower than most reviewers report.

i bought my TNF Denali Etip gloves this past winter for use in warmer winter temps, and they worked great while hiking and snowshoeing in those temps maybe 5 degrees either side of 32°F that seem to be so hard to keep hands warm in.  What I found out this winter, however, is that the Denali Etips keep my hands nice and warm snowshoeing in temps in the mid single digits Fahrenheit and wind chills about 10-15 degrees colder. It’s nice not having to pull off heavier gloves to take pics, at least until the cold kills the battery.  The Denali Etips are mostly fleece, with nylon reinforcement over the backs of the hands and a synthetic suede palm with silicone gripper dots.  On the hood of my trusty Jeep after a bit of snowshoeing today.

Read more: The North Face Denali Etip Glove reviews (2)

Reviewed by Lester M

The natural accompaniment to the Buffalo Mountain Shirt. The completely reliable hand warmer, which every outdoorsperson needs.

If you've already been convinced to buy a Mountain Shirt or Special Six (the longer version), you won't need much further persuasion that the venerable Pertex and Pile system (the Double P) is still a great choice for outdoor adventures. The Pertex outer layer is windproof to 60mph, the  "Aquatherm'" pile lining wicks perspiration better than most alternatives whilst continuing to keep you warm, even if you fall out of your boat or get caught in a rainstorm. Buffalo have expanded their range considerably since the 1980s, but the Mitts were amongst the earliest designs.

Read more: Buffalo Systems DP Mitts review (1)

Featured review by Andrew F.

These are my backup winter hiking mitt/gloves. I really like the heavy-duty feel of these, the lobster design, and some of the thoughtful features. On the downside, the inserts that arrived with these were average, I cut some of the excess straps off because their functionality was iffy, and the leather palms need a little more than usual care. A much better mitt with the replacement inserts. The basic functions—warmth, wind/water resistance, and in particular the deep winter replacement inserts, make these a nice and functional choice for winter.

Edit: As of winter 2021/22, I still wear these Hestra hybrid mitt/gloves in cold weather, wore them today. They have proved to be very durable and warm with the replacement insert. Today’s version has a better-articulated thumb but still appears to be sold with a "fiberfil"l insert rather than Primaloft. 2022 photos, after a number of years of use     Original Review: As you can see from the number of pros and cons, I have a complicated relationship with these mitt/gloves. In some ways brilliant, in others funky and a tad annoying.

Read more: Hestra Heli Ski 3-Finger Glove reviews (3)

Featured review by Casey

Very good mittens that fit well. They are pretty warm but YMMV.

Having a light case of Raynaud's Syndrome (some fingers get cold and won't warm up), I have often struggled to find ski/snowboard gloves and mittens that will work in colder temperatures (below 32F/0C). Now in the Pacific Northwest, temperatures at ski areas typically range from the high teens to the low 30s. After some research, I settled on the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts (Men's). I had very high hopes for them being warm at the colder temperatures. Black Diamond shows their comfort range from -25F to 10F (-31C to -12C).

Read more: Black Diamond Mercury Mitts reviews (3)

Reviewed by Paul Lapierre

Warm, durable, useful, washable. Heck, what more do you want.

What do you do when you have worn out some of the best guide gloves you have come across? You buy new ones. (Alicia, I know how you like pics.) Some improvements on the new ones is the thumb is now all leather. There is a drawstring to close them off. It also needs to be said that you will need to buy them a size up. I wear a medium and a large is the perfect fit   Here is the review for the first pair years ago that still applies: I won't write a review unless I have had a product for a least a year.

Read more: Black Diamond Guide Finger Glove review (1)

Featured review by Patrick B

This mitten "system" (outer shell + removable liner) by OR has been a hand saver in many cold conditions in which I've used them. The overall quality and build of the finished product is excellent - I found no stitching errors, loose threads, etc. The ergonomics of the design are exemplary - I have no problems operating the wrist lanyards and cinch straps (tightening or loosening) once my hands have become "crab claws". Additionally, it is very easy to maintain grip on standard trekking pole handles wearing these mittens.

Read more: Outdoor Research Meteor Mitts reviews (3)