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Fleece Gloves and Mittens

Top Picks

How we choose: The best fleece gloves and mittens highlighted here were selected based on 32 reviews of 27 products. Our top picks are those that are readily-available in the United States and have received the highest overall ratings from reviewers.

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The North Face Denali Etip Glove

user rating: 5 of 5 (2 reviews)

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.

Reasons to Buy

  • Warmth
  • Wind and water resistance
  • Length
  • Fit
  • Cost

Reasons to Avoid

  • Ummm...the inside catches the cuts and cracks on my hands?

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)

Columbia Trail Summit Running Glove

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1 review)

Great running gloves. Or really good liner gloves, your call.

Reasons to Buy

  • Warm
  • Stretchy
  • Light
  • Breathable
  • A little reflective piping on the backside

Reasons to Avoid

  • Touchscreen compatability fades quickly
  • They fit big

Caveat: I am a member of the Columbia Sportswear Testing Program, however I have yet to test anything for them and I bought these long before I had this affiliation.  This is one of those odd situations where a niche product is exactly what I was looking for. Last spring I started running outside again and needed some super light, breathable gloves to wear as I run because my body heats up everywhere when I run except my hands. Weird huh? No, I'm not diabetic. Please don’t try to tell me that I just need a better hat, or socks or pants, I wear all of those.

Read more: Columbia Trail Summit Running Glove review (1)

The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1 review)

Excellent light glove for mildly cold temps, where you need to use your electronics.

Reasons to Buy

  • Fairly warm
  • Cellphone recognizes most taps
  • Good grip surface

Reasons to Avoid

  • Wearing a bit more quickly than I would like
  • Expensive

These are my go-to light gloves. They are great for ascents where I am working hard and am generating heat, but temps are still freezing. I throw these in my cargo pant pockets so I can quickly thrown them on or off as needed. They weigh just 2 ounces, so keeping them in my pack year round is not an issue. They are also great for summer nights around camp when temps have dropped. They also work well enough with my phone that I can do minimal operations, like using the camera while wearing them.

Read more: The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves review (1)

Black Diamond HeavyWeight WoolTech Liner

user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1 review)

The Black Diamond HeavyWeight WoolTech glove liners provide good hand dexterity in cool weather (sub 40°F), while also working as a liner under a heavier glove or mitten in colder weather (approx. 28°F). Quality goatskin palms give greater feel and durability, allowing the wearer to focus on the chore "at-hand." The HeavyWeight WoolTech Liner glove is ideal for people looking for versatility, without looking flashy or breaking the bank. These gloves are ideal as a liner in all cold weather outdoor activities, while recommended in dry cool weather when worn by themselves.

Reasons to Buy

  • Good hand dexterity
  • Comfortable
  • Great price-point

Reasons to Avoid

  • Touch screen compatibility failed into second season
  • Pilling evident after approximately 8 weeks
  • Sizing runs slightly large

Glove liners are an often overlooked element of gear in one’s cool/cold weather kit. A quality liner can be as versatile as any other mid-layer, whether using as a stand-alone glove or layered with other hand-wear. 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. There are three weights available with the WoolTech Liner series; LightWeight, MidWeight, and HeavyWeight.  These liners shined during an autumn week in Baxter State Park, Maine    Solution Wool is a new product line that uses sustainable materials claimed to provide higher durability, faster drying time, higher elasticity and warmer performance when in use.

Read more: Black Diamond HeavyWeight WoolTech Liner review (1)

Outdoor Research BackStop Gloves

user rating: 4 of 5 (2 reviews)

The Outdoor Research BackStop fleece liner gloves with WindStopper have become my go-to gloves for year-round use. For a single pair of 100-weight fleece gloves, they are incredibly versatile and useful. The BackStops balance fleece warmth and wind protection with breathability sufficient for cold-weather energetic pursuits like skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, trail running, or whatever gets you moving outside in winter. They also can be used as a liner layer in a glove system. The BackStop Gloves are flexible, comfortable, and fairly dexterous, thanks to small silicone pads on the fingertips that provide good grip.

Read more: Outdoor Research BackStop Gloves reviews (2)

Outdoor Research PL 400 Sensor Gloves

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1 review)

Extra warm liner gloves that work great alone or under a shell.

Reasons to Buy

  • Warm
  • True to size
  • Touch screen compatible

As a big fan of liner gloves for the shoulder seasons I've worn a handful (pun intended) of brands. The warmth was what it was. Enough to take a bit of the chill off but usually more functional under gloves or mitts. But the OR PL 400's allow me to get much farther down in to the temps while still providing the type of dexterity that I like when using poles or doing camp chores. Easily the warmest liners I've ever tried. The trick is they have both a 300 weight exterior (with a touch of spandex) along with a 100 weight interior.

Read more: Outdoor Research PL 400 Sensor Gloves review (1)

Patagonia Wind Shield Gloves

user rating: 4 of 5 (1 review)

Great gloves for high output activities in cold weather. Lightweight, breathable, lightly insulating, and touch-screen compatible. Perfect for winter trail running, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Reasons to Buy

  • Lightweight
  • Breathable
  • Lightly insulating
  • Touch-screen compatible

Reasons to Avoid

  • Durability

I just returned from a three-day trip to Mammoth Lakes in California's eastern Sierras. The Wind Shield Gloves were my go-to gloves for snowshoeing day trips the whole time. The gloves come in sizes XS-XL. I typically wear a medium, and these are true to size. The fit is slim. They have no adjustability, but the cuffs are secure and low-profile for comfortable layering. They fit nicely under the straps of my trekking poles. These gloves are not very warm. But, that's a good thing! The palm material is Patagonia's Capilene Thermal Weight baselayer material.

Read more: Patagonia Wind Shield Gloves review (1)

Century Leather Products Black Pile Sno-Mitts

user rating: 4 of 5 (1 review)

Uber Black Pile Snow Mittens with with Plush Pile Insulation.

Reasons to Buy

  • Price
  • Warm at subzero
  • Easy to remove and put back on
  • Warmer than pair that I paid close to $180.

Reasons to Avoid

  • Not very packable
  • Not waterproof

Bought two pairs a few years ago; regardless of temp. these are the warmest gloves regardless of price. This was also confirmed by the person I bought the second pair for, as these are the only gloves he wears when working in the snow. Outdoor Research Men's Alti Mitts are the mittens I originally bought for snow work, and they are not nearly as warm as the Uber mittens. Plus if you are wearing the Alti Mitts and it's warm you cannot get your hands back in the glove liners because of sweat.  These mittens extend well up the forearms and you can have your hands exposed for several minutes and when you put the mittens back on your hands will warm back up.  Would give this product five stars if they were waterproof.

Read more: Century Leather Products Black Pile Sno-Mitts review (1)

Outdoor Research PL 400 Gloves

user rating: 4 of 5 (2 reviews)

Super comfy. I wear them on their own until it get really cold, then I layer my BD Mercury Mitts over them.

Read more: Outdoor Research PL 400 Gloves reviews (2)

Broner Fleece Flip Top Mitten

user rating: 3.5 of 5 (1 review)

An emergency pick-up turns out to be useful. These are light Polartec fleece fingerless gloves that convert into mittens—a piece of fleece folds over to cover your fingers. The mitten part sits out of the way via a small piece of hook/loop on the back. I find myself using these more than I expected, love the versatility.

Reasons to Buy

  • The flip top
  • Reinforced palm
  • Thumb hole
  • Warmer than expected

Reasons to Avoid

  • Cheap construction
  • Smoothness of palm

When you're heading to a cold weather football game and forgot gloves....you buy what you can. I found these at a college campus outdoors store in Evanston.   What do these offer that a typical fingerless glove does not? First, the fleece is layered, and there is a tiny bit of Thinsulate backing the fleece. They are warmer than you would expect, and correspondingly feel a little bulkier than you would anticipate. However, fingers can move freely. They also have a reinforced palm. The material feels like neoprene—it's pretty smooth.

Read more: Broner Fleece Flip Top Mitten review (1)

More Reviews of Fleece Gloves and Mittens

Trailspace reviewers have shared 32 reviews of 27 different fleece gloves and mittens.

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Other Types of Gloves and Mittens

Find more gloves and mittens reviewed in these related categories:

Glove Liners

Soft Shell Gloves and Mittens

Waterproof Gloves and Mittens

+2 more types

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