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Glove Liners

Top Picks

How we choose: The best glove liners highlighted here were selected based on 36 reviews of 16 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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Patagonia R1 Daily Gloves

user rating: 5 of 5 (1 review)

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.

Reasons to Buy

  • Comfortable
  • Oversize grab loops
  • Warm enough

Reasons to Avoid

  • Price
  • Don’t expect "grip" in the palm

 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)

Black Diamond Trail Gloves

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1 review)

Great lightweight way to protect your hands from the sun and other pokey things outside

Reasons to Buy

  • Breathe well
  • Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Adds a minimal amount of insulation to keep hands warm

Reasons to Avoid

  • Black gets a little warm
  • Expensive
  • No way to tighten or loosen, so removal is challenging

Because I use poles on most hikes, my hands take a beating. Either from the sun, or shrubs, or cactus, or rocks...my hands take a beating.  The Black Diamond trail glove offers great half finger protection when I don't need insulation. The gloves are very basic, there is no velcro wrist adjustment, just a stretchy back fabric that adjusts to your hand.  There are pull tabs at the wrist side and in between the middle fingers - like webbing. I initially wasn't sure what the webbing thing was about, but the first time I went to take them off, I got it.

Read more: Black Diamond Trail Gloves review (1)

Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Gloves

user rating: 5 of 5 (2 reviews)

Straightforward sun and friction protection. These OR gloves are more durable and (slightly) less expensive than the competition. They do fall apart after heavy/use and abuse (2 months of hiking everyday, with trekking poles), but that is expected from a lightweight material. 10/10 Would recommend (over other brands) for someone looking for sun protection for their hands—though I do not consider these "essential."

Reasons to Buy

  • UV protection/more coverage
  • Comfortable
  • Quick drying
  • Lightweight
  • Durability
  • Good price

Reasons to Avoid

  • Hard to clean

I used these sun gloves for two months while hiking through the 700-mile desert portion of the PCT—and they held up. If you use trekking poles/self arrest gear regularly, you will definitely get holes in the palms or fingers after heavy use. These are the third brand of sun gloves I have tried, and the other brands have deteriorated in about 1/3 the time. If you burn easily, I highly recommend them, if you don't—who needs 'um!  Comfort: These gloves are comfortable and breathable. They also ease you into trekking pole callouses.  UV Protection: They do the trick.

Read more: Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Gloves reviews (2)

Magic Stretch Gloves

user rating: 5 of 5 (1 review)

Generic, no-name skinny, stretchy gloves, available at Pound Shops and Dollar stores, everywhere. The cheapest, lightest insurance policy an outdoors person ever bought.

Reasons to Buy

  • An extra warm layer
  • Dirt cheap
  • Ultra-light
  • Very close fitting
  • Minimal loss of dexterity

Reasons to Avoid

  • You probably don't want to melt them onto your skin;-)

I bought another pair yesterday. I feel underprepared without Magic Gloves in my pack. They aren't the warmest, not the most durable, and won't move the needle, amongst your brand-conscious friends. They will, often, turn the wrong choice of glove into the right one. So snug fitting that you can wear them under—or over—a pair of cycling mitts. So versatile, that one adult-sized pair will fit 95% of the folks you meet, outdoors. Dexterity is retained, to the point where you can play many musical instruments whilst wearing them.

Read more: Magic Stretch Gloves review (1)

Manzella Sprint

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (1 review)

The Sprint offers great flexibility for active winter enthusiasts. While touted as a liner, this glove can be worn alone for a variety of pursuits. The gloves are very durable, hold their shape when wet, and comfortable.

Reasons to Buy

  • Very tough
  • Dry quickly
  • Hold shape
  • Effective alone or as a liner

Reasons to Avoid

  • Not *quite* warm enough alone when temps hit below 25
  • Do not hold warmth when quite wet

I can hardly say enough about how much I like these gloves. I did buy these gloves before they were offered with the touch tips, so I cannot speak to that feature that is now offered with these gloves. My hands are not really an "off the shelf" size, but these glove fit well on variety of hand shapes of similar volume. I have a pretty short little finger, and the pinky doesn't flop like I have had in other gloves. These fit well -- just snug enough that they ride well, becoming part of my hand, but they never, ever bind or pinch.

Read more: Manzella Sprint review (1)

Under Armour Core Liner Gloves

user rating: 4 of 5 (1 review)

These are nice, lightweight gloves for people who need a lot of dexterity and only a little warmth. They work well in everyday life because of the touchscreen grid, and they are more dexterous than a typical liner.

Reasons to Buy

  • durable
  • light
  • breathable
  • touch screen grid
  • fit well

Reasons to Avoid

  • not warm
  • touchscreen grid wears off
  • don't clip together

 Fit and Comfort: Fits well and is comfortable. These gloves fit my hands like a, well, glove. They have 10% elastane, so they are skin hugging. This improves dexterity and improves their function as liner gloves, which most people will use them as. The fabric, while nothing special, is soft and feels good against the skin. The seams are noticeable, but not unpleasant.  Water resistance: Not very water resistant, but dries fast. These gloves are about as water resistant as a synthetic shirt.

Read more: Under Armour Core Liner Gloves review (1)

Icebreaker Fingerless Merino Wool Gloves

user rating: 5 of 5 (1 review)
discontinued

Great solution if you need fingertips handy. Merino is smooth, doesn't itch. Good for cool weather and as a liner for cooking, photography, pitching a tent. Sadly may have been discontinued.

Reasons to Buy

  • Lightweight
  • Not bulky
  • Open fingers
  • Warm, considering

Reasons to Avoid

  • Limits to warmth are obvious

Closeout purchase from an Icebreaker store that closed in our area. 100% merino wool. Very stretchy, not tight, cuff is ribbed and doubled over. Ends of fingers are nicely finished, no loose ends. Thicker than 200 weight merino long johns. I use them often during shoulder season hikes on their own. Very minor wear after 18 months. For years, I had been cutting off the fingertips of synthetic liner gloves (often after melting the tips on a stove or candle lantern) so I could have fingers available in the winter.

Read more: Icebreaker Fingerless Merino Wool Gloves review (1)

More Reviews of Glove Liners

Trailspace reviewers have shared 36 reviews of 16 different glove liners.

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