The Best Mittens for Winter 2024

By Michael Lanza

Let’s start with two truths about mittens: 1. We know they’re warmer than gloves. 2. We often choose gloves over mittens, anyway, for some reasons that make sense and some reasons that, well, don’t make as much sense. Whether you need them for resort skiing or snowboarding, hiking, walking, snowshoeing, bike commuting, trail running, clearing snow, or something else, this review covers the best mittens for a wide range of temperatures and cold-weather activities.

As someone who gets cold hands very easily, spends many days outside in winter, and has been a professional gear reviewer for more than 25 years—formerly the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and for even longer running this blog—I’ve used innumerable models of mittens and gloves and learned a lot over the years about how to select the right type of both for specific uses. See also my review of “The Best Gloves for Winter.”


Hi, I’m Michael Lanza, creator of The Big Outside. Click here to sign up for my FREE email newsletter. Join The Big Outside to get full access to all of my blog’s stories. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip.


The mittens reviewed below include models appropriate for a range of activities. I’ve tested them in temperatures from the 30s Fahrenheit to far below freezing, cold wind, snowstorms, and every kind of frozen precipitation, on numerous days of resort and backcountry skiing, cold-weather hiking and trail running on very chilly days, and shoveling snow and other yard work. I also offer tips below on how to choose the right mittens for your needs. Scroll past those tips if you want to jump directly into the reviews.

I’m confident you’ll find a pair of mittens in this article that meet your needs. You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by making purchases through the affiliate links in each review below. Thanks for doing that.

If you have a question for me or a comment on this review or any mittens in it, or other mittens to recommend, please make it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. I try to respond to all comments.

A Nordic skier in Idaho's Boise Mountains.
My wife, Penny, Nordic skiing in Idaho’s Boise Mountains.

The Pros and Cons of Mittens

Mittens are generally warmer than gloves of a comparable weight, making them a better choice in colder temperatures when dexterity is not a top priority, which can include resort skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, walking, bike commuting, and clearing snow—although those activities often include moments when the poor dexterity of mittens becomes disadvantageous, such as when lacing up boots or shoes or dealing with some type of bindings.

Similarly, mittens are not an ideal choice for ski touring in the backcountry wherever you may need better dexterity to quickly handle snow-safety gear like a shovel and probe in an emergency. However, mittens can be preferred when in terrain that’s free of avalanche hazard and deep cold—or as backup handwear in your pack in case someone is immobilized due to an injury and deep cold could threaten frostbite in digits.

Still, while the warmest gloves certainly have better dexterity, it’s somewhat limited, and mittens will rewarm your hands much faster than gloves after you pull off handwear for a moment when you need to use your fingers.

Mittens take a back seat to gloves when you’re not dealing with extreme cold and you need or prefer having the use of your fingers.

The benefits of mittens include:

• Keeping hands and fingers warmer by enclosing all your fingers in the same space.
• They’re generally softer and less stiff than the warmest gloves, negating the need to pre-curve the fingers (as on heavier gloves).
• With fewer seams than gloves, mittens typically feature more insulation and better waterproofing and durability.

The drawbacks of mittens include:

• Minimal to poor dexterity and use of fingers.
• No touchscreen sensitivity.

See “12 Pro Tips For Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

A backcountry skier in Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains.
Scott White backcountry skiing in Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains.

How to Choose Mittens

How do you choose between different models of mittens? While many styles can be worn for a variety of activities, consider these factors:

• Your activity.
• Your usual range of weather conditions and temperatures.
• How easily your fingers get cold.
• Sizing differentiated by gender matters somewhat less with mittens than with gloves, although it matters a bit more with larger and warmer mitten designs.
• Lighter mittens with less insulation and a shorter cuff or gauntlet are usually best for activities that don’t require good dexterity in temps ranging from around freezing to well below.
• Heavier, warmer mittens with more insulation and a long, usually adjustable gauntlet are typically best for activities that don’t require good dexterity and that last for several hours in cold to frigid temps, especially when your hands are repeatedly in snow, such as when resort skiing or riding or snowshoeing, but are overkill for moderate temps.

Like what you’re reading? Sign up now for my FREE email newsletter!

What to Look For

• Leather thumb and palm for grip and durability.
• A pull loop big enough to grip while wearing a mitten on one hand, for pulling on mitts; or lacking a loop, cuffs or an extended gauntlet that’s easy to grab.
• An elasticized short cuff or some kind of one-hand closure on a gauntlet seals out snow and traps heat inside.
• Whether the mitten’s cuff or gauntlet layers under or over a jacket sleeve—or in some cases, can be worn either way—and its compatibility with the jacket(s) you’ll wear.
• A wrist leash prevents the mittens blowing away when you pull them off for short periods to use your fingers.
• A long gauntlet and more insulation for deep-cold or activities like skiing and snowboarding, where hands are often in snow.
• Durable materials and construction, particularly for activities where you’re using your hands more and mitts can get abused.
• Weight per pair often correlates with degree of warmth, features, and cuff or gauntlet length.

The mittens reviewed below are listed in ascending order by weight.

Active in the cold? See “The Best Clothing Layers for Winter in the Backcountry
and “How to Dress in Layers for Winter in the Backcountry.”

The Best Mittens

Outdoor Reseach Phosphor Gore-Tex Infinium Mitts.
Outdoor Reseach Phosphor Gore-Tex Infinium Mitts.

Outdoor Research Phosphor Down Mitts
$90, 5 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s and women’s XS-XL
moosejaw.com

Pros: Warm, windproof, and water-resistant.
Cons: Too warm for temps just below freezing, no wrist leash, poor dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, walking, bike commuting, and clearing snow.

On freezing days of hiking, skiing, and ski touring, OR’s Phosphor Down Mitts have delivered good warmth for their low weight. Stuffed with responsibly sourced, 650-fill goose down, these mitts keep digits toasty in wind and temps down to the low teens Fahrenheit, but they’re too warm for temps in the upper 20s.

The Gore Windstopper membrane and water-resistant and tough, synthetic suede palm shed snow and offer good grip. The soft polyester tricot lining doesn’t cling to damp skin. The stretch cuff makes them easy to yank on and the cuff extends past the wrist and can be worn over the close-fitting cuff of an insulated jacket or under the adjustable cuff of a shell jacket. (The above photo shows an earlier version of the mitts with a grab loop rather than stretch cuff.)

With a comfortable fit that’s true to size and similar to OR’s Stormbound Sensor Mitts (see below), they represent a less-expensive option suited to a similar range of activities, but aren’t as warm or as technically designed and do not have a wrist leash.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase the men’s or women’s Outdoor Research Phosphor Down Mitts at moosejaw.com or outdoorresearch.com.

You live for the outdoors. The Big Outside helps you get out there.
Join now to read ALL stories and get a free e-guide and member gear discounts!

Flylow Unicorn Mitten.
Flylow Unicorn Mitten.

Best Value

Flylow Unicorn Mitten
$65, 6 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Warm, windproof, water-resistant, and durable.
Cons: Not quite as warm as other mittens, no wrist leash, mediocre dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, walking, bike commuting, and clearing snow.

From resort skiing to local trails, the Unicorn proved itself suited for a variety of activities in all but the most bitter temps. They’re built for durability, with high-quality pigskin leather pre-treated for waterproofing, and tough, upcycled canvas (leftover from Flylow’s pants production) on the back of the hand. A waterproof inner lining helps keep hands dry even in wet snow, while the silky interior lining against the skin and the leather exterior both feel soft on hands and your nose.

The 220g Spaceloft synthetic insulation on the back of the hand and 100g on the palm kept hands warm while resort skiing in the low 20s Fahrenheit and on winter hikes with temps from the 20s to just above freezing in steady wind, and quickly warmed my hands after they’d gotten cold in gloves during a snowstorm and I switched to these mitts. They’re not as burly or nearly as warm as heavier models like Flylow’s Super Mitten (see below), and lack a long, adjustable, weather-resistant gauntlet. But the elasticized cuff extends beyond the wrist, enhancing warmth and making the mitts easy to pull on and off while keeping the design minimalist—no pull tab needed, but there’s also no wrist leash, and it easily layers under the cuff of any jacket.

The unisex sizing falls between sizes for men and women: I normally wear men’s medium in mittens and gloves, but the unisex medium felt snug and the large fit me better.

The Unicorn delivers enough warmth for many resort skiers and riders on all but the most frigid days while being light enough for everything from walking and snowshoeing to clearing snow—at a very good price.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking this affiliate link to purchase the Flylow Unicorn Mitten at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.

Plan your next backpacking trip in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and other parks using my expert e-guides.

Outdoor Research Stormbound Mitts.
Outdoor Research Stormbound Mitts.

Best Lightweight Mitten

Outdoor Research Stormbound Sensor Mitts
$110, 6.5 oz. (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Warm for their weight, water-resistant, good wicking, outstanding construction.
Cons: Too warm for exerting in temps around freezing, mediocre dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, walking, bike commuting, and clearing snow.

Arguably the most intricately design, technical, and versatile mittens covered in this review, OR’s Stormbound Mitts covered my hands while skiing resort groomers, on backcountry ski tours, and on local winter hikes, in cold wind and temps and falling snow. They’re remarkably warm for their low weight, and yet my hands didn’t overheat in them until temps rose above freezing, and they stayed absolutely dry whether dabbing them repeatedly in snow or sweating while hiking steeply uphill.

OR’s warmest mitten for skiing combines three types of insulation: responsibly sourced, 800+-fill goose down surrounded by water-resistant, 340g PrimaLoft Gold synthetic insulation on the back of the hand and 133g in the cuff, plus 133g PrimaLoft Silver insulation in the palm and back of the thumb—meaning the Stormbound Mitts keeps hands warm even when wet. The polyester tricot lining at the back of the hand and moonlight pile fleece polyester with ActiveTemp technology in the palm lining wick perspiration, and individual finger slots inside the mitts seem to enhance wicking.

The breathable Pertex Shield+ shell provides waterproof protection and the palm consists of durable, water-resistant and grippy goat leather. The comfortable and secure rib-knit cuff seals in warmth and the extended gauntlet has a hook-and-loop wrist closure, a large pull loop, plus an adjustable wrist leash, and can be worn over the close-fitting cuff of an insulated jacket or under the adjustable cuff of a shell jacket. The unisex medium fits like men’s medium.

With a thoughtful design and high warmth-to-weight ratio, the Outdoor Research Stormbound Sensor Mitts offer great versatility for a variety of activities.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Outdoor Research Stormbound Sensor Mitts at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or outdoorresearch.com.

I can help you plan the best backpacking, hiking, or family adventure of your life.
Click here now to learn more.

 

Black Diamond Recon Mitts.
Black Diamond Recon Mitts.

Black Diamond Recon Mitts
$100, 7 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s and women’s XS-XL
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Exceptional warmth and durability, waterproof-breathable.
Cons: No wrist leash, too warm for moderate cold, poor dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.

Skiing multiple runs at a resort in temps in the low teens Fahrenheit and below-zero wind chills, my fingers and hands stayed toasty for hours in the Black Diamond Recon Mitts. Stuff painfully cold and numb hands inside these mitts and they warm up instantly, thanks to 340g PrimaLoft Gold insulation on the back and 170g on the palm side.

On other days of resort skiing, the Recon Mitts remained comfortable in temps in the 20s Fahrenheit with wind in terrain pockets. For most people, these mittens would only get too warm in temps around or above the high 20s Fahrenheit, depending on weather conditions and exertion level. Moisture never penetrated the BD.dry waterproof-breathable insert when skiing in dumping snowstorms and over many days of resort and backcountry skiing (downhill only) in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains.

The goat leather palm offers good grip and durability and the adjustable Pertex Shield gauntlet, worn over the sleeve of any jacket, extends nearly halfway down the forearm to seal out snow and cold and is easy to grip when pulling them on. The men’s and women’s versions run true to size and feel good—hands are neither cramped nor slipping around inside them. Dexterity is decent for mittens: Using zippers, holding poles, uncapping water bottles, and even tearing open wrappers was fairly easy. One demerit: The Recon Mitts lack a wrist leash.

With exceptional warmth and durability and waterproof-breathable performance, the Black Diamond Recon Mitts are an all-around top performer for downhill skiing and riding in cold conditions—at a good price for this level of performance.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the men’s, women’s, or kid’s Black Diamond Recon Mitts at moosejaw.com or blackdiamondequipment.com, or the Recon Mitts or Glove at backcountry.com.

Planning your next big adventure?
See “America’s Top 10 Best Backpacking Trips” and “The 25 Best National Park Dayhikes.”

Flylow Super Mitten.
Flylow Super Mitten.

Flylow Super Mitten
$90, 7.5 oz. (unisex medium)
Sizes: unisex XS-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Exceptional warmth and durability, waterproof and breathable.
Cons: No wrist leash, too warm for moderate cold, poor dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.

While making downhill ski runs in the backcountry through hours of wet snow puking from the sky and wind chills in the low teens (wearing the mittens only when skiing downhill), the Super Mittens were more than warm enough and kept my hands absolutely dry. Flylow’s warmest mitten marries pre-treated fully waterproof cowhide leather on the palm side and thumb to tough nylon on the back and gauntlet and a durable, water-resistant treatment (DWR) to shed snow and water.

Breathable PrimaLoft Black Eco synthetic insulation—240g on the back and 120g on the palm (not quite as much as the BD Recon Mitts)—ranks them among the warmest mittens you’ll find: Like the other burly models, the Super Mittens warm freezing hands moments after you pull them on and are overkill for temps just below freezing, although they release moisture building up inside better than some heavy mitts.

Most uniquely, the adjustable gauntlet, worn over sleeve of any jacket,reaches halfway down your forearm, the longest of this bunch—helping keep hands warmer and drier. The fit runs true to size, not excessively bulky, and the soft lining and leather flexes quite easily; for such a toasty mitten, dexterity is good for basic tasks like handling zippers and buckles. But the Super Mittens have no wrist leash.

The Flylow Super Mitten is best for skiing and snowboarding on frigid days at the resort or going downhill in the backcountry—and they come at a good price for this quality. Flylow now has an updated version, the Super D Mitten.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase the Flylow Super D Mitten or the Flylow Super D Glove at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.

Buy gear smartly. See a menu of all my reviews and expert buying tips at my Gear Reviews page.

Gordini Polar Mitt.
Gordini Polar Mitt.

Gordini Polar Mitt
$120, 9 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XXL, women’s S-L
backcountry.com

Pros: Exceptional warmth and durability, waterproof-breathable.
Cons: Too warm for moderate cold, poor dexterity.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.

From days of below-zero wind chills resort skiing to backcountry skiing in heavily falling, wet snow, I pulled on the ultra-fat Gordini Polar Mitt and they kept my hands as warm and dry as if I were lying zipped up inside my fattest sleeping bag. In fact, I failed to find conditions too cold for these mitts, which are good for the frostiest outings that the rest of your body can tolerate.

The waterproof-breathable and windproof AquaBloc insert keeps moisture out, while the water-repellent, 700-fill Downtek feathers on the back of the hand combined with Megaloft synthetic insulation on the palm side retain heat even when damp. That’s likely to only come from perspiration, so the Polar Mitt also has possibly the plushest moisture-wicking lining you’ll find in any mitten. Not surprisingly, the Polar Mitt is much too warm for high exertion like skinning uphill—wear lighter gloves for that—and overkill for relatively mild winter days on snow.

Durability is assured by the deerskin and four-way-stretch nylon softshell. The mitts have a wrist adjustment strap and leash, soft nose wipe on the thumbs, textured palms for better grip, and an adjustable gauntlet that extends beyond the wrist and is worn over sleeve of any jacket. The fit runs true to size and feels spacious, with a soft flex that’s not at all fatiguing for hands the way the warmest and stiffest winter gloves are.

One of the burliest and warmest mittens reviewed here—and consequently, with poor dexterity, although that’s not the strength of any mittens—the over-the-cuff Gordini Polar Mitt is a great pick for those dead-of-winter frigid days resort skiing or riding.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase the men’s or women’s Gordini Polar Mitt or the Gordini Polar II Glove at backcountry.com or moosejaw.com.

Don’t let red tape foil your plans.
See my “10 Tips For Getting a Hard-to-Get National Park Backcountry Permit.”

Outdoor Research Mt. Baker Modular Mitts.
Outdoor Research Mt. Baker Modular Mitts.

Outdoor Research Mt. Baker II Gore-Tex Mitts
$179, 9.5 oz. (medium)
Sizes: men’s S-XL
backcountry.com

Pros: Warm, waterproof-breathable, two-piece system, glove dexterity with mitten warmth.
Cons: Too warm except in temps well below freezing, no women’s sizes.
Best For: Resort and backcountry skiing and snowboarding and snowshoeing.

Skiing in a wind chill around zero Fahrenheit at times during a four-day, January trip to a backcountry yurt in Idaho’s Boise Mountains, my fingers—which get cold very easily—stayed toasty in this two-piece system of removable, insulated gloves inside a Gore-Tex shell mitten.

The warmth comes from 170g PrimaLoft synthetic insulation in the glove insert, which has a soft, fleece lining. The fully seam-taped Gore-Tex mitten shell kept moisture out and is made with the same 70-denier taslan ripstop polyester used in OR’s tough gaiters. Fit and dexterity in the gloves is good enough to fuss with pack straps, boot buckles, and obviously better than mittens.

The Mt. Baker have smart details, like the one-hand gauntlet cinch on the shell mitten; adjustable straps at the wrist on both the mittens and gloves; an adjustable leash on the mitten shells; and the carabiner loop on the mittens for clipping them to a harness or pack wrist-down, to prevent precipitation from getting inside. AlpenGrip pads on the glove thumb and fingertip enhance grip.

While the Mt. Baker Mitts do not match the warmth of the BD Recon, Flylow Super Mitts, or Gordini Polar Mitt—because the insulation is a glove, not a mitten—the unique, two-piece system gives them superior versatility: You can wear the glove alone (useful for climbing uphill); the glove and mitt together going downhill or in deep cold; and because the mittens have no insulation, they double as three-season rain shells.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase the Outdoor Research Mt. Baker II Gore-Tex Mitts at backcountry.com or outdoorresearch.com.

Let The Big Outside help you find the best adventures.
Join now for full access to ALL stories and get a free e-guide and member gear discounts!

Black Diamond Mercury Mitts.
Black Diamond Mercury Mitts.

Warmest and Driest for Skiing or Riding

Black Diamond Mercury Mitts
$120, 10 oz. (men’s medium)
Sizes: men’s XS-XL, women’s XS-L
blackdiamondequipment.com

Pros: Superior warmth, weather protection, and durability, and year-round versatility with a removable insulated mitten and a waterproof-breathable shell.
Cons: No wrist leash, poor dexterity, too warm for moderate cold.
Best For: Resort skiing and snowboarding, snowshoeing, or hiking in deep cold.

On overcast, windy, January days resort skiing in falling snow and temps from around 20° F down to the single digits, with a wind chill that dipped below zero—conditions in which my fingers would quickly get cold even in the warmest gloves I own—the Mercury Mitts kept my hands abundantly warm on the lifts and the downhill runs in deep powder. Even as falling temperatures, wind, hunger, and exhaustion toward the end of those days made my body feel a bit colder, my hands and fingers never felt chilled.

That superior warmth results from the 90 percent recycled, 340g PrimaLoft Gold Cross Core insulation and a 100 percent recycled high-loft fleece lining, plus the added insulation provided by a gauntlet that extends halfway down my forearm. And my hands stayed dry for hours in a heavy, wet, nuking snowstorm while riding the lifts at California’s Palisades-Tahoe Resort, thanks to the 100 percent recycled waterproof-breathable BDdry insert. For most people, these mittens would only get too warm in temps above the low to mid-20s Fahrenheit, depending on weather conditions and exertion level.

BD calls the Mercury its “most versatile and popular year-round mitt” because its removable, insulated liner enables wearing the 100 percent recycled ripstop polyester shell as a simple overmitt in rain any time of year. The insulated liner mitt could be worn alone, although it lacks the elasticized wrist and gauntlet closure. Goatskin leather throughout the palm, thumb, and fingers boosts durability and grip. The PFC-free, molecular Empel DWR (durable, water-resistant treatment) uses no water while improving water repellency.

While the spacious fit doesn’t squeeze your thumb or fingers, the elasticized wrist prevents the mitt from slipping around on your hand—improving the fit while also helping to trap heat. The men’s and women’s models run true to size. The over-the-cuff, gauntlet drawcord helps trap heat and keeps snow out and is easily manipulated with one hand. But dexterity is predictably poor and the Mercury Mitts lack a wrist leash.

With superior warmth and durability and waterproof-breathable performance, the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts are a top choice for cold days of resort skiing and riding or activities like snowshoeing and hiking.

BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking either of these affiliate links to purchase the men’s or women’s Black Diamond Mercury Mitts at blackdiamondequipment.com or backcountry.com.

Previous

Review: The North Face Ceptor Jacket and Bib

Take a Top 5 Southwest Backpacking Trip: Paria Canyon

Next

Leave a Comment

12 thoughts on “The Best Mittens for Winter 2024”

  1. Michael,

    Great article. I am in the market for a set of mittens to replace my ski gloves. I’m 62 years old. I have a basic pair of Burton Gore-tex gloves. My issue is that if the temps are anywhere below 25 F, my fingers get painfully cold within the first 30-40 minutes of skiing. It’s always been this way for me and not because of my age. No color change in the fingertips, just very cold. Probably a blood circulation thing.

    I did not see the “Burton Gore-Tex Warmest mitten” on your list. Was it not tested or it just did not make the cut? I’d like something with a wrist leash but that is not a deal breaker. I also noticed that none of the mittens above had hand warmer packet compatibility. At least I did not see that mentioned. The Burton I mentioned above do. Today it was about 15 degrees out and very windy here on the east coast. I borrowed my wifes’s Burton Gore-tex mittens (admittedly way too small/tight for me, but had 2 Hot Hands hand warmers in each back of the palm plus a liner glove. My fingers were just “OK” all except for my thumbs. They were painfully cold. I had to hit the lodge and warm them up about every 90 minutes.

    Thoughts??

    Best regards,
    Jim

    Reply
    • Thanks, Jim, I’m glad this review is helpful to you; and good question.

      First of all, it sounds like you may have bad Raynaud’s, like I do. You should check out my “12 Pro Tips for Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter,” particularly tips 7 and 9 about carrying spare gloves or mittens and pre-warming them.

      I have not used the Burton Gore-Tex Warmest Mitten, and while they look thick and warm, 550-fill down is pretty much the lowest-quality down sold and I’m not familiar with Thermacore, which to me suggests it may be a low-cost synthetic insulation. Your wife’s may not have kept your hands very warm simply because of the tight fit cutting off circulation. If the hand-warmer pocket helps you, I think you should prioritize that.

      The warmest mittens reviewed here are the Gordini Polar Mitt. My chronically cold hands stay warm in them, even though they don’t have a hand-warmer pocket.

      Good luck.

      Reply
      • Michael,
        Thank you so much for that reply. I wasn’t aware of the lower quality factor of the 550 down. Good to know. I just read your 12 tips on staying warm. Good info there, especially regarding eating more to get the fuel the body needs to create heat. That and staying hydrated which I am admittedly not the best at while skiing. I do prewarm my gear as you mentioned. I have the hand warmers in the gloves about 45 minutes prior to hitting the slopes and they are stuffed into my helmet for the car ride up . So they are very warm when I put them on. It just fades quickly anytime the temps are below the mid 20’s. Reading over the 8 Best Mittens article above again, I think just switching to a properly sized mitten should be a huge improvement over my current cheapie Burton gloves.
        I’d hate to just go to the Gordini and have it possibly be too warm and have my hands sweat. So maybe the Black Diamond Recon or the OR Stormbound Sensor mitts would be good. One has individual finger slots in the mittens and one doesn’t. Any Pros and Cons to either of those two features besides wicking?
        Thank you again. This is very helpful.

        Reply
        • Hi Jim,

          The Recon are pretty close to the Gordini; the OR Stormbound mitts are not as big and warm as the other two and not what I’d choose for downhill skiing on cold days. But if your main concern is keeping your hands warm in temps below the 20s F, I suggest you get the warmest mittens and consider a lighter pair for 20s and 30s temps. If you try to find one pair that’s ideal for all days of skiing, you might find your hands cold some days.

          Reply
  2. Hi Michael,
    I do lots of backcountry hunting and skiing in the winter. Temps of -40 are quite common where I’m from and I’ve struggled to find a glove that works at these temps. I found the BD guide glove was awful despite being “warm”. I need something super hardy that can beating and will keep my from freezing.
    Do have a recommendation of a glove/ mitten that can take a beating for years and will still keep my hands and fingers from freezing?

    Thanks buddy

    Sam

    Reply
    • Hi Sam,

      Those are extremely challenging temperatures and conditions to keeps hands warm. I have two suggestions for you and they involve significantly different costs.

      Consider heated gloves or mittens that use a rechargeable battery, like the Outdoor Research Prevail Heated Gore-Tex Gloves or Mittens, which have three levels of heat settings and are constructed for hard use, warmth, and weather protection, boosted by the long gauntlet. Those may be the most effective system for deep cold like you encounter.

      The less-expensive option would be a thick mitten with a long gauntlet and that’s reinforced with leather palms, and the warmest such mitten reviewed in this article is the Gordini Polar Mitt, which have kept my chronically-Raynaud’s fingers warm in below-zero wind chills while skiing. You might try sticking a chemical heat pack inside each mitten on the coldest days, too.

      I hope that’s helpful and good luck. Thanks for the question.

      Reply
      • Thanks Mixhael!
        Yeah I’ve considered the electric gloves as well as socks as a serious option. Gauntlets are probably a really good idea. The use of a battery sounds great to me but has me worried about how it performs at those kinds of cold temps. I’ve never had the chance to run them though so it’s very interesting to think of how freeing it would be to just have warm hands for hours at a time and avoid the
        Screaming barffies when I’m trying to get blood back into my finger tips haha.
        I’ll look into these options more and go from there! Do you know much about brands of gauntlets? Or are they all pretty much the same?

        Thanks again buddy!

        Reply
        • Sam,

          Keep in mind that the battery is going to be close to your warm body and insulated within the glove, not the same exposure to cold as leaving it outside. Plus, the rechargeable lithium ion batteries used in many of them perform better in cold temps.

          You’re welcome. Good luck.

          Reply
  3. Hi! Thanks for the great article. I’m a PA skier and my hands are getting red and white from the temperature in the 20s with all day skiing. Do you ever wear thin glove liners under your mittens? Sometimes I need to pull out my phone to make a call on the lift and currently, when I take off my mittens and just have my liners on, my hands freeze and are in pain even when I put them back in my marmot mittens. I’m going to get new mittens based on your recommendations, but was curious if you had new texting liner recommendations as well. Or if liners under mittens is a bad idea. Thanks I’m advance!

    Reply
    • Hi Grace,

      Good question and I can relate to fingers getting cold very quickly. Yes, you can use liners under mittens IF they fit together well; some mittens won’t have the space for another hand layer underneath. I suggest you get the mittens first and try on liners in a store to see whether any model fits in the mittens. See some warm liner gloves in my review of “The Best Gloves for Winter.”

      Also, the ski lift is probably the coldest spot to pull a mitten off; plus, you’re sitting and not producing body heat, so your entire body is cooling off, which will affect your hands and feet first. I suggest you stop in a spot protected from wind while skiing downhill to pull off a mitten and check your phone because you’ll be moving and warming up again soon.

      You can also tuck a mitten inside your jacket to keep it warm while it’s off your hand. See my “12 Pro Tips for Staying Warm Outdoors in Winter.”

      Good luck.

      Reply