Ski Gloves or Mittens? How to Choose, Size and Care for Them

Gloves give you dexterity, mittens give you warmth, and a good fit improves both. Measure your hand, then compare insulation, waterproofing and cuffs.

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Choose mittens if your hands get cold easily, and gloves if you need your fingers for zippers, buckles and straps. Then size them from a hand measurement rather than your usual clothing size, because fit decides how warm either one feels.

Cold hands end more ski days than almost anything else. Gloves let your fingers work separately, while mittens keep them together so they stay warmer. Everything else a glove advertises comes second to that choice and to fit.

Gloves, mittens or something in between

Type	Warmth	Dexterity	Good for
Gloves	Good	Best, for zippers, buckles, straps and phones	Skiers who run warm or adjust gear often
Mittens	Warmest, since fingers share heat	Limited, though you can still grip poles	Cold hands, kids, cold days and long lift rides
Split-finger mitts	Between the two	Index finger works on its own	Skiers who want mitten warmth with some dexterity
Liner gloves	A thin extra layer	High	Worn inside mittens or alone on mild days

If your hands get cold easily, start with mittens and carry a pair of thin liner gloves for the moments you need your fingers. If your hands run warm, gloves are fine. Either way, make sure you can still work your jacket zipper, goggle strap and pole strap.

What makes a pair warm and dry

Insulation. Synthetic fill is common because it keeps working when damp. More fill is warmer but bulkier, and bulk makes gripping harder.
Waterproofing. Pairs sold as waterproof usually have a membrane insert between the shell and the lining. Water-resistant pairs can soak through when you handle snow or fall, so choose waterproof if that describes your day.
Palm material. Leather lasts and grips well, and it needs occasional conditioning. Synthetic palms cost less, dry faster and need less care.
Removable liners. A liner that pulls out can dry on its own overnight, and sometimes works as a glove by itself.
Cuff style. A gauntlet cuff is long and fits over your jacket sleeve to seal out snow. An under-cuff style is slimmer and tucks inside the sleeve. Pick the one that closes against your own jacket, which our jacket guide helps you check.
Small extras. A wrist leash keeps a glove from falling off a chairlift. A soft nose-wipe patch, touchscreen fingertips and pull loops are small conveniences. Don't pay extra for the ones you won't use.

Measure your hand for size

Sizing differs between brands, so start with a measurement and then check the maker's own chart. You need two numbers:

Palm width. Hold your hand flat and wrap a soft tape measure once around your palm where your fingers join it, leaving the thumb out.
Hand length. Measure from the crease at the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger.

Many charts turn the palm measurement straight into a size. Sizes aren't interchangeable between brands or between men's, women's and kids' lines, so use the chart on the product page and try the pair on when you can.

For fit, you want a snug palm and a little room at the fingertips. If your fingertips press against the end, the pair is too small. If you can pinch loose fabric beyond your fingers, it is too big. Make a fist: the glove shouldn't pull hard across the back of your hand. A pair squeezed tight compresses its own insulation, which makes it colder and can limit circulation.

Try them with any liner gloves you plan to wear, and with a ski pole in your hand. Our pole guide explains why grip and strap comfort matter.

Kids' gloves and mittens

Mittens with long cuffs, waterproof shells and wrist leashes work best for small children, and they are easier to put on than gloves. Avoid buying a size or two up, since oversized mittens twist in the hand and slide off. Pack a spare pair, because a wet pair can end a child's day.

Heated gloves and hand warmers

Battery-heated gloves and liners add warmth with a rechargeable pack. They cost more, add weight and need charging, and run times shorten on high settings and in the cold, so read the maker's figures as best-case numbers. Chemical hand warmers are a cheaper backup that fit inside most mittens. Neither fixes a pair that's too tight or already soaked.

Care

Dry your gloves after each day. Pull out the liners, open the cuffs and let everything air-dry at room temperature. Direct heat from a radiator or hair dryer can shrink leather, loosen glue and break down insulation. Condition leather palms now and then, and follow the maker's care instructions for restoring water repellency once water stops beading. On long or wet trips, a spare pair is worth the space in your pack.

Before you buy

Compare ski glove and mitten prices once you know the type, size and cuff style. Last season's colors are often cheaper, and gloves are one of the easier pieces to size with a tape measure. For the rest of the outfit, see our guides to ski pants and bibs and what to wear skiing for the first time.