Our expert tests this year's best ski gloves for men and women, including ski mittens and heated ski gloves, from Hestra to North Face
Al Morgan
The best ski gloves just need to be warm and comfy, right? If only. There are so many factors that dictate which mitts or gloves will best suit your needs. Warmth is very important if you’re skiing in the east of Canada in January, but if you’re enjoying soft spring conditions in the Alps you will want something much cooler with great breathability.
To narrow down your choice, fit has to be the first thing to check. Visit your local ski shop and try on a few pairs. Remember to try some tasks you’ll be doing on the mountain, like fastening a jacket or holding a ski pole, to make sure the mitts or gloves work for your hand shape.
To help you find the best, I hit the slopes with ski instructor and freeride athlete Ffion Townsend to test the latest ski gloves from the most trusted skiwear brands. Long sweaty days skinning, freezing mid-winter storm days and perfect powder lines are all vital to get a real feel for just how good gloves are.Scroll down to read our full reviews, followed by an FAQ section where I explain how to size gloves and care for them. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:
Which are the best ski gloves for 2024/25? At a glance
- Best overall - Black Diamond Spark Mitts
- Best value ski gloves - Scott Ultimate Warm
- Best men’s ski gloves - Rab Khroma Freeride Gore-Tex
- Best women’s ski gloves - The North Face Women’s Montana
- Best ski gloves for cold hands - Therm-Ic Freeride Ultra Heat
How to find the best ski gloves for you
Think about what you’ll be using the gloves for, to ensure they match your requirements. For example, if you’re often grabbing your phone to capture pictures or video, then getting touch screen functionality makes sense. Do you suffer from cold hands? A mitt may work much better, since it keeps all the fingers together for increased warmth – although you’ll sacrifice dexterity and sensitivity of touch.
How we tested the best ski gloves
In my job, I play with a vast number of ski gloves at trade shows, at showrooms and in stores. I talk to consumers, shop staff, retail buyers and other snowsports professionals to find out which are the best. And then, of course, I test them while skiing to see how they fare in the cold, snow-covered mountains. However, fit is crucial, so even though a glove may be perfect for me, please do go and try them on, since they may not suit your hand.
By the way, when you’ve finished reading this, why not check out my reviews of the best ski helmets, best ski boots, best ski jackets, best ski socks and best ski goggles for the 2024-25 season?
Best ski gloves
1. Black Diamond Spark Mitts
Best overall, 10/10
We like: superb warmth and supple sensitivity
We don’t like: you obviously sacrifice dexterity with a mitt
- Cuff style: Under-cuff
- Leather palm
- Not touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash included
The Spark series of gloves and mitts was revamped for last season and we’ve given them a good thrashing since they made the changes. The old Spark was good, but the improved glove and mitt are a considerable step up. They offer the glove and mitt in black for women and men, along with another colour option, which is different for each gender.
The men’s is this blue and tan design, while the women’s non-black option is mostly dark blue with a very light blue on the back of the hand, and it looks superb. The entire outer is goat leather, apart from the neoprene lined cuff, which has a broad hook and loop (think Velcro) closure. It’s the superb non-scratch hook panel too, which is far nicer to use. On the back of each thumb is a suede nose wipe panel. EVA padding across the knuckles adds a little protection, without hindering movement.
A microfleece lining is lovely for chilly hands and the mitt has internal finger dividers for further comfort. Insulation comes in the form of PrimaLoft Gold and we’ve used the women’s and men’s mitts in some horrendous weather, with temperatures around -20°C. They’ve always been warm enough.
The surprise was spring skiing in them, when we didn’t overheat. The BD.dry waterproof but breathable membrane provides the required moisture management, from the inside out, on those days. Black Diamond’s top-of-the-line freeride glove is called Impulse, which you may have read about in last year’s review. That’s a brilliant Gore-Tex glove, but it costs £50 more than the Spark.
For many skiers and snowboarders, the Spark glove or mitt will easily provide the performance they need. This mitt’s been one of our favourites to test in recent seasons and, for £100, it’s a superb choice. The luxurious comfort, durability, warmth, all-season versatility and value are why it’s won our Best Overall award. If you want greater dexterity, just choose the glove version.
£100
Price at
Black Diamond Equipment
2. Scott Ultimate Warm Women’s Glove
Best budget ski glove, 9/10
We like: the awesome value and warmth
We don’t like: the warmth comes at the cost of sensitivity
- Cuff style: Over-cuff
- No leather palm
- Not touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash included
For £40 you get cracking value with the Scott Ultimate Warm glove, which is available for women and men. This is one of the warmer gloves, due to a thick layer of insulation on the palm side. Typically, gloves have a relatively thin amount of padding here compared to the rear. The downside with the Ultimate Warm is that you lose some sensitivity, but it is lovely having nice warm hands.
Scott uses their DRYOsphere waterproofing across the back of the hand. While not on the front, the synthetic palm material protects against the snow anyway. You stay dry in all but the most torrential, wet conditions. The powder cuff may not be the longest, but it works and has a draw cord to seal out the snow.
You also get an adjuster on the back of the wrist for a secure hold. These gloves come with leashes to keep the gloves attached when you take them off for sorting the kids out. Don’t think Scott is just about value products. They make incredibly technical products too, although those obviously cost more.
£40
Price at
Scott
3. Rab Khroma Freeride Gore-Tex Glove
Best men’s ski glove, 9/10
We like: the full weather protection and sensational warmth
We don’t like: it’s a fairly bulky glove
- Cuff style: Over-cuff
- Leather palm
- Not touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash included
Available in a couple of different colour choices, the Khroma Freeride Gore-Tex is a toasty glove, perfectly suited to big adventures and pushing the limits in the back country. It has a long gauntlet cuff with an easy-to-use elasticated drawcord to seal the cuff around the jacket sleeve. The cuff lacks the incredibly warm insulation of the rest of the glove, reducing bulk and weight. Insulation isn’t required in the cuff anyway, as it sits outside the jacket so you wouldn’t get much benefit from it.
Leather covers the thumb, palm and fingers, with extra reinforcement by the index finger and thumb. The Pittards Armortan leather is beautifully supple. Even though this is a heavily insulated glove, you still get a decent level of sensitivity. There’s a soft leather nose wipe on the thumb.
The rest of the outer and the inside of the cuff uses a stretchy Matrix nylon with a PFC-free DWR treatment. This material, the insulation, and the trim incorporate recycled materials. Gore-Tex Plus Warm delivers excellent waterproofing, and the breathability means your hands won’t get too sweaty.
A deep pile lining cocoons the hands in snug warmth, with PrimaLoft Gold Grip Control insulation on the palm side and PrimaLoft Gold across the back of the hand. They also use the same insulation, but in a lighter wadding, in other key locations. This is a fairly bulky glove, but throughout the first day of use you could feel the glove getting easier to flex. Gripping poles was never a problem and the toasty warmth was very much welcomed on the coldest days.
Even though this is a ‘freeride’ glove, it was just as practical when blasting about the groomed terrain. Some feedback from consumers on Rab’s site have commented on this glove sizing a little smaller than expected, but the medium we’ve been testing is true to many mediums from other brands, after the first day or two of use. If you like the sound of the Rab Khroma kit, they do a thinner, under-cuff glove called the Khroma Tour, which is also brilliant. We tested it alongside the Khroma Freeride, which pipped the £135 Tour due to increased warmth and greater technicality.
£145
Price at
Rab
4. The North Face Women’s Montana Ski Gloves
Best women’s ski glove, 9/10
We like: the curve of the fingers
We don’t like: not the most feminine outline
- Cuff style: Over-cuff
- No leather palm
- Touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash included
The North Face delivers great value in the Montana gloves, available in women’s and men’s models. They offer a whole range under the Montana name, including down mitts, Gore-Tex gloves and kids’ models. This standard version has a suitably long cuff to sit comfortably over your jacket sleeve, and it uses their DryVent waterproof, breathable insert, along with a PFC-free DWR treatment.
The drawcord cuff keeps the snow out while an adjustable wrist strap helps retain the finger-hugging warmth. The outer shell uses recycled material, although this doesn’t include the faux leather palm. This is still tough enough for most needs and offers a great alternative if you want to avoid leather.
The insulation is made using recycled fabrics and is thicker over the back of the hand, although the palm and gauntlet are insulated. They use their E-Tip tech on the thumb and index finger, meaning you can avoid frozen fingers when shooting epic moments (and the inevitable fails).
The image above doesn’t quite get across the superb shaping through the fingers. Their pre-curved shape allows your hand to sit in its natural form when relaxed and this helps when gripping ski poles. The cuff-mounted pull loop is a nice addition that makes putting the glove on easier. Also available in green.
£60
Price at
The North Face
5. Therm-Ic Freeride Ultra Heat Gloves
Best ski gloves for cold hands, 9/10
We like: incredible warmth from the heating element
We don’t like: our test pair was in a nicer colour
- Cuff style: Under-cuff
- Leather palm
- Not touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash not included
You can’t deny these are not exactly cheap, but they are incredibly warm and a total blessing on frigid days in the mountains. Therm-Ic makes a lot of heated and non-heated, products and this Freeride glove is a new addition for this season, although we think the dark brown colour we tested looks better than this tan colour. We’ve featured Therm-Ic before, but this glove feels even more premium than those that came before it, although it’s not more expensive than some of their other models.
The outer fabric is predominantly goat leather, with reinforcement on the palm in high-wear areas. They use a waterproof, breathable membrane to ensure your hands stay dry. PrimaLoft Cross Core insulation provides a surprising amount of warmth without having to turn the heating function on. You get over 260g of insulation on the back of the hand and 80g in the palm side.
For much of our testing we didn’t need to use the heat function, but when it’s warranted it’s a total blessing. It takes around five minutes to get up to full heat, then the heat surrounds your hand and digits. The battery pack sits in a little pocket on the palmar side of the cuff. You can feel it, but it was never uncomfortable or obstructive.
Charging is very easy using the supplied USB charging cable and you don’t need to remove the battery packs to charge them. A full charge won’t last a whole day of skiing, if you run the heating constantly. This wasn’t an issue in practice, as you just use the rear-mounted push button to turn the heating on and off when required. There are three heat settings to choose from, which impacts how long the batteries run for. If you suffer when the temperature drops, these are about as good as it gets.
£299.95
Price at
Ski Bartlett
6. Crab Grab Snuggler Mitts
Best snowboarding gloves, 8/10
We like: performance in a vegan-friendly construction
We don’t like: drawstring leashes are more faff than elastic wrist loops
- Cuff style: Under-cuff
- No leather palm
- Not touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash included
Crab Grab may not be as well-known as some of the other brands featured in this test, but they make a range of fantastic gloves and mitts for snowboarding. We’ve been testing them for a couple of seasons, and everything of theirs we’ve tested has impressed us. The fact they’re 100 per cent vegan means they’re an excellent alternative for snowboarders and skiers that want top-quality products without the use of animal-derived products.
The AX Grain Tech they use on the palm and thumb looks and feels a lot like a suede-type material but is free of animal-derived products. The palm is made of one large panel, to reduce the use of seams and increase durability.
Is the AX Grain Tech as tough as leather? Hard to say, so far, but it’s proven pretty darn tough. They also add rubberised ribbing to aid grip, which they call Crunch Grip.
Inside, you get soft fleece lining and PrimaLoft insulation provides superb warmth, with a waterproof and breathable Hipora membrane to keep the wetness out and let moisture escape.
These are toasty mitts, and they look fantastic. They offer a longer, gauntlet-style cuff in the Cinch mitt, but the Snuggler’s under-cuff design matches the current trend in glove and mitt design, and we didn’t have issues with snow ingress.
The name gives you a clue as to how cosy these mitts are. They’re available in a range of colours, and even though Crab Grab focuses on snowboarding, they’re pretty mint for skiing too.
£79.99
Price at
Snowboard Asylum
7. Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski 5-Finger Glove
Best gloves for powder skiing, 8/10
We like: tough, powder-proof design
We don’t like: not fully waterproof
- Cuff style: Over-cuff
- Leather palm
- Not touch-screen compatible
- Not waterproof
- Removable liner
- Wrist leash included
It would be hard to do any feature on gloves without talking about the Army Leather Heli Ski from Hestra. This burly workhorse is warm, tough and available in a wide range of colours and configurations to suit almost everyone, including mitts, a three-finger model and a junior version for younger mountain goats. This is the standard 5-finger version and it’s ruggedly dependable.
The goat leather palm and thumb face-fabric provides durable dexterity with a waterproof coating on the back of the hand. The insulated liner gives excellent warmth and is totally removable, meaning this is one of the easiest gloves to dry overnight.
There’s a Velcro closure on the inner side of the wrist and a cuff drawcord to keep the weather out and retain the warmth. The little carabiner clip they come with can be used to hang the gloves from the finger hang-loop, preventing them from filling with snow when not on your hands.
Make sure you retreat the leather palm regularly to ensure your hands stay dry, as there’s no waterproof insert for the palm side. We’ve never had massive issues with this, but if you do want a fully waterproof model, the Army Leather Gore-Tex 5-Finger is their prime glove to choose, at £165.
£130
Price at
Hestra Gloves
8. Leki Patrol 3D
Best ski glove for securely holding your pole, 8/10
We like: the superb integration with the Leki 3D Trigger poles
We don’t like: not fully waterproof
- Cuff style: Under-cuff
- Leather palm
- Not touch-screen compatible
- Not waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash not included
Leki may be better known for the poles they make, but their ski gloves are no less impressive. The Patrol 3D is a unisex model, and although it sits on the bottom rung of Leki’s adult ski glove pricing ladder it’s far from bottom tier in terms of its fit, features and performance. The goat skin outer is supple, and proved to be very durable, although we find leather gloves a step up in this respect, compared to most gloves that use synthetic palm materials.
Sharp ski edges are unforgiving foe for glove materials. The palm has a second layer of siliconised material, giving incredible grip on the handle of a pole. The neoprene cuff has a Velcro closure, sealing in the warmth and keeping draughts at bay. The low-profile cuff design easily slides inside a jacket sleeve. The image above makes this glove look slender, but the PrimaLoft Gold insulation gives a pleasing warmth, performing better in cold conditions than you may at first think.
The flex zone design across the back of the fingers adds a contrasting detail. This glove can be used with any ski poles, but when you use this with Leki’s 3D Trigger system that’s when you get the most out of them. There’s a small loop, between the base of the thumb and index finger, which slides into the Trigger 3D grip system on many of Leki’s poles.
You don’t use a regular ski strap, but the security and power you get is brilliant. A simple button press frees you from the grip. The mechanism has an in-built safety release, should you take a tumble. It’s very well-designed and a joy to use. If you struggle with the faff of ski pole straps, you should certainly try Leki’s trigger system.
£115
Price at
Leki
9. Level Race
Best ski gloves for knuckle and finger protection, 8/10
We like: superb fit and added hand protection
We don’t like: not fully waterproof
- Cuff style: Under-cuff
- Leather palm
- No touch-screen compatible
- Not waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash not included
Level makes a lot of gloves, including a host of options for racers. Despite the name, the Level Race is just as suitable for mile-munching on-piste as it is for smashing gates on the racecourse. It’s available in black, white or a stunning bright blue. We tested the white colour and it looks fabulous, although it’ll show the dirt quicker than the other two colours. The leather outer is treated to be waterproof, but we’ve not listed this glove as fully waterproof as it doesn’t have a waterproof insert.
In testing, we didn’t have issues with our hands getting wet, although we didn’t manage to test it in the rain. There’s embossed light padding on the Velcro closed wrist but the main armour is across the knuckles and along the fingers.
Although the knuckle protection is very tough and stiff, this didn’t cause any issues when skiing. If anything, the extra protection, including down the back of the fingers, added to the apparent comfort as you felt more protected. The glove’s shape makes it easy to hold the handle of a ski pole and the leather palm has an added layer of woven waterproof fabric for increased durability.
PrimaLoft adds the required warmth. Another glove we had the pleasure of testing is the £165 Level Off Piste glove. This doesn’t have the armour of the Race and is a little warmer, but again uses waterproof leather. If you’re heading away from the groomers, the Off Piste would (unsurprisingly) be a more appropriate choice.
The Race is a brilliant glove for anyone wanting added protection for carving up the pistes; it’s fantastically comfortable, delivers decent warmth and if you do ever get to ski some gates it may just give you the mental edge required.
£143.99
Price at
Tesma Sport
10. Ziener Ganzenberg
Best for durability, 7/10
We like: the rugged nature
We don’t like: not the warmest model
- Cuff style: Under-cuff
- Leather palm
- No touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash included
Ziener is a massive ski brand in Europe but little-known in the UK. They work with the some of the main European ski associations and race teams, which helps them develop incredible products. They offer a massive range of products, but the naming is bonkers; all the men’s glove models begin with a G, women’s start with K and kids with an L, so it can be somewhat confusing. That aside, their gloves are fantastic.
We’ve been using a pair of Ganzenberg gloves for five seasons and they still look great. The neat, Velcro closed cuff readily slides under a jacket sleeve. The soft lining is easy to get into, even with damp hands. The wool insulation works superbly well. These aren’t the warmest gloves they make but they work for most conditions, even down to -10°C.
The outer is predominantly leather and very tough, with a waterproof, breathable insert to make sure your hands stay dry. Dexterity and grip are enhanced by the bonding of layers around the palm side of the hand. The removeable wrist leash prevents dropped gloves if you need to pop them off. Also available in a tan and black colourway.
£49.50
Price at
Greaves
11. Reima Ote Waterproof Winter Mittens
Best ski gloves for kids, 10/10
We like: the long cuff and fab warmth
We don’t like: they don’t have wrist leashes
- Cuff style: Over-cuff
- No leather palm
- No touch-screen compatible
- Waterproof
- No removable liner
- Wrist leash not included
Time in the mountains with little tikes can be some of the best experiences you can share with them. There is one condition though – keep them warm. Cold kids are not happy kids, and Finnish brand Reima knows what it takes to ensure the smiles and infectious giggles keep going. They make outdoor and ski specific clothing and the waterproof Ote mitt is a great example of their passion for giving kids clothing especially designed for them.
The gauntlet cuff is longer than most, helping to keep any determined snow from getting inside. The wrist strap adds to the security, allowing you to let them go snowball and sledge crazy without worrying about the mitts coming off. Warmth is provided by the PrimaLoft insulation, made from recycled material, and the mitt design means their little fingers will be warmer than in a glove. These mitts are also waterproof and breathable, thanks to the Hipora insert.
Ote means grip in Finnish, and the rubberised cover on the palm and thumb delivers the required Ote. The grey label on the back of the fingers is reflective, adding a touch of safety when using the mitts about the resort village and at home. Available in wide range of colours, for ages one to 10 years, the Ote has proven a real hit with the little hands we’ve tested it with.
£30
Price at
Cotswold
Ski glove FAQs
What is the difference between a ski and snowboard glove?
Unlike many snowsports items, there are differences between gloves for skiing and snowboarding.
When snowboarding you are more likely to drag your fingers on the surface of the snow, so it’s worth making sure the fingertips have an over-wrap, or overlap, design on the finger tips for boarding. If the fingers end with all seams meeting at the tips, then they can be susceptible to abrasion when snowboarding.
You may also want some wrist protection for snowboarding; if this is the case then check out Level’s Biomex gloves. These work really well but, although I’ve used these in the past, I’ve not tested them for this season so haven’t included them in this article.
If you’re a skier, you’ll be holding ski poles so the gloves need to cater for this. You don’t want squashed finger ends once your hand is wrapped around the handle of the pole. Some people like protective padding on the rear of the hand for skiing, especially if you carve hard and low, dragging your knuckles on the snow. Ski racers need padding or some kind or armour on the rear of the hand for protection from the race gates.
How do you size ski gloves?
Gloves can be sized in various ways but typically they’ll be in a universally accepted glove size ranging from 3 for small kids hands up to 11 for large adult hands.
You can measure your hand length from the junction of your hand and wrist to the tip of your middle finger. You can also wrap the measuring tape around your palm. These two measurements can then be compared to the manufacturers size chart to get a good idea of the glove size to go for.
Alternatively, a brand may go for a size range using XS-XL, or similar. Medium will equate roughly to a size 8 for men or 6 for women, but this can vary from brand to brand. Again, you can just measure your hand and compare it to their size range.
It is worth trying the gloves or mitts on before you buy them. Make sure your hands and digits aren’t squashed anywhere, as this only leads to them being cold. For skiing, ask the shop if you can hold a ski pole to make sure there’s no tightness once you grasp the grip of the pole.
It’s also important the glove or mitt fits well so you can do daily tasks, such as fastening boots, clipping helmet buckles and fastening zips. Many of these can be practiced in the store to ensure the gloves work well for your hand shape.
Is leather a good material for gloves?
Many ski and snowboard gloves and mitts use leather, especially at the upper end of the price and quality spectrum. It is incredibly versatile, very durable and gives a sensitivity of touch that’s hard to match with synthetics. If treated with care, leather gloves last a long time. Leather isn’t waterproof on its own though, so you need to make sure the gloves have a waterproof insert if you want them to be fully waterproof.
Whatever you get, if it uses leather then make sure you give it a little TLC now and then; it’ll be worth it.
How should you wash ski gloves?
Often overlooked, it’s vital you keep your gloves clean. Wash them after each ski holiday, and if you’re out for a whole season then make sure to wash them a few times per season.
Use a technical outdoor apparel wash, such as Nikwax Tech Wash, which is far better for technical fabrics than regular washing detergent. This can sometimes be done in a washing machine (be wary of doing this with leather) or can be done by hand; always read the instructions that come with the gloves. The brand websites tend to have care instructions too.
Once washed, reproof with an appropriate treatment. There are a range of products available, but generic offerings like Nikwax Glove Proof are easy to use and are small and packable so you can take them with you on your ski trip too.
Hestra has their own-brand glove balm, which is great. I’ve also used leather treating balms or creams designed for walking boots, to good success on many of my gloves. It’s all about helping maintain the leather, which doesn’t respond well to the repeated wet-dry cycle that can occur when skiing. Never dry your leather gloves on a direct heat source such as a hot radiator, as this can lead to cracking.
Washing is not just about your gloves looking and working great. Hands can get cuts or splits when in cold climates and you don’t want potentially harmful bugs developing in your gloves and making the situation worse.
Also ensure you dry your gloves as well as you can, overnight on your ski trip and once you return home. Again, this can help your gloves to last longer but also prevents bacterial or mould growth, never mind the nasty whiffs.
Is there a difference between women’s and men’s gloves?
Gloves are unisex, to be honest. There are colours and models that may be preferred by some men or women, but hands come in many shapes and sizes, so make sure the mitts or gloves fit your hand shape well. Women can often suffer from cold hands, and men can often get hot, so select the warmth of the glove appropriate to your physiology. These are, of course, generalisations and we’re all unique, so just select a product that will work best for you, irrespective of whether a label says it’s ‘women’s’ or ‘men’s’.
How do you attach ski gloves to your jacket?
They typically come with a leash which loops over your wrist to prevent you losing them if you need to take them off. Many leashes are removable. This just adds a little versatility and allows you to choose how you roll. There was a period when ski jackets had loops to clip the glove to, but this has passed. Wrist leashes are just easier to use and save concerns over compatibility.
Don’t worry if your gloves or mitts don’t come with leashes. They’re easy to make or you can buy a pair of leashes, typically costing £5 to £10.
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