Not simply a luxury, enveloping the extremities in a layer of warmth is of the utmost importance when the winter weather comes calling.
Whether you’re looking to reach higher peaks and steeper inclines when taking to the mountains on skis, soaking up the crisp cold air on a hike or intending on continuing your summer-born practices by Lime biking to work, ice-cold hands should never be part of the equation.
Protecting your digits will ensure you stay comfortable and focused on the task at hand. When temperatures plummet, our body responds by redirecting blood to the most vital organs and away from our fingers and toes, which makes them the first to feel the chill. A solid pair of winter gloves will play a vital role in your cold-weather wardrobe.
What to consider when shopping for winter gloves:
- Purpose: ski gloves will be thicker and may come in mitten form, while mountaineering will require the use of your hands. For day-to-day use, you may want something with a fashion flair, while for thrill-seeking, durability and performance will be the emphasis.
- Material: the fabric that you will select will depend on your needs. Leather makes for a sophisticated accessory, but fleece is the cosiest option. Elastane allows for a good amount of stretch while technical materials are ideal for adventuring. Cashmere has a lovely skin feel but typically the price tag to match.
- Moisture-wicking and breathability: for your fingers to stay at the optimal temperature, you want performance-enhancing features like the ability to wick away sweat and odour and tactical ventilation to prevent overheating.
- Touchscreen compatibility: in the ‘always on’ age in which we live, it is a major inconvenience to have to de-glove every time you want to check your notifications. Inserts at the index finger and thumb with touch-screen compatibility means you can text, scroll or swipe to crush candies or find your next Tinder date without removing the insulating layer.
Shop the best winter gloves for men and women to see you through the adventure-filled season.
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The North Face Etip Fleece Gloves
For everyday digit-insulating needs, the Etip gloves from The North Face are on hand - literally. The gloves are lauded for their incredibly comfortable feel and warmth without sacrificing phone usage. To ensure the latter is possible, they are fully touchscreen compatible and are fitted with a silicone palm grip insert to help prevent accidental drops.
Buy now £30.00, The North Face
Uniqlo Heattech Lined Touchscreen Gloves
Uniqlo’s Heattech range is renowned for its near-magical ability to insulate bodies in the coldest of climates without overheating. These uber soft and cosy gloves are no different and are lined with fleecy heat absorbent lining.
Buy now £19.90, Uniqlo
RAINS Gloves
Rains has become the go-to outerwear brand when wet conditions strike - an all-too-frequent occurrence in wintry London. Keep hands warm and dry whether you’re battling mist or a torrential downpour with these coated black slip-on gloves, which feature neoprene on the palm side for insulation. The thumb and forefinger is touchscreen compatible.
Buy now £45.00, RAINS
Rapha Brevet Reflective gloves
An upgrade and update of the Explore reflective glove, these have improved comfort and a lighter weight. Aimed at those of us who prefer a longer ride where comfort and protection from the elements is paramount, the palms now use strategically positioned memory foam pads which not only offer ample cushioning but claim to guard against nerve damage. Having carpal tunnel syndrome, I found this especially beneficial.
The palm and thumb areas are also made with an abrasion-resistant suede that is perforated to increase ventilation and insulate your hands against the wind chill, a thin layer of Polartec’s Power Shield Pro fabric has been introduced.
The Brevet bands across the top of the hand are fully reflective for added visibility at night or in low light and the wrist section features a well-designed and streamlined bonded hem with a Velcro closer.
Buy now £85.00, Rapha
Rab Mens Vapour Rise Gloves
Outdoor specialists Rab is all about performance pieces and that extend beyond its outerwear to the accessories too. The Vapour Rise Gloves provide dexterity for thrill seekers, so you can have free movement of your fingers while adventuring. They are cut from a Matrix fabric that is stretchy, a sweat-wicking lining and leather palm for durability. The waterproof gloves also have finger and thumb touchscreen compatibility.
Buy now £50.00, Snow + Rock
Barts Unisex Empire Skigloves Gloves
We were drawn to these gloves for the fluffy detailing but they became a staple in our rotation for their lovely skin feel and five layers of insulation. Fashion and function in equal measure, they are made entirely from cotton with a synthetic layer that is thermoregulating and waterproof.
Buy now £39.99, Amazon
Nike Therma-FIT Tech Fleece
These are some of the bestselling gloves at Nike - and for good reason. They are constructed with the sportswear label’s signature thermal fabric, a lightweight material that is also fleecy. The thumb and finger are touchscreen-compatible.
Buy now £43.00, Nike
Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves
Designed for multipurpose sports and casual activities, these convertible mittens are the ideal pair of winter gloves for those who value practicality above all else. Made from sweater-knit recycled polyester fleece, these toasty gloves are certainly as cosy as they are versatile.
Buy now £50.00, Snow + Rock
Perfect Moment Ski Gloves
Perhaps the most talked about ski brand of the minute, Perfect Moment will deliver some serious slope-cred. Crafted using a super-soft sheepskin, with a water-repellent lining, fleece insulation, and the brand’s signature motif, they’re an adjustable streamline silhouette that will fit under your ski jacket with ease.
Buy now £200.00, Perfect Moment
Uniqlo 100 per cent cashmere gloves
Available in a rainbow’s worth of colours at a wallet-friendly price - especially considering each pair is made from 100 per cent cashmere - you’d be remiss not to pick up a pair of Uniqlo gloves this winter.
Buy now £14.90, Uniqlo
M&S Knitted Gloves with Thermowarmth
A value-for-money pair of gloves with M&S’ signature Thermowarmth lining? Sign us up. We’re big fans of how the ribbing gets more snug around the wrist to ensure proper protection against the elements and the pop of colour.
Buy now £12.00, M&S
Elmer Deep Pile Gloves
Stylish, practical and subtly touchscreen-compatible, these deep pile gloves from Elmer come in an array of delightful colour combinations. Like wearing miniature high-tech fleeces on each hand, the gloves have a 100 per cent wool shell for supreme warmth and a 100 per cent polyester lining for durability and sweat-wicking.
The elasticated ribbed cuff ensures that if you find yourself in snowy and/or rainy conditions, none of that inclement weather can find its way into your mitts. Be warned, only the thumbs on these gloves are suitable for use with a touchscreen. Taking photos on a snowy hike will be a breeze, but typing lengthy texts might be slightly more difficult.
Buy now £39.95, END
Barbour Fleece Coalford Gloves
Barbour’s iconic Coalford gloves are crafted from ultra-soft thermal fleece and feature elasticated cuffs to keep all that precious heat in.
Buy now £36.95, Outdoor and Country
Proviz Reflect360 Touch Screen Reflective Breathable Running Gloves
An essential when the temperature drops below 5°C, every avid runner needs a pair of gloves in their kit drawer. Breathable and lightweight, these are made using a mixture of soft-touch fabrics, a reflective trim to maximise visibility when running at night, and an elastic wrist for a snug fit.
Buy now £22.00, Decathlon
The North Face Men’s Montana Ski Gloves
One for the more casual skiers, The North Face’s gloves are a great design for an even better price. While they lack some of the more premium fabrics, they’re a great waterproof, breathable, and windproof all-rounder. Crafted using recycled fabric, they’re a more sustainable choice than most, and can even be used with a mobile phone.
Buy now £60.00, The North Face
Icebreaker Sierra Real Fleece 260 Glove
For a pair of gloves that can fold up compactly to stuff into your pocket so they’re always on hand, look no further than Icebreaker. The brand is likely best known for its Merino ski-ready base layers and the Sierra Real Fleece 260 Glove can either act as an additional thermal layer under a thicker pair or be worn solo. They too are cut from Merino wool so are highly insulating, odour-resistant and a touch of elastane gives them good stretch.
Buy now £37.00, Snow + Rock
SEALSKINZ Hoveton Unisex Waterproof Sherpa Fleece Glove
Slip your weather-worn digits into these fleece gloves from SEALSKINZ and you’ll be prepared for whatever the winter throws at you. They have a three-layer construction in which one includes a waterproof membrane so they’re as soft as they are practical. The gloves come in three colours and have touchscreen compatibility.
Buy now £37.74, Amazon
John Lewis Cashmere Gloves
The crowd-pleaser. You can’t go wrong with stashing a pair of 100 per cent pure cashmere gloves. The sartorial go-to all winter long, whether you’re burning off mince pies on a Christmas Day walk or strolling through seasonal markets. This pair from John Lewis come in classic shades of navy, black and camel as well as striking red, purple and light pink to suit any occasion.
Buy now £35.00, John Lewis
Moncler Wool Gloves
We’d hate to use the term ‘quiet luxury’, but if the glove fits. Woven from ultra-fine wool in a delicate brioche stitch pattern and finished with a classic logo patch, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Moncler gloves this winter.
Buy now £200.00, Moncler
Aspinal of London Men’s Cashmere Lined Leather Gloves
Considering that Aspinal of London’s leather goods are of the highest quality, it’s always a surprise to see such a reasonable price tag. Cut from supple nappa leather with a cashmere and wool blend lining, they’re a timeless pair of gloves that will last you a lifetime.
Buy now £110.00, Aspinal of London
Aspiga Touchscreen Wool & Cashmere Blend Gloves
Proving that tech-ready gloves don’t have to be boring, these beautiful wool and cashmere blend gloves by Aspiga will work with any piece of touchscreen technology. Made in Spain, each glove features a delightful complimentary leather trim and loop detail. Though available in five different hues, we think navy is the most versatile.
Buy now £35.00, Aspiga
Belstaff Clinch gloves
Some motorcycle gloves may tick all the boxes when it comes to safety but fall a little short when it comes to comfort. These Belstaff Clinch gloves ensure both sides of the coin are equally satisfied, with a softer design that places an emphasis on skin-feel even on the very longest of rides.
They feature leather-covered flexible knuckle protectors, a padded heel and side of the hand for protection, touch-sensitive leather at the index fingers to keep them touch-phone friendly and a waterproof coating for rainy days.
Buy now £110.00, Belstaff
