Black Diamond

Product Information

Reviewers really loved that the heating wires were woven into the liner rather than between the liner and the outer shell glove, like many other heated gloves on the market. And the battery life isn’t shabby, either—they last about 8 hours on the “low” setting, about 4.5 hours on the “medium” setting, and about 2.5 hours on the “high” setting. (Most other heated gloves only last up to 2.5 hours, too!) Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Shell/Material, Cuff Type, Insulation, Warmth. Mitten Editor’s Note: We updated our winter mittens buyer’s guide on September 21, 2023, adding 14 sections and 5 FAQs and reworking several additional sections in the buyer’s guide to support buyer education. The Best Winter Mittens of 2023-2024

Thindown is a constructed fabric made of natural goose down rather than the down being stuffed between layers of textile in a traditional baffled design. While assessing the quality of a pair of gloves or mittens, we consider warmth, waterproofing, durability, comfort, fit, versatility, style, and overall value. We make an effort to test every pair of gloves in a variety of conditions over many days of field testing. Once a year, the whole team gets together to ski for a week and compare notes on our favorite products. This roundup is a living document — whenever a new pair of mittens earns a spot, we’ll update the list. With attentive care, good mittens like the Burton Women’s GORE-TEX Under Mittens can last many seasons; (photo/Eric Phillips) Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Winter Mittens Types of Mittens These gloves have PrimaLoft insulation in both the liner and the shell (340 grams, and 170 grams, respectively) to insulate against harsh conditions. You can also cinch them to fit onto your hand more easily, and the inner liner uses velcro to secure around your wrist more easily. The leather palm provides plenty of grip, and the three-panel thumb construction allows for even better dexterity to grab gear. We like the longer cuff for its all-around sturdy construction, which kept snow from sneaking in.

Performance Comparison

In our experience, mittens don’t change our ability to grip a ski pole; (photo/Jason Hummel) How We Tested Winter Mittens In line with current health and safety guidelines, we reserve the right to refuse any items that are (for whatever reason) not returned to us in a clean and hygienic condition. One of our lead testers has found that Burton’s kids’ gloves are durable, based on years of experience teaching students in an outdoor class with activities like climbing and digging — usually, their miniature Burton gloves hold up well. If you’re seeking the highest level of waterproofing mittens can offer, be sure to select a style with a GORE-TEX (or similar brand) membrane, like the Outdoor Research Alti II GORE-TEX Mitts. All leather options, like the Give’r Frontier Mittens or the Flylow Oven Mitt, won’t provide full waterproofing, but with an additional wax coating, you’ll get pretty close. The Stio Hardscrabble Mitts are low-profile yet very warm; (photo/Eric Phillips) Sizing

Gear Institute called the Guide Gloves “heavy duty work-horse gloves that will last years and keep your hands warm in nearly any condition.” They also mentioned the sacrifice of dexterity for bulk and warmth but deemed it a worthy sacrifice. The glove profile is a huge perception to consider when looking for your next pair of gloves. Some people prefer a sleek, thin profile; others don’t mind a bulky glove if it means they’ll be warm. An under-the-sleeve design provides a lower profile — much like the Hestra Fall Line Gloves or Kinco Pigskin Leather Gloves. If you can’t guarantee that down for a product is harvested in a cruelty-free way, you can also opt for synthetic down. Fix small tears: If you notice minor tears or holes in the gloves, you can repair them using a patch kit designed for ski gear. Follow the kit's instructions carefully to ensure a secure fix. While they will perform with a little bit of water, if you are skiing in an area prone to wet conditions and wet snow, these might not hold up. In particular, the leather palm has no water resistance, which can lead to it soaking through to your hand, which can hurt the mittens ability to keep your hands warm. The Alternatives

Touchscreen compatible liner glove, nose wipe, removable leash, glove clip, carabiner loop, cinchable gauntlet You can pair a liner with your mittens for additional warmth. A glove liner also allows you to pull the mitten off and use your fingers for tasks that require a fine touch, all without directly exposing your skin to the cold air and risking dropping your heat too low. Avoid choosing gloves that fit tightly anywhere on your hand. This can lead to restricted blood flow and colder hands. It can also reduce the glove's dexterity by reducing how much you can bend your fingers. If the fit is too big, the glove can feel sloppy. From there, you’ll want to consider whether you will be layering gloves underneath (leave some room), or wearing the gloves as a standalone piece (aim for fitted comfort). Sizing We researched gloves that had withstood not only temperature tests but rugged use, too. For that, we looked to guides, outdoor professionals, rescue workers, and the military for their take on “heavy hitters” that could handle a hard day on the slopes, as well as a hard day’s work. DEXTERITY