Winter gloves buying guide

Want to protect your hands from freezing winds and icy cold weather? Winter gloves are here to the rescue. These gloves save your fingers from severe injuries and provide proper comfort to your fingers while you are working in harsh cold conditions.

While selecting the best fit for your hands, you must consider different factors. Gathering all the information about several factors can be a tiresome job. To ease this process, a detailed buying guide comes in handy.

A comprehensive buying guide contains all the necessary information about the product's characteristics, which aid you in selecting an ultimate product. But first, let us wrap our head around the product's description.

What are winter gloves? Why should you use them?

It is essential to keep your hands warm in icy situations. You must wear the right pair of gloves during the winter season, especially if you are going skiing or trekking.

Though the gloves always do not go well with your outfit without them, it will be difficult for your hands to work. Only covering your hands properly can protect them from the winter.

Typically, a pair of woolen gloves will be useful until you are staying outdoors or using your hands for scraping ice, etc. But when it comes to freezing weather, you must need robust hand gloves to hold the warmth of your hands.

Also, these gloves can be used for different purposes, so you must consider the environment beforehand. Make sure the gloves you are buying are suitable for driving, working, using your mobile, and more.

Why lookout for a buying guide before selecting appropriate winter gloves?

Investing money in the poor quality product and then crying about it is not the right decision. Before selecting the winter gloves, you must consider critical factors that alter its performance.

In this guide, you will find all the essential characteristics which must be understood properly before selecting a pair. Go through all the listed points and make an informed decision.

Let us now dive into the pool of in-depth information about different characteristics of the product.

Types of winter gloves

A wide variety of gloves are available in the market that can be used for different winter activities. Not all gloves have the same features, so you must know about different types of gloves in detail.

1. Fleece gloves

Synthetic fiber is used to design these gloves. They are thick enough to provide maximum warmth to your fingers.

But they are not waterproof and can not protect your hands from chilling winds.

2. Liner gloves

As these gloves are made out of stretchy knit elements, they provide warmth and comfort as well. You can use them for moderate and high activities because of their water and wind-resistant features. Also, you can wear these gloves with other gloves for extra insulation.

3. Softshell gloves

Although these gloves are lightweight and soft, they are resistant to wind. Moreover, these gloves are adequate in protecting your hands from snow and water. Therefore, they are perfect to be used for moderated and low activities.

4. Insulated gloves

Insulated material like synthetic fibers or man-made fabric is used to make these gloves, which can soak up your body heat properly. The exterior part of the gloves is waterproof and resistant to water. You can use these gloves in icy and wet conditions.

Winter gloves VS Mittens

Commonly, mittens are renowned for their great warmth. However, people prefer gloves to mittens for agility and versatility. Mittens provide your fingers with consistent heat, but because of the higher dexterity of gloves, you can comfortably hold your phone, lip balm, zippers, buckles, etc.

Gloves are mainly used for skiing, trekking, or snowboarding. If your main priority is to keep your hand warm in the coldest weather, you can go for mittens.

When it comes to technical climbing like ice climbing, you must hold the climbing gears with a firm grip. Gloves are more effective than mittens to ensure a secure and comfortable grip.

You can also look for the "lobster claw" design that makes your index finger free for better dexterity but feels like a mitten.

Points to ponder while purchasing winter gloves

Size

When you are about to buy a pair of winter gloves, you must consider the size of the gloves. Without the right fit, it will feel very uncomfortable to wear.

There are four typical types of these gloves, including small, medium, large, extra-large. But what creates the problem is the different measurements of different clothing companies. Simply put, not all the companies have the same measurement, so it is possible that your size is small with a company, but it changes into a medium with others.

It will be better to follow the sizing chart of a particular company before making a purchase. You should check the gloves' snug fit so that they are not too large or too small for your hands.

Also, some gloves are designed with an in-built seam or seal around the wrist, which has a wide variety, including elastic band, cuff, strap, etc. to make sure you can tighten the gloves according to your convenience.

Materials

Choosing the right material for your winter gloves is essential because several factors depend on the quality of the build materials.

The materials used in designing the gloves indicate the dexterity of the gloves. Also, gloves made up of standard quality materials are more capable of keeping your hands dry and warm properly.

Four major types of materials are commonly used in constructing the gloves, and all of them have some benefits and drawbacks. Below we discuss the four types of materials in details –

1. Cotton flannel

Cotton is mainly used for insulated gloves because it works as a good insulator that is able to hold your body heat for a long time.

Cotton flannel is made of cotton fibers which are weaved loosely, and thus air is caught up between the fibers.

However, people are less likely to choose cotton as it absorbs the body heat quickly.

Cotton is able to absorb 27 times more than its weight, so it can not hold the body heat. It creates a lot of difficulties in the coldest weather.

2. Boa acrylic

Boa acrylic is a little heavy but can be an excellent choice for winter insulated gloves.

When dexterity is not the primary concern, you can go for this material. It is suitable for light activity and comes within your budget too.

3. Thinsulate

Thinsulate is a high-grade synthetic fiber that is used in thin work hand gloves for the cold situation.

This is not as bulky as Boa acrylic but provides excellent insulation for the users. Though Thinsulate is costlier than any other accessible materials, it will be worthy of better dexterity.

You will find different types of Thinsulate, so you should choose the right type according to the application, genetic makeup, and environmental conditions.

4. Leather

Leather provides more durability to the gloves, but in terms of dexterity, this does not work with effectiveness. Leather is resistant to water, and if you maintain carefully leather gloves will surely last long.

As leather is both waterproof and windproof, it will keep your hand warm even in the coldest weather, and it will keep your hand dry as well.

For leather, it takes a little more time for break-in, so initially, you may feel it difficult to move your hands.

Though leather ensures a tighter grip, you can select a dotted or rubberized material for the palm to secure your grip.

Insulation

Insulation is one of the most crucial factors that you can not overlook while buying your winter gloves. The primary purpose of using these gloves is to keep your hand warm. There are several forms of insulation that have a vital role in keeping the warmth intact.

Nevertheless, you should consider some essential aspects, including gender, age, activity level, and metabolic rate, before choosing insulated gloves. For example, if you have an issue of overheating, you should not buy a glove having too much or too little insulation.

Moreover, knowing how insulation works may help you to make the right choice. A good pair of gloves can trap air, which helps to keep the hands warm in freezing conditions. For thermal insulation, make sure the gloves can trap air without moisture.

If the temperature is above 20°F, you should choose 80 to 100 grams. For cold weather, 100 to 200 grams will be a perfect choice. When you are in the extreme cold having a glove within a range of 200 to 400 grams will protect your hands the best.

Fitting of winter gloves

You must get the right fit of the gloves so that you can use them without any discomfort. In order to find the exact fit, you should keep some factors in mind.

1. Fingertips

You should always check if there is enough room between the fingers. Also, the end portion of the glove should be large. It helps to trap the air to increase the warmth around the fingertips.

2. The base of the fingertips

The glove should fit appropriately at the base of your fingers. Do not choose a glove that is crammed. It means the air is not appropriately trapped, so it does not provide better insulation and makes your hands cold faster.

3. Wrist

You need to check the length of the gloves that can be extended up to the jackets to cover the exposed skin area entirely.

Weather-resistant

If you do not consider the weather conditions where you are going to use your winter gloves, it will be troublesome to use the gloves in a significant way. Therefore, you must check the weather while choosing the gloves.

Especially when you are planning to stay outside or looking for technical climbing, you should pay attention to the weather-resistant feature of the gloves. Outdoor activities like shoveling the or scraping ice require a good pair of gloves that can withstand the elements easily.

In case you live in an area where it rains most of the time, you will need to choose a waterproof glove. So, when you are picking up the gloves, make sure that they are able to meet all your requirements appropriately and that you need to deal with the harsh weather.

Dexterity

Deeming the dexterous feature of the winter insulated gloves is also very essential as it is closely related to the functionality of the gloves. When you are looking for the right insulation, you should check the control you can have over your hand movements.

Most of the people are likely to have heavily insulated gloves that can safeguard your hands and fingers from the coldest temperature. However, they are not ideal for outdoor activities like ice climbing. Also, it can impede your hand movement while working with tools.

To get more dexterity, you should choose a stretchable fabric that can handle the cold weather without any hassles.

Closure system

The additional closure system of the winter gloves comes with some extra benefits for the users. You will find different models designed with various closure systems, including drawstring, fleece cuffs, elastic cuffs, etc.

Though it depends on the material and design of the gloves, some gloves are equipped with all these systems.

Many gloves used for winter have zipper closures offering extra space for more warmth. Elastic cuffs are found in those gloves which are used for light activity in less cold weather. Some gloves use elastic cuffs so that they can fit adequately under mittens.

If you are wearing the gloves in colder weather, make sure they do not allow the snow and chilly wind to get in and help your hands stay warm.

Cuff style

The cuff style of the winter gloves also meters, which means you should not neglect this feature when choosing your gloves. It is incredibly important to select the right cuff style so that snow can not get into your jacket and helps you stay warm.

1. Gauntlet

A gauntlet cuff is typically a little longer than the usual cuff style, and it can be extended up to the sleeve's cuff. It cinches the upper side so that it can keep snow out of your jacket.

But, it is better to check your jacket's sleeves to make sure they are adjustable enough. It will be difficult for full or bulky jacket sleeves to accommodate the cuff with the jacket sleeves.

2. Under cuff

Under cuff, gloves have a shorter length, but they are popular among the fashion enthusiasts. The cuff length reaches up to your wrist so you can move your hands conveniently.

However, you should give importance to the closure; otherwise, it will let the snow get inside the jacket. For the gloves having the under cuff design, you must wear a coat with a wide sleeve that can cinch over your gloves.

Extra patches

It might seem a simple thing, but having a winter glove with additional patches can protect it from damages effectively.

Usually, the palm area of the gloves is designed with extra patches. Also, make sure that the knuckles are correctly reinforced. It will make sure that the gloves will not get torn easily.

However, you should check that the patches are not too thick or bulky. It not only does add extra weight to the gloves but also reduces the mobility of your hand.

Additional features

1. Touchscreen compatibility

Needless to say, the gloves you are selecting must be compatible with the touchscreen. It means the gloves are practical to be used with different touchscreen devices such as mobile and other electronic devices.

Most of the gloves compatibly work with several mobile phones, including the iPhone and the newest Galaxy phone. Furthermore, you are allowed to access different electronic gadgets like music players, laptops, or tablets.

You can get quality gloves equipped with touchscreen compatibility within a pocket-friendly range, and it does not impact on other functionalities of the gloves.

2. Fingerless gloves

If the warmth is not an issue for you, then fingerless gloves can be the right choice for you. They do not offer a lot of warmth but allow your hands to move freely.

The palm area is padded enough to support you in the best possible way for higher usability. Another significant advantage of using these fingerless gloves is that you do not need to remove the gloves to complete any work.

So, if you are living in a moderately cold temperature instead of extreme conditions, you can choose the fingerless gloves without any doubts.

3. Leashes

This feature will be handy for those people who have the habits of taking off their gloves frequently. However, you can also use the gloves designed with leashes for hassle-free use.

Some gloves come with an attached wrist cord, but they also have the same functionality as leashes. If your gloves are equipped with leashes, you will not have to worry about accidental drops of the gloves, and you can free your hands comfortably.

So, it is recommended to find out your gloves with attached leashes.

4. Handwarmer pockets

Though you have chosen the best insulator for your gloves, it will be better to go for the handwarmer pockets to add more warmth to your hands.

Especially if your hands get cold very quickly, choosing the handwarmer pockets will be advantageous for you. These are some small pockets placed on the top of your gloves, which means you do not need to adjust with the mobility.

Moreover, these pockets will be handy in adding breathability to the gloves in warmer conditions.

5. Battery-powered heat

This feature will make you happy if you love adventures. During colder weather conditions, it is a little difficult to explore new things, but if you can find some heated gloves that keep your hand warm all the time.

These battery-powered gloves are absolutely perfect for those people who want to heat up their fingers effortlessly. If your hands are not comfortable in the cold, you can choose this extra feature.

These gloves are a little more expensive than the non-heated gloves. However, when it provides warmth to your fingers all the time, it will definitely be worth your money.

6. Removable liners

Gloves designed with removable liners help to dry faster besides providing extra warmth. You can get the liners with gloves and even buy them separately.

But always be careful while lining your ski gloves. You never want them to be too crowded for your fingers as it will disrupt the natural circulation of blood. Do not make them too tight so that you can move your hands without any issues.

FAQs

1. What is the process of cleaning winter gloves?

Winter gloves can be cleaned using both machine-wash or hand-wash techniques. However, the specific cleaning method depends largely on the material of which the gloves are made of. For example, leather gloves need to be washed with hands only.

2. How are fingerless gloves good for keeping hands insulated?

Fingerless gloves can keep your hands insulated and warm as they cover the palm and wrist. The temperature of blood under these areas becomes warmer. Thus, this warmth aids in keeping your fingers warm and comfortable.

3. Why should I opt for liner gloves?

Liners are properly-fitting with a sleek design. They are ideal for different winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, etc.

Also, they add an extra protective layer for proper insulation. It helps in covering the bare skin in the best way. Also, they are very lightweight, which assists in performing different activities efficiently.

4. Are mittens a replacement for winter gloves?

No, mittens cannot be used in place of gloves as they lack the flexibility of operation. So, you can opt for them only when you are completely free and do not require the use of your fingers. In contrast, gloves can be worn at both times while working as well as while relaxing.

Final Words

Freezing winds and icy cold temperatures can make your fingers susceptible to frostbite and many other severe injuries. To protect your hands, you must choose the best quality winter gloves.

In this comprehensive guide, we have presented all the necessary information you will require to select an elite pair of gloves. Arm your hands with ultimate protection and keep them safe.