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Nov 09, 2024

The Best Ski Gloves of 2025 | SKI

The Ski Magazine and Outside Tv Ski Test is held at Mt Rose Ski Area March 2024 Photo: Emily Tidwell Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for

The Ski Magazine and Outside Tv Ski Test is held at Mt Rose Ski Area March 2024 Photo: Emily Tidwell

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}">Download the app.

You’re only as comfortable as your extremities. Cold, wet hands can ruin an otherwise lovely ski day, while warm, dry gloves can turn a storm day into a bell-to-bell powder party. Whether you’re a vert hound heading uphill at race pace before sunrise, a mid-morning lift-lapper, or an all-day-every-day backcountry diehard, we’ve got you covered with the best of 2025’s ski gloves and mittens.

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$180 at Evo $180 at Oyuki

Sizes: XS-XL (unisex)Shell: Goatskin leather with patches of four-way stretch softshell plus Gore-Tex waterproof membraneInsulation: 140-gram Primaloft on the top of the hand, 80-gram Primaloft on the palm; tricot lining

Pros and Cons⊕ Removable inner glove⊕ Extremely waterproof⊕ Long gauntlet⊗ Pricey

This Japanese brand’s gloves are, unsurprisingly, dialed for storm riding. The Arashi GTX glove was remarkably water-resistant, even on wet Pacific Northwest days. A removable fleece liner insulated with 60-gram PrimaLoft Gold keeps things cozy and reduces time on the drying rack after a big day. Soft, flexible goatskin leather through the hand and the palm offers great dexterity and durability, and an extended wrist cuff is ideal for skiers who like to pull their gloves over their sleeves. This heavy-duty glove is a great choice for skiers who run cold, guides who spend long days outside, and anyone venturing deep into the backcountry.

$150 at Backcountry $150 at Evo

Sizes: S-XXL (men’s)Shell: Goatskin leatherInsulation: Bluesign-approved Primaloft with moisture-wicking lining

Pros and Cons⊕ Good dexterity⊕ Excellent range of motion⊗ Might be too warm for some

The lobster claw really is all it’s cracked up to be, offering the dexterity of a glove and the warmth of a mitten. These became a go-to for lift-accessed skiing with lots of hike-to terrain, striking the right balance of warmth for uphill and downhill movement. They’re all leather, with well-designed articulation across the back of the hand for a full range of motion and reinforced panels on the fingers for extra protection. A soft patch on the thumb makes for easy, comfortable nose- and goggle-wiping, and the low-profile cuff fits neatly inside your jacket sleeves. These gloves offered a nice balance of breathability and warmth while bootpacking lap after lap at Taos.

$120 at Backcountry (Men’s) $120 at REI (Women’s)

Sizes: S-XL (men’s); XS-L (women’s)Shell: Goatskin leatherInsulation: Primaloft Gold insulation with fleece lining

Pros and Cons⊕ Stylish⊕ Stretchy neoprene cuff with Velcro closure⊕ Good dexterity for a mitten⊗ Some might not like the internal finger slots

Full disclosure: I’m not a mitten gal. I’ll happily test them, but I always turn to gloves or lobsters for my daily drivers. Then I met the Spark Mitts. It helps that they look good—a sleek, waterproof leather outer mitt, with a couple of colorblock options, as we’ve come to expect from Black Diamond. But the well-articulated construction, with reinforced padding on the back of the hand and internal finger slots, made these mittens feel almost as functional as gloves when unzipping bibs for a backcountry bathroom break or tightening ski boots at the top of a techy line. They were warm enough for most in-bounds ski days in the Rockies above 20-ish degrees Fahrenheit, and a low-profile cuff tucked neatly inside jacket sleeves.

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Stay warm this winter with Chaval Outdoor’s SuperNova heated gloves and mitts ($425). Enjoy warmth that lasts up to three times longer than any other brand, plus ALPHAHEAT technology that automatically regulates to produce the perfect level of comfort, even in sub-zero temps.

$110 at Ortovox (Men’s) $110 at Ortovox (Women’s)

Sizes: XS-XXL (men’s); XS-L (women’s)Shell: Pertex Quantum ProInsulation: 50-percent recycled merino wool with a 100-percent merino lining

Pros and Cons⊕ Versatile⊕ Merino next to skin⊕ Easy-access vent on back of hand⊗ Not super warm

It’s hard to get an uphill glove right: breathability and warmth are often at odds, leaving you with either sweaty paws or chilly fingers. That’s why the Tour Pro is so ingenious: a stowable wind-mitt stays rigged and ready at your wrist, so when you’re taking a breather on the uphill—or you’re making a rapid transition to ski downhill—you can quickly and easily add warmth. They became one tester’s go-to on chilly morning ski tours, and performed well on a trip to Alaska in the early spring. The merino wool liner stays warm even when wet, and the durable outer with extra reinforcement on the thumb and forefinger holds up well to heavy use throughout the winter.

$110 at Skida

Sizes: S-XL (women’s)Shell: Goatskin leatherInsulation: 100-percent recycled polyester fleece

Pros and Cons⊕ Great warmth-to-weight ratio⊕ Stylish⊕ Eco-friendly⊗ Wrist cuff is on the shorter side

Two beloved small companies collaborated to make this low-profile, stylish mitten. Skida, a woman-owned hat and accessories brand out of Vermont, is known for bright, fun patterns, which adorn simple, uphill-ready hats and buffs. Vermont Glove has been making durable, functional gloves for over a century. Together they created a cozy mitten with a buttery goat-leather outer that keeps you dry in wet conditions and a sewn-in shearling fleece liner that wicks sweat during hard use. A colorful paracord cinch strap adds a little Skida flair and a secure fit. It was a tester favorite for cold backcountry laps and resort skiing, offering remarkable warmth for its light weight on a blustery late-season storm day.

$120 at Backcountry $120 at Flylow

Sizes: XS-XXL (unisex)Shell: Goatskin leatherInsulation: 60-gram Greenloft insulation with brushed tricot polyester lining

Pros and Cons⊕ Wicking⊕ Eco-friendly⊕ Adjustable, low-profile neoprene cuff⊗ Lobster design not for everyone

Flylow upped its glove game last year, releasing a line of burly, feature-filled gloves and mittens that carry the same down-to-earth energy as the classic work gloves from their early years—but better engineered and designed. This leather-and-synthetic lobster mitt features a neat under-the-sleeve cuff for colder temperatures, catering to skiers who prefer to keep things low-profile at their wrists. One tester who works in excavation liked them so much he started wearing them as his winter work glove. The three-finger design struck a nice balance between dexterity and warmth, and a brushed-tricot polyester lining kept us warm even when our palms started sweating at the top of a line. Those who prefer a long gauntlet should check out Flylow’s Super D Lobster mitt ($125).

When it comes to winter hand-wear, everyone has different preferences: mittens or gloves? Down or synthetic? Lightweight or heavy duty? Over or under the cuff? We tested pieces from every category in mountain ranges across North America. At the end of the season, we tallied up notes and scores from our group of hard-charging testers. Then we did our best to highlight standouts that will fit every type of skier and winter athlete, whether you run hot or cold.

Lead tester Abigail Barronian is a skier based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and a senior editor at Outside Magazine. She has a penchant for dawn patrol ski tours, bell-to-bell lift laps, long days in the backcountry, and springtime volcano ski missions.

Sean Horner is a physical therapist and avid skier based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He’s a two-time NCAA All-American in Alpine Ski Racing who has since turned his sights to big, bold backcountry lines in Alaska, the Rockies, and beyond.

Ski gloves are not one-size-fits-all. Chances are high that your preferences are different from your ski buddy’s, and your own needs will change based on the weather and your objectives. A few things are constant, though: you’ll want to look for durability, dexterity, and a snug, comfortable fit. Leather palms offer better durability in high-wear areas than synthetic blends. Thoughtful seam placement and articulations on the front and back of the glove will help with fit and range of motion. Then, think about your own specific needs: Do you run hot or cold? Do you ski in Wyoming or California? Over-the-sleeve cuffs tend to be a little warmer and burlier, and better-insulated gloves are ideal for chilly skiers in colder climes. In the backcountry, you’ll want something breathable on the way up, and dexterity will be more important than at the resort for fast transitions. If you regularly storm ski, build jumps, or dig around to evaluate the snowpack, you’ll want to look for a glove with Gore-Tex.

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