The 10 Best Winter Gloves [2021 Reviews – Mens & Womens]

Keep your fingers warm and look good this winter with this stylish selection of the warmest winter gloves

Our Editors independently research, test, and rate what we feel are the best products. We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases.

In this side-by-side product review Outside Pursuits leads you through everything you need to know in order to pick the best winter gloves for your specific needs and winter weather environment.

We’ll take a look at what makes a great winter gloves product and what to avoid. Also see How To Choose The Best Winter Gloves  later in the article. What are the top-rated best cold weather winter gloves for the money?

Best Winter Gloves

 Best Men’s Winter GlovesBest Women’s Winter GlovesBest Winter Work Gloves
MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Men’s Winter Gloves
MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Women’s Winter Gloves
Wells Lamont Men's Hydrahyde Winter Work Gloves
editors choice
WaterproofYESYESWater-Resistant
Best for Operating machinery, motorcycle, winter sportsSnow sports, long expeditions, extreme snow stormsWinter weather work, using tools, shoveling etc.
Special FeaturesGauntlet-length glovesGauntlet-length glovesExtra-durable palms
Customer Ratings4.9 / 5.0 Stars4.4 / 5.0 Stars4.0 / 5.0 Stars

Also see: Winter Gloves Comparison Table


Quick Answer: The 10 Best-Rated Winter Gloves

Best Men’s Winter Gloves

  1. MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Men’s Winter Gloves
  2. Dakine Men’s Nova Gloves
  3. Men’s Luxury Touchscreen Italian Genuine Leather Fly Hawk Gloves
  4. Gordini Men’s Polar Glove

Best Women’s Winter Gloves

  1. MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Women’s Winter Thinsulate Touch Screen Gloves
  2. Women’s Columbia Fast Trek Glove
  3. Isotoner Women’s Smartouch Chenille Knit Gloves
  4. Columbia Women’s Pearl Plush Glove

Best Winter Work Gloves

  1. Wells Lamont Men’s Hydrahyde Winter Work Gloves
  2. Ski Gloves Winter Insulated Glove 3M Thinsulate Leather for Men Women
  3. Ironclad Ranchworx Glove

 Best Winter Gloves Reviews

Best Men’s Winter Gloves

#1 MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Men’s Winter Gloves

winter gloves for men

  • Best For: Operating machinery, driving a motorbike or motorcycle, or participating in winter sports
  • Shell Fabric: Three layer composite softshell to prevent cold air and snow from getting in
  • Inner Lining Fabric: 3mm foam palm cushion to reduce shock-impact and relieve hand fatigue
  • Closure: Adjustable wrist buckles and drawstrings
  • Insulation: Heat-trapping system: 150 grams G-type 3M “Thinsulate”
  • Temperature: N/A
  • Grip: 3D reinforced PU leather fingers
  • Moisture Management: FAN-TEX insert wicks away moisture to keep hands dry
  • Waterproof: Yes; FAN-TEX waterproof TPU
  • Windproof: Yes; windproof polyester technology
  • Color Options: Black or Grey
  • Size Options: Small – X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care: Wash by hand. Soak in soapy water, rub and wash, and then dry in a shaded area. Do not clean with hot water, strong acids, or bleach. Try not to wash too often.

The MCTi Work Gloves are the best winter gloves for extreme cold. They are lightweight, but have all the insulation you need to tough out working in extreme conditions, or spending a full day on the mountain.

best winter gloves

They are fairly thick but offer the dexterity you need for driving or maneuvering equipment. They are flexible, and will last you for years to come.


#2 Dakine Men’s Nova Gloves

  • Best For: Skiing, snowboarding, shoveling, alpine and winter expeditions
  • Shell Fabric: Polyester with durable water repellent (DWR) treatment
  • Inner Lining Fabric: No glove liner
  • Closure: Adjustable buckle strap
  • Insulation:High loft synthetic [Glove 110/230g]
  • Temperature: Can be worn in up to -20 Degrees Celsius
  • Grip: Palm durable water repellent leather
  • Moisture Management: N/A
  • Waterproof: Yes; DK Dry™ waterproof insert
  • Windproof: Yes
  • Color Options: Black, black and tan, or carbon grey
  • Size Options:Small – X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care:Machine washable; hang to dry. Dry at room temperature.

If you hate taking the time to hand wash things, you’re in luck. These are one of the best cold weather gloves we’ve found, and they are machine washable! They are comfortable and keep you warm for a full day of skiing, snowboarding, tubing, or whatever winter activity you fancy.

These gloves don’t come with a liner, so you may want to purchase one if you plan on being in extremely cold weather for long periods of time.

Bonus: Dakine offers a 2-year limited warranty with their men’s winter gloves.


#3  Men’s Luxury Touchscreen Italian Genuine Leather Fly Hawk Gloves

  • Best For: Anyone wanting touchscreen compatible winter gloves
  • Shell Fabric:Genuine Nappa leather
  • Inner Lining Fabric: Cashmere/Polyester fiber
  • Closure: Wrist snaps
  • Insulation:Cashmere lining
  • Temperature: Can be worn in up to -20 Degrees Celsius
  • Grip: Leather (good for driving)
  • Moisture Management: N/A
  • Waterproof: Leather is not treated for water
  • Windproof: N/A
  • Color Options: Black or brown
  • Size Options:Small – 2X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care:Dry cleaning recommended. Can iron on low heat. Do not put in drier or wash with bleach or oil products.
If you need a warm pair of hand gloves for winter but don’t want to sacrifice style, these are a great option.

These tight-fit leather gloves are quite slim and look stylish, but you can still rely on them to keep you warm in -20 Degrees Celsius weather. You can still use your touchscreen phone with these gloves on, but they don’t have the best grip for handling sports equipment or machinery.

These are beautiful leather gloves, and as such, you need to be careful. The manufacturer recommends keeping them out of the direct sun and avoiding rubbing the gloves on sharp or rough objects.


#4 Gordini Men’s Polar Glove

  • Best For: Skiing, snowboarding, shoveling, alpine and winter expeditions
  • Shell Fabric:Genuine deerskin with “breathe weave” stretch woven fabric (96% nylon and 4% spandex) and faux suede trim
  • Inner Lining Fabric: Lavawool® lining on the palm with thermo-plush on the back of the hand
  • Closure: Wrist cinch
  • Insulation:Naturaloft® insulation package: 600 fill power of 70% goose down and 30% waterfowl feathers on back of hand, with Megaloft® insulation on the palm side
  • Temperature: 0-Degree weather
  • Grip: Fingers are genuine deerskin; palm and thumb patch are made of “breathe weave” stretch woven fabric with reinforcement
  • Moisture Management: Lavawool® moisture management system lining on the palm with thermo-plush on the back of the hand
  • Waterproof: Yes; Aquabloc® technology
  • Windproof: Yes; Aquabloc® technology
  • Color Options: Black, black and gold, or black and grey
  • Size Options:Small – 2X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care:Hand wash
If you are looking for men’s winter gloves that are plush, soft and warm, but offer enough dexterity to still grip a shovel or a ski pole, these gloves are for you.

They are incredibly comfortable and warm; they are a bit “puffier” than some of the other cold weather gloves we’ve reviewed, but they do exactly what they are supposed to do.

The Polar Glove runs a bit small, so we recommend ordering a size up.


Best Women’s Winter Gloves

#1 MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Women’s Winter Thinsulate Touch Screen Gloves

winter gloves for women

  • Best For: Snow sports, long expeditions, extreme snow storms
  • Shell Fabric:Windproof polyester, waterproof composite softshell TPU
  • Inner Lining Fabric: Thinsulate membrane insert
  • Closure: Adjustable wrist buckle and drawstring
  • Insulation:40 grams 3M Thinsulate with 140 grams warm cotton insulation
  • Temperature: Subzero -20
  • Grip: Premium Anti-slip PU leather enhance grip and prevent daily wear and tear
  • Moisture Management: Yes; TPU membrane insert that wicks away moisture
  • Waterproof: Yes; Waterproof composite softshell surface
  • Windproof: Yes; windproof polyester
  • Color Options: Black and: grey, red, rose red, or yellow
  • Size Options:Medium or large
  • Cleaning and Care: Hand wash
Not only are these winter gloves for women incredibly warm and protect from water, wind, and moisture, but they have touchscreen fingers so you can use your phone while on the slopes!

best winter gloves

To be honest, we were a bit disappointed with the lack of extreme cold weather gloves for women. There’s just not as many options for women as there are for men. That being said, these gloves are exceptional and have all of the features any winter-sport enthusiast would want.


#2 Women’s Columbia Fast Trek Glove

  • Best For: Cold weather walks, sledding, and tubing
  • Shell Fabric:100% polyester micro fleece, 250g
  • Inner Lining Fabric: N/A
  • Closure: Elasticized wrist and security clip
  • Insulation:Shell; 100% polyester micro fleece, 250g
  • Temperature: 0-Degree weather
  • Grip: Abrasion resistant palm
  • Moisture Management: No
  • Waterproof: No
  • Windproof: No
  • Color Options: Black, chalk, pink, or blue
  • Size Options:Small – X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care: Machine washable
These are super comfortable, slim-fitting gloves. They are excellent for day-to-day use in cold weather. We love how they are easy to clean, and quick to put on and take off.

These aren’t waterproof, windproof, or have moisture management, so they aren’t a good glove for a snowball fight or other activities where your hands will be in contact with snow.


  • Best For: Anyone who wants to use their touchscreen phone in cold weather
  • Shell Fabric:100% acrylic
  • Inner Lining Fabric: Thermaflex fleece lining
  • Closure: Elasticized wrist
  • Insulation:Thermaflex fleece lining
  • Temperature: Not specified
  • Grip: Non-slip palm grip
  • Moisture Management: No
  • Waterproof: No
  • Windproof: No
  • Color Options: Black, ivory, oxford heather or ultra violet
  • Size Options:Small – X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care: Hand wash
These are similar to Columbia’s Women’s Fast Trek Glove in terms of fit, warmness and functionality. These, however, are touch screen compatible. With a non-slip palm, you can use your cell phone in the cold outdoors without worrying about dropping it.


  • Best For: Cold weather walks, sledding, and tubing
  • Shell Fabric:100% polyester
  • Inner Lining Fabric: N/A
  • Closure: Elasticized wrist and security clip
  • Insulation:N/A
  • Temperature: Not specified
  • Grip: None
  • Moisture Management: No
  • Waterproof: No
  • Windproof: No
  • Color Options: Black, nocturnal, purple dahlia, night shade or bright plum
  • Size Options: Small – X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care: Hand wash
If you want seriously soft winter gloves for ladies, you won’t find a pair softer than these. They are lightweight and perfect for daily use when commuting to and from work, walking the dog, or taking the kids sledding.

They are easy to slip on and off, but you’ll need to wash these by hand.Like Columbia’s Fast Trek Glove and Isotoner’s Smart-Touch Glove, these aren’t waterproof, windproof, or have any moisture resistance. If you are looking for women’s waterproof winter gloves, you should stick to MCTi’s Thinsulate Gloves.


Best Winter Work Gloves

#1 Wells Lamont Men’s Hydrahyde Winter Work Gloves

winter gloves for working

  • Best For: Winter work with tools, shoveling etc.
  • Shell Fabric: 50% synthetic leather, 38% polyester, 12% fleece
  • Inner Lining Fabric: N/A
  • Closure: Hook and loop top closure
  • Insulation:C40 3M Thinsulate traps warm air
  • Temperature: Not specified
  • Grip: Rugged Armortex palm and thumb reinforcement
  • Moisture Management: N/A
  • Waterproof: Water Resistant
  • Windproof: Laminated wind barrier
  • Color Options: Grey
  • Size Options:Medium – XXX-Large
  • Cleaning and Care: Machine washable
These work gloves for winter have an excellent palm grip, a strong wind barrier, and an easy hook and loop closure. We love how the index finger and thumb are touchscreen compatible, so you can use your cell phone without removing your mitts.

If you’re a stickler for warranties, these warm and durable winter work gloves come with a 12-month warranty for your peace of mind.


  • Best For: Snow activities and working outdoors in the winter
  • Shell Fabric:Genuine Deerskin suede leather, soft polar fleece, and waterproof TPU
  • Inner Lining Fabric: Heatlok insulated cotton lining
  • Closure: Elastic wrist and knitted cuff
  • Insulation:Heatlok insulated cotton; thick cotton fingers
  • Temperature:  – 40°F to -20°F
  • Grip: Reinforced leather patch on palm; waterproof and strong grip
  • Moisture Management: Yes; breathable and sweat resistant
  • Waterproof: No
  • Windproof: Yes
  • Color Options: Denim-black, grey-black, or tan-black
  • Size Options:Small – X-Large
  • Cleaning and Care: Machine or hand washable
Looking for extreme cold weather work gloves? Look no further. These gloves are unisex-designed, so both men and women can sport them comfortably in extreme cold environments. These are flexible, thin and insulated.

These gloves are good for medium-duty work. They are not appropriate for heavy duty work, where there is risk of the hands being cut or punctured.


#3 Ironclad Ranchworx Glove

  • Best For: Working outdoors in the winter; farm work, construction, etc.
  • Shell Fabric:Genuine Bullwhip leather; thermoplastic rubber that protects the knuckles from impact and abrasion; TPR finger construction
  • Inner Lining Fabric: None
  • Closure: Thermoplastic cuff puller with Velcro adhesive
  • Insulation:None
  • Temperature: Up to 0 Degree weather
  • Grip: Patented palm design and roll top fingers for ultimate dexterity
  • Moisture Management: No
  • Waterproof: Yes
  • Windproof: Yes
  • Color Options: N/A
  • Size Options:Small – XXX-Large
  • Cleaning and Care: Machine washable
These winter work gloves are highly durable and protective. They aren’t 100% cut and puncture proof, but they are very resistant. They are rated as a EN388 cut level 1 and a EN388 puncture level 2.

These heavy-duty gloves are made of genuine bullwhip leather and won’t shrink or dry out when they get wet. They don’t have any moisture-resistant qualities, so make sure you wash your gloves regularly or mold can form. If mold does development, Oxyclean is a great solution.

These gloves don’t have insulation, so they are appropriate for mild winter conditions. If you want to use these gloves in the extreme cold, you’ll have to get a liner.


Winter Gloves Comparison Table

  WaterproofBest forSpecial FeaturesCustomer Ratings
Best Men’s Winter Gloves
MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Men’s Winter GlovesYes Operating machinery, driving a motorbike or motorcycle, or participating in winter sportsFAN-TEX insert wicks away moisture to keep hands dry4.0 / 5.0 Stars
Dakine Men's Nova GlovesYesSkiing, snowboarding, shoveling, alpine and winter expeditioAdjustable buckle strap, High loft synthetic4.1 / 5.0 Stars
Men’s Luxury Touchscreen Italian Genuine Leather Fly Hawk GlovesNoAnyone wanting touchscreen compatible winter glovesCashmere lining, Dry cleaning recommended4.2 / 5.0 Stars
Gordini Men's The Polar GloveYesSkiing, snowboarding, shoveling, alpine and winter expeditionsLavawool Moisture Management System4.5 / 5.0 Stars
Best Women’s Winter Gloves
MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Women’s Winter Thinsulate Touch Screen GlovesYesSnow sports, long expeditions, extreme snow stormsAdjustable wrist buckle and drawstring4.2 / 5.0 Stars
Columbia Women's Fast Trek GloveNoCold weather walks, sledding, and tubingElasticized wrist and security clip4.3 / 5.0 Stars
Isotoner Women's Smartouch Chenille Knit GlovesNoAnyone who wants to use their touchscreen phone in cold weatherThermaflex fleece lining, Non-slip palm grip4.4 / 5.0 Stars
Columbia Women's Pearl Plush GloveNoCold weather walks, sledding, and tubinglasticized wrist and security clip4.5 / 5.0 Stars
Best Winter Work Gloves
Wells Lamont Men's HydraHyde Winter Work GlovesWater ResistantWinter work with tools, shovel, lumber, firewood etc. Hook and loop top closure4.0 / 5.0 Stars
Ski Gloves Winter Insulated Glove 3M Thinsulate LeatherNoSnow activities and working outdoors in the winterHeatlok insulated cotton; thick cotton fingers4.0 / 5.0 Stars
Ironclad Ranchworx GloveYesWorking outdoors in the winter; farm work, construction, etc.Thermoplastic cuff puller with Velcro adhesive4.2 / 5.0 Stars

How to Choose the Best Winter Gloves For You

Winter is coming whether you like it or not – so you might as well be prepared! To keep your hands and fingers safe and warm we’ve reviewed the 10 best winter gloves for work and play! Now we’ll go through the criteria that separate good gloves from the best gloves.

Winter Glove Terminology

Fingers

Glove have separate compartments for every finger. Gloves are excellent when you rely on your hands and need dexterity and a firm grip.

Mittens

Mittens are generally warmer than gloves because fingers aren’t separated; they share one compartment. This limits the mobility and use of your hands, however.

Shell

Shell refers to the outer material of the glove. Most winter gloves have a shell made of leather or synthetics like acrylic, TPU, or PU.

TPU

TPU stands for Thermoplastic polyurethane. It has many desirable properties like transparency, elasticity, and resistance to oil, grease, and abrasion.

PU

PU is Polyurethane, a popular substance used to manufacture high-resilience foam, rigid foam insulation, and many other products and materials.

Lining

Lining is an extra layer of material inside the glove for enhanced warmth.

Things to Consider When Shopping for Insulated Work Gloves


Closure System

Do you need the ability to get out of your winter work gloves, fast? Then you should try to find a pair with an elastic wrist, Velcro, or snap system. If you don’t foresee having to take off your gloves, you can go with whatever closure system you like best – hook and loop, buckles, or whatever you prefer!


Insulation

Some gloves come with insulation, others don’t. If you work in extremely cold weather, you will need insulation and a liner. If your winters are mild, you might not have to worry about insulation or liners.


Waterproof, Windproof, and Moisture Wicking Qualities

Think about what you do with your hands on a day to day basis. Is it likely they will get wet or come in contact with snow? You’ll want to find a pair of waterproof work gloves. Are your winters full of extreme winds?

Windproof is the way to go. What about long hours? These are especially important factors when you’re considering winter gloves for work. If you know you’ll be working away for hours at a time, you should look for moisture management technology.

Winter Gloves FAQs:

Q: Can you put winter gloves in the dryer?

A: This all depends on the individual model and brand. Take a look at the pair’s care instructions. If they say you can tumble dry them then you’re in the clear. If you’ve applied a re-proofing spray on them, the heat from the dryer will actually help make it more effective. If you can’t dry them in the machine, simply leave them to dry somewhere warm.

Q: What are the best gloves for extreme cold?

A: We can’t recommend the MCTi Waterproof/Windproof Winter Gloves Enough. They not only keep the hands and fingers warm, but allow you to still use your touchscreen devices without having to take them off!

Q: Do leather gloves keep your hands warm?

A: No, generally speaking, they do not. While leather works well to protect the skin from small scrapes or irritation, they don’t insulate well unless they’re lined.

Q: Should I get mittens or gloves?

A: While mittens are known to generally generate a bit more warmth, gloves offer a significantly greater amount of dexterity and stil keep the hands warm. If you’re taking part in a sport or will need to handle tools, smart devices, etc. you’ll need gloves.

Winter Gloves Buying Tips :

  1. If your gloves don’t feel warm enough, try adding a fitted polyester liner. We’re sure these gloves will keep you warm anyway, but this is always a nice option to have.
  2. If your hands are still cold with gloves on, check the fit. Almost always, the reason for cold hands are poor-fitting gloves. You don’t want them to be so tight they cause chafing, but not so large that the cold gets inside.
  3. If you use your smartphone outdoors a lot, make sure your gloves operate with touchscreens. Not every glove does, so pay special attention here if that’s something of concern to you.

Thanks for reading The 10 Best Winter Gloves. We hope this article has helped you to discover the best choice for winter gloves to meet your needs and types of winter activities. You might also be interested in our informative article entitled, Winter Clothing Materials and Fabrics.

MORE WINTER GEAR  HEATED GLOVES | DOWN JACKETS | FLEECE JACKETS | BASE LAYERS | BEANIES | WINTER GLOVES | WATERPROOF BOOTS NECK WARMERS & GAITERS | HEATED JACKETS | HARDSHELL JACKETS | SOFTSHELL JACKETS | WINDBREAKERS | ICE FISHING BOOTS | WINTER HATS | WINTER SOCKS

How We Researched

To come up with the 10 best winter gloves, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as REI, Backcountry, Moosejaw, EVO along with our own personal experience.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options were for the price. The author, Krysha Thyer, is an avid outdoor adventurer and loves snowshoeing. She has lots of experience of cold weather conditions and a keen eye for fashion. 

To help narrow down the selection she used her personal experience along with recommendations from fellow winter sports enthusiasts.

After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.

 

Sources

Notice:

OutsidePursuits.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. OutsidePursuits.com earns fees from products sold through qualifying purchases by linking to Amazon.com. Amazon offers a commission on products sold through their affiliate links.

Krysha Thayer

Krysha is a freelance writer with a broad range of experience in writing engaging web content for clients such as InGeek. Living in rural New Mexico, she enjoys a wide range of outdoor pursuits from hiking to snowshoeing and 4x4 trail riding to international travel. She especially enjoys road running. In 2019, she participated in the Zombie 5k Fun Run in Las Cruces where she competed wearing special-effects makeup to look like a zombie. She also has an interest in older technology and restores antique typewriters as a hobby.

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