Ski gloves are an essential part of your gear when you hit the slopes. Ski gloves can keep your hands warm and dry in snowy and icy conditions. The right type of ski gloves also protect against frostbite. Lightweight cotton gloves are not a good choice for skiing since they get wet quickly and in cold conditions can ice up. Purchase ski gloves from a specialty ski shop or a sporting goods store.
Features
Waterproof gloves are a good option if you want to keep your hands warm while skiing. Waterproof liners of ski gloves include Gore, HyVent, Polartec, Conduit, and WaterGuard. You can also find gloves in which the exterior is waterproof and the interior is made from a warm material, like fleece. Grandoe Logan Gore-Tex gloves uses the Gore-Tex material on the exterior to keep water out of the gloves while allowing perspiration to seep out. The interior made from brushed polyester fleece is lightweight and warm. Black Diamond Equipment Vision ski gloves feature removable a fleece lining for quick drying.
Considerations
If you decide against waterproof gloves, choose ski gloves made from wool or fleece. According to the On the Snow website, wool and fleece gloves stay the warmest when wet compared to other materials. Garment labels list the material used to manufacture the gloves. Thinsulate Winter Fleece Gloves uses warm Thinsulate insulation along with a suede palm grip to beat the cold while skiing. Another option to stay warm includes the 180s Exhale Black Northcape Wool/Suede snowboarding ski gloves. These gloves use Thermolite to insulate without making the gloves feel bulky.
Length
If you want to stay warm, choose a longer style pair of gloves. Ski gloves often come in two lengths. The shorter length tends to end around the wrist while the longer length covers up to your coat sleeves. If you fall while skiing, the longer style prevents snow from entering your jacket.
Types
Mittens are warmer than gloves. Mittens allow all of your fingers to stay together for increased warmth. However, mittens make it harder to handle your ski gear since you have less dexterity than when you wear gloves. Overmitts are a combination of the two styles. Overmitts have two layers: beneath a mitten covering are gloves. The mitten layer can usually be removed when not in use. Craft Elite Overmitt contains a waterproof exterior and fleece liner. Silicon grips allow for better handling on the slopes. Swix Overmitt is a wind and waterproof shell that can be placed over any type of glove, including fleece and wool options.
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