Waterproof Gloves and Mittens

Featured review by Andrew F.

An unusually durable shoulder to winter season glove. These gloves are well-finished, have a moderate amount of insulation, and arrive pre-waxed so they resist wetting out. Sizing can be an issue, so be careful when you order. Also, there are less-expensive alternatives.

SUMMARY I purchased these gloves after reading a review on Trailspace and because finding a good glove for cooler but not freezing weather has been challenging. In my experience, gloves that give you reasonable use of your hands and a fair amount of resistance to abrasion aren't that warm...or aren't as durable as one might want. Back of the glove Palm—note the clip by the wrist and my initials branded on them BASIC INFO Give'r Classic gloves are all leather cowhide with a light fuzzy insulating layer inside.

Read more: Give'r Classic Give'r Gloves reviews (2)

Reviewed by BigRed

The SealSkinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet is a well-constructed, warm and waterproof glove for getting out and about in the cold. Ideal for downhill skiing and backcountry ski descents when temperature fall below -10˚C / teens F, and as a camp glove in somewhat higher temperatures.

Preliminary Review Sealskinz has provided me with two pairs of gloves to put to the test, these and the All Weather Glove. Sealskinz specializes in waterproof/breathable socks, gloves, mittens, and hats, with nearly 50 options just in the gloves and mitten department. In most garments, waterproofness and breathability are a tradeoff, but Sealskinz claims its products offer “100% waterproof protection whilst being incredibly breathable and dexterous”. Depending on conditions and activity, these two characteristics may be more or less desirable—to have both in abundance could be a dream come true.

Read more: SealSkinz Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet review (1)

Featured review by Patrick B

This mitten "system" (outer shell + removable liner) by OR has been a hand saver in many cold conditions in which I've used them. The overall quality and build of the finished product is excellent - I found no stitching errors, loose threads, etc. The ergonomics of the design are exemplary - I have no problems operating the wrist lanyards and cinch straps (tightening or loosening) once my hands have become "crab claws". Additionally, it is very easy to maintain grip on standard trekking pole handles wearing these mittens.

Read more: Outdoor Research Meteor Mitts reviews (3)

Reviewed by Jakuchu

Good glove/mitt hybrid that is a great base for a waterproof winter glove layering system.

Use: The Black Diamond Lobster is a cross between a glove and a mitt, and is a great base for a waterproof winter glove layering system. The lobster design is warmer than a glove, but gives you more dexterity than a mitt. It has a thumb and index finger, and a separate section for the rest of the fingers. When it is cold, I can fit my index finger into the mitt section for possible extra warmth. When you want to hold trekking poles, mitts are still doable, but with an ice axe the lobster design is way more useful.

Read more: Black Diamond Soloist Finger Gloves review (1)

Reviewed by Brian Nordberg

Cold fingers no more. Waterproof shell, decent insulation, and a long wrist cover keeps the cold out.

My wife suffers from cold hands. Smaller gloves are great for ascending when we are working hard. But the peak and descent = cold. Enter the BD Super Light Mitts. These are a premium glove with great materials and a good amount of insulation. We've tested these on numerous high elevation >9k feet summits and they are worth their weight. The size small tops the scale at 8.7 oz. Below you can see the cinches on upper section to keep them tight to your wrist. 8.7 oz for the size small pair   Leather palm, fuzzy interior and soft nose wiping area on the thumb Inside the glove is a fuzzy material on the bottom, I assume to help grip, and a smooth insulated top.

Read more: Black Diamond Super Light Mitts review (1)

Reviewed by FromSagetoSnow

Warmer than I expected, tough and waterproof.

I'm not in the habit of ordering things like boots or gloves online, but I already own another pair of Oakley gloves, which I like, so I decided to go ahead and try these.  The price was also right since I ordered these in August, a long way from the winter they were designed for.  The online reviews said to order a size larger. They were right. I sometimes wear a size medium and the large ones fit me perfectly.  I wanted a leather snow glove for climbing for the abrasion resistance. The booger wiper on the thumb came in handy on Mt.

Read more: Oakley Factory Winter Glove review (1)

Reviewed by KiwiKlimber

A pair of winter-ready (insulated and waterproof) toddler mitts that have kept my little one's hand warm and dry this winter. Like all kids stuff, sizing may be tricky, but as long as they fit, the mitts can handle almost any little kid's winter adventure.

Conditions and Tester Specs: My daughter wore the Outdoor Research Toddlers' Adrenaline Mitts during the winter months in central Pennsylvania. At the time of testing, she was 15-18 months old (and wearing mostly 2T clothes for size reference) and tested a size Small for these gloves (more on sizing later).  She’s mostly worn the gloves while playing in the snow, and on a few day hiking trips where she inevitably fell asleep in the hiking carrier pack.  Temperatures were most commonly in the 20s and 30s (-6 to 4 C) and got as low as 10F (-12C), although we didn't have her out too long when it got that cold.       Construction and Function: The Toddlers' Adrenaline Mitts are the smallest in a line of gloves and mittens the manufacturer...

Read more: Outdoor Research Toddlers' Adrenaline Mitts review (1)

Reviewed by Burke MacLeay

The Truck M3 glove is a well thought-out and constructed snow sports glove sold at an extremely reasonable price point. It is a good all-around ski glove that, despite the lack of flashy features or proprietary technologies, holds its own against gloves twice as expensive.

Fit & Comfort The Truck M3 fits, well, like a glove. I measured my hand and sized according to the chart on Truck's website, and the gloves fit perfectly. Truck's website says that the M3 is designed to fit "a little more snug", and I've found that to be true. Without any liners, the M3 squeezes my hand the perfect amount, but with liners it becomes slightly harder to move my fingers. If you're someone who typically skis/rides with liner gloves, I would recommend either measuring your hand with liners on or purchasing a size up from what the chart says your hand size should be.  One thing the M3 has up on other inexpensive leather gloves is the speed at which the glove broke in.

Read more: Truck M3 review (1)

Reviewed by JRinGeorgia

The Borah Gear eVent rain mitts are waterproof, ultralight, and breathable to provide protection for your hands from rain, snow, wind, and cold.

This is a review of the Borah Gear eVent rain mitts. Borah Gear is a cottage manufacturer of select items for ultralight backpacking—several bivys, a tarp, down vest, down pants, cuben stuff sacks, and these rain mitts. I am not affiliated with BG in any way. These rain mitts are great shell gloves for wet, snowy, and/or windy conditions, and they also boost hand warmth in very cold conditions. The pair weighs 1.19 oz on my scale, and they pack down to the size of a granola bar. The 3-layer design is very breathable and waterproof for most conditions.

Read more: Borah Gear eVent Rain Mitts review (1)

Featured review by Bill S

The Epic Glove is an excellent all around climbing glove for cold weather conditions when encountering wet rain or snow and when doing vigorous exercise while skiing, snowshoeing, mountaineering and other outdoor activities that require manual dexterity, such as technical climbing while using ice tools, or ice axes, mixed rock and ice climbing, dog sledding, skiing, and setting up and taking down camp.

Weight: 97 g/3.375 oz  The Epic gloves in use on Ishinca (Peruvian Andes) Background:  When preparing for an excursion in the outdoors, many people overlook one of the most critical pieces of clothing for backcountry and climbing activities, protection for your hands. In extreme cold conditions, the penalty could be as severe as frostbite to the point of losing fingers. Since most people are used to wearing shoes or other footwear, they usually give some passing thought to their feet. Too often, people settle for “any old glove or mitten”, without giving much thought to the functionality of the handwear.

Read more: Mountain Hardwear Epic Gloves reviews (6)