Wool is a natural fiber that helps regulate your body temperature while you’re active outdoors. This means winter gloves made from merino wool are ideal for hiking, camping, and running in cold weather.
The best winter gloves are comfortable, durable, and provide a good balance of warmth and dexterity. They’re often insulated with fleece or synthetic insulation and come in various thicknesses to keep your hands warm and flexible while still offering enough hand mobility for navigating tricky terrain.
Breathability is a key feature for any pair of winter gloves, as it ensures that your hands remain dry and hydrated when the outside air becomes too chilly. It also helps protect against the risk of overheating by allowing enough air to permeate the glove.
Choosing the right winter glove can be a daunting task, as there are countless options to choose from. First, you’ll need to decide what your winter needs are, which will dictate which material and thickness is best for you.
Materials for winter wool gloves vary according to your activity, but a few common choices include leather, nylon, and fleece. Leather seals in heat, provides dexterity and can help enhance your grip; nylon cuts the wind; and fleece insulates and feels soft against the skin.
For more versatility, look for gloves that blend several different materials. The ideal option is a wool-lined glove with a thin layer of insulation and another layer of fleece for added warmth and durability.
If you like a more casual feel, opt for a pair of fleece-lined fingerless gloves or cozy mittens. These styles offer a touch of flexibility and keep your hands warm without sacrificing dexterity, especially when you’re using touchscreen technology.
When shopping for winter gloves, be sure to measure your palm and knuckles using a tape measure (so long as your fingers don’t encroach on the top of the glove). Most brands will offer size guides that will make it easy for you to determine the appropriate fit.
Your gloves should be long enough to cover your thumb, index and middle fingers. Ideally, they should also fit snugly around your wrist, but not so tight that you feel restricted.
The thickness of your gloves is a key consideration for winter protection, as thicker models are more bulky and tend to have more insulation. Thicker gloves will keep your hands warmer, but they will also limit hand movement and grip.
A good winter glove will also be designed to wick away moisture from the hands, so that your hands are always dry and odor-free. This is crucial for activities that involve a lot of sweat, such as running or biking, and it will also prevent your hands from getting too clammy.
In addition, if you’re looking for a more durable winter glove, consider a model that incorporates a waterproof coating. This will protect your hands from rain and snow, which can be particularly harsh on the digits.
The best winter gloves are also comfortable and well-made, with a sturdy cuff that keeps the wind out and a breathable lining to prevent your hands from becoming too clammy. You may also want to invest in a pair of battery-powered heated gloves, which will add additional heat for your entire hand in extremely cold temperatures.
