Cold hands can end a ski day faster than cold feet. The right choice between gloves and mittens — and understanding insulation and waterproofing — makes a bigger difference than most people expect.
Mittens vs. gloves — which are warmer?
Mittens are warmer than gloves for the same insulation level, because your fingers share warmth together in one pocket instead of being isolated from each other in separate finger sleeves. The tradeoff is dexterity — mittens make it harder to buckle boots, work a zipper, or handle a phone. Lobster-style gloves (grouping the ring and pinky fingers together, like a mitten hybrid) split the difference: noticeably warmer than standard five-finger gloves with more usable dexterity than a full mitten.
If you run cold or ski primarily in genuinely cold conditions, mittens are usually the better call. If you need to handle gear, phones, or zippers often through the day, gloves or lobster-style gloves make more sense.
Insulation and waterproofing
Look for the same fundamentals as jackets: a waterproof/breathable membrane (so hands stay dry, not just warm) and enough insulation for how cold you actually run. Many gloves and mittens use a removable liner system — a warm inner liner inside a waterproof shell — which lets you dry the liner separately overnight and adjust warmth by swapping liners for different conditions.
Fit
Gloves and mittens should fit snugly at the wrist (to keep snow and cold air out) without cutting off circulation, and should have enough room in the fingers to wiggle them — a glove that's too tight actually runs colder, since compressed insulation loses its ability to trap warm air.
Frequently asked questions
Are mittens really warmer than gloves?
Yes — for the same insulation, mittens keep your fingers warmer because they share heat together in one pocket instead of being separated. Gloves offer more dexterity in exchange for being a bit colder.
What are heated gloves, and are they worth it?
Heated gloves have a built-in battery-powered heating element, typically in the back of the hand or fingers, for riders who run cold or ski in genuinely frigid conditions. They add real warmth beyond what insulation alone provides, at a higher price point and with a battery to manage — worth it if you regularly struggle with cold hands, not necessary for most riders.
What's a lobster glove?
A hybrid style that groups your ring and pinky fingers together like a mitten while keeping your thumb, index, and middle fingers separate — noticeably warmer than a standard glove with more dexterity than a full mitten. A good middle-ground choice.
Browse our gloves & mittens selection, or stop by 10100 W. Overland Road in Boise and we'll help you find the right warmth-to-dexterity balance for how you ride.