Nine of the best men’s ski gloves
Nothing can ruin a ski day quicker than cold fingers. Keep yours warm with one of these excellent pairs of gloves
1. Arc’teryx Lithic Glove, £185
Arc’teryx have dubbed the spanking new Lithic gloves ‘True hardshells for hands’, which is an accurate description bearing in mind the tech (and price tag) that these come with. These are three-layer, fully taped Gore-Tex gloves, and each glove has been individually tested to guarantee 100% waterproofness. They also use TriDex, a technology which maps each digit separately to mimic your hand’s natural articulation, along with varying levels of strategically placed Primaloft insulation for
unrivalled warmth and breathability.
2. Black Diamond Legend, £85
This is Black Diamond’s warmest under-the-cuff leather offering, benefiting from toasty Primaloft One insulation. Gore-Tex inserts shield against fierce winter storms, yet keep the glove breathable enough to stop your hands from sweating on warmer days. Plus they’ve finished it off with durable Kevlar stitching and EVA padding to protect your knuckles.
3. Hestra Army Leather Abisko, £89
The Swedish glove-making gods have done it again. The Abisko uses durable, waterproof Army Goat Leather with a fixed wool lining for oodles of warmth. The backhand is made from their new, very vibrant vegetable tanned goat leather, which both looks the part and keeps snow out. Comfort and grip come from cleverly-placed outseams.
4. Marmot Big Mountain, £110
Built for the gnarliest of freeriders, with a Gore-Tex Active insert for the best waterproofing and breathability on the market, plus Primaloft Gold insulation to retain warmth in the chilliest of blizzards. The stretch nylon cuff can be worn over or under your jacket and there’s supple leather detailing on the palms and fingers, as well as a fast-wicking liner. Women’s version available.
5. Mountain Hardwear Compulsion, £130
The Compulsion uses both goatskin leather and waterproof OutDry for a thoroughly snowproof set-up. Insulation is provided by Thermal.Q Elite and a thick fleece liner, while there’s extra padding over the back of the hand for added protection and a soft suede thumb patch for wet noses. Can be worn over or under the cuff.
6. Oakley Factory Winter, £70
This under-the-cuff, full-leather glove is treated with Oakley’s own Hydrogauge technology, which keeps things both waterproof and breathable. Thinsulate traps the warmth so that your digits stay warm and cosy, and there’s a polyurethane nose wipe, for those awkward need-a-hankie moments.
7. Ortovox Swiss Wool Pro, £109
Want no-compromise warmth and grip? Check out the Glove Pro WP, featuring Swiss sheep’s wool insulation with a layer of merino for next-to-skin comfort and odour neutralisation. They’ve used thin goatskin on the palm, which means you can use your smartphone with gloves on. Anything else? Adjustable, snow and wind-blocking cuff plus a carabiner loop for climbing.
8. Slytech Fortress PWD 3-in-1, £220
It’s been a while since we’ve been this excited by gloves, but the ingenuity of the Fortress did the trick. It’s basically a glove in a mitt, but both are worthy in their own right, with nose wipes, grippy palms and Primaloft insulation. Unzip the mitten for better dexterity without freezing your fingers, or just use the inner on warm days. Plus there’s a neoprene cuff, X-static liner for sweat control and Slytech 2nd Skin for protection. Big ticks.
9. Salomon Vision GTX, £85
Here’s a glove that expertly combines technical performance with all-mountain style. The Gore-Tex membrane keeps wind and water away from your hand, while letting warm air and moisture escape. Meanwhile, the softshell finish gives great mobility and comfort.
