Hiking in the rain can be a joyโor misery. It all depends on your gear and your attitude. Freezing fingers are aย major downer, but choosing the right pair of gloves can help keep your digits comfortable, allowing you to tick off the trail miles and stay happy. We asked Lauren Taylor, our product manager for gloves and resident expert on keeping fingers toasty, for advice. Here are her tips for picking out the best pair of gloves for rainy weather. Look for both water protection and breathability. Gloves for wet weather can be either water resistant or waterproof, but they also need to be breathable. โYour hands expel a lot of heat, especially when gripping an item like trekking poles, due to conduction,โ Taylor says. โIf you can keep the skin on your hands dry and allow air flow from increased blood flow, you will have dry and comfy hands, despite the rain.โ Be open to different types of fabric. โWe have several fabrics that fit this bill, namely our Pertex Shield nylon ripstop fabrics,โ Taylor says. "We use other fabrics that have either a membrane (waterproof layer bonded to the face fabric), or fabrics with a PU or TPU finish. Rain will roll right off these kinds of fabrics!โ ย ย For super wet conditions, look for a mitt with seam taping.Seam tape is used to bond seamsย and prevent rain from penetrating any point on the mitt, Taylor says. โTheย Revel Shell Mitts are made of WR treated fabrics that are then seam taped,โ she says. Plus, theyโre lightweight, crushable and ultra-breathable. โThese are great to throw in your pack if youโre expecting rain, and slide right over your liner glove should you need the added protection.โ If youโre not sure what the weather will do, a convertible glove is a great choice. If youย expect occasionalย rain but not constant showers, a glove that comes with a built-in shell is a great option. โVersaliner Sensor Gloves are fleece gloves with silicone grip at the palms that have a convertible shell component that can slip over the fleece glove and magically make your glove system very water resistant,โ Taylor says. Made of a lightweight ActiveTemp fleece, they regulate your hand temperature as it fluctuates.ย While theyโre not considered fully waterproofย since moisture could technicallyย seepย into the shell gloves seams, Taylorย notes that theyโre perfect for hikes where rain is intermittent or for areas with constant mist - like Seattle. BEST GLOVES FOR HIKING IN THE RAIN Versaliner Sensor Gloves Revel Shell Mitts
