Outdoor Gloves for Winter, Hiking, Skiing, and Sun Protection

Cold hands end a day outside faster than almost anything else. The right gloves are essential for staying warm, dry, and in control when conditions turn harsh. Gloves may seem simple, but the right pair protects your hands, supports movement, and keeps any adventure going. With more than four decades of design and testing behind them, these gloves are built for the way you get outside.

Understanding Glove Materials

Great gloves are built with purpose. A tough outer shell blocks wind and moisture, a waterproof breathable membrane such as GORE-TEX keeps sweat out and dryness in, and windproof fabrics such as WINDSTOPPER shut out cold air on exposed terrain. Insulation traps warmth without bulk, the liner adds comfort and wicks moisture, and palms and fingers use grippy, durable fabrics for control and longevity. Cuffs keep out snow, and a good fit ensures mobility without losing warmth. Each product page lists which membrane and insulation a style carries.

Gloves for Cold and Winter Weather

Winter gloves are built for warmth first: waterproof, breathable shells, quality insulation, and reinforced palms for a secure grip on poles, bindings, and buckles. Mittens offer maximum warmth, while gloves provide better dexterity for buckles, zippers, and gear adjustments, and layering with liners adds heat and improves moisture management. The winter line covers every cold-weather category:

- Ski & Snowboard Gloves: durable waterproof shells and dependable insulation for mountain days.

- Heated Gloves: ALTIHeat battery warmth with adjustable output for the coldest conditions.

- Mittens: the warmest profile in the line, for deep cold over fine dexterity.

- Alpine Gloves: technical warmth and durability for mountaineering and high routes.

- Ice Climbing Gloves: dexterity and grip for tools, with warmth calibrated to movement.

Gloves for Hiking and Trekking

Hiking gloves keep hands protected, comfortable, and ready for the trail: light, breathable, and grippy, with enough coverage to shield against scrapes and light weather without overheating. Leather Gloves excel at rough work like belaying and handling rock or rope, thanks to natural durability and grip, while synthetics breathe better and dry faster. Fleece Gloves & Liners are the system’s flexible piece: worn alone they cut wind and add light warmth, and layered under shells or insulated gloves, merino wool liners wick sweat and boost insulation while keeping fingers agile.

Sun Gloves for Warm Weather

Sun protection is a hand problem too: the back of the hand takes direct exposure all day on the water, the trail, or the bike. UPF-rated Sun Sleeves & Gloves, including the cooling ActiveIce styles, block that exposure while staying light enough for hot weather. In year-round sun regions, they are as much a part of the kit as winter gloves are in the mountains.

The line rounds out with Mountain Bike Gloves built for grip and bar feel and Rock Climbing Gloves for crack and rope work. Shop Men’s Gloves and Shop Women’s Gloves collect every style by fit.

FAQs

Are mittens warmer than gloves?

Yes. Fingers share warmth inside a mitten and the design has less surface area to lose heat through, so a mitten always runs warmer than an equivalent glove. The trade is dexterity. A 3-finger design splits the difference, freeing the index finger for buckles while keeping the others together for warmth. The Mittens collection covers the range.

What are the warmest gloves for winter?

The warmth-first end of the line is the Alti and Baker series, storm-ready gloves and mitts built for powder days and deep cold, plus the heated styles that add ALTIHeat battery warmth on top of insulation. The fastest way to narrow the choice is the Warmth Level filter on this page, which sorts every style from light to extreme warmth.

Do any of these gloves work with touchscreens?

Yes. Touchscreen-compatible styles, including the Sensor line, use conductive material in the fingertips so you can use a phone without exposing your hands. Compatibility is listed on each product page, so check the style you are considering before relying on it in the cold.

How do liner gloves work?

Liner gloves work two ways. In mild conditions they are worn alone as a light, breathable layer that cuts wind. In real cold they layer under shells or insulated gloves, where they add warmth and wick sweat away from the skin. Merino wool is the standard liner material for its warmth, moisture management, and comfort.

Are gloves covered by the Infinite Guarantee?

Yes. Every pair is covered: Outdoor Research gear is guaranteed to perform throughout the lifetime of the product. Details are on the warranty page on this site.