Best Hiking Gloves:
Cover Up For Comfort On A Hike

By Diane Spicer

The best hiking gloves are the ones you reach for over and over again, because they work well to keep your hands warm and dry.

That's why I recommend that you have at least 3 types of gloves in your hiking gear locker.

Seems like too many hiking gloves?

If you're hiking in three seasons and on into winter, you're going to have to protect your hands in various degrees of precipitation and temperature ranges.

Let's tackle the best hiking gloves to wear, one at a time, with an overview of hiking gloves by function.

Best hiking gloves for cold weather

Cold weather hiking the best hiking gloves to guard against hypothermia.

Scary fact:

One of the most neglected areas on a hiker's body in cold weather are your hands.

• We all think about protective hats and jackets and pants, but please don't overlook the importance of keeping your hands warm at all times.

If your fingers are numb, you aren't going to have the dexterity to adjust your clothing, take the cap off your water bottle, or unfold the map that tells you when an important trail junction is coming up.

If you're relying on electronic navigation devices like these, you'll fumble and use up precious battery life with cold fingers.

And that leads to making mistakes on the trail that can endanger your life, or at least your enjoyment of a hike.

So keep your digits toasty warm!

I have a repertoire of winter hiking gloves, and switch them out as needed.

Let's take a look.

A lightweight pair of gloves for mild winter conditions

The least cumbersome pair are fingerless gloves, like these Black Diamond WindWeight mittens.

But wait, aren't we talking about gloves?

My philosophy is to make everything do at least double duty on a hike, so fingerless gloves that convert to mittens are a great idea.

• My fingers are free to manipulate, grasp and tug on my hiking poles, boot laces, and zippers, but the rest of my hands and wrists stay warm.

Doesn't sound like a big deal? It will be when an icy cold wind is blowing, or it begins to rain.

• And they convert easily to mittens when I need a bit of extra warmth around my fingers.

Here's another good choice for convertible gloves, from TrailHeads. I really love the functionality of these!

Fleece hand protection on a cold hike

I like lightweight fleece gloves for situations when I know I'd rather not use mittens, like the photo above.

• This pair (available in light, mid and heavy weight) rides along in the bottom of my pack year round, because cold hands are dangerous for extended periods of time.
• Even a nice summer day can turn nasty at higher elevations. Always put on an extra layer once you top out somewhere the wind can reach you (especially important if you're sweaty from the exertion of uphill hiking).

Note that these glove options are not weatherproof, so I recommend them only for dry cold conditions.

If you want bombproof gloves with all the features, that also allow you to interface with your phone or GPS screen, expect to pay a bit more. 

But revel in the warm, dry hands you'll have!

Here is a full array of your options.

• Remember to sort them by weight, weather proofness, and features, as outlined above.

Natural fiber options for hiking gloves

If you prefer natural fibers on your body, you can mimic animals that survive in extreme areas of the globe.

One popular natural choice: alpaca wool gloves, like these.

They are hypoallergenic and if they're warm enough for folks in the Andes (not to mention alpacas), they'll perform well on your cold weather hikes.

Best hiking gloves for cool windy conditions

In the spring and fall, I want to stay warm in the face of breezes and downright unfriendly winds.

These are the types of gloves I pull out of my pack as soon as I begin to feel chilled.

• I know that my core temperature is dropping a bit, and I pay attention by warming up my hands.
• I also pull on a hat if I'm not already wearing one.
• More cool weather hiking tips here
  

Sometimes I know that I'll be cold part way through the hike, because I've consulted my topographical map and recognize a ridge or other windy land feature coming up soon.

So these gloves are kept within easy reach, in my jacket pocket or a top pocket of my backpack where my hiking partner can easily reach them for me.

That way, I don't need to lose body heat by stopping, removing my pack (there goes all of that delicious warmth trapped against my back!), and digging through gear.

I recommend that you do the same: Keep these gloves handy (oooh, a hiking glove pun).

Best hiking gloves for wet weather

If you're familiar with the hiking clothes layering system (base, mid and outer layers) to meet all weather conditions, why not extend that logic to keeping your hands warm and dry?

Start with a liner glove, like this pair.

• You can use these as a solid pair of gloves in mild weather, too. Keep them stowed in your backpack.
  

Add a waterproof overlayer like these mittens to make sure your hands are kept dry.

Why not wear hiking mittens?

I am not a fan of wearing mittens that don't convert to gloves on the hiking trail, with one exception.

Here's why:

Mittens encase my hands in a non-functional configuration, making it hard to grip my poles, unwrap a snack, or do much of anything.

The only exception I make is when I face really cold conditions and I want all of my fingers smushed together to conserve body heat.

• I make sure all gear adjustments have been made before I slip on heavy waterproof mittens like these.
  
• Sometimes I need my trail buddy to help me yank on the second one! And I return the favor.
  
• Sometimes I wear these mittens in my sleeping bag if I'm having a hard time falling asleep. For some reason, warm hands relax my entire body.
• They're also nice cushioning for sitting on hard cold rocks!

I appreciate the safety loops on these mittens, because I can dangle them above snow or mud from my poles or pack.

Be sure to take a good look at the sizing and pick a pair of gloves that won't constrict your blood flow.

Best hiking gloves for sun protection

I never used to believe in wearing gloves to block UV rays on cloudless hikes...

until I began to require skin biopsies every year for the pigmented spots on my face and hands.

Now I'm a believer in wearing lightweight, light colored wicking fingerless gloves on my summer hiking adventures.

Ever notice how sunscreen tends to wear off?

• How many times do you reapply it to your hands and fingers?
  
• Yeah, not so much for me, either.

Here's a pair of sun gloves that give 50UPF protection and leave your fingertips uncovered so your dexterity is unimpeded on a hike.

If you'd prefer to wear full sun gloves on a hike, this pair has finger slits on thumb and index fingers, giving you the best of both worlds.

• These are handy when you're hiking over reflective snow fields or across exposed terrain, to prevent sunburn.

Bonus: Wearing these gloves prevents "age" spots, too. If you know what those are, read these hiking tips for older hikers :)

If you want to go whole hog into UV protective clothing, read this.

A few more tips for buying the best hiking gloves

If you're just starting out hiking in cooler conditions, and won't be staying outdoors overnight, you can get away with bargain brands of hiking gloves.

But expect flimsy materials, poorly sewn seams that pull apart of chafe, and less than ideal insulation.

If you're heading into uncertain weather conditions, or plan to spend at least one night camping in cool/cold/unpredictable temperatures, you absolutely must pay attention to your hands.

Regardless of which brands and styles you go with, be sure your best hiking gloves have as many of these features as budget will allow :

• women's sizing, or small men's, with a snug but not binding fit
• a cinching system for creating an airtight seal for really cold conditions
  
• appropriate thickness to keep you from over heating or freezing (which is why I have several styles)
• durable synthetic material on the palms for gripping poles or camera gear
  
• non-chafing seams
  
• wrist straps to prevent loss
• some sort of attachment system (magnets, snaps) to keep the pair together in your backpack
  

Gloves = hiking love

If you are hiking with newbies, children, or a group of folks you don't know well, bring along a second pair of gloves to hand over (will the hiking puns never end?) when any of them begin to shiver.

Demonstrate without a word that the best hiking gloves are a vital component of your anti-hypothermia strategy.

Be prepared for grateful words and a big smile.

Notice the word LOVE in there?

• Glove love is where it's at, y'all.

Ready to tackle warm feet on a hike? I thought you might be up for it ;)

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Best Hiking Gloves