Keeping your hands warm should be one of your priorities when you’re out skiing or snowboarding. But the truth is, doing so is much easier said than done. Most do attempt to try and do it by wearing gloves.
However, the problem with most gloves is that they do a terrible job of keeping the hands warm in cold weather.
With that said, we decided to solve this small but important problem by rounding up the best snowboard gloves that money can buy.
These gloves are made specifically for use in, not just colder climates, but in snow.
Wearing any one of these will make sure that you’ll have to resort to tucking your hands inside your jacket for warmth.
Are Snowboard Gloves and/or Mittens the Same?
No. Definitely not. Snowboard gloves and mittens are different. But for the sake of our list of recommendations, we will be grouping them together.
Although we will be careful to mention if whether a particular product is a snowboard glove or a mitten. This is because snowboard gloves have different pros and cons from mittens.
For example, mittens are usually compared to gloves. This makes them better for less forgiving weather. However, that comes at the expense of freedom of movement as well as weight.
Meanwhile, gloves are usually more lightweight and more convenient to use.
As for which of the two is better, it’s usually a preference thing. It depends on whether or not you prefer the added warmth of mittens or the added control of gloves.
Either way, both products, when chosen properly, should give your hands proper warmth and protection, especially during the cold.
What Are the Best Snowboard Gloves on the Market?
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1. Outdoor Research Men’s Revolution Gloves
These waterproof gloves are as basic as snowboard gloves can get, but that’s okay. This is because they do their job well, and that’s more than enough.
Because of the water-resistant goat leather palm, your hands will remain dry at all times. It’s also equipped with a 100% polyester EnduraLoft Insulation to make sure that your hands are warm as well.
Plus, because these gloves are windproof, your hands are as safe as they can be from chilly drafts. This allows you to focus on skiing and snowboarding completely.
These gloves also use a breathable material and have moisture-wicking capabilities. This allows the gloves to absorb sweat, as well as moisture, which would otherwise build up during an intense activity like snowboarding and/or skiing.
Meanwhile, because of the soft and tactile leather palm, your fingers will feel free and comfortable. Not to mention, the soft nose wipe lets you wipe away any sweat on your eyes.
These gloves also have other features that help improve fit. This includes the Ladder Lock Wrist Cinch, Pull-On Loop, and Removable Leash.
For cleaning, the nylon material of the gloves is machine washable. This also means that the gloves can be relied on to last for a long time.
Lastly, after washing, the gloves should dry rather quickly, so you won’t have to wait too long to let the gloves dry and use them again for some high-octane action.
Pros:
- Breathable and comfortable leather palm material, with moisture-wicking properties
- Machine washable
- Quick-drying
Cons:
- You’ll want to wear something different in extremely cold weather conditions
2. Hestra Army Leather Ski Gloves
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These snowboard mittens are arguably the best snowboard gloves on the market, but you’ll have to pay a premium price if you want a pair.
To be fair, for its price, you’re getting a whole lot in return. This includes a 3-layer polyamide outer shell that gives it waterproofing and windproofing properties, while also making the gloves comfortable to wear and breathable.
It also uses a 100% polyester fiberfill material for optimal insulation and warmth.
These gloves also use an army goat leather material for the palms. This gives it extreme durability, especially because it was originally intended for military applications.
This is then paired with a nylon backing that’s rather thick for added durability. At the same time, it isn’t thick enough to limit flexibility.
If you want something that will last throughout multiple years and can be used the entire year, these gloves are quite easy to recommend.
Pros:
- Surface material helps add grip
- Military-grade durability
- Breathable
Cons:
- Expensive
- Leather material needs occasional retreatment
3. Gordini Men’s Gore-tex Storm Trooper Li Waterproof Insulated Gloves
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For snowboarders and skiers who are on a budget, these waterproof insulated gloves are worth a look.
Because of its Nylon and Spandex construction, these gloves can protect your hands well enough from the harsh elements. At the same time, they’re also extremely comfortable to wear.
Plus, unlike other gloves, they’re relatively easy to wash and maintain — handwashing is more than enough to remove dust and dirt debris from regular use.
These affordable snowboard gloves also come with a digital grip palm, wrap caps, and stick grip fingers. Also, it features a genuine goatskin trim, as well as a breathable woven fabric.
These two combine to help keep your fingers and hands dry at all times.
The Hydrowick micro-denier lining and Megaloft insulation also provides added insulation against the cold, while the GORE-TEX insert gives the glove some much-needed waterproofing and windproofing.
Lastly, these snowboard gloves are quite versatile. In addition to snowboarding and skiing, these insulated gloves can also be used for other high-speed activities.
This includes riding motorcycles and bicycles.
Pros:
- Easy to clean via handwashing
- Affordable
- Waterproof and windproof
- Versatile application
Cons:
- Quality and comfort has a tendency to fade over time
- Questionable build quality means that you’ll have to buy a new one in a year or two, depending on use
4. Dakine Excursion Glove
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Both comfortable and warm enough to be used at the resort and in the backcountry, the Dakine Excursion Glove combines warmth and protection from the elements.
This is mainly because of its Gore-Tex insert, which utilizes Gore Active technology for waterproofing and adds breathability.
The goat leather palm isn’t just waterproof either. It’s also water-repellent. Meanwhile, the four-way stretch soft-shell fabric has also received DWR treatment to further prevent moisture from seeping inside the gloves.
The gloves also use Primaloft gold insulation (roughly around 170 grams) along with a 360-gram wool blend to keep your arms warm and cozy without necessarily affecting your grip.
The gauntlet-style cuff is also quite commendable. It should fit in quite nicely over your snowboard jacket cuffs. But because of the adjustable hook-and-loop closure, it can provide an effective seal with little compromise to your movement.
The Excursion also comes in mittens. Unlike the gloves version, the mitten version is even warmer. It uses up to 230 grams of insulation.
Pros:
- Warm enough even for extreme weather conditions, especially the mittens version
- Provides an effective seal without restricting movement
- Multiple layers of technology used for waterproofing
- Comes in two different styles
Cons:
- Softshell material isn’t exactly ideal for wiping sweat off of your nose or forehead
5. Helly Hansen Odin Gloves
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It’s hard to find gloves that you can use throughout the entire year. This is because, as the temperatures change, your requirements for warmth and comfort changes as well.
But there are a number of products out there that can match all conditions and temperatures. A good example of this is the Helly Hansen Odin Gloves.
This two-in-one glove is the best snowboard gloves if you’re looking for something you can wear all-year-round. It comes with a removable inner liner that you can wear on its own during warmer weather.
Meanwhile, once the weather starts getting colder, you can put on the polypropylene liner outer shell, which is breathable and waterproof, to give your hands some much-needed warmth.
For added protection, the gauntlet cuffs are generous with space. The glove also comes with pull-tab closures. This lets you slip jacket cuffs underneath easily for total protection.
All in all, this is a value buy that you definitely won’t regret.
Pros:
- Year-round use and versatility
- Breathable and waterproof outer shell
- Spacious gauntlet cuffs with pull-tab closures
Cons:
- Doesn’t provide enough warmth for less forgiving conditions
6. The North Face Apex Etip
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One of the few mittens that we recommend on our list, The North Face Apex Etip prides itself in providing warmth and protection without affecting hand freedom and movement.
Although this pair of mittens is a lot bulkier than most, the Apex Etip is actually quite lightweight yet provides a lot of warmth and coziness to your hands even in harsh weather conditions.
The polyester glove makes the Apex Etip extremely comfortable to wear. Meanwhile, they’re also UR powered with a TNFTM Apex ClimateBlock softshell at the palm that allows you to use your phone freely and with little restraint with the gloves on.
The synthetic gripper found on the palm of these mittens also guarantees that you don’t lose grip of whatever it is that you’re holding.
If and when you do need to take off the glove, the PU tab makes doing so quite easy.
Pros:
- Smartphone compatible
- Synthetic gripper
- Thick yet lightweight
- A lot of value for its price
Cons:
- The material might be too thick for most people’s tastes
How to Get the Right Size in Choosing Snowboard Gloves
It doesn’t matter how many features a pair of snowboard gloves have. If it’s not the right size, then it’s not good for you.
This is why you have to make sure that the gloves are a good fit on your hands first before buying it.
The risk of buying a glove that’s too small is that it will restrict your movement and give you minimal control. At the same time, if it’s too loose, it might come off. Both are scenarios that you’ll want to avoid when doing a high-activity sport like snowboarding or skiing.
For men and women, it’s important to check if the palm-size indicated on the glove is the same as yours. This is especially true for women since men’s snowboard gloves are manufactured in a different way compared to women’s gloves.
It’s important to choose gender-specific snowboard gloves for this very reason.
Just remember that the gloves don’t always have to be an extremely tight fit. In some cases, you might prefer something slightly bigger than your palms. This is to add a bit more comfort. At the same time, if you want more dexterity and movement, slightly smaller gloves will provide a tighter fit.
Either way, the correct size is important. If possible, buy from online shops that let you return items that are either too small or too large for your hands.
Or, better yet, go to your local sporting goods store and ask if you can try out the gloves first before buying them.
How Do You Take Care of the Snowboarding Gloves?
- You should take extra care to dry gloves as soon as possible. The sooner you dry the gloves, the less likely fungus will breed and develop inside. But don’t use a dryer to dry off your gloves. It’s best to air dry them to minimize any damage to the materials.
- Don’t wring out your gloves. If it’s really wet, just dry them in a warm area. Wringing the gloves out might take some of the excess water away, but it’s also hard on the material. It will ruin the stitching and liner, causing premature wear and damage.
- Use light silicon or liquid spray for leather and fabric. Avoid using heavy oils to minimize the risk of overtreatment and cause the gloves to lose their shape and insulation properties.
- Avoid applying any waterproofing materials on the glove. Doing so will affect the breathability and waterproofing of the gloves, making them less effective.
Buy the Best Snowboard Gloves Today
Now that you know what the top snowboard gloves available on the market are, it should be easier for you to find one that fits your tastes, preferences, and most important of all, budget.
But if in case our round-up wasn’t enough, that’s okay. There are plenty more products that you can consider buying, both online and at your local sporting goods store.
When shopping for a snowboard glove, it’s important that you consider the following factors:
- Price
- Fit
- Insulation
- Overall comfort
- Size
And of course, don’t forget your own preference.
So long as you keep that in mind, you’ll be up and down slopes in no time with the most ideal snowboard gloves protecting your hands from the cold and harsh weather.
Related Posts:
The Best Snowboarding Goggles (Reviews And Buying Guide)
Best Snowboard Helmets [Reviews And Buying Guide 2021]