Hiking Gloves & Mittens

Different handwear provides varying levels of warmth, weather protection and dexterity, giving you options for everything from mild walks to colder mountain routes.

• Lightweight hiking gloves: Thin, breathable designs work well in chilly weather when you want some warmth without sacrificing fine motor skills.
• Waterproof gloves: A waterproof membrane or protective outer helps keep your hands dry during rain and wet conditions. They are particularly useful when prolonged exposure is likely.
• Insulated gloves: Added insulation provides greater heat retention for winter hiking and colder environments. Synthetic insulation is practical when damp conditions are possible.
• Softshell gloves: Wind resistant stretch fabrics make these useful for exposed ridges, fast paced walking and other outdoor activities where flexibility and breathability are important.
• Hiking mittens: By keeping the fingers together, hiking mittens can retain more warmth than standard gloves. They are useful in colder conditions, although they provide less dexterity when handling smaller equipment.

The different designs make it possible to select hand protection according to the conditions rather than relying on the same pair for every walk.

Materials and How They Work

Materials influence how gloves manage warmth, moisture and repeated contact with hiking equipment.

• Leather: Commonly used across the palm or other high wear areas because it provides durability and a dependable grip.
• Fleece: Soft and insulating, fleece is well suited to lightweight gloves and warm linings for cool conditions.
• Synthetic insulation: Traps warm air around the hands while maintaining useful performance when exposed to moisture.
• Waterproof membranes: Create a barrier against external moisture while allowing some water vapour produced by the hands to escape.
• Stretch synthetic fabrics: Flexible materials help gloves follow the movement of the fingers and are often used in softshell designs.

Using different materials across the palm, lining and outer surface allows hiking gloves to provide warmth without compromising the movement needed for handling outdoor equipment.

The most useful features combine hand protection with the grip and dexterity required for practical tasks outdoors.

• A grippy palm or silicone print can improve control when holding trekking poles and other equipment.
• Pre curved fingers allow the hand to sit naturally around handles and straps.
• Touchscreen compatible fingertips make it easier to check navigation without removing your gloves.
• Adjustable wrist closures help prevent cold air, moisture and debris entering around the cuff.
• Longer cuffs provide additional coverage and can overlap with jacket sleeves.
• Breathable linings help manage moisture during long or energetic walks.
• A soft nose wipe on the thumb can be handy during cold conditions.
• Wrist leashes reduce the chance of losing a glove when it needs to be removed temporarily.

These details allow hiking mittens and gloves to provide protection while remaining practical for the different tasks you may need to complete along the route.

The amount of warmth and protection needed can change according to the terrain, temperature and level of physical effort involved.

• Relaxed countryside walks: Lightweight hiking gloves can provide enough warmth for cool mornings without making your hands excessively hot.
• Wet routes: Waterproof hiking mittens or gloves with secure cuffs help protect the hands when rain and damp equipment are likely.
• Exposed ridges: Windproof softshell gloves provide protection from windy weather while maintaining useful dexterity.
• Pole assisted hiking: Choose gloves with a good grip, reinforced palms and enough finger movement to control trekking poles comfortably.
• Winter hiking: Insulated hiking mittens provide greater warmth in very cold conditions, while insulated gloves are useful when more precise hand movement is required.
• Technical routes: Gloves with reinforced palms, pre curved fingers and dependable grip are better suited to handling ice axes or other equipment.

Considering what your hands will actually be doing during the walk helps determine how much insulation, grip and finger movement you need from your handwear.