Along with warm coats and sturdy boots, the best winter gloves for women can help you survive the cold months unscathed. The lack of moisture in the air and sudden dip in temperatures can really do a number of your hands, leaving them dry, chapped and stinging. Hand cream can only do so much here. Instead, your smartest defense is a pair of winter gloves that protects your hands from the elements, whether you’re skiing on the slopes or just scrolling on your phone outside.
The best winter gloves for women are the ones you'll actually use—our picks combine comfort with ... [+] practical details and cold-blocking features. Double Pointed Needle Set
While the best winter gloves are versatile enough to handle different activities and conditions, you’ll want to prioritize the features that matter most to you. A fleece-lined pair gives you extra insulation for winter sports, for example, and a touchscreen-friendly option is great during your commute. We consulted outdoor experts, including ski instructors and leather experts, and road-tested pairs ourselves to find which gloves won’t leave your hands uncomfortable numb this winter.
Our top pick overall is Smartwool’s Merino 250 Gloves for its high-performance design, weather-resistant details and smart-phone-friendly fabric. For an affordable pair, we like Ozero’s Winter Thermal Gloves, which are lightweight and keep you warm at an excellent price. Ahead, here are all of the best winter gloves for women that we highly recommend.
Sizes: XS-XL | Colors: Charcoal Heather, Black Cherry Heather | Materials: Merino wool | Touchscreen Capabilities: Yes | Waterproof: No
At under $50, these do-it-all gloves earned the top spot on our list thanks to their soft yet warm wool, touch-screen-friendly capabilities and accessible price point. This sleek pair is also a favorite of REI program specialist John Junke Jr. “If you are generating a lot of warmth from outdoor activities like Nordic skiing, snowshoeing or running, you need a glove that wicks moisture and breathes well,” he says. This pair is also available in mittens as well.
Sizes: S-XXL | Colors: Black| Materials: Polyester, thermal polar fleece | Touchscreen Capabilities: Yes | Waterproof: Water-resistant
While Ozero’s gloves are designed for outdoor activities, such as cycling, hiking and running, they’re lightweight enough for everyday, too. The water-resistant shell keeps moisture from soaking through and you can customize the fit with the adjustable bands around the cuffs. The palm is dotted with silicone grippers, to ensure you won’t drop your phone in a snowbank. Plus, the unisex design comes in sizes S through XXL.
Sizes: XSL | Colors: Black | Materials: Polyester, goose down | Touchscreen Capabilities: No | Waterproof: Water-resistant
Known for its iconic puffer jackets, Canada Goose specializes in outerwear for chilly temperatures. For heavy-duty cold days, these gloves have a hard shell to keep out water and wind, and goose-down padding to provide insulation. The puffer style is also flexible enough for gripping ski poles or smaller items, like car keys. This pair also comes in mittens, too.
Sizes: S-L | Colors: Black, Nightshade, Charcoal, Crabapple| Materials: Polyester | Touchscreen Capabilities: No | Waterproof: Yes
Since 1889, Carhartt has created workwear meant for both shoveling snow or simply walking the dog. This pair has waterproof inserts to prevent sogginess and a sweat-wicking lining that also banishes moisture. Also great: the elastic fleece cuffs with adjustable closures that block out cold air. This style also comes in an insulated mitten.
Sizes: 6-11 | Colors: Cork and Chrome Free | Materials: Leather, polyester, neoprene | Touchscreen Capabilities: No | Waterproof: No
Swedish brand Hestra specializes in winter gloves, and this pair came highly recommended from multiple experts, including Mike Redwood, author of Gloves and Glove-Making, who looks to Nordic brands as leaders in the space. “They experience real winter, so they know how to make a warm glove,” he says. The leather blocks the cold, the neoprene cuffs keep out melted snow, and the fit is flexible enough to grip poles. “Most professionals on the hill have at least one pair of these,” says professional ski instructor Julianna Jennings. “They’re comfortable, warm and made to last you a few seasons.” If you’re not into the three-finger design, check out the traditional five-finger Wakayama.
Sizes: S-XL | Colors: Agate, Black | Materials: Gore-Tex, nylon, leather, polyester | Touchscreen Capabilities: No | Waterproof: Yes
For seriously brutal temperatures, Outdoor Research is one of Junke’s go-to brands. “In extremely cold conditions, such as -20 degrees or colder, there’s no better way to beat the cold than with these insulated mittens,” he says. “Mittens give you the room you need to keep circulation going to your fingertips as well as allowing your fingers to share heat and work together to stay warm.”
Sizes: S-L | Colors: Black, Chestnut | Materials: Sheepskin | Touchscreen Capabilities: None | Waterproof: Water-resistant
Fingerless gloves are typically worn as a fashion statement rather than for their practicality, but if you’re looking to stay warm, consider this cozy pair from Ugg. Made with the Australian brand’s signature sheepskin, these water-resistant gloves stay put with thumb-loops so your fingers can text or hold your coffee.
Sizes: S-L | Colors: Black | Materials: Lambskin leather, cashmere | Touchscreen Capabilities: Yes | Waterproof: No
Another of glove expert Redwood’s favorite brands, Fownes Brothers specializes in fashionable and functional styles. This touchscreen-enabled pair is made from leather to seal out cold and wind, and lined with soft cashmere for extra warmth. For less than $50, you can buy a few pairs.
Sizes: SM/MD-L/XL | Colors: Lagoon, Gold, Black, Navy, Tamarind | Materials: Leather, cashmere | Touchscreen Capabilities: Yes | Waterproof: No
Created by runners for runners, Tracksmith’s gloves are a top pick of Lindsey Clayton, a Barry’s instructor and marathon runner. Designed for cooler temps, this pair has extra-soft fabric on the forefinger and thumb, so you can wipe a runny nose without irritation. Also, those two fingers are touchscreen-friendly. If you can’t decide between mittens and gloves, the Nor’Eastern 2-In-1 is a nice compromise.
I’m a freelance writer and former beauty editor for Real Simple and Health magazines. My work has appeared in publications including Instyle, Well and Good, Elite Daily and Forbes. In order to find the best winter gloves for women, I interviewed multiple experts : John Junke Jr., a digital engagement program specialist at REI; Mike Redwood, author of Gloves and Glove-Making; Julianna Jennings, a professional ski instructor based in Switzerland, and Barry’s New York City Principal Instructor and Founding Barry's X Digital Instructor, Lindsey Clayton. In addition to interviewing experts, I also read reviews, tested products, and researched materials and fabrics.
In order to find the best winter gloves for women, I took the following factors into consideration:
I’m a digital media executive recognized for building engaging content experiences that delight and inspire audiences. As Chief Product Officer of Forbes, I lead a team of world-class product managers, designers, e-commerce leaders, and other experts focused on building the products that shape the Forbes brand across the web, mobile, social, and emerging platforms.
New England raised and Oregon-based, I'm a twenty-something editor with a penchant for gear. Upon receiving a degree from the University of Massachusetts, I packed my car on a whim and made for the west coast. Like a rebel without a cause, I drove until I found myself in Oregon, a place where towering pines and peaks looked nothing like the old forests back home. It's here that I began my career as a freelance writer, contributing gear-related stories to REI Co-op, Backpacker, GearJunkie, Field Mag and others. Years later, I began working as a copywriter for Backcountry.com before jumping headfirst into the world of product journalism where I find myself today.
A jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type, I've made a few wonderful memories between then and now. I've surfed the frigid waters of the Oregon coast, stumbled my way through the Sierras, skied the Canadian Rockies and backpacked the Alps. These days, I'm messing about with films cameras, appreciating long drives in my old 4Runner and jumping at every chance I get to see something new.
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I’m a freelance writer who covers the outdoors, the environment and travel. Before diving into a writing career, I spent years in the outdoor industry as a backpacking guide running multi-day trips in Yosemite, Yellowstone, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks. I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland but now live in Salt Lake City, Utah where I spend my time trail running, climbing, and biking. You can see my work in other publications like Outside, Climbing, and SELF, or on my website: www.hannah-singleton.com.
Juice Wrld Beanie Stephanie Montes is an editorial contributor covering all things fashion and beauty. She writes about her adventures in testing the latest trends in skincare, hair and makeup, and explores the latest trends in clothes and accessories. She's not afraid to stick needles in her face or straighten her hair on an airplane (true story!), and she gets a rush from copying the best celeb outfits on a budget. Stephanie's bylines have also appeared on Elite Daily, Hello Giggles, Brides.com, MyDomaine, Byrdie, Well + Good, Parents and more.