Best Winter Mittens of 2023

We spend a whole lot of time outdoor testing gear. And if we’ve realized one factor over time, it’s that being chilly can rapidly wreck any journey. This is the place having the perfect winter mittens comes into play.

When carrying mittens, you’ll sacrifice a little bit of dexterity for cozy digits, however that’s the worth of heat within the rock-bottom chilly months of the 12 months. And if it means having a great time exterior all winter lengthy, then it’s a value we’re prepared to pay.

While this listing doesn’t cowl each mitten ever made, suffice it to say we’ve been thorough in narrowing it all the way down to our favorites. These are the mittens we are able to’t cease raving about — those we suggest and depend on all winter lengthy.

At the top of our listing, remember to try our purchaser’s information. And should you nonetheless have questions, check out our listing of regularly requested questions.

Jump to our high picks or discover our full suggestions beneath. To evaluate over a dozen mitts in a single place, try our comparability chart.

The Best Winter Mittens of 2023

Best of the Rest

Winter Mittens Comparison Table

Why You Should Trust Us

The GearJunkie workforce is made up of skiers, snowboarders, and many of us who merely reside in chilly, wintery areas. We’ve examined mittens by frigid Minnesota winters, throughout chilly Colorado outings, and whereas touring throughout North America in the hunt for snow-laden adventures. We commonly hike, bike, ski, board, and camp in these mittens. We’ve even had a number of snowball fights and an epic snow angel competitors for good measure.

While assessing the standard of a pair of gloves or mittens, we contemplate heat, waterproofing, sturdiness, consolation, match, versatility, type, and total worth. We make an effort to check each pair of gloves in a wide range of circumstances over many days of subject testing. Once a 12 months, the entire workforce will get collectively to ski for per week and evaluate notes on our favourite merchandise. This roundup is a residing doc — every time a brand new pair of mittens earns a spot, we’ll replace the listing.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose Winter Mittens

Cold Temperature

Winter can imply a whole lot of issues — particularly, a spread of temperatures. Especially in greater alpine environments with extra excessive winds or locations with humidity, temperatures can fluctuate and drop wildly. Thankfully, mittens are a time-tested, good resolution to excessive colds.

If you understand your physique runs hotter or colder, contemplate that when shopping for winter mittens. If you battle with maintaining heat in your extremities, you might also need mitts with the next weight or down-fill insulation, or a thicker shell. You may also contemplate a multi-layer system just like the Dakine Diablo Gore-Tex Mitten, which has a shell, down insulation, and a liner. If your fingers are normally fairly heat, different choices are extra simplified, just like the Stio Hardscrabble.

Down or Synthetic?

Down mittens are a well-liked possibility for snowboarding, cross-country snowboarding, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. However, down loses its insulating powers when moist. Synthetic insulation, nonetheless, insulates higher when moist and dries so much quicker. For damp climates particularly, contemplate artificial. The Dakine Diablo Gore-Tex Mitten is a singular mitt that mixes each artificial and down insulation.

If you’re going to be utilizing mittens for higher-intensity sports activities like snowboarding and snowboarding, additionally contemplate sturdiness and waterproofing. For sports activities like these and mountaineering pursuits, you’ll need mitts with longer cuffs just like the Black Diamond Mercury Mitt.

Waterproofing

Many of the mittens on this listing declare to be waterproof. Typically, a “waterproof” mitten is constructed with a layer of breathable membrane equivalent to GORE-TEX. This layer is designed to maintain moisture from reaching the within of the glove and in addition enable moisture from the arms to evaporate out.

While a few of these membranes work fairly effectively, they aren’t fully impervious to water. If your mittens grow to be fully saturated in a heavy rainstorm, your arms will in all probability get moist beneath.

If you’re searching for the very best degree of waterproofing mittens can supply, remember to choose a mode with a GORE-TEX (or comparable model) membrane, just like the Outdoor Research Alti II Mitten. All leather-based choices, just like the Give’r Frontier Mittens or the Flylow Oven Mitts, gained’t present full waterproofing, however with an extra wax coating, you’ll get fairly shut.

Size & Dexterity

Most manufacturers will now listing the precise measurements of their mittens, particularly the size of the palm. We suggest beginning along with your traditional glove or mitt dimension, however at all times double-check any mitt’s particular sizing chart.

Mitts have a lot of execs — specifically, offering heat higher than gloves — however they do go down a notch within the performance division.

When looking for mittens, we at all times wish to search for and put money into ones with contact compatibility (so that you don’t need to take away them to examine your cellphone), in addition to textured palms for grip and sturdiness. The GORE Wear Thermo Split Gloves are effectively designed to have the ability to entry your cellphone whereas on a journey.

Finally, it’s a good suggestion to put money into a pair of liner gloves. These can pair with mittens and even operate on their very own on hotter however nonetheless wintry days. Keep in thoughts that some pairs already include detachable liners, just like the Black Diamond Mercury Mitt and the Dakine Diablo. 

Mitten Care 101: How to Wash Mittens

First off, it’s vital to notice that mittens hardly ever want washing, so don’t go throwing them in your weekly laundry pile. That mentioned, there are occasions when a dirty glove wants cleansing, or a worn-out mitt wants a bit of affection. Here are three mitten care ideas:

1. 1. Spot clear. Skip the complete wash every time attainable and go for a spot clear. Wipe down with delicate cleaning soap and water. Allow to air dry.
   2. Remove liner. If your mittens have separate liners, take away them and wash them as wanted. If your entire mitten completely wants a radical washing, use a tech-specific wash like Granger’s Performance Wash on the fragile cycle. Lay flat to dry.
   3. Condition leather-based (if relevant). Leather is usually a nice waterproof materials, nevertheless it wants correct care and a spotlight. First, rubdown the mitten with a moist fabric to take away any grit. Next, therapeutic massage a leather-based wax like Sno-Seal into the leather-based. Allow to air dry at room temperature in a single day. Use a tender fabric to take away any additional wax, and prepare to take pleasure in your supple, waterproof mittens.

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