Wool gloves and mittens are made with wool and other materials that wick away moisture, keeping your hands warm even when they get wet. They’re a good choice for cold weather activities and can be a great option for winter hikers, skiers, and outdoor workers.
Wool is an insulator that breathes, wicks away moisture, and helps keep your skin from overheating. It’s also naturally odor-resistant, making it an ideal choice for outdoor adventures.
When choosing a pair of wool gloves, look for ones with a good fit, a high level of insulation, and a comfortable fleece lining. These gloves will help protect your hands from the elements and allow you to do what you need to do, such as handle gear and use electronic devices.
A good wool glove will offer a bulk-free fit as this is the best way to ensure that your hands stay comfortable and protected in the cold. Bulky gloves will be stiff and restrict blood circulation, while tighter gloves can cause discomfort, pain, and blisters.
Thin and light wool models are typically used as liner gloves for a wide range of activities including running, hiking, cross country skiing, and bicycling. They’re thinner than heavier gloves and mitts, and they provide good breathability to help prevent your hands from overheating during long periods of activity.
Unlike cotton and other synthetic materials, wool gloves dries relatively quickly, so it’s a good choice for those who need to stay warm but don’t want their gloves to be wet when they get sweaty or dirty. Regardless of the material, it’s a good idea to wash your wool gloves and mittens frequently to avoid mold and mildew growth.
Another popular material for gloves is a blend of wool and synthetics. This combination of materials offers a few benefits, such as better durability and abrasion resistance, than leather.
Some wool-synthetics combinations also come with additional features like zippered pockets for hand warmer packets or thumb wipes to clean your nose when it starts to drip. Other common features in cold-weather gloves and mittens are wrist cinches that snug your fingers to your wrists for a secure fit, and long gauntlet cuffs that extend over the sleeves of your jacket and cinch closed to prevent snow and ice from entering.
In addition, many gloves for cold weather come with a variety of other functional features that can make your outdoor activities easier and more enjoyable. For example, many gloves have a built-in touchscreen tip on the thumbs and index fingers for using touch screen devices such as mobile phones or digital cameras.
If you’re looking for a durable and highly versatile pair of winter gloves, check out the SmartWool Ridgeway Glove. Its lining is made of a wool/polyester/nylon combination for extra durability and abrasion resistance.
The best cold-weather gloves are insulated with a thermal layer to trap heat inside, but they also need to be waterproof and breathable to prevent water from soaking through. They’re usually paired with shell gloves and mitts to complete your layered system.