When the cold weather arrives, responsibilities don’t get a break. A dog needs to be walked. The kids need to be picked up from school; the groceries need to be bought, and the driveway needs to be shoveled, no matter how cold it is outside. Since our fingers (and toes) are the furthest appendages from our hearts, they can go numb quickly when you’re doing things like loading groceries or sending a quick text message. That’s why a sturdy pair of gloves, preferably smartphone-compatible, is essential to your daily winter outfit.
Thermal gloves typically have a light layer of insulation that doesn’t eliminate all dexterity, and most have material that improves grip on things like coffee cups, cell phones, and tools. While warmth is one of the most important features of thermal gloves, there are a few other factors to consider before choosing the best pair for you.
The best thermal gloves
What to consider?
There are hundreds of styles of thermal gloves. So it’s best to know what you’re looking for. We consider insulation, dexterity, and smartphone compatibility to be the most important factors.
Insulation: glove insulation ranges from light, barely there liners to bulky, oversized layers. For this list, we focused primarily on gloves with lighter amounts of insulation that won’t make you feel you’re preparing for a trip to the tundra, allowing you to carry bags, use your keys, and open car doors without removing them.
Waterproof: It’s pretty simple: either the gloves are waterproof or they aren’t. Some have a water-resistant DWR treatment, which is helpful if they get slightly wet. But to be truly waterproof, gloves need to be made of a fairly heavy material.
Dexterity: Lighter gloves allow for better dexterity in most cases. But some thicker thermal gloves have insulation strategically placed to reduce bulk at the fingertips, specifically to allow better use of your fingers to turn dials on your car, put coins in a meter, or adjust your beanie.
Touchscreen compatibility: Many gloves have touchscreen compatible pads on the fingers, so you don’t have to remove your gloves every time you use your smartphone. It’s a feature you’ll be glad you bought when you’re trying to find friends or search for the nearest subway station in the New York winter, all while keeping your fingers warm.
Check out our recommendations for the best thermal gloves that will keep you warm and encourage you to brave the storm, whether you’re in the city, working in your garage, or just need something for the commute. The cold doesn’t stop you from being an adult!
1. Extreme Cold Weather Waterproof Glove
It’s rare to find a thermal glove that is truly waterproof, despite all the claims. And when you’re out in the cold this fall and winter, wet hands can quickly ruin your fun.
Sealskinz makes high-performance gloves like these for outdoor enthusiasts. These gloves have a three-layer construction that’s waterproof and durable enough for everyday use, a goat leather palm for better grip and control, and they’re just the right thickness to help you maintain your dexterity.
Buy: Extreme Cold Weather Waterproof Glove
2. Lightweight Touchscreen Running Gloves
These gloves have a little of everything we’re looking for in a solid, mid-weight pair of gloves. They have an average rating of 4.3 stars out of over 9,000 Amazon reviews. They have a light layer of fleece insulation that keeps your hands warm but also wicks away excess heat when you’re active, and they’re water resistant so you can move in a light rain or snowball fight.
We love the fit, which is tailored to minimize bulk. They fit snugly against your skin, so you can tie knots, pull zippers and close buttons without removing them. Plus, a leatherette patch in the palm and fingers and a conductive silicone index finger are touchscreen compatible, so you can stay connected no matter how cold it is.
For such a cheap price and high quality, these gloves are hard to beat.
Buy: Lightweight Touchscreen Running Gloves
3. Flex Tough II High Dexterity Glove
When you work with your hands, a well-fitting glove is a must. Our favorite thermal gloves for wintry days of outdoor work are these Carhartts. They’re ideal for chopping wood, cleaning the shed, and even for everyday use on the job site.
They make the Flex Tough II from a stretchy, breathable spandex material that fits snugly and keeps you from sweating, with a synthetic material on the palm that improves grip and dexterity.
Foam padding in the palm protects your hands when wielding an axe or sledgehammer, neoprene reinforcement in the knuckles improves durability, and there’s even a wipe on the back of the thumb to keep sweat out of your safety glasses.
Buy: Flex Tough II High Dexterity Glove
4. Men’s Thermarator Glove
Skip the big ski gloves when you need an everyday glove. The secret is Columbia’s patented Omni-Heat - a thermal layer of tiny silver dots that reflect your body heat for extra warmth.
These micro-fleece thermal gloves have a warm, soft feel, an abrasion-resistant patch in the palm for a better grip on the wheel, and a touchscreen-compatible finger, so you can stay connected without taking off your gloves. And at this price, you really can’t go wrong.
5. Impreza Gore-Tex Snow Glove
Dakine’s Impreza are a functional, stylish, and affordable thermal glove option for outdoor sports like skiing and snowboarding. For insulation, they have a soft fleece insulation layer and a GoreTex Active insert, offering solid comfort, warmth and waterproofing.
The two-piece palm and fingers blend silicone and synthetic suede to improve dexterity and grip on your poles, skis, or luggage, while the neoprene cuffs hold tight to keep the elements at bay.
As you’d expect from Dakine, these lightly insulated gloves are the perfect functional addition to any outfit, from the street to the slopes.
Buy: Impreza Gore-Tex Snow Glove
6. Sherpa Glove
There’s something special about the sherpa fabric of a blanket, jacket, or pair of slippers that makes you feel totally comfortable. The fabric is super soft against your skin and the synthetic suede palm helps you keep your hand on your cocoa or hot toddy.
These sherpa fleece gloves are perfect to throw on when you’re lounging by the fire to keep your fingers warm all night. The pre-curved construction with synthetic suede palm and fingers also offers excellent dexterity, so you can use your car keys, turn dials, and twist buttons on the dashboard, all without removing them.
Buy: Sherpa Glove
