Skiing, ice climbing, winter camping: There’s no one-size-fits-all way to spend the winter, and no one-size-fits-all glove for every activity. From pillowy mittens for Arctic adventures to breathable liners for fast-paced Nordic days, match your handwear to your fourth-season dreams.
Read more: The Best Ski Jackets of 2023
How We Test
Number of testers: 11
Number of products tested: 30
States and countries tested in: 6
We recruited 11 testers ranging from casual enthusiasts to professional guides scattered across the U.S. and Canada, surveyed them about their winter plans, and matched them with the gloves and mitts best suited for them. Our testers put the samples through their paces while fat biking, ski touring, ice climbing, winter camping, and snowshoeing, in places like Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. At the end of the season, we asked them all to fill out a form judging each test pair on durability, comfort, waterproofing, dexterity, and warmth, and telling us whether they would recommend them to a friend. Their top picks landed on this list.
Meet Our Lead Tester
Adam Roy is the executive editor of Backpacker. He lives with his wife, small son, and smaller dog in Colorado’s Front Range, where he spends his…
