Tis the season for building snowmen, sipping toddies and — if you’re the adventurous type — hitting the slopes. If you ski or snowboard, you know that when the snow starts coming down your hands get cold fast. That's when you'll want to have the best ski gloves for women you can possibly find — and not just for when you’re tearing down the mountain. Often, the chilliest part is actually in between runs when you’re stuck on the chairlift, pulling up your neck gaiter, and blowing on your fingers while wondering why you ever thought skiing would be fun in the first place.
It doesn’t have to be that way though. In the same way that having an ultra-warm hat can help prevent those teeth-chattering, cursing-at-the-air moments by trapping in your body heat, having a pair of reliable, waterproof ski gloves can prevent frozen fingers and make you actually glad you came out to play. Regardless of your winter skiing destination, good gloves are game changers.
All that said, you’ve gotta know what you want. Are you someone who gets cold hands all the time and needs the absolute warmest gloves on Amazon? Or do you tend to work up a sweat easily, always wondering, “Why do I sweat when I’m this freakin’ cold?!” In that case, you need something breathable to avoid clammy hands. Or, perhaps you just want to make sure you can still use your phone. Whatever your particular cold weather preferences, these are some of the best women’s ski gloves for the job.
1Touch Screen-Compatible Gloves With Handy Removable Wrist Leashes
North Face Powderflo Etip, $75-$98, Amazon
Using “Etip” technology, the fingers in North Face’s Powderflos are equipped with touchscreen-compatibility so you can text your friends without forcing your poor fingers into the frigid elements. These gloves are so popular in fact that every reviewer on Amazon gave them five stars and one noted that the “Etips actually work.” Additionally, these gloves have radiametric articulation to keep your hands in natural, relaxed positions, full-coverage gauntlets to keep snow out, wrist cinches to keep warmth in, and removable wrist leashes that allows you to slide a hand warmer inside when it’s extra cold out.
2Ultra-Warm But Still Breathable Gloves That Are Ideal If You Get Sweaty Hands
Spyder Synthesis Ski Glove, $76-$80, Amazon
Made with breathable Gore-Tex material, the best part about Spider's Synthese gloves is they'll keep your hands warm without making them sweat. Featuring super breathable Gore-Tex material, these over-the-cuff gauntlet style gloves have a zippered heater pack pocket, adjustable wrist strap, and pre-curved articulated fit to ensure your hands stay dry and cut down on odor as well.
3Breathable But Warm Mid-Range Gloves With Great Grip
686 Gore-Tex Linear Gloves, $55, Amazon
686’s Gore-Tex Linear women’s gloves are the perfect combination of high-end, top-of-the-line features (such as Gore-Tex inserts or Micro Tricot lining) at a fairly reasonable price. With a waterproof rating of 10,000, your hands will stay dry all day long and the material is breathable too. Plus, the gloves have cool no-slip palm grips that let you hold your skis firmly or adjust your snowboard bindings without fear of everything sliding away.
4Highly-Rated Gloves That Are Easy On Your Wallet
Phibee Waterproof Ski Gloves, $15-16, Amazon
These Phibee gloves are made from water-resistant polyester with a cozy fleece lining, offering basic cold-weather protection at a mega-affordable price. They have a handy zippered pocket on the back so you can carry a little cash or other small items, and a strap to cinch down the wrist to the perfect fit. If you're a beginner who's not sure you want to invest a lot, or simply on a budget, these are a great option. They’re warm, they’re water-resistant and, best of all, they only cost fifteen bucks.
5Insulated Mittens With Touch Screen Compatibility
Burton Prospect Mitten, $31-55, Amazon
Gloves are often favored for their functionality, but when it comes to warmth, nothing beats these midweight, Thermacore-insulated mittens. Featuring Burton’s patented DRYRIDE 2-Layer fabric and a waterproof membrane, these mitts also boast a tough-grip palm for touchscreen control and an ergonomic fit. Add to that removable fleece liners and you're guaranteed to have dry, cozy hands from your first chair to the last run of the day.
6High-End Gloves That Boast Battery-Powered Heating
Outdoor Research Lucent Heated Gloves, $284-$359, Amazon
The Lucent heated gloves by Outdoor Research are the godmother of all warm gloves. Designed with a ridiculously warm, amazingly hi-tech self-heating panel and stocked with a rechargeable battery, you don’t even have to try to keep your hands warm. Just press a button and generate all the heat you want right there inside the glove. The ALTIHeat technology offers low, medium, and high settings, depending on how arctic the temperatures are that day. Warning: these gloves aren’t cheap—in fact, they’re exactly the opposite. However, if you're someone who never has any fun in the snow because your hands are constantly cold, these insanely warm gloves are well worth the investment.
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