9 best ski gloves and mittens for men and women to wear on the slopes

If you don’t want to splash out on the heftily-priced 30Seven mitt (£200.63, 30seven.com), our top recommendation of this season’s snow mitts comes from Picture. This warm mitten-style glove ticked all our boxes on test, keeping fingers cosy in the cold thanks to a thermal lining and fully waterproof membrane that can withstand even heavy snow. These mitts are also surprisingly breathable on spring days, and are an eco-friendly pick, made with recycled materials and using PFC-free waterproofing to keep your hands dry. However it worth noting that the palms are made from goat leather, so this isn’t a vegan design.

Fancy a snow glove over a mitt for better dexterity? You won’t get better for under £100 than Burton’s gore-tex gloves. A thermal layer made from recycled materials does an impressive job of keeping fingers warm in the cold and cool when temperatures warm up. There’s a removable liner glove, so you’re getting two handy pairs for one here, and you can even use Burton’s popular glove directly on your phone screen – great for checking your location without getting freezing fingers. Male and female versions and a generous range of sizes are available.

If you suffer from chilblains or numb fingers, or just love the idea of luxuriously warm hands on a freezing cold day in the mountains, look no further than 30Seven’s fantastic heated gloves and mittens. These mitts are great gloves in their own right, and are fully waterproof, highly breathable and well-suited to hard-charging skiers and snowboarders who are out in any conditions.

Feeling the chill? Simply pop a rechargeable heating element into zipped pockets in the gloves and switch it on and off for instant warm hands, even in a blizzard. These mitts are well worth the investment if you work outdoors in winter or regularly ski the backcountry – for a casual snow holiday, you can pick something cheaper and less techy.

Keep the heaviest of snowstorms from soaking your hands in Dakine’s titan, which uses a gore-tex membrane to keep ice and snow firmly at bay. A thick layer of insulation traps in heat brilliantly and the rubber-lined palms are tough and rip-proof – ideal for working a ski season. We like the zipped outer compartment for your keys or lift pass. The tough titan is also available as a mitt and in a warmer leather iteration which is good for the bitterest of winter conditions. Dakine markets the titan as a men’s glove but as there’s a generous size range we’d recommend it for women too.

The North Face have set out to design a glove with skiers addicted to their smartphones in mind. Silicone on the fingers and palm allow you to easily use a phone without removing your gloves, Etip technology offers full touchscreen compatibility and these gloves also have great grip, so they’re good for fiddly jobs like doing up ski boots or swapping goggle lenses. Wear as a liner on the coldest days or alone for spring ski sessions – these gloves are warm enough to keep your fingers cosy on more relaxed days on the pistes, and the soft fleece feels great against the skin. They also clip together for easy stashing in a pocket.

Our favourite cheap and cheerful contender this winter at under £20, Mountain Warehouse’s ski glove is simple but efficient, with decent insulation, a fleecy inner lining that feels lovely against the skin, a water-repellent outer that can withstand light snowfall and thick rubber pads on the palms offering good grip. Available in three bright shades as well as in black and white, these would make a great first pair of ski gloves for a beginner or a good spare pair of gloves to pop in your backpack.

Patagonia’s nano puff insulated jackets are rightly very popular for their brilliant warmth to weight ratio, and Patagonia have applied exactly the same concept to these comfy-as-anything mitts, suitable for skiing in light snowfall. Pop them on and they provide instant warmth but never feel heavy or restrictive, but are still windproof and water-resistant enough to put up with light snow, while elasticated wrists help to further trap in heat on cold days. These squishy gloves are stuffed with 55 per cent recycled primaloft gold eco insulation, which compresses down easily to pop into pretty much any pocket.

We always recommend Decathlon’s Wedze ski collection for functional snowsports clothing at affordable prices, but this season the brand has outdone itself with this affordable yet high-performing Freeride glove. Aimed at experienced skiers and boarders heading off-piste, this long-length leather glove keeps snow out thanks to a fully waterproof membrane and warmth in with a soft knitted lining. The cuff is adjustable and there’s a massive size range, so this style should suit snowsports fans of all sizes.

If you’re just setting out in the world of snowsports, you’re likely to take more than a tumble or two as you learn how to master skis or a snowboard. The perfect glove for your first lessons? The Volcom stay dry, which is designed with a close-fitting neoprene cuff like a wetsuit’s to keep nary a flake of snow from getting at your skin, no matter how many times you end up in the white stuff. The stay dry also offers great grip and good waterproofing thanks to a gore-tex membrane. A generous 80g of insulation makes these mitts ideal for winter but too warm for balmy bluebird days.