Best Winter Gloves for Hiking and Backpacking 2023

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This is a gear review about the Best Winter Gloves for hiking and backpacking in 2023.

There’s nothing worse than cold hands when you’re out winter hiking in bitterly chilly weather. Even though you’ve made sure to pack a pair of regular gloves in your backpack, they won’t be up to the warming standard you need on snowy winter trips.

This is where winter gloves will come in. These are the best winter gloves that have been specifically designed for use in bitterly cold temperatures. These types of gloves will be able to keep your hands toasty and warm when you need them most. 

Let’s take a look at the best winter gloves so you can get out on the snowy slopes!

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How We Tested

All the Winter Gloves in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has many years of experience in Thru-Hiking, Backpacking, and Hiking. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the best winter gloves for 2023. Read the Review Policy for further details.

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Best Winter Gloves for 2023

The Best Winter Hiking Gloves for 2023 are:

• Best Winter Gloves: Outdoor Research Alti 2 Mittens
• Black Diamond Mercury Mitts
• Torrid Mittens by Enlightened Equipment
• Hestra Heli Insulated Mittens
• Black Diamond Guide
• Black Diamond Soloist Finger
• Sealskinz Unisex Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet
• Outdoor Research Backstop Sensor
• Outdoor Research VersaLiner

The Outdoor Research Alti 2 Mittens are the newest upgrade to the ever popular Alti range of mittens. They are a perfect fit for those who plan on traversing through subfreezing temperatures. These particular gloves have been designed to be suitable for use in Arctic expeditions and high-altitude mountaineering.

They will work to keep your hands toasty and warm and are one of the warmest gloves in this review.

These particular winter hiking gloves are breathable, as well as waterproof thanks to the Gore-Tex waterproof membrane. They are also insulated and feature removable liners that are packed with 170 grams of Primaloft gold insulation to give you the protection and warmth you need.

Overall, the Outdoor Research Alti 2 are the best Winter Gloves of 2023. They are best suited for those who intend to be in very cold temperatures such as winter backpacking, high-altitude mountaineering, ice climbing, and arctic expeditions.

The Black Diamond Mercury Mitts easily earn the spot of the top pick. These particular winter mitts come with a range of great features to give you the protection you need when you need it most.

These waterproof winter gloves make use of high-quality materials to be super hard wearing and will last you for many years to come.

These particular winter gloves are 100% waterproof and come with a removable liner. They are also insulated for added protection and are lightweight enough to not weigh you down on the trail. Best suited for someone needing to keep their hands warm when it is cold and wet outside.

The Torrid Mittens by Enlightened Equipment are another excellent choice for keeping your hands warm in extreme temperatures. These particular winter mittens have a selection of excellent features to keep your hands nice and toasty when out on the trail.

They boast impressive all-weather performance and pack great warmth. There are a couple of options you can choose from for these gloves. You have the option to have the finger section of these gloves can be opened to allow the finger to do anything that needs added dexterity. And there are custom options such as increased insulation and custom colors.

A great feature of these mittens is that they feature a durable material to ensure they last you a lifetime. You’ll be able to get a secure fit for a pair of snug mittens that will lock out the cold.

Overall, the Enlightened Equipment Torrid Gloves are a good option, especially when you choose the custom options of extra insulation. And they are good value for money considering their price. Best suited as winter hiking gloves or as ultralight cold weather gloves.

You won’t have to worry about being left out in the cold with the Hestra Heli Insulated Mittens in your hiking arsenal.

These particular mittens have been designed for use with a variety of professions, so they will be more than a match for your mountain hiking. They have been manufactured using a selection of durable materials so as to suit a variety of environments.

An interesting feature of these mittens is that they come with GORE-TEX technology. So they are highly breathable, but will still keep your hands toasty and warm. These gloves feature a hook and loop closure so as to be easier to get on and off as needed.

The Black Diamond Guide leather gloves have been designed to keep your hands toasty and warm, whilst also giving you the dexterity you need in chilly mountain landscapes.

These particular gloves are one of the warmest models on the market. They feature a removable liner, as well as GORE-TEX technology to make the gloves more breathable.

These particular gloves are also waterproof to keep your hands nice and dry. They are abrasion resistant, so will be suitable for use in tough environments. They are also machine washable for easier cleaning.

The Black Diamond Soloist Finger gloves are the ideal pick if you want a pair of warm gloves that will give you more dexterity than mittens.

The split finger design allows you to use equipment such as ice axes more easily. There are several different sizes to choose from to help you find the best fit for your needs.

These particular hiking gloves also come with a range of features to improve your hiking experience. They are 100% waterproof, and come with dry inserts as well as a removable liner.

So your hands will be able to stay toasty and warm as well as dry. They also feature a pull-on closure for easier usability.

The Sealskinz Unisex Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet is an excellent choice if you wanted a pair of gloves that are slimmer than bulky mittens.

This slimmer design gives you easier dexterity, which will be ideal if you need to use a variety of hiking equipment on your trip. The tips of the fingers come pre-curved to give you even greater control just when you need it most.

Another great feature of these gloves is that they come with zero liner movement to give you even better control. They are insulated and will work to give you the thermal protection you need while also being breathable.

These gloves are also waterproof to prevent you from getting soggy hands while out in the snow or rain.

The Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor gloves are an excellent choice if you’re searching for a pair of hiking liner gloves that will give you easier dexterity and comfort while still being breathable.

These particular gloves are lightweight and feature a quick-drying and moisture-wicking design to prevent sweaty hands. They are ideal for use with a variety of hobbies as well as hiking.

A handy feature of these gloves is that they are touchscreen-compatible. So you will easily be able to tap away on your smartphone without having to take the gloves off. They feature a thermal material to keep your hands toasty and warm.

The wrists feature a tapered design and pull-on loops so as to make the gloves easier to use.

The Outdoor Research VersaLiner is just the thing you need on your hiking expeditions if you don’t want to spend a small fortune on a pair of hiking gloves. What’s really great about these gloves is that they feature adaptable warmth.

They make use of an innovative thermo-regulating ActiveTemp technology that works to adjust the temperature of your hands as needed. The shell of the gloves is also breathable to prevent you from getting sweaty hands.

These particular hiking gloves are waterproof, so will be able to keep your hands dry in extreme weather conditions. They are also touchscreen compatible, so you won’t have to remove the gloves while you’re out hiking in order to use your smartphone or tablet.

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Winter Gloves: Comparison Table

Brand	Insulation	Waterproof
Outdoor Research Alti 2 Mittens	Synthetic / Fleece	Yes
Black Diamond Mercury Mitts	Synthetic	Yes
Torrid Mittens by Enlightened Equipment	Synthetic	No
Hestra Heli Insulated Mittens	Synthetic	Yes
Black Diamond Guide	Synthetic / Wool	Yes
Black Diamond Soloist Finger	Synthetic	Yes
Sealskinz Unisex Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet	Synthetic	Yes
Outdoor Research Backstop Sensor	Wool Blend	No
Outdoor Research VersaLiner	Fleece	No

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Insulated

The most important feature to look for in a pair of hiking gloves, of course, is that they are sufficiently insulated.

When you’re out in extreme weather conditions in the mountains, you will need a pair of hiking gloves that can deliver the warmth you need. There will be no point in bringing them with you if they don’t keep your hands warm!

Ensure that your preferred pair of hiking gloves comes with a good amount of insulation. It will also be worth looking for a pair of gloves that come with removable liners.

This will allow you to adjust the amount of insulation you have in the gloves, to prevent them from getting too hot in milder weather.

You should take a look at how much insulation the gloves are able to give you. Do they feature multiple layers? This can give you added warmth when you need it most.

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Waterproof

Another factor to consider is to choose a pair of backpacking gloves for winter that offer you great waterproof protection. The whole point of wearing backpacking gloves is to keep your hands warm while you’re out on the trail.

Gloves that don’t seal out moisture from the elements will just become soggy, exacerbating your problem, and leaving you with cold and wet hands.

Make sure that the gloves you choose are waterproof rather than water resistant. Gloves that are water resistant will start to allow moisture into them once they reach a certain saturation.

Waterproof gloves will lock out moisture so that you can keep your hands dry. This will be a lifesaver if you’re out in snowy environments.

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Breathable

It will be crucial to look for a pair of winter gloves that are breathable as well as come with sufficient insulation and waterproof features.

This is because if the gloves do their job too well, but don’t allow your hands to breathe, you will be left with sweaty hands while out hiking.

And nobody wants sweaty hands! Not only will this be unpleasant, but it will also make it much more difficult to use hiking equipment should you need to.

A pair of breathable gloves will allow your hands to stay warm and toasty, but without getting uncomfortably sweaty. This will be essential if you plan on being out on the trail for long periods of time.

It will also remove the need to expose yourself to the elements just to cool your hands down enough to stop them from sweating.

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Easy to fasten

You will of course want a pair of winter gloves that will be easy to fasten in place. Getting one glove on is never a hassle. It’s when you need to try and get the second glove on and are finding it hard to fasten in place that issues can arise.

So it will be crucial to think about the type of fastening that your chosen gloves come with. The easier they are to pull on and off as you need to, the better.

Choosing a set of gloves that feature easy pull-on fasteners will be ideal. These will be super easy for you to use regardless of your environment.

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Dexterity

Choosing a pair of winter gloves that gives you the dexterity you need to accurately use additional equipment such as axes will be crucial if you will be hiking through extreme environments.

That added dexterity could be the fine line between life and death, so you will need a pair of gloves that won’t let you down.

This will mostly come down to whether you want to opt for mittens or traditional-style gloves. Winter Mittens will make it much harder to use things like axes.

However, some of the more traditional style gloves might not be able to offer you the best insulation. There is also a solo finger mitt style available for added dexterity. 

We would recommend taking a closer look at the products we’ve reviewed in more detail above to ensure that you get the dexterity you need.

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Budget

It will also be important to consider how much budget you have to play with when it comes to choosing your next pair of hiking gloves.

It may be tempting to opt for the cheapest pair you can find, but there’s no guarantee that these will be able to deliver the warming results that you need. Similarly, some of the more expensive models may be outside your budget.

Before you make your final decision, it will be important to make a list of the essential features you need from your hiking gloves.

This should give you a better idea of which gloves you will need to aim for when it comes to saving up the money. It may be worth waiting a month or two so that you can save up enough to buy the higher-end hiking gloves that come with all the essential features you need.

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Size

To get the best fit for your hands, it will be worth considering which size gloves you need. It may be tempting to opt for a one-size-fits-all pair, but these might not be able to keep your hands as warm as a pair of gloves that comes in a more specialized size.

You should opt for a pair of gloves that fits more snugly on your hand, but still gives you plenty of room to use equipment such as axes.

It is also worth remembering that some sizes may differ in price, depending on the product that you choose.

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Conclusion

The Best Gloves for Winter Hiking in 2023 are:

• Outdoor Research Alti 2 Mittens – Best Winter Gloves
• Black Diamond Mercury Mitts
• Torrid Mittens by Enlightened Equipment
• Hestra Heli Insulated Mittens
• Black Diamond Guide
• Black Diamond Soloist Finger
• Sealskinz Unisex Waterproof Extreme Cold Weather Gauntlet
• Outdoor Research Backstop Sensor
• Outdoor Research VersaLiner

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Frequently Asked Questions

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