13 Best Winter Gloves for Cold Weather Travel

Although these gloves are designed for cyclists, they make a lovely choice for travel, too. They feature gortex materials, which offer windproofness while staying thin, so your mobility isn’t as limited while wearing them. Plus, they’re touch screen compatible, so you can still use your phone.

We’d consider these gloves to be three seasons warmth-wise; however, for those who get cold hands early in the fall or late into the spring, these might not be for you. They don’t offer great warmth, but their wind-blocking technology is top-notch. They don’t handle water terribly well, but for a fall hike, they’re lovely. Plus, if they get dirty, you can toss them in the washer.

Although they’re crafted from GORE-TEX, they still boast fairly good breathability. If you’ve got hot-running hands but hate the wind, these might be the best winter gloves for you! After all, they’re reasonably warm, thin gloves with GORE-TEX; what’s not to like about that?

• Excellent wind resistance
• They pack down small

• Not the warmest gloves on this list
• Won’t handle more than light rain very well

Plenty of gloves are designed for a world where touchscreens are the norm, and such is the case with The North Face Denali Etip Gloves. What sets this pair apart is how responsive interacting with touchscreens feels versus other pairs we’ve tested that have a similar feature. Whether it was a regular iPhone or a huge tablet like the iPad Pro, we never had to take these gloves off, even for those annoying pop-up ads with ridiculously small close prompts. Furthermore, the Etips are also the same material as the rest of the glove, which means you’re not sacrificing insulation at the fingertips for better touchscreen interactions.

The gloves also have the same warmth of fleece-lined equivalents, with all the freedom of movement and dexterity we usually only see in thinner pairs. The catch is that the Denali Etip Gloves aren’t waterproof, nor are they exceptionally weather-resistant. That said, they hold up just fine for casual use and minor chores.

• Touchscreen devices respond well to the Etips
• Feels warm, but not so thick and insulated that it restricts hand movement

• Not impervious to weather and water
• More tuned for casual use than sport or work

If you’re an ultralight traveler looking for an incredibly lightweight glove that you can wear in three seasons and utilize as a base layer in the wintertime, look no further than the Smartwool Liner Glove! They’re crafted from a Merino blend, ensuring they’re moderately warm, breathable, and odor-free.

These aren’t the warmest gloves on this list, but they aren’t meant to be. They’re a solid choice for chilly Autumn or Spring mornings and layer well in the winter, but in extreme cold, you’ll need something to put on top of them. The Merino wool ensures they breathe well, so you won’t get as sweaty as some other liner gloves.

Out of all of the ones we’ve tested, we think these thin gloves have a great warmth-to-weight ratio and are an essential set of lightweight winter gloves for those who live in warmer climates or like to layer once the snow flies.

• Work well in moderate cold temperatures
• They are great layered under larger gloves in extreme cold

• Without a second layer, they’re subpar in winter cold and wind
• Not the best grip for certain activities

The OZERO Thermal Gloves may have caught your eye for its very modest $14 (at the time of writing) price tag. It’s the kind of entry-level pricing that also sets entry-level expectations. Aspects of the build quality, like the stitching and fabric, may not on par with pricier options, but we were well-prepared to accept it for what it is. That said, it’s the gloves’ overall generic fit that sticks out the most. The fingers are a little long, the fabric bunches up around the palm, and the cuff feels a bit loose around the wrist.

While these gloves may not off the best insulation, that’s understandable for its price. These gloves will pull you through in relative warm comfort if you just need something in a pinch—like a sudden ski trip or a driveway shoveling gig.

• Acceptable warmth for its price
• Has grippy silicone to help you keep hold of a phone, coffee cup, and more

• Fit feels loose in a general sense
• Somewhat stiff to move around in

For many readers, Arc’teryx may be synonymous with staying warm. In the case of their Venta Gloves, this remains true. Thanks to the DWR finish, this model will keep your hands warm, block out the wind moderately well, and handle light rain and snow. For travel, these might be a home run. You can even have a snowball fight with them!

All that warmth and comfort comes with a small asterisk: size. They aren’t humongous; however, they might be more significant than some ultralight travelers want to compromise. However, given how warm they are and how many activities they can be used for, this will be worth it for most cold-weather trips.

You might need something more capable if you’re headed to the Arctic. However, for most trips, these might be the best winter gloves for you!

• The DWR finish ensures your hands stay dry
• The design is sleek and stylish

• They’re larger than some items on this list
• High price for what you get

The Patagonia R1 Daily Gloves are the sort of pair we imagine when someone says something “fits like a glove.” The fit and feel of the R1 Daily Gloves certainly deliver the sensation of sleek leather gloves without the … you know … leather. Patagonia offers them in a variety of sizes, from XS to XL, and their insides is soft thanks to the thin fleece lining that doesn’t feel too fluffy. In other words, there’s a thoughtful balance of just the right fit (so long as you get the right size) and just the right cushioning to make your hands feel right at home.

Furthermore, women among the Pack Hacker crew found this pair the most agreeable because of its comfort and relative non-chunkiness. In fact, these gloves are thin enough that we can use thicker gloves on top of them in case we want to get warmer. The gloves are noticeably quick-drying as well when we got them wet. But in case you do have to take them off, there are handy loops at the cuffs to help you put them back once they’re dry. Additionally, these gloves are also touchscreen compatible, so there’s no need to take them off the moment you need to take a call.

• Thin and easy to pack
• Sizing and comfort feels just right thanks to its subtle fleece lining

• Insulation is not that good; may require extra layers when it gets really cold
• Loops feel a bit thin; could get more loose over time

We really like the Outdoor Research Stowe Aerogel Gloves for a few reasons. First, they offer stellar dexterity. They're a puffy glove, similar to a puffer jacket, which you'd think would limit your finger movement, but you can still wiggle your phalanges freely. Second, they're quite packable, similar to the packable puffer jackets we often recommend for travel. For their size, you get a shocking amount of packability. Last, Outdoor Research is a solid brand with a good warranty, so if you have issues with the gloves, you know you're in good hands with the customer service department.

The colorway options are minimal, though we appreciate the minimalism of the available colorways. There are five sizes, too, so you can get one that's perfect for your hand size!

• They're highly packable for how thick the gloves are
• They're very warm and can block moderate wind

• There aren't any fun colorways available
• They aren't as waterproof as they look

There are winter gloves you put on for quick trips outside, then there are gloves like the Carhartt Waterproof Insulated Gloves that are for when you want to stay outside. These gloves keep warmth and make sure it stays there, thanks to their secure cuffs that form a relatively strong seal. These are the gloves we reach for when we want to spend extra time shoveling or playing in the snow (you’re never too old for the latter, by the way). Plus, these gloves’ waterproof design helps keep snow from soaking in, so it’s well-suited for those situations.

Keep in mind that the gloves’ thermal performance comes at the cost of dexterity. These gloves are thick, and there’s really no two ways about it. We can feel the stiffness at all times, so you may have trouble flexing your fingers and wrists. Ironically, these may not be the best gloves if you’re going to do some work that requires a lot of complex hand movement, though it’s certainly not impossible to accomplish.

• Well-insulated and keeps you warm for a long time
• Great value for the thermal insulation it offers

• Thick, making it somewhat hard to move your hand and fingers
• Noticeably hefty as well

If your hands are constantly freezing or you're taking a one-off trip to an extremely cold place, the Tough Outdoors M3 Ski Mittens are a solid choice for a few reasons. First, they're budget-friendly at around $20 with free Amazon Prime shipping, which is much cheaper than other cold-weather mittens and gloves we've tested. Second, they're super warm. Like, super duper warm considering the price! We've used these to cycle commute to and from work in the middle of Detroit's winter without getting cold. Last, there's room for hand warmers inside, so you can stay extra warm if you are always cold, even with warm gloves on. They aren't very packable, and the materials aren't as durable as some of the more expensive models we've tested, but they're worth a shout if you only plan to use them occasionally or need a bargain!

• They're great for frigid weather
• The exterior is thick enough to handle the wind

• They aren't very packable
• The materials don't feel the most durable

Our staff writer has had a pair of Wells Lamont HydraHyde Leather Work Gloves since high school (don't tell them that was over a decade ago), and they finally had to retire them this year because they worked them a little too hard doing demo work on their house. Seriously, these things are built to last. In that time frame, they were used for cutting wood, working as a groundskeeper, commuting to and from class in college, working in the engine room on a boat, and cycling around Detroit.

Though they look like work gloves, they work well for a wide variety of tasks for three months out of the year. In winter, you'll want something warmer. Plus, they're budget-friendly and available at many hardware stores, so they're worth a punt if you're looking for something you can use to cross the city or while gardening.

• They're budget-friendly
• You can use them for a variety of tasks, from gardening to cycling

• They aren't the warmest gloves that we've tested
• They aren't very stylish

The Cotopaxi Teca Fleece Gloves are warm and fuzzy, inside and out. We were initially drawn to these gloves because of the fun colorways—there are multiple options, so you can find one that matches your vibe. That said, we stayed for their comfort and warmth. These aren't all-season gloves—we wouldn't recommend only using them in frigid winter weather. That said, anything around freezing or better, and they'll work well.

The pointer and middle fingers have grippy material for extra dexterity, and there's a little clip to attach them. There's a little extra material in the palm area, which can feel awkward, but your mileage may vary. The additional space leaves room for hand warmers, which we appreciate. The design looks more stylish than other gloves we've tested, with multiple colors on every pair. For $30, you can stay warm and look good!

• They are very soft and fuzzy
• They look stylish compared to other gloves that we've tested

• They have extra material in the palm area
• For super cold weather, they won't be enough

Have you ever forgotten your gloves and had to buy a pair for $20 or $30 at a convenience store or gas station? Yeah, they usually work fine, but they certainly weren't worth what you paid for them. The Forclaz MT100 Fleece Gloves look and feel eerily similar to the gloves you got on that occasion, but at $8, they feel much more aptly priced for what you're getting. They're warm enough for the fall or spring or in use as gloves that'll stay inside your pockets for most of the trip.

They're super soft and cozy, but there's no clip to attach them together or extra features. They're about as simple as you can get, and they're lightweight and packable enough to fit almost anywhere. For the price, you won't be sad if you lose them on a trip, either.

• They're incredibly budget-friendly
• They pack down small for travel

• They don't clip together
• They aren't very warm in cooler weather

The TRENDOUX Winter Gloves are some of the most popular models on Amazon, and they are less than $7 at the time of writing. They feel like a cheap pair of gloves, but we'd put them in the $15-$20 bracket, not the sub-$10 one. They have a grippy material on the palm side, handy for cycling, riding a rentable scooter, or holding onto your phone while looking at directions. They're not the warmest gloves we've tested, but they'll work in most conditions above freezing, so long as it isn't super windy. These are knit gloves, so the wind can cut through them. They fold into each other like socks, so they're easy to bring with you, but also easy to lose, so keep an eye on them!

• You can get them quickly with Amazon Prime shipping
• They have grippy materials on the palm and fingers

• The wind cuts through them
• They have loose threads pretty quickly after purchasing