The Best Winter Gloves For Women, According To Extensive Testing

There’s no cold-weather accessory that helps get you through a blustery winter like warm gloves. To find the best winter gloves for women—whether you’re commuting, shoveling snow, skiing or running errands—I spoke with experts, including a polar explorer, and then tested 11 different gloves (and mittens) to find those that are a cut above the rest. My top pick overall is the warm and low-profile Smartwool Active Fleece Insulated Gloves because they’re touchscreen-friendly, have a snug comfortable fit and are suitable for everyday wear and light outdoor activities.

My best value pick is the Isotoner Chevron Spandex Gloves since they’re sleek, stylish and plenty warm for commuting to work and more. If you need ski gloves, ultra-warm mittens or lightweight liners, I tested those, too. Ahead, here are the most impressive women’s winter gloves from my 4-month testing process:

• Best Women’s Winter Gloves Overall: Smartwool Active Fleece Insulated Gloves
• Best Value Women’s Winter Gloves: Isotoner Chevron Spandex Gloves
• Best Waterproof Women’s Winter Gloves: Black Diamond Mission Gloves
• Best Women’s Winter Mittens: Dakine Baron Gore-Tex Index Mittens
• Warmest Women’s Winter Mittens: Canada Goose HyBridge Mitts
• Best Women’s Ski Gloves: Hestra Fall Line Gloves
• Best Everyday Women’s Winter Gloves: The North Face Denali Etip Gloves
• Best Lightweight Women’s Winter Gloves: Icebreaker Unisex Merino Quantum Gloves

The Smartwool Active Fleece Insulated Gloves deliver a perfect blend of warmth, comfort and weather protection, making them the clear all-around winner for most cold-weather activities, whether you’re out snowshoeing or simply brushing the snow off your car. Smartwool is known for its technical merino wool gear, and these gloves blend the soft merino the brand is famous for with durable polyester, adding further reinforcement in high-wear areas like the palm for even better performance. They’re not as warm as heavily insulated winter gloves nor as windproof as a ski glove, but they’re ideal for winter days when heavy gloves are overkill, but going gloveless isn’t an option. They do have additional back-of-the-hand insulation and a windproof overlay for extra protection, and they kept the tips of my fingers warmer than some gloves that cost twice as much.

The soft, stretchy fabric conforms comfortably to the shape of the hand, providing a snug yet unrestricted feel, and the elastic wrist cuffs ensure a secure fit, effectively sealing out cold air and snow. While I’d prefer pull-tabs for even easier donning, it’s not a deal breaker given how all the other features stack up. The gloves’ inherent flexibility and agility make them an excellent choice for tasks that require nimble fingers, such as adjusting equipment, zipping up jackets or using touchscreen devices. With touchscreen sensors on the index finger and thumb, I could open my iPhone and send a message almost as quickly as when not wearing gloves.

Reflective stripes on the gloves enhance visibility for added safety during outdoor activities, especially when walking in low-light conditions. While they don’t clip together, they’re small enough to fit in your jacket pocket, keeping them handy for whenever they’re needed. And even after a handful of strenuous winter activities, they look nearly new after an entire season of use and are sure to last for many years. They don’t have great water resistance, though, so if you have to contend with heavy, wet, slushy snow regularly, you’ll want to opt for gloves with better waterproofing, like the Black Diamond Mission Gloves.

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If you’re looking for a balance between fashion and utility in your winter accessories, these Isotoner gloves offer a convenient and stylish solution for quick outdoor ventures and everyday activities. With a water-resistant outer layer and a soft fleece lining, they provide moderate warmth suitable for short-term use, making them perfect for tasks like commuting to work or running errands. A heavy dose of spandex makes them extra stretchy, allowing them to mold around the hand for a snug comfortable fit, and they’re low-profile enough that you don’t have to remove them if you need to pop into a store quickly and grab something. Faux-leather patches on the palm and fingertips add extra grip, which allowed me to get a good hold on the steering wheel when driving.

They come in a variety of patterns and colors, featuring chic chevron detailing, and pair well with everyday outfits, which is great if you’re heading out to dinner with friends or attending a work event (and they’re small enough to stash inside your handbag). The touchscreen-compatible fingers allow for easy device use, and they’re even machine-washable.

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The do-it-all Black Diamond Mission Gloves are a warm, waterproof, midweight model that can flex between a day on the ski slopes or a day spent shoveling snow, running errands and walking the dog. The polyester exterior makes the Mission one of the most abrasion-resistant gloves I tested, and the Gore-Tex membrane is both windproof and waterproof, so if you’re playing around in heavy, wet snow or have to deal with slush, your hands will remain dry. They’re lined with PrimaLoft, a soft fleece material, which is more than toasty enough for the average winter, but their warmth is bolstered even further with added insulation on the back of the hand, a vulnerable spot for cold wind when you’re doing something active outdoors. The palms are reinforced with leather for added durability, which also helps to better grip ski poles and snow shovels, and they’re breathable enough that my hands didn’t overheat on active days. There’s also the thoughtful detail of a touch of soft suede along the thumbs for when you inevitably wipe your nose outdoors.

Velcro at the wrists keeps the Missions snug and secure, and the under-the-cuff fit works well with a jacket to further keep snow at bay. They’re rated for use between 10 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit, which I found accurate when winter hiking for 2 hours on a 20-degree day. They’re not as flexible and agile as low-profile gloves for more casual use, but with a few attempts, I retrieved a key and credit card from the ground, and I could do up the straps on snowshoes without issue. Simple wrist leashes prevent you from losing a glove when you aren’t wearing them, and you will indeed have to take them off to use your electronics, as the Missions don’t have touchscreen capabilities.

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The Dakine Baron Gore-Tex Index Mittens excel in providing warmth and waterproofing, making them an ideal choice for the snowiest winter days. They’re made from a blend of leather and four-way stretch fabric, which is the durable and flexible combo you want for active days. The addition of internal finger slots is one of their best features, letting your fingers move freely within the warmth of the mittens. While they won’t provide the dexterity you’d find in a pair of gloves, they’re quite nimble (although trying to pick up a credit card off the ground did prove challenging).

The Index Mittens feature a waterproof and breathable Gore-Tex membrane and the PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) finish, so whether playing outdoors building snowmen in heavy, wet snow, or submerging the mittens in water, my hands remained completely impervious to moisture. The PrimaLoft insulation does an excellent job of trapping heat without adding bulk, and the soft wool-blend lining feels extra cozy on cold days on the slopes or during winter hikes. They’re a little overkill for general daily errands, but if you spend time outdoors in the winter, these mittens will keep your hands dry and warm.

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Canada Goose is known for its iconic—and incredibly warm—puffer jackets worn by everyone from polar explorers to fashion influencers, and I was excited to find out whether the HyBridge Mitts lived up to the hype. If you tend to have cold fingers or need gloves for those lowest-temperature winter days, these are the warmest and most luxurious-feeling winter mittens I tested, and the best option for those seeking style and protection in harsh winter environments. (If warmth is your top concern, all the experts I spoke with advised opting for mittens over gloves.)

The ripstop nylon exterior shields wind and is incredibly durable for a material that feels so supple. Reinforced palms add grip, which was appreciated when shoveling snow. The brushed interior fabric is velvety soft, and the premium 600-fill-power white goose-down insulation prov