Whether you are traveling outdoors or cooking delicious hot meals, it is a great idea to include gloves in your arsenal. They are engineered to withstand tough weather conditions when you travel outdoors and help you cook safely whenever you are in the kitchen. Do you recollect those heat-resistant gloves for cooking and special mittens to remove the hot food from the oven? Outdoor gloves and winter mittens work on the same principle of keeping your hands protected despite the external factors.
First, let’s start with the different types of men’s and women’s gloves and mittens.
Types of Gloves and Mitts
There are different types of outdoor gloves and mitts, as discussed below:
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Shell gloves and mitts
Shell gloves provide an outermost layer of protection and warmth for your gloves. Wear a shell glove over your present glove to form a layer of warm air. They are lightweight, easy to pack, and offer extra protection against wind, rain, or snow.
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Fleece gloves and mitts
Men’s fleece gloves and mittens serve as the perfect hand gear to keep you safe against cold weather. The fleece lining in these gloves works as an insulation layer and traps heat. It does not allow cold air to reach your skin. As these gloves are made with soft, flexible fleece, they help maintain the entire range of motion and keep your hands warm, pliable, and comfortable. They are generally completely windproof. You can also go for water-resistant varieties. At Summit Hut, we have a huge selection of women’s fleece gloves and mitts too in addition to men’s hand gear.
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Liner gloves
Liner gloves are thin work gloves worn inside other mitts or gloves. They not only absorb sweat but also impart an extra layer of protection while providing warmth. Prepared from materials such as Merino wool or synthetic fabrics, these gloves trap heat against the skin and absorb moisture.
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Sun gloves and sleeves
Sun gloves and sleeves are designed to protect your arms and hands from harmful ultraviolet radiation. They let you enjoy all the outdoor activities even in the harsh sunlight without the risk of sunburn. There are different types of women’s sun gloves and men’s sun protection gloves. You can choose the one that matches your needs and preferences.
Understanding Your Activity (Gloves and Mitts for different activities)
You would need gloves and mitts for any outdoor sport activity, including hiking, skiing, and cycling. Choosing the right pair of gloves and mitts is of paramount importance as it makes a huge difference in the way you can enjoy the excursion. Consider the activity you need the hand gear for.
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Mountaineering gloves
Go for snugly fitting gloves that are neither too tight nor too big. Don’t select tight gloves to enhance agility. Too tight fingers will hamper blood circulation and cause frostbite in extreme weather conditions. Wear gloves with a long gauntlet over the sleeve. They provide substantial protection against the elements while repelling snow and rain. The only challenge is that their volume can create a hassle in technical conditions. Besides increased protection, it is easier to put on and take off long gauntlets. This is of great help in extreme climates.
Gloves without a gauntlet let you move your hands with greater agility. They occupy less volume and have to be worn under the sleeve. The problem with these gloves is that snow and rain can get into the glove or up the sleeve faster when compared to gloves with a gauntlet. So, choose wisely after proper trial and determining their protection and agility features. Waterproofness is another important feature you must check while choosing mountaineering gloves.
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Skiing gloves
Gloves and mittens prepared with synthetic exteriors like nylon along with a waterproof, breathable barrier and some type of insulation are used for snow sports. Go for abrasion-resistant patches on the fingers, knuckles, and palms to ensure durability for skiing and snowboarding activities. Down gloves and mittens are recommended for skiing and snowboarding in cold, dry climates. Although they are a bit expensive, they are better than synthetic insulation as they provide greater warmth. If you are going for downhill or cross-country skiing and snowboarding, it is advisable to choose synthetic insulation.
Gloves and mittens for downhill skiing and snowboarding have a waterproof, breathable barrier to keep out moisture from snow and rain. The barrier can either be like a membrane laminated to the fabric, an insert put between the insulation and the outer shell, or a coating placed on the fabric. Skiing and snowboarding gloves and mittens mostly come with Gore-Tex® technology as it offers considerable waterproof, breathable protection.
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Hiking gloves
All-weather hiking enthusiasts should use waterproof or ultra-grip gloves. It is a good idea to pick merino wool-lined gloves if you are hiking in cold weather conditions. Some people also like fleece gloves as they are more comfortable. Cyclists should go for gloves offering vital grip and dexterity. These gloves are generally prepared with lightweight materials that offer maximum control over your bike in all types of weather. They are durable too.
People going for mountain biking prefer gloves with abrasion resistance that offer good grip strength on handlebars irrespective of rain showers.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Gloves and Mitts
Selecting the right gloves and mitts depends on a number of factors. They are:
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Weather Resistance
Weather resistance is one of the most important features to consider while choosing the gloves. Choose water-repellent gloves for use in light rain or snowfall and insulated gloves for extremely cold weather.
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Grip and Dexterity
Look for textured grip palm offering improved grip with flexibility and comfort for hiking and rock climbing. If you need to stay connected even while outdoors, check for touchscreen compatibility. Gloves offer better dexterity when compared to mittens.
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Fitting and Comfort
Your gloves should fit properly without being too tight or too loose. Tight gloves might lead to blisters in extended use while loose gloves affect dexterity. Experienced hikers like lightweight stretch gloves prepared with soft-touch materials. They allow full range of motion for various trail tasks as they are snugly fitting.
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Durability
Pick gloves prepared with durable materials. It would be a stressful situation if your gloves rip up during the ongoing hike. Therefore, go for gloves prepared with flexible, resilient fabrics resistant to tough weather conditions and wear and tear.
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Activity you need the gloves for
Every activity requires gloves with different specifications. For example: Ski gloves should have enough insulation, waterproof features, and Gore-tex technology. On the other hand, mountaineers should look for dexterity, waterproofness, and durability in the gloves.
Maintenance and Care
If you have synthetic leather gloves and cotton gloves, machine-washing your gloves in cold water with a mild laundry detergent is the best idea. If you don’t have a washing machine, wash your gloves in a sink using mild laundry detergent or dishwashing soap. Never bleach or use solvents to wash your gloves. It can lead to discoloration. Air-dry your gloves to make sure there’s no material shrinkage. Do not machine dry with heat or place them in contact with a heat source apart from indirect sunlight.
For leather gloves and mittens, it is advisable that you wash them only when needed. It is enough to wash these gloves once or twice a year if you haven’t spilled something on them or they haven’t got too dirty. Follow a meticulous drying process that prevents any odors from building up inside the gloves. Remember that gloves designed for extreme cold weather conditions have thick insulation layers. So,they take longer to dry.
Keep your hiking gloves flat in the backpack so that they don’t get crumpled while traveling. Store them in a cool, dry place to keep their water-repellent and breathability features intact.
Popular Brands and Recommendations
It’s obvious that all these points can get quite overwhelming for an average person. So, to help you choose the right gloves, we are here with some of the best gloves for winter sports and travel excursions.
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Outdoor Research Commuter Windstopper Gloves
These gloves are lightweight and packable. They have a 4-way stretch outer material woven for breathability and Gore-tex Windstopper technology. They keep your hands warm and protected from the elements. The palm has silicone print overlays providing an exceptional grip on your morning commute. The microfleece interior adds an extra layer of warmth. These women’s and men’s gloves have close-to-hand fit so that you can use the touchscreen devices. The reflective logos add visibility in low-light conditions.
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Marmot Men’s Power Stretch Connect Gloves
Men’s Power Stretch Connect Gloves by Marmot have a free-flow stretch fit so that your hands can move naturally while climbing. They are touchscreen compatible so that you can easily check the weather report or talk to your loved ones without removing them. Also, they have three-dimensional moisture-wicking technology to keep your hands dry.
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Outdoor Research Merino 150 Sensor Liners
Outdoor Research Merino 150 Sensor Liners for women are breathable, naturally odor resistant, and wicking. They retain enough warmth for cool activities without harboring the sweat and smells like other fabrics. They are touchscreen compatible and sporting a tapered wrist so that they stay on all day.
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Outdoor Research Revolution II Gore-Tex Mitts
When there’s heavy snowfall and dropping temperatures, Outdoor Research Revolution II Gore-tex Mitts let you stay outdoors throughout the day. They have Gore-tex waterproofing so that your hands stay dry in all conditions. Furthermore, these waterproof gloves come with EnduraLoft insulation to maintain warmth. They have a polyurethane diamond grip palm to maintain grip on poles and tools. The updated design ensures dexterity and more comfortable fit.
Summing it up…
Be it an amateur or a seasoned outdoor enthusiast, having the correct pair of gloves is of utmost importance. Through this guide, we hope we are able to answer most of your questions and help you make an informed decision.
Here are some additional FAQs to enlighten you even more.
FAQs
- What is the main difference between mittens and gloves?
- How can I find gloves that provide both warmth and dexterity?
- What features should I look for in work gloves?
While men’s gloves have separate finger openings or sheaths, mittens or mitts don’t. Men’s and women’s mittens are warmer than gloves as they have less total surface area for body heat to escape.
Summit Hut has a wide range of gloves that offer warmth and dexterity. For example: Alpinite Gore-Tex Gloves by Outdoor Research keep your hands warm and offer the dexterity of a bare hand. The low-bulk hook and loop wrist closure in these climbing gloves helps in keeping the elements out. The touchscreen gloves have a special touchscreen compatible material on the thumb and forefinger that keeps you connected even while you are outdoors, traveling in remote locations.
Dexterity, enhanced grip, resistance to abrasion, durability, waterproofness, and breathability are the most important features to look for in work gloves.