
Gloves seem to be the linchpin item for winter running—if your fingers are comfortable, it’s easier to tolerate cold-related discomfort elsewhere. However, if they are burning or stinging from the cold, you’ll probably cut your run short no matter how good the rest of your kit might be. We’ve tested some great gloves for maintaining or even extending your winter mileage this season.
Tracksmith NDO 2-in-1 Mittens ($60)
- Tracksmith NDO interior
- Tracksmith NDO exterior
It’s generally understood that mittens are more effective at insulation than gloves because of their ability to trap warm air around each individual finger. The problem is that they can also make it hard to manipulate items like food wrappers or smart phones when you really need them. Tracksmith’s NDO 2-in-1 mittens are the most effective design we have tested in minimizing those downsides, utilizing a layering approach which combines an internal glove liner and external protective mitten. The glove layer is a lightweight nylon with pointer finger and thumb touch pads for connectivity, while the mitten is a water-resistant softshell with merino wool lining for increased insulation. The mitten is thin and flexible enough to allow improved grip and finger dexterity, and while it isn’t officially described as touchscreen compatible, we’ve been able to operate our smartphone while wearing both the gloves and mittens.
The layering system allows you to remove the exterior mitten, if needed to use your fingers, without fully exposing them to the cold. It also allows each component to be used separately. For example, the mittens can be pulled over any pair of midweight gloves, and the glove layer can be worn on its own during warmer days. We really like a couple of accents on the NDO such as a broad reflective sash on the front that is subtle in daylight, and internal magnets that clip the mittens together when not in use. Available at www.tracksmith.com.
Craft Siberian 2.0 Glove ($65)
The most robust glove in our test group has thick insulation around the palm and fingers and feels like an updated version of a ski glove. Fleece insulation creates a warm interior and provided us with adequate protection into the 20s and possibly colder, but this was the lowest temp throughout our testing. This model also breathes well when the sun comes out and things heat up. Although the insulation is thick, the flexibility allows great finger dexterity while maintaining touchscreen capability at the thumb and forefinger. Because of the thick insulation and Craft’s general tendency to run lean on sizing, users will likely need to size up for the Siberian 2.0—be sure to use the size chart on the product page as a guide.
The exterior of these gloves provides a combination of comfort, protection and functionality. Comfort comes from soft fleece along the thumb to wipe your face, and protection comes from a wind and waterproof shell fabric on the backside of the fingers, plus a water-protective softshell fabric. Functionality comes from the touchscreen capability, silicone prints on the palm and fingertips for improved grip and a Velcro adjuster at the wrist that keeps cool air out and helps with removal. Siberian 2.0 Gloves are available in two color options at www.craftsports.us.
Mammut Astro Glove ($60)
This glove is designed as a multi-season, multi-sport product suitable for snow sports as well as cold-weather hiking and running. They are crafted in a “pre-shaped” design that mimics normal anatomic curvature of the fingers and hand for improved fit and with a thickness that isn’t too robust. On the exterior surface, Gore-Tex Windstopper material makes the Astro Guide windproof, highly breathable and water-resistant, while the palm surface consists of synthetic leather for grip. Other features include touchscreen compatibility at the thumb and forefinger, an elasticized cuff that secures the fit and a hook to connect the gloves. Make sure to be attentive when it comes to the sizing process for these (as well as the other Mammut model below), because there are eight options to choose from based on specific measurements of hand length and width. A size chart on the product page can help direct you to the right fit.
These gloves provide a great combination of insulation and functionality, and their relatively slim profile make them easy to do a multitude of tasks. We were comfortable wearing them for 10 hours of aid station work during an intermittently rainy and cold day in January that included a lot of fluid reservoir opening and handling relatively small items. They also compress down making them easy to stash in a pack after the day warms up or just in case they’re needed. Available at www.mammut.com.
Mammut Passion Glove ($60)
These gloves combine fleece and wool for impressive comfort and insulation on cold but relatively dry days. Their material construction features 70% wool—specifically a material called Pontetorto Tecnowool that combines the typical look and feel of classic wool products with synthetic fibers to improve performance features. In this case, synthetic fibers help wick moisture from the fleece interior surface to the exterior surface for evaporation. The overall feel of these gloves is very soft and they provide good insulation for freezing temperatures. Leather reinforcement on the palm consists of 100% goat skin rather than synthetic material, adding to the overall softness and comfort of these gloves, and touchscreen areas at the thumb and forefinger enable you to use your phone.
While the Passion gloves are our top choice for comfort, we prefer them on dependably dry days. Wool inherently has water and wind-repellent properties and maintains its insulating capacity even when wet, but these gloves are more likely to become saturated compared to others with exterior shell fabrics. When they are wet, they do take longer to dry than items made from a higher percentage of synthetic materials. Available at www.mammut.com.
Black Diamond Deploy ($40) and Deploy Wind Hood ($50) Gloves
- BD Deploy
- BD Deploy Wind Hood
The baseline model of the Deploy is a lightweight and breathable glove designed for high aerobic activity in moderate winter conditions. We wore them until temps got below freezing, at which point we layered them under an external mitten, which is easy to do because of their slim fit profile. The recycled polyester fabric has a smooth feel and includes 12% spandex to provide great stretch capacity for range of motion and dexterity. Deploy gloves have touchscreen capability at the thumb and forefinger, and the grid fleece thumb is the softest material for face wiping among any of the gloves in this group. One clever feature of this glove is a wristwatch opening at the base of the cuff, so you don’t lose visibility of your watch. Reflective accents and a clip connector are other thoughtful details, along with micro silicone dots on the palm to help with grip.
For harsher conditions, Black Diamond makes a Wind Hood version of the Deploy, which is identical to the product described above, but with a stowable wind-resistant DWR hood for thermal and water resistance. The hood is a cool glacier blue color that makes an easy color contrast against a snowy backdrop, and when not in use, it can be stuffed into the backside on top of the wrist. Deploy and Deploy Wind Hood gloves are available at www.blackdiamondequipment.com.
Patagonia R1 Daily Gloves ($55)
Another low-profile option for moderate winter conditions, this model uses the same stretch fabric used on Patagonia’s longstanding R1 performance fleece garments that are suitable for everything from rock climbing to high intensity running. The recycled polyester fabric is highly effective at wicking moisture and maintains warmth exceptionally well for its thickness. Additional fabric features include plant-based miDori bioSoft treatment for increased softness and sustainable HeiQ Pure odor control. The fabric is compatible with touchscreens along the forefinger and thumb and has a textured palm for improved grip. These gloves have a connector clip for storage, and a sleek stretch elastic pull loop at the base of each wrist to put them on easily. Because the R1 fabric has such strong insulating capability, we were comfortable using these gloves for temps down to freezing, and we also found them very easy to layer underneath a mitten shell for more frigid conditions. R1 gloves are available in four color options at www.patagonia.com.