Choosing the Right Ski Gloves for Skiing and Snowboarding

Choosing the right ski gloves can be the difference between a great holiday and a miserable snow trip. One of the easiest ways to embrace the cold is by having optimal protection for your hands. Having the right gloves makes all the difference but with so many options, how do you know what is best for you? Here are our top tips for choosing the best gloves for your upcoming snow trip.

 

Warmth & Waterproofing

Warmth = Insulation. Gloves keep you warm by having insulation around every finger. Thinsulate gloves have a breathable and moisture resistant layer for insulation. Down insulation is light, easy to compress, long lasting and breathable plus it is an exceptional insulator. Down gloves are extremely warm and a good choice in cold climates. Synthetic insulation is not as warm or as expensive as down but is still an excellent form of insulation for gloves.

Waterproofing is just as important as insulation. You want your hands to stay dry as well as warm. Most gloves are made with an outer lightweight, breathable shell that has some type of waterproofing in it. This prevents moisture from snow and rain from getting into your glove, while allowing water vapour from sweat to escape. Gore-Tex® is frequently used in snow gloves as it offers the highest level of waterproofing and breathability.

Beginners should think about buying the most waterproof and warmest gloves possible. Unfortunately, you will probably be falling over and using your hands to get up which means they are more likely to get wet. Therefore, a good glove is necessary. Also ad a beginner skier or snowbarding you may be standing around more and not moving around leaving you susceptible to the cold. Same applies to children – a good snow glove is a necessity for them. Think about the two options – happy warm child who wants to get out and have fun or screaming, tantrum filled cold child winging to go back inside. Make everyone’s ski trip enjoyable by buying the right gloves for the whole family.

Size & Fit

All brands have a slightly different fit so we recommend trying on different brands and styles to see which suits your hand best. You need gloves to fit snug but also leaves room for air to circulate around your fingers. If they are too big your hands won’t keep warm and it can be difficult to hold ski poles, operate zippers and can feel uncomfortable. A general rule of thumb (see what we did there!) is your fingers should not quite touch the end and when making a fist, it should not be too tight or restrictive.

Additional Features

• Touch Screen Compatibility
  No more freezing your fingers off when making a call or sending a text of where to meet on the mountain.
• Wrist Straps
  These can be used to secure your gloves to your wrists so you will never lose a pair of gloves when taking them off on the chairlift and watch them drop to the snow below.
• Palm Grip
  A grippy material on the glove that helps carry your skis, snowboard or poles.
• Fit Adjusters
  Helps to adjust your glove to fit your hand perfectly. Look for cinch cords or added straps to adjust on the go.
• Thumb Wipes
  A little bit of luxury so you can wipe a dripping nose in comfort when on the lift or mountain.
• Gauntlet Cuffs
  These gloves have a long cuff which extends over your jacket and cinch close to keep snow and cold air from getting in.
• Pockets
  Can be zippered or non and is where you can slip a hand warmer in for added warmth. Pockets can also be used as an air vent when you are shredding it up.

Stay warm on the snow with the correct glove. Our team can help you choose what is best for your family to ensure you have the best ski trip possible.

Happy Snow Time from Rapid Surf & Ski