The North Face Montana Ski Gloves Review

While testing these gloves on the slopes in northern Idaho, our fingers stayed toasty down to temperatures around 20° Fahrenheit. But what if you want to ski in colder weather? The North Face Montana has a slightly large, accommodating fit, leaving enough room to wear a thin liner glove. Even with a thin liner, the roomy fit easily accommodates a small hand warmer, just in case you need an extra boost on really cold days.

Warmth

From the moment we first tried on these gloves, we knew we had something special: At one-third the price, the affordable Montana were nearly as warm as the premium gloves we tested. After wearing these gloves alongside top competitors, the numbers confirmed our first impressions. On one ski run on a particularly chilly day, the internal temperature of the gloves dropped by just 2.1°F, which is within a fraction of a degree of the warmest (non-heated) glove we tested.

The Montana features a thick layer of Heatseeker Eco polyester insulation over the back of the hand, with additional insulation in the palm and around the gauntlet. The result is a somewhat puffy-feeling glove that keeps the cold out and the heat in. The palm shielded our hands from gripping cold ski poles, while the gauntlet easily covered our jacket sleeves and kept drafts out.

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Dexterity

Our ability to manipulate small items like buttons on key fobs or zippers was mixed with the Montana. Because the insulation is fairly puffy, we could grasp small zippers, for example, but it usually took several tries for our fingertips to find and feel them. While these gloves are fairly flexible, the precision of our fingers was hindered by their bulk.

We could use the Etip-compatible thumb and index finger to use our phones' touchscreens, take photos, and make calls, but texting or navigating apps was challenging. We were able to perform small, dextrous tasks better than expected – even if it took quite a bit of patience – mainly thanks to the lightweight flexibility of the glove.

Water Resistance

The Montana has an internal membrane layer that is technically waterproof, while the outer shell is only water-resistant. This is a common design among waterproof ski gloves because, ideally, nearly all the water around you should be frozen. A glove's ability to shed water becomes more important in cold, wet conditions – think sleety days or while spring skiing – because water trapped under the outer shell can compromise the effectiveness of the insulation. Even if your hands are still dry thanks to the waterproof membrane, they will get cold quickly because of the waterlogged insulation.

These gloves absorbed slightly more water than the best gloves in our lineup, but less than most ski gloves we tested – well within the typical range for high-quality ski gloves. We submerged these gloves in a bucket of water, and at no point in our test did water actually penetrate the waterproof membrane and touch our hands. It feels important to point out, however, that if your pair of Montana gloves wet out, say on a particularly wet day of skiing, they'll take a long time to dry. After our submersion test, this pair took 10 hours to air-dry at room temperature.

Construction Quality

Wow, were we impressed by the construction quality of the Montana Ski Gloves! While most budget-friendly gloves skimp on quality with single-row stitching, these feature double-row stitched seams, much like the more premium options we tested. This is important because double-row-stitched seams can significantly improve long-term durability.

Despite the generally high-quality construction, the fingertip shape is less precise than that of the more expensive gloves we tested. The materials are generally lighter and less durable than those used in premium gloves, too. For instance, the faux leather palm is more durable than a bare nylon palm, but it's relatively thin compared to the multi-layered leather on some higher-priced gloves.

Features

The relatively inexpensive Montana Ski Gloves include key features we often don't see at this price point. The wrist gauntlet will either cover the cuff of your ski jacket or compress enough to fit easily underneath. The adjustable cinch on the gauntlet helps keep snow out, while a secondary wrist cinch blocks drafts and improves the overall fit of these gloves. The pull loop on the cuff makes it easier to pull these gloves on over a liner. The soft nose wipe on the thumb is a nice touch, too.

But the wrist leash is our favorite accessory feature. If you like to eat a snack, use your phone, or adjust your goggles while riding a ski lift, you can easily take your gloves off without worrying about dropping them. For us, it's a must-have for ski gloves (even more so for kids and teenagers!)

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Should You Buy The North Face Montana Ski Gloves?

The combination of top-notch warmth, water resistance, and construction quality makes this the best entry-level value on the market. While the Montana is not as refined as ski gloves that cost twice as much (or more), it more than serves the purposes of most downhill skiers. Plus, if you need a little extra warmth for truly frigid days, the fit and design provide enough room for a thin liner glove or a hand warmer tucked over the back of your hand.

What Other Ski Gloves Should You Consider?