Our testing has taken us everywhere from Alaska to Canada, and California to Colorado. Skiing in both wet and dry climates, each of the gloves and mittens we reviewed has seen the full spectrum of weather conditions. Our testing team includes both snowboarders and skiers that like to rip it up both at the resort and in the backcountry. We rated each of the gloves and mitts comparatively across five different metrics, including warmth (25%), water resistance (25%), dexterity (25%), durability (15%), and features (10%). In addition to field tests, we subject each glove to a bunch of objective empirical tests to gather more data and information on performance.
Warmth
When you're looking for a winter glove, warmth is the most important metric. A person's warmth is very subjective and based on a variety of factors, including their relative body heat, moisture output, and perception of cold. A glove or mitt that offers an appropriate amount of insulation to keep fingers warm without restricting movement is ideal. The breathability or ability of a glove or mitt to regulate moisture output also adds to its warmth.
To test this, we wore each model in conditions where temperatures hovered around zero to the double negatives. We also wore each in wet and dry environments. Handing them out to several women, we collect feedback to provide you with information from several testers.
To measure the relative insulative value (R-value) of each glove we performed a controlled test. We put each glove into the freezer, measuring the temperature gradient over five minutes. Those with a smaller temperature gradient can be deemed more insulative. However, that does not always mean they are warmer in practice. This test simply isolates information about insulation.
Water Resistance
We build snowmen, dig pits, and simply put our hands into the snow when wearing these gloves. After being treated with the recommended water-resistant treatment, we note which products provide better water resistance over the course of full days in the field. Additionally, we subject each glove to a water dunk test. First, we measure the dry weight, then put the glove or mitt on our hand, then squeeze 100 times.
This is intended to get the material as saturated as possible. During this time, we notice if water penetrates any seams or gets inside the glove. After, we weigh each to see how much water is absorbed. Those that absorb more are typically less water resistant than those that don't.
Dexterity
We wear each glove while ski touring and at the resort. We zip-up jackets, buckle ski boots, turn BOA knobs, and perform a series of tasks that require dexterity. Those that can perform more tasks do better in this metric. In addition, we evaluate the craftsmanship of each glove, noting material flexibility, relative thickness, and fit.
Durability
This is probably the hardest metric to measure, especially when a new product hits the market, and we have a limited amount of time to test it. We try to use each glove for at least 60 hours and note the durability issues and performance during this time. After that period, we continue testing throughout the year, updating this section, to keep you posted on how each does. In addition, we do research. While our hands-on testing is quite thorough, we also discuss the reviews that we see online and any trends within those reviews that might raise red flags in terms of durability. If we see one, we focus on it, test it out, just to see if it's an issue that we also observe.
In addition to looking at how the product does over the testing period, we also assess craftsmanship — the stitching, materials, high-wear area reinforcements, or other variables that might affect durability. We also discuss the care associated with each glove in this section.
Features
Finally, we look at all the features of each glove. Those with more score higher. However, if we find a feature to be useless, this doesn't increase the product's score. We do know that some are minimalists at heart, so this metric is weighted less heavily in comparison to the rest.
