How We Tested Winter Gloves

winter gloves - sometimes we even wore different gloves on each hand to tease apart... — Sometimes we even wore different gloves on each hand to tease apart those small differences in performance.
Credit: Erin Towns

Here's how we tested the winter gloves.

Warmth

To test warmth, we first wore each pair of winter gloves and took notes about the weather, our activity levels, and how warm they kept our hands. We also noted if sweat accumulated in the gloves during rigorous activities, as that lack of breathability compromised the glove's warmth. If two gloves were difficult to rank in our warmth tests, we wore one on each hand for a more direct comparison.

Next, we took them to the lab and put them in the freezer. We left them there for five minutes each, with a binder clip across the cuff to hold cold air out and a thermometer inside. We then compared the results of both tests to arrive at their warmth scores.

Removing a glove from its 5-minute cryogenic slumber.

Credit: Jason Wanlass

Comfort and Dexterity

To test comfort and dexterity, we wore the gloves daily and took notes on what tasks we found annoying to complete while wearing them. We also completed a series of tasks while wearing each set of gloves — tying our shoes, zipping our jackets, writing a sentence, unclipping the buckle on an avalanche beacon, and putting our dogs on leashes. We ranked each task using the following scale:

3 - Easy to complete

2 - We can complete it, but it takes a few tries and is annoying

1 - We can complete it, but it takes many tries, is very annoying, and we often remove our gloves

0 - Can not complete

winter gloves - we performed a myriad of tasks wearing each pair of winter gloves. — We performed a myriad of tasks wearing each pair of winter gloves.
Credit: Clark Tate

Weather Resistance

We tested water resistance by plunging one hand in standing water and leaving it for 2.5 minutes. We recorded the time each glove took to wet through completely and gave the highest scores to the ones that kept our hands dry.

Submerging one glove in a sink of water for a duration of 2.5 minutes. We tested each glove back-to-back and compared their performances side-by-side.

Credit: Jason Wanlass

We put a gloved hand out the window of a car running 40 miles per hour (with the heat on high blast) to test wind resistance. We ranked the results using the following scale:

2 - No wind is felt

1 - A slight breeze is felt

0 - Wind goes right through the glove

winter gloves - window testing this glove to see how well it fends off wind. — Window testing this glove to see how well it fends off wind.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Features

First, we listed all the features of each glove. Then we ranked the usefulness of each one, compiling the totals that resulted. To test touchscreen compatibility, we used several different devices with each glove. We also made sure to use the pull tabs, adjustable cuffs, and glove clips often and repeatedly. We ranked features using this scale:

3 - Works perfectly as intended

2 - Works as intended but not as smoothly or consistently

1 - Often does not work as intended

0 - Feature not included

winter gloves - value-adding features are important to us, and gloves with more --... — Value-adding features are important to us, and gloves with more -- and the most useful -- scored higher.
Credit: Jason Wanlass

Durability

We noted any wear and tear during our testing period to test durability. We also checked the seams for signs of loosening and tested the fabric and seams with the end of a paper clip to find weaknesses.