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Getting the Right Gloves to Keep Your Hands Dry and Warm

Forget about frozen fingers. Outdoorsmen have plenty of choices when it comes to warm, functional gloves that let them enjoy their adventures while keeping their digits toasty. Here are the top picks.

For general outdoor activities, check out RedHead’s Camo Ragwool Convertible Utility Gloves (no item number, $14.95), sold at Bass Pro Shop (www.basspro.com). While not waterproof or even water-resistant, these gloves offer some great features for the price. Hook-and-loop fasteners hold back the mitten top to expose the open-tip glove fingers. Faux suede covers the palm for extra protection. Inside, the 100-gram micro fleece lining minimizes moisture and provides extra warmth. Available in brown.

Colder temperatures pose no problem to Eddie Bauer’s (www.eddiebauer.com) Alpine Performance Gloves (item #i14792 1432, $49.50), an example of well-made gloves meant to last for years. Made of a water-repellent nylon shell lined with a waterproof, breathable insert and filled with PrimaLoft One insulation for lightweight warmth. The wrist wraps and cinch cuffs eliminate cold drafts and the leather palm adds durability. Many men’s gloves come in one size, but Eddie Bauer’s considerable sizing options ensure a better fit. Available in black.

REI (www.rei.com) offers modular Outdoor Research Arete gloves (item #787068, $80). They certainly aren’t cheap, but they come jam-packed with high-tech fabrics and useful features. The multiple layers of these gloves offer warmth, waterproofing, and manual dexterity as you need them. The fleece inner gloves provide the first layer of warmth. The liner gloves boast silicone palms for a better grip. The removable, waterproof Gore-Tex® inserts in the outer shells protect against moisture. The outer shells also feature fleece on the backside for improved warmth and AlpenGrip treatment on the palm for ruggedness. The DuoCinch gauntlet closure ensures that snow and cold stay outside the gloves where they belongs. Removable cords secure the gloves to the wrists. Available in black.

Another example of extreme cold-weather gloves for hunters, Cabela’s (www.cabelas.com) Canadian Stand Hunter Gloves (item #XK-960163, $49.95) are constructed of 40-gram Thinsulate insulation in the liner gloves and 100-gram Thinsulate in the outer mittens. The Berber/wool blend shell or the insulated tricot shell may be used over the liner gloves, or the liner gloves may be worn alone. A zipper in the trigger finger offers accessibility as needed. Leather palms offer a great grip. Available in various sizes and in Outfitter Camo camouflage print (Berber/wool blend) and Mossy Oak New Break-Up camouflage print (tricot shell).

Gander Mountain’s (www.gandermountain.com) Guide Series TecH2O Insulated Gauntlet Gloves (item #403207, $34.99) would work well for hunters or general outdoorsmen. They’re made of a waterproof micro-tricot polyester shell and TecH20 windproof lining filled with 150-gram Thinsulate insulation. A hand warmer pocket with magnetic closures and a gauntlet design and elastic cord on the cuffs improve fit and warmth. The rubbery grips on the palms and fingers add functionality. Available in Realtree camouflage.

Bow hunters should consider RedHead Convertible Insulated Bow Gloves (no item number), also available at Bass Pro Shop (www.basspro.com, $29.99). Made of non-pilling, scent-control fleece filled with 40 gram Thinsulate insulation, they’re warm and functional. The gloves feature open fingertips with a flip-top mitten, zippered pouches for hand warming packs (sold separately), a Manzella bow release collar and grips on the palms and inside of the trigger finger. Available in Realtree™ camouflage print.

Need Extra Help to Keep Yourself Warm?

Need extra warmth? Many hardware, sporting goods and outdoorsman stores carry hand-warming products. Most of these disposable packets work upon exposure to air after tearing open the outer packaging and last for seven to 10 hours, depending upon the brand. Reusable hand warmers can offer 24 hours of warmth, which may prove the better option for winter camping. These typically use lighter fluid, batteries or a solid fuel to generate heat. Most produce higher temperatures than disposable packs.