All 15 Hiking Gloves Compared
| Rank | Product | Score | Price | Why It Made the List | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.2/10 | $40 | Midweight fleece, real touchscreen function, and a $40 price that makes losing one survivable | Read Review | |
| 2 | 8.9/10 | $45 | 250g merino that stays warm damp and does not stink after four days of wear | Read Review | |
| 3 | 8.8/10 | $45 | ActiveTemp finish increases breathability as hand temperature rises — best for high-output climbs | Read Review | |
| 4 | 8.8/10 | $30 | Actually waterproof rather than water-resistant, insulated, 3.6oz, and $30 | Read Review | |
| 5 | 8.6/10 | $55 | 1.0oz waterproof-breathable shell mitts that layer over any liner | Read Review | |
| 6 | 8.5/10 | $45 | Windproof softshell face with a leather palm for grip and durability | Read Review | |
| 7 | 8.4/10 | $110 | GORE-TEX Infinium windproofing and the best hand patterning of any glove here | Read Review | |
| 8 | 8.3/10 | $65 | PrimaLoft Gold insulation that keeps working wet — the packable belay-style glove | Read Review | |
| 9 | 9.0/10 | $150 | Removable liner, waterproof insert, and mitt geometry — the warmest practical option here | Read Review | |
| 10 | 9.0/10 | $200 | GORE-TEX insert and boiled wool plus PrimaLoft — the durability benchmark for serious cold | Read Review | |
| 11 | 8.7/10 | $175 | Army goat leather that breaks in to the hand and lasts a decade with care | Read Review | |
| 12 | 8.2/10 | $38 | UPF 50+ coverage on the back of the hand with a cooling ActiveIce finish | Read Review | |
| 13 | 8.1/10 | $129 | Waxable waterproof cowhide that handles firewood, snow, and cold rain in one glove | Read Review | |
| 14 | 7.9/10 | $30 | Synthetic leather palm and high dexterity for camp chores at $30 | Read Review | |
| 15 | 8.0/10 | $35 | Waxable pigskin with Heatkeep lining — durable cold-weather protection for $35 | Read Review |
Full Reviews
Midweight fleece with a working touchscreen tip and a fit that holds up to real use — the default glove for 30-50°F hiking.
Heavyweight merino that keeps working when wet and resists odor across multi-day trips — the thinking hiker's liner.
Midweight fleece with an active thermoregulating finish — the best liner for hikers who sweat through gloves on climbs.
Genuinely waterproof, insulated, 3.6oz, and $30 — the cult ultralight answer to cold wet hands.
One ounce of Vertice waterproof-breathable fabric that converts a fleece liner into a full storm system.
Windproof softshell with a leather palm — the glove for cold windy days that do not need insulation.
Windproof GORE-TEX Infinium softshell with Arc'teryx patterning — the best-fitting glove in this roundup.
PrimaLoft Gold synthetic insulation in a light, packable glove that still insulates when damp.
Removable fleece liner, waterproof BD.dry insert, and PrimaLoft fill — the standard answer for hands that will not stay warm.
GORE-TEX insert, PrimaLoft and boiled wool insulation, goat leather shell — the durable standard for cold-weather five-finger gloves.
Army goat leather with a removable liner and a fit that improves for years — the long-haul leather glove.
Fingerless UPF 50+ sun gloves with a cooling finish — the answer to sunburned hands on long exposed days.
Waxable cowhide with a waterproof insert — a camp and chore glove that handles wet firewood and cold weather equally.
Synthetic leather palm with a stretch back — the cheap, dexterous glove for stakes, stoves, and firewood.
Heatkeep-lined pigskin that becomes water resistant once waxed — durable cold-weather value.
How to Choose Hiking Gloves
Hand temperature is a layering problem, not a single-product problem. A liner glove that is perfect at 45°F is useless at 10°F, and an expedition mitt that handles 10°F will soak you in sweat on a brisk autumn hike. Decide the temperature range and the dexterity requirement first, then decide whether one glove covers it or whether a liner-plus-shell system is the better answer.
Temperature ranges that actually matter
Above 45°F, most hikers need nothing or a thin liner for the first mile. From 45°F down to about 30°F, a midweight fleece or merino liner handles moving warmth. From 30°F to 15°F, a softshell or an insulated glove becomes necessary. Below 15°F, or in sustained wind and wet, insulated mittens or a waterproof shell over a liner is the only reliable answer.
One glove or a system?
A single insulated glove is simpler and warmer per ounce but has one temperature setting. A liner plus a waterproof shell covers a far wider range, dries faster, and lets you strip to the liner for camp tasks without exposing bare skin. For three-season hikers the system usually wins. For deep winter, a dedicated insulated glove or mitt wins.
See also: how to choose hiking gloves, the glove layering system explained, liner gloves vs insulated gloves.