Waterproof Glove Shells Explained

Most gloves sold as waterproof are water resistant, which is a different thing. Understanding the three constructions — DWR-treated, coated, and membrane — explains why a $30 Japanese work glove beats expensive mountaineering gloves in sustained cold rain.

1. 1

   DWR-treated: water resistant only

   A durable water repellent finish makes water bead on the face fabric. It is not waterproof, it wears off, and it fails within an hour of sustained rain. Most softshell gloves are in this category, including good ones like the OR Gripper.

2. 2

   Coated: genuinely waterproof, poorly breathable

   A polyurethane coating bonded to the fabric blocks water completely. There is no DWR to wear out and no wetting-out failure. The Showa Temres works this way, which is why it dominates cold-rain performance at $30. Breathability is poor, so hands get damp from sweat on climbs — but warm damp beats cold soaked.

3. 3

   Membrane: waterproof and breathable, at a price

   GORE-TEX and similar inserts block liquid water while passing vapor. This is what you find in the Black Diamond Guide Glove and Mercury Mitt. It performs best across the widest range and costs the most, and the membrane still relies on the outer fabric's DWR to avoid wetting out and losing breathability.

4. 4

   What actually fails in the field

   Rarely the membrane. Usually the cuff, where water runs down a sleeve straight into the glove, or the leather palm, where neglected conditioning lets water soak through. Long gauntlet cuffs worn under a jacket sleeve, plus twice-a-season leather treatment, solve most real-world failures.

   Leather care guideKeeping treated leather waterproof

   Read Guide →

Waterproof Options Compared