Short answer: For active skiing choose ski gloves with separate fingers, because in them you can manage a zip, a helmet buckle and your poles. Mittens are warmer, so they suit severe frost, long waits in the queue and anyone whose fingers get cold quickly. Choose the size by your hand measured in cm and leave a little air in the glove, because air insulates. Swap wet gloves for dry ones.
Gloves or mittens for skiing: what is the difference?
Mittens have a separate compartment only for the thumb, and the other four fingers lie together in one chamber. They share their warmth there, and the mitten has a smaller surface through which heat escapes. Gloves have a separate sleeve for each finger, so they are slightly less warm, but they give you feel. The table summarises the main differences.
| Feature | Gloves | Mittens |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth | the fingers are separate, slightly less warm | the fingers share the space, usually warmer |
| Feel and dexterity | good: zip, helmet buckle, goggles, phone | weaker: you often have to take the mitten off to manage a zip or buckle |
| Suits | active skiing, frequent reaching for your kit, milder frost | severe frost, lifts, long periods of standing, fingers that get cold quickly |
| In the NORDBLANC range | most ski gloves: textile with polyurethane, some in leather | a smaller proportion: TERATEX® material with synthetic leather on the palms |
In the collection ski gloves you will find both gloves and mittens, with gloves in the majority. According to the product description, the mittens are made of TERATEX® material with synthetic leather on the palms. All the ski gloves list both skiing and snowboarding among their activities.
- Gloves are the choice if you often reach for zips, buckles and goggles and the frost is mild to moderate.
- Mittens are the choice if your fingers get cold before other people’s, or you do a lot of standing and sitting on the lift.
- You can alternate between the two: gloves on an ordinary day, mittens in frost.
Which ski gloves are the warmest?
You cannot tell warm ski gloves by the model name, because several things decide the warmth. By type, mittens are warmer, but even they lose warmth if they are wet or too tight.
- Type. Mittens are warmer than gloves of similar thickness.
- Insulation. The warmth is held by the air trapped inside the insulation. NORDBLANC ski gloves have 100% polyester insulation. Thicker insulation is warmer but takes away feel.
- Size. A tight glove compresses the insulation and squeezes the fingers, so it is less warm. A glove of the right size leaves a layer of air around the fingers.
- Dryness. Wet insulation does not hold warmth. Snow behind the cuff, sweat and dampness from the previous day chill your hands faster than the frost itself.
- The rest of your body. When your torso gets cold, the body draws blood out of your fingers. A hat, a neckwarmer and the right layers help, which the guide What to wear skiing covers.
Warmth is also held by the baselayer, for example one made of merino, which keeps you warm even when damp, as the guide What is merino wool explains. You will find clothing for the whole body in the collections women’s ski clothing and men’s ski clothing.
Leather ski gloves: when do they make sense?
Leather is strong, resists abrasion and grips a pole well. But it has downsides too: once soaked it dries slowly, and after drying on a radiator it goes hard. Textile gloves made of polyester with polyurethane are lighter, dry faster and are easier to look after.
Among the ski gloves, only some of the models with separate fingers are leather, with 60–95% leather depending on the material, and the rest is polyester, polyamide or polyurethane. Leather suits people who want a hard-wearing palm and a firm grip and do not mind the upkeep. On days with wet snow and when sitting for long on snowy ground, it is better to reach for a textile model and take a spare pair.
How do you measure ski glove size?
Glove size is determined by your hand, not by your jacket. The NORDBLANC chart gives the range of height and width in cm for each number. In the chart, men’s ski gloves come in sizes 6–11 and women’s in 4–8. Here is how to do it:
- Measure your bare hand, and take the larger of the two hands.
- Use a tailor’s tape measure to measure the height and width of your palm following the drawing that is usually shown on the product page. Keep your hand relaxed and do not pull the tape tight.
- Compare the values with the size chart. For example, men’s size 8 corresponds to a height of 19–20.5 cm and a width of 23–25 cm, and women’s size 6 to a height of 16–17.5 cm and a width of 20–21.5 cm.
- If the height and width come out as different sizes, take the larger size. The glove must not press, but your fingers should not get lost in it either.
Body measurements for a jacket and trousers are taken differently; you will find the procedure in the guide How to measure jacket size.
Which gloves for cross-country skiing and town if ski gloves are too warm?
Insulated ski gloves are intended for skiing downhill and standing on the slope. When cross-country skiing, walking briskly or in mild frost, your hands sweat in them, and a damp hand then gets cold. For exercise there are thinner gloves, which you will find in the collection gloves:
- Powerfleece gloves are made of stretchy polyester with elastane, and the product page lists cross-country skiing and hiking among other activities.
- Ultralight gloves are thin and have no insulation. They suit cross-country skiing, running and town better than a whole day on the piste in frost.
- Fleece and knitted gloves belong on walks and for everyday wear, and the knitted ones, for example, contain some wool.
- Softshell gloves list cycling on the product page.
What to wear for cross-country skiing as a whole is in the guide What to wear cross-country skiing.
How do you dry and wash ski gloves?
Follow the label in the glove, because materials differ. In general:
- Drying after every day on the slopes. Take the gloves out of your pocket or rucksack straight away, open them up and let them dry at room temperature, ideally with the fingers pointing up. Do not dry them on a radiator or by the stove, as high heat damages leather and synthetic materials.
- Washing textile gloves. Wash them by hand or on a gentle programme at a low temperature with liquid detergent and no fabric conditioner. Do not twist them, just squeeze them out.
- Leather gloves. Wash them in the machine only if the label allows. Otherwise wipe them with a damp cloth, let them dry slowly and treat the leather with a product made for leather.
General advice on caring for clothing is on the Product care page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you wear ski gloves under the jacket sleeve or over it?
Both are right as long as your wrist stays covered even with your arms stretched out in front. Pull a long cuff over the sleeve and tighten it so that snow cannot get in. Tuck a short cuff under the sleeve and tighten the sleeve. You check the sleeve length in the skiing position when choosing the jacket, see the guide How to choose a ski jacket.
Can I wear ski gloves for snowboarding too?
Yes, NORDBLANC ski gloves list both skiing and snowboarding on the product page. On the size charts page, ski and snowboard gloves each have their own chart with slightly different values; for example, for men’s size 6 the height is 17–18.5 cm in the ski chart and 17.5–19 cm in the snowboard chart. The differences between jackets for skiing and snowboarding are covered in the guide Snowboard jacket or ski jacket, and you will find more kit in the collection ski / snowboard.
What if I am between two glove sizes?
Take the larger size if the glove otherwise presses across the width or at the fingers. Compressed insulation is less warm, and a tight glove impairs circulation. If your fingers get lost in the glove and you cannot hold the pole securely, it is too big. Trying it on with your fingers bent will help you decide.
What temperature are ski gloves good down to?
There is no single limit. NORDBLANC ski gloves do not state a temperature rating, so compare type, insulation and size. Wind, damp and sitting motionless on the chairlift take away warmth. If your fingers get cold even in ordinary frost, try mittens.
Why do my hands sweat in ski gloves?
An insulated glove holds heat and moisture, and when skiing fast or walking, your hand starts to sweat. A damp hand then gets cold faster than a dry one. Take your gloves off while queuing and walking, choose a thinner model for warm days and exercise, and always dry your gloves in the evening.