Gloves | Skitouring

When buying your gloves, make sure that they are made of breathable, water-repellent and windproof materials. These properties are particularly important during the ascent. Only then will your hands be optimally protected from snow, wind and cold. For a particularly good grip, the inside of your glove, i.e. the palm, should be made of a robust material. Materials such as leather or silicone are suitable here, for example, as they ensure a firm grip and maximum control.

Additional gloves with insulating properties are recommended so that you don't get cold fingers on the descent. Materials such as wool, Primaloft or the classic down filling are particularly suitable here. Thanks to their temperature and moisture-regulating properties, these natural materials keep your hands warm and dry.
For ski touring gloves, additional coatings such as the Gore-Tex membrane can also be a great advantage, as they also ensure that no moisture can penetrate your gloves.

Gloves come in many different shapes, and you often have the choice between mittens and finger gloves. Which are your favorites is a very individual decision, as both shapes have their own advantages and disadvantages. The clear advantage of finger gloves is that you can grip your poles better. But it is also easier to operate zippers and the like with finger gloves. However, the disadvantage of finger gloves is that they quickly become damp and are often unable to keep out the cold. Therefore, make sure that finger gloves are insulated to keep out the cold as well as possible.

Mittens can store heat optimally and are therefore particularly suitable for ski tourers who are especially sensitive to the cold. The disadvantage, however, is that mittens often do not provide a good grip, as the gloves are often particularly thick and the fingers cannot be moved individually.

To be on the safe side, we recommend taking a pair of gloves and a pair of mittens with you on your tour. Thanks to the gloves, you can master your ascent in the best possible way and, with the mittens, you don't have to worry about cold fingers and hands on your descent.

Tip: Some manufacturers also offer 2in1 models. So if you can't decide whether finger gloves or mittens are the right choice, but you also don't want to buy two separate pairs of ski touring gloves, then these 2in1 models can be a good middle ground. These consist of a thin inner glove and warm mittens, and the two gloves can be worn in combination or separately.

To maximize the functionality of your ski touring gloves, some manufacturers offer additional features. One particularly popular feature is the so-called hook loop. This allows you to easily attach your gloves to your belt or backpack using a carabiner. With a larger leash loop, you can even let your gloves dangle from your wrist, eliminating the need to stow them away.

So you don’t have to take off your glove while on the go, some manufacturers offer a so-called touch function. Thanks to this, you can operate your phone even with your gloves on, allowing you to take breathtaking snapshots or call your loved ones without any trouble.