Buyer's Guide

Gloves -Vs- Mitts

Decision fatigue when shopping for gloves or mittens is real.
Every company seems to have the same but slightly different options — and there appears to be a glove or mitten for every use and everyone.

Sigh. And we didn’t even get started on price points!

So, how on Earth are you supposed to find the right glove or mitten for what you need,
without breaking the bank or having to buy tons of gear?
Well, we’ve got you covered with our comprehensive — but concise and not overwhelming, we swear! — buyer’s guide.

Things to consider when buying gloves or mittens

To reduce your decision fatigue, you’ll want to consider a few things when buying gloves or mittens. The hope is, by evaluating the type of activity, insulation, and features, you’ll be able to quickly identify what you need and eliminate what you don’t. Because while shopping can be fun, you don’t need to spend two hours or more trying to figure out what glove or mitten works best for you.

Type of activity

First and foremost, consider the type of activity you’ll be doing when wearing the glove or mitten. Activities, weather conditions, and the aerobic intensity (i.e., how much you’ll move or work up a sweat) dictate the kind of features you’ll need in a glove or mitten. And yes, everyone wants a unicorn glove or mitten that does everything, but sadly, we have yet to figure out the magical equation for such a thing.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

A highly aerobic sport, you’ll work up a sweat while cross-country skiing and need hand protection that allows you to strap into and grip poles.

SNOWMOBILING

You might be seated, but you will need ample dexterity and insulation to handle the snowmachine and protect you from the windchill.

RESORT SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING

Resort activities are relatively laid-back. You may have the opportunity to do some resort-monitored, off-piste activities, but you’ll mostly be going downhill or riding the chairlift. You need enough dexterity to grip your poles and fiddle with persnickety boot buckles (hi, perfect fit and circulation, is that you?! No? Okay.), but you also need serious warmth for long lift rides and gusty descents.

BACKCOUNTRY SKIING AND SPLITBOARDING

Touring typically involves high aerobic output on the uphill with a quick but colder descent. It also involves being in and out of your touring pack, taking touring skins on and off, dealing with board or ski bindings, snacking intermittently (or a lot), checking conditions, and so forth. You’ll want to maintain fast access to your avy tools and shouldn’t expose your hands to cool conditions for prolonged periods.

ICE CLIMBING

Nowhere are grip, dexterity, and warmth more important than when you’re hanging on to a giant icicle. Look for pre-curved, gunn-cut fingers and silicone grip for maximum performance.

OTHER ACTIVITIES TO CONSIDER

Sledding, snowshoeing, hiking, and fat biking

Recommendations From Gordini

Finding the right gear for your chosen winter activity starts with deciding whether a glove or mitt — or something in between - suits you best. If we were to apply all the information that we presented in the first half of this article to a pair of gloves and mittens, what would it look like?
Let’s find out.

Gloves

Want to free up your fingers without subjecting them to the weather conditions around you? Grab some gloves.

The Cache Gauntlet Glove

Cache Gauntlet Glove Gordini

PROS

Gloves provide a ton of dexterity, making them great for outdoor work, fat biking, backcountry skiing, or — really — anything with poles. Additionally, gloves tend to be a bit more breathable (because they’re separated on all sides) than mittens, so if you’re looking for something to protect your paws during aerobic activities, gloves might be your best bet.

CONS

Because gloves are more breathable, if you’re sensitive to the cold or have poor circulation, you might want to consider mitts. Or add a hand warmer when temps start to drop — giving us the perfect opportunity to mention our handwarmer pockets (as featured in our Side Cut Gloves) which are designed with this in mind.

HAND SIGNALS

All of them. Hang ten, Vulcan hand greeting, peace, “okay,” The Bird, devil horns, and I love you.

BEST FOR

Skiing, snowboarding, hiking or snowshoeing with poles, and outdoor work.

TECHNOLOGY

AquaBloc® waterproof, windproof, breathable insert

Primaloft® synthetic insulation keeps your hands warm without adding bulk.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

GAUNTLET CUFF

An extended cuff provides extra protection against snow and cold temperatures.

CLUTCH™ REINFORCEMENTS

Up to six times (!!) more abrasion-resistant than leather, synthetic leather reinforcement on the palm and fingers offers added protection from wear and tear.

MOISTURE-WICKING LINING

Interior fabric pulls moisture away from your skin to ensure you stay dry and warm.

Gordini offers fits for both Men’s & Women’s Gloves.

Mittens

Think of mittens as a sleeping bag for your hands: aka say hello to cozy town. Great for high-fiving, making snowballs, and keeping hands warm on cold hikes or while resort skiing.

Cache Gauntlet Mitten

PROS

Mittens tend to keep your hands warmer as your fingers are cozied up together, meaning you lose less heat. They’re great for gripping poles and sled ropes, and easy to don and doff (which — ahem, parents! — is great for kids).

CONS

Less dexterity than gloves.

HAND SIGNALS

BEST FOR

Resort skiing, snowboarding, sledding and outdoor work such as shoveling or snow plowing.

TECHNOLOGY

AquaBloc® waterproof, windproof, breathable insert

Primaloft® synthetic insulation keeps your hands warm without adding bulk.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

GAUNTLET CUFF

An extended cuff provides extra protection against snow and cold temperatures.

FINGERMITT CONSTRUCTION

We’ve included built-in stalls for your fingers, providing more cozy surface area with moisture-wicking technology.

CLUTCH™ REINFORCEMENTS

Up to six times (!!) more abrasion-resistant than leather, synthetic leather reinforcement on the palm and fingers offers added protection from wear and tear.

Gordini offers fits for both Men’s & Women’s Gloves.

3-Finger

What do you get when you combine a glove with a mitten? A 3-finger! A 3-finger frees up your thumb and your pointer finger while keeping your middle, ring, and pinky fingers bundled together.

Wrangell 3-Finger

PROS

Solid dexterity and functionality. You get the warmth of a mitten but the dexterity of a glove.

CONS

3-fingers don’t always accommodate liner gloves. For that reason, 3-fingers tend to have limited use cases and are best suited for snowsports and activities with handlebars or triggers.

HAND SIGNALS

BEST FOR

Resort skiing, snowboarding, sledding and outdoor work such as shoveling or snow plowing.

Additional things to consider

If you find that our suggestions aren’t quite cutting it for you and want more information, well, we won’t leave you hanging.