How to choose your ski gloves and mittens

Are you looking for a great pair of ski gloves or mittens to keep your hands warm this winter? Choosing ski gloves is as different as the type of car you drive. Some people like Chevrolet, some people like Ford. At the end of the day, both will take you from point A to point B, and it's up to you to decide which one you want to go with.

If you're hauling a lot of dirt and bricks, you obviously don't want to buy a Mustang. The same goes for choosing gloves, whether you need to go skiing, or just trying to keep warm in winter. For skiing, you need to find gloves that provide the best combination of warmth, protection and dexterity for your sport. Most downhill ski and snowboard gloves and mittens are made of synthetic material, usually nylon, combined with a waterproof, breathable barrier and some type of insulation to keep hands warm in cold, wet conditions. Wear-resistant patches on fingers, knuckles, and palm increase durability for activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

By contrast, cross-country skiing is a high-intensity aerobic exercise, and you're likely to sweat. Off-road gloves are flexible and breathable, allowing sweat to escape more easily.

Once you know how to use your gloves or mittens, consider features like insulation, water resistance, dexterity, and touchscreen compatibility. We'll help you make the best choice for your skiing and snowboarding.

Mittens

When your fingers touch each other, the heat they generate is shared, which means gloves are the best option if you have sensitive hands or are out in very cold conditions.

Handling items with mittens is generally more difficult than with ski gloves, but they are easy to remove and put back on when you need to do precision work with your hands.

Mittens are great for snowboarding because there are no poles to hold, and snowboarders are more susceptible to the cold because their hands are constantly in contact with the snow.

Mittens are warmer than gloves (made of the same material) because, unlike gloves, your fingers share the warmth. The overall surface area for body heat to dissipate from mittens is also smaller. They're not as dexterous as gloves, but they'll still serve you well when you're holding a ski pole, going downhill on a snowboard, or hiking in frigid temperatures.

Lobster Design: Some manufacturers mix gloves and mittens, joining the index and middle fingers together and the ring and little fingers together. These are a great solution if you find that the gloves aren't warm enough and the mittens feel too clumsy.

• in-1: Many manufacturers offer 3-in-1 gloves and mittens, consisting of a shell glove or mitten and a removable liner glove or mitten. These 3-in-1 systems are versatile and allow you to combine the outer shell and inner liner for maximum warmth, or wear one by itself in warm weather. Padded gloves provide great dexterity for handling gear without exposing your skin to the cold. You can purchase a 3-in-1 glove or mitten system as a unit, or assemble your own system by purchasing separate shells and liners.

Insulation of gloves and mittens

Gloves and mittens generally use two basic types of insulation: down and synthetic.

Down is a special insulator prized for its lightness, ease of compression, durability and breathability. Down is more expensive than synthetics, but it has a longer loft than synthetics, so it's worth more over time. Since down loses its good insulating ability when wet, it is not used as frequently in gloves and mittens as synthetic insulation. When in use, it is usually protected by a waterproof casing that helps keep it dry. Down gloves and mittens are a great option for skiing and snowboarding in cold, dry climates.

Synthetic insulation is less expensive than down, it insulates when wet and dries faster. It's a great option to use when skiing, snowboarding, and playing in the snow, especially in humid climates. The downside of synthetic insulation is that its a little less warm than down, it's a bit heavier than down, and its insulating power decreases with every compression. Most downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboard gloves use synthetic insulation. Jekosen uses this synthetic insulating material.

Water resistance of gloves and mittens

Most gloves and mittens designed for downhill skiing and snowboarding include a waterproof, breathable barrier to keep moisture from snow and rain out, while allowing water vapor from sweat to escape. The barrier layer can be in the form of a film laminated to the fabric, an insert placed between the outer shell and the insulating layer, or a coating applied to the fabric.

TPU is often used in ski and snowboard gloves and mittens because it provides a high level of waterproof, breathable protection. ​TPU is the abbreviation of "Thermoplastic Urethane". TPU is a polymer material formed by the co-reaction and polymerization of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI), macromolecular polyol and chain extender. Its molecular structure is a rigid block obtained by the reaction of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and a chain extender as well as diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and macromolecules The flexible segments obtained by the reaction of polyols are alternately formed. TPU has excellent characteristics of high tension, high tensile force, toughness and aging resistance. It is also an environmentally friendly material. TPU is an environmentally friendly polymer, also known as waterproof and moisture-permeable membrane. It overcomes many defects of PVC and PU skins. It not only has most of the characteristics of rubber and ordinary plastics, but also has excellent comprehensive physical and chemical properties. At Jekosen, our ski gloves use a tpu waterproof breathable membrane.

Heated gloves and mittens

Equipped with a battery-operated heating system, heated gloves and mittens provide warmth on the coldest winter days. They typically include rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and can operate at varying levels of heat output. Batteries and heating technology make gloves more expensive, heavier, and bulkier than unheated gloves, but if other gloves don't work for you, the trade-offs are worth it. Expect to spend $200 or more on heated gloves and mittens.

Gloves and mittens with touchscreen compatibility

Today, many manufacturers are using touchscreen-compatible finger and palm gloves and mittens that allow you to operate your smartphone or tablet without exposing your skin to the cold. Touchscreen compatibility is often found in lightweight to mid-weight gloves that provide enough dexterity to control your smartphone. If you plan to use your phone a lot outdoors, look for gloves that are fully finger- and palm-compatible.

Additional Features for Gloves and Mittens

A strap or wrist strap secures your gloves or mittens to your wrists so you don't fall off the gondola as you go up the mountain.

The zippered pocket, usually on the back of the hand, is sized for a disposable hand warmer and doubles as a vent on warmer days.

Hope this ski glove selection guide helps you, and we at Jekosen wish you all the best.