The Best Winter Mittens of 2026

We think of these mitts as cocoons for the hands: They’re loaded fully with PrimaLoft insulation, the same fill used in cold-weather sleeping bags. And the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts ($140) are among the best, most protective mittens on the market. Surrounding the goat leather palm, there’s 170 grams of PrimaLoft Gold insulation across the backs of the hands and another 133 grams under the palms. Plus, the stretchy outer shell is made from 100% recycled material.

They’ll last for several years (at least), and with a removable liner, they can be used in everything from frigid to moderately cold weather. We love that we can easily dry out or clean the removable liner after a big day or trip. We’re also happy to see that the liner is made of recycled fleece.

The waterproof membrane of the Mercury Mitts and the long gauntlet cuff are both appreciated to keep us warm and dry in wet conditions. This was one of our first favorites all the way back in 2007, and it’s still the strongest contender. If you’re looking for even more insulation, check out the Outdoor Research Alti II GORE-TEX Mitts.

What seems to be a trend among Black Diamond’s warmest gloves (the BD Guide Gloves are the same way) is that these mitts fit a bit tighter than expected. We highly recommend trying the Mercury on in person before committing to a size. But ultimately, this is a superior package that blends synthetic and leather for the outer, that’s loaded with insulation, and the price tag doesn’t break the bank compared to our other high performers. For most skiers and riders, this mitt will serve you well on the majority of cold, snowy days at the ski area or in the backcountry.

While these leather ski mittens require a little care, they’ll also last for years. The Flylow Oven Mitt ($55) performs well in frigid temps and is durable and, of course, toasty warm. Knowing the history of the brand, the products meet the mark. Colorado-grown co-founders Dan Abrams and Greg Steen launched the apparel brand in 2005, determined to make backcountry ski pants, and their passion expanded into other pieces of outerwear.

Made with pigskin leather, the end of the mitt is attached to a narrow nylon cuff that easily slides into the arm of a ski jacket — no more struggling to pack the collar into the jacket or vice versa. Inside, the mitt is lined with a polyester material.

For warmth, the Oven is packed with Greenloft insulation: 100 g throughout the palm and another 200 grams across the back. Greenloft is Flylow’s proprietary lightweight, packable, and synthetic insulation made from 100% recycled polyester. We love the quality of these gloves for the price point. Really, if you want something for cold days — whether hiking, skiing, or working — out in the snow and don’t want to spend a fortune, these mitts will get the job done.

Our only downside? During testing, we noticed that the pigment in the leather wasn’t quite as fixed as we would have liked, and smudges happened. But we also like that the Oven Mitt is treated with a PFAS-free DWR for health-friendly water resistance that helps moisture bead off the surface.

We’ve long been astounded by the warmth and durability of Swany ski gloves, so when we saw that the brand was launching the new Swany Calore Mitt ($165) with the same pivotal technology, we were enthused to pull them on. The Calore met our expectations and more. Built with smooth, pliable leather and a GORE-TEX waterproof-breathable insert, these premium safeguards don’t get damp or let in the chill on powder days or blustery lift rides. 

While heat is our goal with mitts, the new Swany Calore Mitt is also easy on the eyes. While Senior Editor Morgan Tilton was downhilling at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, she received multiple compliments on not outerwear, but mittens. With color blocking and elegant stitch lines, they’re a stylish pair. In a blizzard or on gusty days, the Calore kept her fingers toasty. 

Reaching Swany’s benchmark for warmth, the Calore is built with the brand’s performance-oriented insulation, triplex construction, featuring three levels of Thermolite insulation. A thicker layer is on the back of hand while its leaner insulation on the palm (so you don’t overheat). The Calore also has integrated finger channels where flexible insulation is placed between the digits for greater movement and dexterity.  

On the chair lift, Tilton appreciated how easy the mitt was to pull on with the wide, slender pull loop. She liked the included (removable) wrist leashes, especially for popping her hands out to momentarily operate her phone screen. Inside, the brushed lining is a cozy, synthetic textile called Dyna-therm, which wicks moisture and dries well. The liner reaches all the way to the edge of the cuff, helping to keep the wrists warm. As for the garnish? The liner is treated with an anti-odor technology called Polygiene. 

Across the palm and thumb, the goat leather is durable yet super soft. If there’re any drawbacks to this mitt, there’s no fleece-lined thumb for wiping your nose or ski goggles. And there’s no zipper for ventilation. Though, if you’re looking for an elegant, extremely warm mitten with a slender undercuff that easily slides into a ski jacket, the Calore is a top pick for the coldest days on the hill. We also trust the durability — Tilton has an old pair of X-Cell ski gloves that haven’t deteriorated after more than a decade. 

Designed for mountaineering and high-elevation adventure, the Outdoor Research Alti II GORE-TEX Mitts ($209) prove warm even in the coldest conditions. While we’ve tested the newest version, the Alti was optimized for better dexterity — something we’re always looking for in a big, bulky mitt — back in 2022 and remains unchanged.

The leather palm provides plenty of grip, and the three-panel thumb construction allows for even better dexterity to grab gear. We like the longer cuff for its all-around sturdy construction, which kept snow from sneaking in. Aimed at the shivering hands of high-altitude mountaineers, these mitts do command a higher price, but we’d pay it every time to receive the warmth these mittens pump out. If you are looking for the warmest mitts out there and have access to an outlet, you could also opt for a battery-powered heated pair.

Perhaps best of all is the thumb insulation that keeps the secluded digit warm all day long. These mitts boast 170 grams of PrimaLoft Gold on the backside of the exterior mitt and integrate two layers into the inner mitt. Both the outer and inner polyester fleece mitts have 312 g of insulation on the palm.

This synthetic insulation not only repels water but also dries quickly if it does get wet. This is key for staying warm all day. And if you get too warm, simply remove the liner. We’re in our fifth or so year using some version of the Alti II GORE-TEX Mitts, and they’re still going strong.

Fortunately, we snagged a pair of The North Face Montana GORE-TEX Mitts ($150) during the Arctic apex of winter. This premium build kept our hands warm in negative temps, freezing blasts, and extra-cold snow throughout the western U.S. and Canada, from frontcountry laps to the backcountry.

Exposed to the elements, Senior Editor Morgan Tilton wore these mitts while standing on deck for backcountry lines at Baldface Valhalla in British Columbia. While not generating core heat, she was concerned her hands would bear the brunt, but these mitts exceeded all expectations. They never wetted out nor drooped in performance, thanks to the GORE-TEX waterproof insert and PFC-free DWR coat that surrounds the malleable leather.

After a full day of cat skiing — totaling 11K vertical and 20 miles — these mitts remained on Tilton’s hands while tasking at the backcountry base camp throughout the blustery night spent outdoors and went straight on for day two of shredding.

Setting this design apart, these mitts are roomy enough for moving your digits, yet the attributes are streamlined for ultimate ease and functionality. Each cuff has a slender pull tab that’s wide enough to fit multiple fingers, making the loop easy to hold with or without gloves on: pulling these mitts on our hands is a breeze, and the gauntlets aren’t cumbersome — we have yet to find another pair that competes with this basic detail.

The elastic leashes are simple, comfortable, and gentle to pull around each wrist. A basic yet strong snap secures the pair, so we could easily toss them together into our ski pack or mountaineering tent. Otherwise, there are carabiner loops near the top of the index finger, where the mitt is ergonomically curved for a better fit.

With the verdict already in, we were relieved to have the Montana mitts riding back-to-back pow days in -10 to 0 degrees at Big Sky Resort in the muff’s namesake state. The Montana mitts are built with 300 g of insulation on the back of the hand and another 150 g in the palm, which felt like an ample amount while lapping moguls and groomers at Canada’s Whitewater Ski Resort and RED Mountain Ski Resort in the West Kootenay region.

Tilton’s hands equally appreciated the super-soft fleece liner and the generous nose wipe on each thumb, which went to good use in the frigid conditions. If you are looking for a high-quality leather mitt that’s easier to pull on, don’t overlook this Montana as your new ice-loving copilot.

This fit’s for the ladies. And finally, our fingers aren’t swimming in our mitts. And on days when we were nervous about low temps, we grabbed this toasty pair. We thoroughly enjoyed how protective the Dakine Women’s Galaxy GORE-TEX Mitt ($127) functioned throughout freezing laps and lift rides at the ski area. 

The Galaxy is essentially the same build as our former Dakine favorite, the Baron, except it’s loaded with GORE-TEX’s newest innovation, an ePE waterproof liner that’s constructed without introducing toxic PFCs throughout the process. Plus, it comes in at $15 less, so you can grab a couple of lattes at the ski hill.

Alternatively, using these mitts in the 25- to 32-degree range on a sunny, non-windy day made our palms sweat by the close of a cardio run. They’re excellent for days that drop to the 10- to 20-degree range. While testing at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Senior Editor Morgan Tilton found that once there’s gnarly windchill, and the temps drop further, these hand ovens reach their limit. If you need a slightly lighter, less insulated, and more malleable mitt, grab the Burton Women’s GORE-TEX Under Mittens, which includes optional five-finger liners to help beef up the two-layer synthetic cover.

Tilton was pumped on the durability of this glove, nodding to the goat leather that’s wrapped across the fingertips, top of the hand, and entire palm. That palm is treated with PFC-free DWR for extra shielding power. The Galaxy looks sharp, too. A flat-noodle wide, removable elastic wrist leash is included, which we appreciate, and it’s easy to use. The exterior is super strong, and we noticed no wear and tear after a full season, even with metal edge grabs — but there’s no soft nose wipe. We miss having an impromptu tissue. For ease, an itsy buckle snaps the two mitts together during foot travel. 

The interior wool-blend liner is extremely soft. And we like the cuff length — it’s not too tall nor too short yet streamlined, so it easily fits under every jacket’s cuff. The wrist is built with a cinch to maintain that articulated clasp, so the pull-tab is warranted to get these puppies on. 

While these mitts are rather fitted, and the silhouette is dialed for the average woman’s hand shape, they (still) don’t offer as much dexterity as gloves per the normal tradeoff. But when warmth is the preference, grab the Galaxy. Ultimately, these toasty, tenacious finger-huggers are worth that slightly higher price tag. 

Read Review: Heavy-Duty Lobster Mittens for Frigid Conditions: KUIU Northstar Glomitt

The KUIU Northstar Glomitt ($139) proves why hunting gear is built for harsh environments. Striking a balance between dexterity and warmth, this glove-mitten hybrid was clearly designed for below-freezing outings. In real-world use, the Glomitt handled far more than hunting or glassing. Hunter Eric Phillips also used the Glomitt to strap snowboard bindings, pull backpack zippers, and complete winter tasks like shoveling without sacrificing insulation. It became a regular companion on our cold-weather pursuits — sometimes on our hands, other times stashed in a pack as a reliable backup.

Its standout characteristic is the lobster claw configuration: the thumb and index finger sit in their own insulated slots like a standard glove, while the middle, ring, and pinky share a mitten-style pocket. This design blends the nimbleness of gloves with the heat retention of mittens. On especially cold days, we could even tuck the index finger into the main chamber to steal extra warmth.

Durability didn’t disappoint. After days in the backcountry — skiing and hunting alike — the Glomitt proved true to its waterproof and windproof claims. The leather palms showed no signs of weakness, giving confidence that they’ll hold up for heavy use. The Northstar compresses well and easily slides over jacket cuffs, thanks to the roomy, gauntlet-style wrist with a cinch closure. Removable wrist cords were a thoughtful touch, preventing mishaps like dropping them off a ski chairlift while checking a phone.

That said, we did encounter limitations in frigid, subzero temps. The index finger compartment, being the thinnest in insulation and snug on fit, tended to chill quickly. With little room for air circulation, it wasn’t the coziest digit on deep-freeze days. In those scenarios, we leaned on the mitten mode almost exclusively, only freeing the index finger when absolutely needed. Fit and sizing are another drawback. These are men’s-only gloves, beginning at medium, so folks with smaller hands won’t find a match.

Still, the cost is offset by KUIU’s no-questions-asked lifetime warranty — a strong reassurance that you don’t need to treat them gently. If they fail, the brand will replace them. All told, the Northstar Glomitt stands out as a versatile cold-weather option. Whether you’re hunting, skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, splitting wood, or just braving winter’s bite, these glove-mitts bring the right mix of warmth and function. And if camo isn’t your thing, solid colors are also available.

We’re not sure a winter mitten has ever looked so classy while delivering such heroic protection, but Stio does it again. On cold, stormy resort days, Senior Editor Morgan Tilton reached for the Stio Objective Insulated Mitt ($189) to keep her hands warm and dry through deep turns and chairlift rides at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Made with buttery, pliable cow leather and a simple elastic wrist cinch, these ski mittens feature a waterproof-breathable insert made with GORE-TEX’s new chemical-free ePE technology. This winter mitten is one of the first pairs to incorporate innovative ePE technology: a PFAS-free fabric, membrane, DWR, and manufacturing process. 

We’ve also been happy with the Dakine Women’s Galaxy GORE-TEX Mitt, a more streamlined fit for smaller hands and ePE technology. We also learned that the care differs for this ePE design: frequently hand wash these mitts using a tech wash to restore the DWR treatment, followed by air drying.  

Inside, we count on 100g of PrimaLoft Gold Eco insulation with four wool dividers for the digits. The hybrid liner is 50% merino wool and 50% polyester to balance odor control and quick-drying power. Against the hands, the material feels cozy and relatively soft. Two wide strips of nubuck water-resistant suede add strategic reinforcement beneath the knuckles and palm without creating rigidity in the mitt. 

The gauntlet-style cuff feels pretty narrow compared to other designs. It also has a waterproof, windproof three-layer polyester shell that seals out snow and wind, keeping our wrists and hands warm. The elastic adjuster on the cuff is easy to operate and is attached to a loop that helps keep it out of the way. Other little details are on the mitts, including removable leashes that don’t feel obnoxiously long and tiny pairing clips. 

The Objective Insulated Mitt is a lightweight powerhouse at just 8 ounces (227 g). Most of all, we love the suede nose and goggle wipes on the backs of the thumbs. Overall, this recycled synthetic fill delivers solid warmth without bulk, and the aesthetic of this mitt is swanky. It’s warm even when wet, lightweight, and packs easily — ideal for back-to-back storm days. 

When the mercury drops, the wool-packed Ortovox Freeride Cozy Mitten ($180) delivers a crusher combo of warmth, protection, and dexterity. We have yet to find another mitten with such heavy insulation across the dorsal side yet such streamlined material across the palmar side. Beyond the pre-shaped, ergonomic fit, we appreciated the large grab loop on the wrist, which aided a quick pull-on.

For a low-profile mitt, the Freeride certainly packs heat. Baffled insulation made from 120 g/m² recycled merino wool extends across the backside of the hand and wrist cuff — a unique twist for mitts. Inside, a soft merino fleece lines the mitts, providing excellent breathability and moisture management. Throughout testing, Senior Editor Morgan Tilton’s digits felt dry and comfortable. The backs of these mitts felt noticeably more insulated and heavier — both the liner and the exterior — against her hands. On the flipside, the palm felt lean, increasing hand feel when she grabbed a ski pole, BOA, or handlebars on her snowmobile.  

Surrounding the insulated baffles, the outer shell combines a soft goatskin leather in a two-layer construction with a Pertex laminate: a windproof, water-resistant barrier — Tilton never noticed these mitts wetting out. She found that the double-layered goatskin on the palms enhanced grip yet remained durable, making these mittens tough enough for grabbing ski edges, adjusting buckles, or handling gear. Reinforcements on the thumb and palm further uptick longevity.

Overall, we appreciated the carabiner loop on the ring finger, wrist leash, and a small connection clip that helps keep the mitts together at the end of the day. Designed for freeride skiers and snowboarders who need performance in cold, deep conditions, this Cozy mitten lives up to its name.

If you struggle with chilly fingers, take a look at the Gordini Women’s Polar Mitts ($143), which are basically a down jacket for your hands. They’re packed with 700-fill power DownTek, a water-resistant and eco-friendly down insulation that funnels a lot of heat. When combined with the cozy and soft, high-pile fleece interior, the Polar Mitts did a great job of keeping our frigid digits warm.

Gear tester and skier Heather Balogh Rochfort wore them during one blustery day of skiing at Aspen Highlands in Colorado, where daytime temperatures plummeted into the mid-teens. Even though she routinely struggles with numb fingers thanks to Reynaud’s Syndrome, her hands were passably warm — which is about as high of praise as her circulation allows for.

The goatskin palm and trim are soft and supple but flexible, increasing the dexterity of these mittens. Thanks to the high fill power of the down, the Polar Mitts offer a lot of warmth but aren’t bulky. We had zero issues gripping a ski pole while wearing them, which is a problem we’ve experienced with other mittens with this level of warmth.

A pull-tab wrist strap cinches the gloves around your wrist, and a second pull-tab secures the bungee enclosure on the gauntlet cuffs. Tradeoff: The gauntlet cuffs reach high up your sleeve to keep snow out, but they run narrow and we struggled to fit them over jacket sleeves.

While wearing a wristwatch beneath, it was almost impossible. Balogh Rochfort had to actually ask her husband to help yank the second mitten on. But if you’re a diehard lover of gauntlet mittens, these are worth a look.

The Outdoor Research GORE-TEX Revolution Mitten ($90) is a fairly lightweight, waterproof, and insulated mitt that’s meant to be wearable all season from November to spring in mild and moderately cold climates. They’re kept at a price point that’s usually reserved for budget goods without cutting corners in the build.

Outdoor Research’s Pacific Northwest roots have supported their innovation of water-resistant gear. The Revolution fits that mold with a GORE-TEX 2-layer construction, which has a waterproof polyurethane palm. The medium-length gauntlet has a cinch closure that’s easy to operate, plus an elastic cinch around the wrist to help close up any air holes. While this longer collar is great for going over a jacket and, in some cases, can slide into a wide jacket arm, there are better options for an undercuff mitt, like the Flylow Oven Mitt.

Landing squarely, the Revolution’s insulation is a middle-of-the-road amount meant to keep the mitts dextrous but still warm in most conditions. Our testing bore that out, with no cold nor overheating from stormy skies in the teens to sunny turns in the 30s. If you run cold or live in a super cold environment, like Vermont or Crested Butte in Colorado, there’s a handwarmer pocket to add some external warmth and keep the packet out of the main body.

We looked for ways OR was cutting corners on this glove to keep the cost reasonable. All we could find were the relatively cheap-feeling plastic buckle and cinch, which didn’t give us problems in testing but felt like they might not be in it for the long haul. Overall, the Revolution is a great performer at a solid price point.

We love that this mitt is svelte yet offers just enough warmth and is stylish, too. Not to mention, we can actually slide the gauntlet quickly beneath our jacket cuff. For multiple seasons, we’ve found the well-made Burton Women’s GORE-TEX Under Mittens ($85) to be one of our faves with a quick-drying five-finger glove liner that we can pull on beneath the GORE-TEX shell that barricades the elements. For the guys, there’s the Men’s Burton GORE-TEX Under Mittens ($85).

With a unique touch compared to other design, both palms and interior thumbs have a durable and touchscreen-compatible material that feels like faux leather, but it’s not a super-functional placement for operating a phone screen. But the slender glove liners are included with touchscreen compatibility in each forefinger, which we love.

While Senior Editor Morgan Tilton was snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, these mittens withstood 15-degree weather with windchill, light snow, and sunnier windows in the 30s. The design provided warmth without bulk, allowing hand control when tinkering with our bindings.

The thumbs are generously covered with a smooth polyester nose-wipe panel, which our face appreciated on cold powder days. But if you need an even toastier, more durable pair, snag the Dakine Women’s Galaxy GORE-TEX Mitt, which are full leather and provide more warmth than this Under Mitten.

Each upper face on the Women’s Under Mittens has a diagonal zipper and pocket, which we opened to drop heat or to slide in hand warmers on freezing days. One caveat: The liner’s wrist seams are not flexible making them tough to get on and off.

We’re not surprised that the Give’r Frontier Mittens ($139) raised more than $1 million during its initial crowdfunding efforts after giving these mitts a go. The brand had already built a solid reputation for super-durable yet warm and weather-resistant gloves. Its expansion into mittens had fans stoked from the beginning. And with a size range of XS to 3XL, there are plenty of options for all types of hands.

From our Frontier Mitten early prototype testing to the brand’s 2.0 pair, these mitts proved wonderful from the get-go. They have the same burly leather build as the gloves, which means they can handle turns on the slopes or grabbing a log out of the campfire. Under that, five layers of insulation and a waterproof membrane keep hands cozy.

While taking resort laps in Colorado, a few of tester Mattie Schuler’s favorite garnishes included the elastic undercuff and the D-ring for the wrist leashes. The exterior can also be customized with hand-branded initials. 

Since the burly Frontier Mittens use an all-cowhide exterior, there is a bit of a break-in period to be expected, as well as upkeep to maintain that supple texture. Waxing them every season with Sno Seal Beeswax Waterproofing is a surefire way to keep your leather from going waterlogged.

Designed for long, hard days of exposure to extreme cold, the Marmot Expedition Mitts ($120) quickly became a trusted and essential piece in our backcountry ski pack. True to their claims, we overheated on the uphill before changing into spring gloves. But that isn’t where this mitt is supposed to shine.

On summits with -3 degrees windchill, we were happy to pull on these Marmot Mitts as quickly as possible: the insulation provided immediate relief, and the exterior blocked wind. Our digits felt fully protected on the descent without overheating.

The liner — made with DriClime Bi-component — helped wick moisture away while the PrimaLoft Gold synthetic insulation kept ski mountaineer Matt Hart toasty. But this mitt isn’t over-loaded and cumbersome. Hart was pleasantly surprised with the available grip that he could feel, especially when grabbing his whippet as he skied down Tuckerman Ravine on Mt. Washington’s southeast face in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.

A brilliantly designed gauntlet drawcord makes it easy to get in and out of these mitts while assuring the snow stays outside the mitt. That said, this silhouette didn’t fit our hands particularly well, and the extra space around our hands and fingers lowered our dexterity rating. 

Ultimately, the Expedition Mitts now have a permanent place in our ski pack and are our go-to gauntlet pair for when the windchill ratchets up, and the temps drop.