This is a review of the best ski touring gloves.
Hi, I’m Nick, a longtime touring skier, and outdoor gear enthusiast. Together with Aspen, an experienced NZSIA level 2 instructor, we are going to help you find the best ski touring gloves.
Ski touring gloves have come a long way since the bulky leather gloves of the 1970s and 80s. Skiers now have lightweight options that stay dry in wet conditions and keep your hands warm on the coldest of mornings. The best ski touring glove is lightweight, comfortable, and warm.
Our top pick is the Outdoor Research Alti Ski Glove – a great combination of versatility, warmth, and protection from water and the elements.
We have also attached other options that are great for different needs so you can easily pick the most suitable one.
Let’s head out to the white with warm hands!
Quick Summary
- Outdoor Research Alti Ski Glove (Best overall)
- The North Face Montana Futurelight Etip Ski Glove (Best for touchscreen)
- Hestra Leather Fall Line Ski Glove (Best for dexterity)
Best Ski Touring Gloves
Here are my top picks for the best ski touring gloves and their detailed reviews.
Outdoor Research Alti Ski Glove
- Best For: Overall
- Features: Inner and outer glove, adjustable cinch, attachment dongle, lifetime warranty
- Construction: Available in Black, Charcoal/Natural, weighs 11.2 oz
- Price: $$$
Outdoor Research makes very warm, very durable gloves. The Alti is a ski glove that really ends up being two gloves for the price of one – it has an inner liner that can be removed and worn alone, making it ideal for touring ascents or warm days. This is a glove that can do it all.
I love that the inner gloves can dry out really quick, just like a high quality base layer. It keeps you hand dry and warm effectively.
Featuring an adjustable cinch and gauntlet-style design, the Alti tucks into jacket sleeves well and stays firmly secured on the hands and wrists. Although there is not a cuff to hold it on your wrist when taken off, the gloves have an attachment dongle that can clip onto pants or jackets.
These are incredibly warm gloves, lined with a PrimaLoft HiLoft inner that stays dry in the most difficult conditions. The Alti gloves are not the most dexterous as a result, but because you can remove the outer and continue to wear the inner glove while adjusting straps, they’re functional.
Outdoor Research also backs these gloves with a lifetime warranty, something few retailers of ski touring gloves will offer. AlpinGrip lining on the palm holds ski poles comfortably and firmly. These are a great pair of ski gloves that will perform well for most multi-day touring skiers.
While the price on these gloves is a bit more expensive than most, they provide lots of features, such as a removable inner that essentially gives you two gloves for the price of one.
The North Face Montana Futurelight Etip Ski Glove
- Best for: Touchscreens
- Features: Drawcord secured wrist, cinch-style strap fastener, elastic wrist leash, Etip index finger and thumb coating for phone screen access, breathable waterproof outer
- Construction: 3 Color options, weighs 7 oz
- Price: $
The North Face Montana Futurelight Etip Ski Glove is a warm and versatile glove that will perform well on all kinds of ski touring trips, as well as at resorts and other cold-weather activities such as hiking or mountaineering.
Constructed of North Face’s DryVent fabric, Heatseeker insulation, and synthetic leather on the underside of the glove hands, the Montana glove keeps hands warm without allowing water to enter. This is especially helpful on spring days when warm, wet conditions can make for soggy hands.
The gloves also fit securely, with a design that includes two options to tighten the glove on the hand to secure it in place – a drawstring at the wrist as well as a strap-style cinch on the top of the hand. These features help keep this glove securely in place and ensure warm hands.
Another great feature is the Etip technology, a material that coats the index finger and thumb with a material ensuring your phone’s touchscreen will react to the glove’s touch. This is great for touring skiers that need to check their phone or GPS often for maps, or skiers using GoPros.
Overall this is a very comfortable and warm glove for an affordable price. The construction of the glove allows breathability and the glove itself stays secure for long tours. For some skiers, this glove may be a bit too bulky for adjusting gear or not warm enough for longer, multi-day tours.
For the skier that is looking for an all-around glove to wear both while touring and at the resort, the North Face Montana Futurelight Etip is an affordable pick that will last for multiple seasons.
Hestra Leather Fall Line Ski Glove
- Best for: Dexterity
- Features: Leather conditioned grip and dexterity makes for comfortable, precise grip
- Construction: Multiple color options, weighs 8 oz.
- Price: $$$
Ascents and technical lines can require a good amount of adjustment and grip from your ski gloves. If you need a glove that allows full motor functions in cold weather conditions, the Hestra Leather Fall Line is a glove that will perform well for years when cared for properly.
A full leather outer construction means that these gloves will take a bit of time to break in and require more care and maintenance (oiling and conditioning) than other synthetic gloves. As they do break-in, these gloves will become very responsive, shaping themselves to your hands.
Sometimes, we may find it difficult to adjust the size of our helmet with our gloves on, but with these gloves? It’s just a piece of cake. I can easily attach my GoPros to the helmet when I go ski touring with these gloves.
Leather gloves like the Hestra Fall Line are great for those who need a glove that will also allow them to work ropes, navigate technical lines, or pack and repack gear, this glove will be ideal. Treating the leather will also make them incredibly water-resistant on warm days.
One downside of this glove is that is not as insulated as most other gloves, so you may need to add a pair of inner gloves if you have cold hands The polyester fleece lining is very comfortable, however, and the neoprene adjustable strap keeps them sealed around the wrist.
Best Ski Touring Gloves – What To Consider?
Consider these factors when shopping for the best ski touring gloves.
Fit and Adjustability
If you have normal-sized hands, most gloves should fit well. However, if you have longer fingers or wide palms, you may want to look at gloves that have more adjustability options. These include cinches, more flexible fabrics, and drawcords.
Warmth
Do your hands run warm or cold? Do you prefer a synthetic liner to a natural liner? Some gloves have removable liners to adjust the warmth level for spring days, while most others have fixed insulation. Again, consider the conditions you’ll most often be skiing in.
Dexterity
How often will you be adjusting gear or reaching for your phone and GPS on your ski trips? For many multi-day touring skiers in the backcountry, having gloves that allow flexible movements in the hands, especially if camping overnight or working ropes, will be crucial.
Durability
Are you looking to make an investment for multiple seasons of regular skiing, or are you simply looking for a pair of gloves that you will likely use once or twice a winter? Often, the more durable a pair of ski touring gloves are, the more expensive they will be.
Weather Resistance
Do you expect to be skiing in lots of different sorts of weather? Certain gloves are more adapted to a variety of conditions like rain, ice, or sleet. Breathability can be important on warmer days when your hands may sweat more. Your gloves should perform well in all conditions and block water, ice, and snow from entering the glove at all times.
Wrapping Up
The Outdoor Research Alti Ski Gloves are our most recommended ski touring gloves. They are very warm and durable, the lifetime warranty is a fantastic add-on.
We also love the other 2 recommendations and they will save you from a windy day too.
Have loads of fun out there and stay safe!