Most people are careful to ensure that their feet are not exposed to too much cold and moisture, because most people know that wet, cold feet is not a fun or even safe situation to be in. But wet, cold hands can be a risky situation to be in as well. When your fingers become stiff it can be difficult to do even simple things, like tie shoelaces or operate zippers. Fortunately it’s easy to keep your hands warm and dry, and the best hiking gloves do a great job of just that.
Best Hiking Gloves
What to be on the lookout for when shopping for hiking gloves.
Water Resistant – When you’re hiking it’s not critical to have waterproof gloves, but you should at least have water resistant gloves. That way, your hands and aren’t going to get wet with the first few drops of rain, but will hold out a little longer than that.
Wind Proof – Almost as important as being water resistant is being wind proof, or at least wind resistant. Wind chill can drop the temperature inside your gloves quickly, and having a good pair of hiking gloves that will protect that precious body heat is a definite bonus.
Best Hiking Gloves Reviews
Reviews of the some of the best hiking gloves for sale.
Rab Guide Gloves - If you want a glove that will do it all, the Guide from Rab is a solid choice. They have a waterproof but breathable eVent liner, eVent being a fabric similar to Gore-Tex, but are also very durable, with leather reinforced palms and fingers. All those features make these some of the more expensive hiking gloves on the market, but they definitely are also some of the best hiking gloves out there.
Outdoor Research Gripper Gloves - If you would prefer a high quality fleece glove, the Gripper is a great choice. They're relatively thin fleece, but have Gore Windstopper laminate built in, to add some warmth and protect from wind chill. The palms, along with the pointer finger and the middle finger are reinforced, so that you don't damage the fleece while using the gloves. They also come in a women's version.
SmartWool Cozy Gloves - If you'd prefer a good, basic pair of wool gloves, SmartWool makes a few excellent choices, including these. They have a classic look, but are blended with nylon and elastic to help give a better fit. Wool is a great material, of course, because it both breathes well and wicks away moisture, so you never end up with sweaty hands.