Care for your digits.
Arc’teryx Rush SV ($275)
Arc’teryx debuted the Alpha glove a couple of years ago, with a revolutionary build: it sealed the membrane stitches with waterproof tape, making the Alpha the most weatherproof glove we’ve ever tested. The Alpha has now been upgraded to the Rush, with a removable quick-drying liner. Think of it as hard-shell armor for your hands.
Black Diamond Helio ($200)
Versatility was on full display during a ski tour in Crested Butte, where the three-in-one Helio proved to be our best friend. We skinned up in the fleecy liner, then broke out the light outer with goat-leather palm and ripstop backing for the way down. That shell uses Gore’s new Active fabric, sacrificing some durability for breathability.
686 Linear ($55)
The name of the insulation says it all: Gore-Tex Warm. 686’s Linear has a layer of thick, lofty pile to keep hands toasty on long chairlift rides. That, coupled with a proprietary micro-liner, made this the warmest glove of the test—it was comfortable down into the single digits. Another nice feature: a cuff cord for keeping the hem where it should be.
Helly Hansen Ullr Leather HT ($140)
Consider the Ullr a boxing glove for skiers who like to fight their way through the trees. Durable leather construction and compression foam running across the back of the hand and fingers provide ample protection. Yet it’s surprisingly articulate for such a heavy glove, due to the supple goatskin and sheer Pittards on the palm, thumb, and index finger.
Seirus Heat Touch Hellfire Mitt ($425)
Tried all the options and your hands still get cold? Time to go nuclear. Take a mitten stuffed with 280 grams of lofted polyester insulation, add a battery-operated heater, and you get the Hellfire. Softshell fabric interrupts the sheepskin leather across the back of the knuckles for dexterity while pawing ski poles.
Rab Vengeance ($140)
The lightest glove here, at 6.4 ounces, the Vengeance hits harder than your average bantamweight. Credit for the feathery but capable punch goes to the OutDry weatherproof insert, which prevents snow and wind from chilling your fingers. Thick high-pile insulation inside breathable nylon-polyester swaddles the back of the hand, while more durable Bemberg yarn lines the palm.