If you’re a woman and you’re between the ages of 15 and 30, you may have Reynaud’s Syndrome, a medical condition in which arteries to the hands or feet constrict in response to cold. Men can suffer from Reynaud’s, too, though it’s more common in women. If your hands are chronically cold and nothing ever seems to help, you might want to visit your doctor.
Marmot Randonee gloves
Marmot Randonee glovesOtherwise, it’s time for new gloves. My cold-weather glove of choice for the past several years has been the ($100). They’re packed with Primaloft insulation, a Gore-Tex insert, and come with leather-lined palms for water resistance and grip. But what has most impressed me about these gloves is their dexterity. You can do remarkably fiddly things with them—work a zipper, buckle your ski boots, even fish change out of a pocket.
I’m also partial to Outdoor Research’s ($89), which have a rugged outer shell made from Gore-Tex and softshell, and come with fleece insulation and liners. The Aretes also have pockets on the back of each glove that can hold heat packs.
I’m guessing that many readers also carry gadgets while skiing—an mp3 player or at least a smartphone. In that case, The North Face’s ($75) have removable liners laced with X-static fabric on the thumbs and index fingers. X-static reacts to touch-sensitive devices, which means you can post an update to Facebook or write an email without going bare handed.
Of course, mittens always are warmer than gloves. The ($80) has a waterproof/breathable shell, polyester insulation, and a pocket for hand warmers.
Any glove or mitten you choose will benefit from liners. I like silk because it adds so little bulk (, $10), but wool does the trick, too. Smartwool’s are $20. Just make sure to size your main gloves accordingly—you don’t want to constrict your fingers.
—Doug Gantenbein