Ski Touring Gloves: How to Choose the Right Pair

Are you planning a winter adventure in the mountains? One essential piece of gear that you'll need is a good pair of ski touring gloves.

In this article, we'll guide you through the process of choosing the right pair of ski touring gloves to protect your hands and ensure comfort and flexibility during your skiing expeditions. We'll also explore the different types of ski touring gloves available and provide tips for properly caring for them to maintain their quality. Let's dive in.

Why Ski Touring Gloves are Essential for Winter Adventures

Ski touring gloves are an essential piece of ski gear for any winter activity. From providing warmth to ensuring a good grip, these gloves play a vital role when you are out in the snow. Whether at a ski resort or going through a mountain trail, a good pair of ski gloves can save your day.

Protecting Your Hands in Cold Weather

One of the primary functions of ski touring gloves is to protect your hands from cold weather. These gloves are designed with an insulating layer, often of fleece lining or proprietary thermal material, that traps the heat and keeps your hands warm. They also come with a nose wipe feature, which is helpful during those chilly breeze encounters.

Ensuring Comfort and Flexibility

Comfort is crucial when you're out in the snow. The right ski gloves will have features like a supple palm and a wrist cinch, providing flexibility and a snug fit. Furthermore, some ski gloves even come in a heated glove version for those extra cold days at the ski resort.

Providing Grip and Dexterity

A leather palm complements ski touring gloves, enhancing your grip on ski poles and other equipment. This feature also aids in the gloves' longevity. Some gloves also come with a wrist leash to keep them securely fastened, ensuring they don't get lost in the snow.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Ski Touring Gloves

Now that we understand why ski touring gloves are a must-have, let's delve into what makes a good glove. Here are some factors to consider when you're shopping for a new pair:

Insulation and Warmth

The best ski touring gloves provide excellent insulation. Look for gloves with an interior lining of fleece or synthetic insulation. Some premium gloves even offer a heat-trapping system that regulates the gloves' internal temperature according to the weather conditions.

Waterproof and Breathability

Good gloves promise weather resistance. Look for gloves that are waterproof and breathable, preventing your hands from getting sweaty. Gloves with GORE-TEX technology or other waterproofing treatments are often the best picks.

Fit and Mobility

A tour light glove with a proper fit ensures comfort and flexibility. Remember, a glove that's too tight can limit mobility, and one that's too loose may not provide the necessary warmth. Look for gloves with an adjustable wrist cinch, ensuring a custom, comfortable fit.

Different Types of Ski Touring Gloves

Whether you're an experienced mountaineer or a casual weekend skier, selecting the right ski gear is paramount to your comfort, performance and safety at any ski resort.

More than just 'good gloves,' ski touring gloves should have specific features to cater to various conditions and demands of ski touring. These features may include weather resistance, fleece lining, supple palm, leather palm, a wrist leash and even a heated glove element. With these features in mind, let's explore some different types of ski touring gloves.

All-around Ski Touring Gloves

As the name suggests, all-around ski touring gloves are versatile and designed to withstand different weather conditions encountered in ski touring. They are a hybrid of good gloves that balance warmth, dexterity, weather resistance and durability. Featuring a leather palm for excellent grip, a supple palm for flexibility and a fleece lining for added warmth, they are the ideal companion for skiing enthusiasts. A standout feature of these gloves is the nose wipe and wrist cinch, ensuring comfort and a snug fit while you're enjoying some backcountry turns.

Lightweight Ski Touring Gloves

Prefer lighter ski gear? Lightweight ski touring gloves are designed to be thin, breathable and light, best suited for high-intensity activities or warmer days at your favorite ski resort. Despite their lightweight design, they still possess essential features such as a leather palm for durability and a wrist leash to prevent loss. It's vital to choose good gloves that balance the need for agility without compromising on basic protections - like weather resistance.

Mountaineering Ski Touring Gloves

Mountaineering ski touring gloves are heavyweights of ski gloves designed to provide maximum warmth and weather resistance even in the harshest conditions. They come with ample insulation, usually a fleece lining for added warmth, and a strong leather palm for durability. Even their wrist cinch tightly to keep the cold and snow out. Some high-end models also feature a heated glove option for added warmth.

Tips for Properly Caring for Ski Touring Gloves

Proper maintenance can extend the life of your ski touring gloves, ensuring they remain in top condition over successive ski tours. Here are some simple yet crucial steps for cleaning, drying and maintaining waterproofing.

Cleaning and Washing

It's important to clean your ski touring gloves regularly, especially if they are made of leather. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions to wash your gloves. Typically, this involves using a specialized glove wash or a mild detergent and lukewarm water. Never use bleach or harsh substances that can damage the glove's material or wear down its weather resistance.

Drying and Storing

After washing and rinsing your ski gloves, gently squeeze out excess water but avoid wringing them, which can damage the glove's shape and materials. Instead, pat them dry with a towel and let them air-dry at room temperature, away from direct sunlight or heat sources. For storage, it's best to keep the gloves in a cool, dry space to protect them from moisture and excessive heat, which could compromise the fleece lining and other materials.

Maintaining Insulation and Waterproofing

An important part of caring for your ski touring gloves involves maintaining the insulation and the waterproofing. Over time, the waterproof coating may wear off. In such cases, you can apply a re-waterproofing solution. This is especially helpful after washing and drying.

Remember, the longevity and performance of your ski touring gloves depend mainly on how well you take care of them. Happy skiing!

About Stio

At our core, Stio is a group of like-minded individuals who share an insatiable love for the great outdoors. Every step we take and every product we create is fueled by the desire to inspire and equip fellow adventurers to embrace the wild and experience nature's wonders firsthand.

Our journey began with a simple idea: to bridge the gap between high-performance outdoor apparel and contemporary style. We saw an opportunity to blend the technical excellence that outdoor enthusiasts demand with the modern aesthetics that urban life appreciates. And so, with a vision in our hearts and determination in our souls, we set out to craft a brand that reflects the seamless harmony between nature and fashion.

What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to quality. From the inception of an idea to the final product that lands in your hands, our passion for perfection is embedded in every stitch, seam and detail. Each piece of apparel is meticulously designed and rigorously tested to ensure it withstands the rigors of the outdoors while exuding the style that defines our brand.

But we are more than just a brand; we are a community of explorers united by a shared sense of adventure. Whether you're an avid skier, a dedicated hiker or simply someone who yearns for the freedom of the outdoors, you're a part of our tribe. Together, we celebrate the thrill of exploration, the joy of discovery and the satisfaction of pushing our limits.

As we continue on this exhilarating journey, we invite you to join us in celebrating the beauty and authenticity of the natural world. Whether it's through our meticulously crafted products or the stories we share, our goal remains the same: to inspire you to step outside, breathe in the fresh air and embrace the extraordinary. Shop our ski gloves and mittens today to see what we can offer you.

FAQs

What are ski touring gloves?

Ski touring gloves are specifically designed gloves for individuals who engage in mountainous or professional skiing. These gloves are essential in providing warmth and protection in challenging terrain and weather conditions. They are typically made with waterproof and breathable materials to keep the hands dry and comfortable.

Ski touring gloves also often have reinforced palms and fingers for better durability and grip and features like insulation and adjustable closures for added warmth and a secure fit. Overall, these gloves are tailored to meet the specific needs of ski tourers, allowing them to enjoy their time in the backcountry while keeping their hands warm and protected.

What type of gloves are best for skiing?

The type of gloves that are best for skiing are typically waterproof and insulated gloves. These gloves are designed to keep your hands dry and warm in cold and wet conditions. Look for gloves that have waterproof or water-resistant outer material, such as Gore-Tex, and have insulation, such as PrimaLoft or Thinsulate, to keep your hands warm. It's also a good idea to choose gloves with adjustable wrist straps and a gauntlet-style cuff to help keep snow out and provide a snug fit. Additionally, gloves with reinforced palms and fingers can offer extra durability and grip for holding onto ski poles.

What kind of gloves to wear under ski gloves?

When it comes to choosing gloves to wear under ski gloves, it's best to opt for thin and lightweight options that offer good mobility and insulation. Liner gloves made of materials like silk, synthetic blends or Merino wool are popular choices. These gloves provide an additional layer of warmth and can help wick away moisture from your hands, keeping them dry and comfortable.