Unearth The Voyage
Your hands work harder than almost any other body part on the trail—gripping poles, checking maps, adjusting straps, and protecting your skin from sun, wind, and cold. The right pair of gloves can make the difference between a comfortable hike and numb, blistered fingers. Whether you’re tackling sunny desert paths or battling deep-winter storms, there’s a glove designed for your adventure.
1. Best Overall (3-Season): Rab Vapour-Rise Gloves
Breathable softshell construction meets wind resistance in a glove that handles spring and fall trails like a champion. Rab’s Vapour-Rise earned TGO Magazine’s Best in Test award for 2025, and once you try them, you’ll understand why.
The fast-drying fabric keeps your hands comfortable during those sweaty uphill pushes, while the wind-resistant layer blocks chilly breezes at exposed ridgelines. Dexterity stays excellent, so you can fumble with zippers, snap photos, or check your phone without pulling them off.
Pack them for cool-weather hikes where temperatures swing throughout the day. They’re light enough to stuff in a pocket but protective enough to wear for hours.
2. Best Value (3-Season): Trekmates Ogwen Stretch Grip
Sometimes the budget option surprises everyone, and that’s exactly what happened when TGO named these gloves Best Value in their 2025 three-season roundup. Trekmates built a glove that doesn’t sacrifice grip or comfort just because it costs less.
The stretchy material moves with your hand naturally, and the grippy palm texture means your trekking poles won’t slip even on steep climbs. All-day comfort comes standard, making these perfect for weekend warriors who hike regularly.
Toss a pair in your backpack as a backup or make them your go-to gloves for everyday hillwalks. Your wallet and your hands will both thank you.
3. Lightest Liner: Montane Dart Lightweight Liner
Featherweight doesn’t begin to describe how little space these liners take up in your pack. TGO’s 2025 review crowned them the lightest in test, and they practically disappear when you need to carry them.
Moisture-wicking fabric pulls sweat away from your skin, keeping hands dry during shoulder-season starts when mornings are cold but afternoons warm up. Layer them under a shell for serious cold, or wear them solo for cool dawn departures.
Hikers have discovered a bonus use: sliding them on inside your sleeping bag adds surprising warmth on chilly nights. For their tiny weight penalty, they deliver versatility that punches way above their size.
4. Best Touchscreen & Dexterity: Black Diamond Midweight Screentap
Conductive fabric on the palms and fingertips means your phone responds perfectly without exposing bare skin to biting cold. Black Diamond engineered these gloves for hikers who rely on mapping apps, trail photos, and fitness tracking.
Midweight insulation keeps hands warm during chilly morning starts, while maintaining enough dexterity to handle delicate tasks like adjusting camera settings or texting a quick summit photo to friends. The fit stays snug without feeling restrictive.
Trail runners and fast hikers love these for high-output activities where you’re generating heat but still need protection. Navigation becomes effortless when you can swipe and tap without interrupting your rhythm.
5. Best Lightweight Puffy Warmth: Montane Prism Gloves
Think of these as tiny down jackets for your hands—seriously warm but shockingly light. PrimaLoft insulation traps heat efficiently, while the Pertex shell blocks wind without adding bulk.
Multiple reviewers praise their warmth-to-weight ratio, noting how they pack down smaller than a granola bar yet deliver impressive protection during summit stops. Fast-and-light hikers appreciate that they won’t weigh down a minimalist pack.
Pull them on during chilly camp chores, lunch breaks at exposed viewpoints, or those final cold pushes to the peak. They warm up fast and stay comfortable even when you’re standing still in a stiff breeze.
6. Best for Wet 3-Season Days: Sealskinz Waterproof All-Weather Ultra-Grip
A knit glove that’s genuinely waterproof sounds too good to be true, but Sealskinz pulled it off with their breathable membrane technology. Section Hiker’s long-term review confirms they stay dry through hours of drizzly hiking and even snowshoeing.
Silicone grip patterns on the palms and fingers mean wet trekking poles won’t slip, even when trails turn into streams. The knit construction flexes naturally, giving you better dexterity than typical waterproof gloves.
Rainy shoulder-season hikes become far more pleasant when your hands stay warm and dry. They also excel during paddle-hike combos where wet conditions are guaranteed.
7. Best Modular Winter System: Outdoor Research Arete II GORE-TEX
Removable fleece liners plus a waterproof GORE-TEX shell give you options when winter weather can’t make up its mind. TGO’s review highlighted the versatility of the separate liners, and Outdoor Research added leashes so you never lose a glove during quick adjustments.
Long gauntlet cuffs slide over jacket sleeves, blocking snow and wind from sneaking up your wrists. Wear both layers together for serious cold, or just the shell during wet conditions, or just the liner when you’re working hard uphill.
Variable winter days demand adaptable gear, and this combo handles everything from mild snowfalls to mixed sleet and wind without breaking a sweat.
8. Best Deep-Winter Durability & Warmth: Black Diamond Guide Gloves
Legendary status isn’t handed out lightly, but these gloves have earned their reputation through years of keeping hands warm in brutal conditions. CleverHiker and Switchback Travel both rank them at the top for severe cold and long-term reliability.
Removable insulated liners pair with a GORE-TEX insert to create a fortress against sub-freezing temperatures. The construction is burly enough to handle alpine travel and multi-day cold snaps without falling apart.
When the forecast calls for genuinely nasty weather and you need gloves you can trust completely, these are the ones serious winter hikers reach for. They’re built to last season after season of hard use.
