Best Snowboarding Gloves

Thermal insulation remains the most important characteristic of snowboarding gloves. Without the right thermal comfort, the gloves would be nearly impossible to wear out in the mountain. There are a few popular terms under which manufacturers describe thermal insulation.
Fiberfill
Primaloft
Thermacor
Thinsulate
While these terms might refer to patented insulation designs, no universal temperature standard is attributed to these insulation materials. The same Primaloft insulation on one pair of gloves can offer different levels of protection from other Primaloft gloves.

However, protection is essential. Some of the best snowboarding gloves are borrowed from universal gloves, such as those made for skiing or general wintertime activities. Good insulation is essential when it comes to everyday use. But not all wintertime gloves can be as useful in low temperatures as others.

A few manufacturers test the gloves down to a specific temperature. But for most of them, even this reassurance can differ as high winds can enhance the cold feeling even if the temperature remains constant. The best choice snowboarders have is to simply test out different gloves.

Removable liners are now the norm for the ultimate versatility. They allow the gloves to dry faster, and they can represent one of the most interesting solutions for those who simply want to air dry the gloves instead of letting them dry on radiators.

Removable liners can also be washed in some cases. This prevents bacteria build-up and odors inside the gloves. Wearers with sweaty palms are among the first to note that these gloves are also best for thermal insulation.

In theory, just because gloves are made with removable liners doesn’t mean they aren’t reliable for thermal protection. How the outer shell and the insulation come together matters the most.

Ergonomic design is a term used for pre-curved fingers in snowboarding gloves. Their alternative is the straight finger gloves which aren’t as good at allowing the palms and hands to sit naturally. Without investing in the right gloves for ergonomics, users can feel they’re wearing their childhood gloves.

You may also like: Best Snowboard Goggles – Reviews

There’s an exception when even non-ergonomic gloves can be just as good if not better for thermal insulation. Multi-purpose gloves are rarely made with ergonomics as they’re defined by their straight-finger design. While there are a few to consider for general winter activities such as clearing snow off the driveway, they are also used in snowboarding.

These gloves offer one of the leading options to those who simply want to enjoy enhanced durability and versatility, such as Burton, The North Face, Dakine, Outdoor Research, Black Diamond, Gordini, Hestra, and Cinch Gore-Tex gloves.

Gore-Tex membrane and nylon are often used to waterproof gloves. While there are plenty of other materials to consider, it’s important to check that the gloves are waterproofed. When they fail to stop water or melted snow from getting to the hands, they come with issues such as losing body temperature fast or simply discomfort.

Most snowboarding glove manufacturers now offer to waterproof. But snowboarders looking to enjoy the best results in terms of comfort with their purchase also need to make an effort to keep the gloves dry, especially on the inside. Gloves aren’t going to dry easily on the inside when worn over wet hands from melting snow.

The grip surface on the palm is made from leather, synthetic leather, rubber, or silicone inserts. This reinforced area is mostly added to improve grip strength. Otherwise, most objects would simply slip off the hands, which is why snowboarders need to find the right option from the start.

At the same time, as snowboarders know, this is still the first area to show signs of wear. To keep the grip area of the palms in good shape, it is recommended to air dry the gloves naturally. They are not to be placed on radiators, and hairdryers shouldn’t be used on the gloves, at least not with warm air. Applying external heat creates the appearance of fine cracks on the palm surface, which eventually become larger and make the gloves unusable.

You may also read: Best Snowboard Bindings 2021 – Reviews

Keeping the gloves in place shouldn’t be too complicated. Made with elastic wrists and added adjustment buckles, these gloves need to be fitted, unlike general wintertime gloves. A few snowboarders know how easily they can lose their gloves. At the same time, not all gloves are as easily taken off, especially those with adjustable velcro straps. Quickly taking these gloves off is not realistic.

Snowboarding gloves are normally made in sizes from S to XL. Manufacturers making these gloves in extreme sizes such as XS and 2XL, and 3XL are rare. Most of those looking for smaller gloves will need to shop in the kid’s department.

The best snowboard gloves for kids use an aging system to guide parents’ sizing. Most start at the age of 3 and up to the age of 12-14. Each manufacturer should also inform parents of the recommended palm diameter, which parents can measure at home to ensure they’re purchasing the right size gloves.

A few snowboarding gloves come with storage pockets. These are small for any type of larger object. But they can still carry keys, hotel access cards, credit cards, or nose wipes. Useful to those who want quick access to these objects, the zipped pockets can be seen as a good extra.

Other accessories include anti-lose buckles. These small buckles attach to prevent the gloves from being easily lost. Those carrying heavy snowboarding gear can rest assured these small accessories can be useful to prevent losing the warmest gloves.

Using gloves with touchscreen devices such as smartphones is not impossible if they’re made from the right materials. Many users now have the benefit of choosing from multiple such devices. It is not ideal to stop at the summit and look at the screen to browse the latest social media updates. But given snowboarders safely stop in a location to check their phones, these specialized snow gloves make their job easier by protecting the hands and browsing the phone without being taken off, even with the index finger.

Some gloves made today also use silicone insertions on the index finger to scroll around. At the same time, a few leather gloves are compatible with touchscreen use by default. However, these all-leather snowboarding gloves are rare. While they’re classy, they can’t be made at an affordable price, and most have issues maintaining the hands dry as they’re not fully waterproof.

The good news is smartphone users have plenty of alternatives to consider, especially with practical Gore-Tex liners. Leather insertions might also be an alternative as they can be added to the palm and the fingers, enabling touchscreen compatibility.

Since many snowboarders aren’t interested in spending as little as possible on the right snowboarding gloves, having a versatile pair of gloves is essential. As seen with the examples above, they can be among the interesting options for skiing and snowboarding. The gloves might even be used for other winter sports.

Those into spending time outdoors can also consider these gloves for trekking. Since most offer a solid grip, they can be used for a better grip on the trekking sticks. These gloves’ versatility is impressive and mainly based on their waterproofing and the thermal protection they offer.