It's winter, which means the weather outside can be downright terrible in some places. Besides the fact that it's socially acceptable (even recommended) to drink hot mulled wine at 11 a.m., it's time to look into your real man's wardrobe and make sure you have quality winter gloves.
There's nothing stylish about frostbite, so the sooner you start rummaging through your knit drawer, the better. And if you suddenly have an unpleasant memory - “oh no, I lost one of my gloves last winter”, buying a new pair will be the best alternative.
While we can't help you avoid the same fate this year—only a mitten can—we can help you choose the best pair possible for these colder months.
Features of buying winter gloves
Style
As with other cold-weather winter scarf essentials, there aren't many hard and fast rules when it comes to choosing gloves to prevent mistakes. For the most part, it comes down to personal preference.
However, it makes sense to invest in a pair of gloves that will coordinate with the rest of your wardrobe. So, if you're all about a black tracksuit, then go for a technical style. If you wear a suit from 9 to 5, a smart leather pair is probably a wise purchase for you.
Material
When it comes to the warming properties of gloves, it turns out that not all fabrics do the same job. For everyday wear in the city, it is better to avoid gloves made of cashmere or short wool, as they are too warm, which is not always comfortable.
Generally, the material your gloves are made from will largely depend on the style. But even if you really wanted to, you'd be hard-pressed to find a pair of padded driving gloves. The designers know what they are doing.
Color
We recommend choosing classic colors instead of colorful ones like navy or gray so that they can be worn with a variety of outfits.
If you're looking to break away from your usual everyday hues, choose something from the fall leaf palette (like dark green or brown) and you can't go wrong.
Basic requirements for ski gloves
There are two main requirements for ski gloves: good heat conservation and effective moisture removal. Of course, a lot depends on the individual characteristics, as well as on the person’s riding style. But in general, good heat conservation is important when riding in cold weather, and moisture removal comes to the fore in relatively warm weather.
The thermal insulation properties of gloves depend on their material, quantity and quality of insulation, as well as the presence of a membrane. Moisture protection characteristics directly depend on the membrane.
Gloves largely determine how comfortable and warm you will be while skiing.
Membrane
The membrane is a material with tiny pores. It removes moisture from the gloves and prevents it from penetrating from the outside. Membranes can be made from several materials:
- Polyurethane is the most common option, it is inexpensive and provides good moisture removal.
- Hipora is a microporous film material based on polyurethane. It is elastic, able to absorb moisture and remove it out, has good breathability, but does not allow wind to pass through.
- Gore-tex is a membrane fabric made of porous Teflon. It is completely waterproof on the outside, but at the same time wicks away moisture well from the inside of the gloves.
- Windstopper is a type of Teflon membrane, but it has larger pores than Gore-tex. For this reason, Windstopper is highly breathable and heat dissipating, but without additional impregnation it is not waterproof and does not provide reliable wind protection.
Insulation
Three types of materials are used for its manufacture:
- Down is an excellent natural insulating material. It is able to protect the skier in any frost, but when wet it loses all its thermal insulation properties, so it is suitable for use only in dry weather.
- Primaloft is an artificial microfiber-based material. It retains heat worse than natural down, but is not afraid of moisture and is suitable for any weather.
- Thinsulate is a new generation of insulation. This is also an artificial material consisting of the finest polyester fibers. It provides excellent thermal insulation and is suitable for any weather.
Additional attributes
When choosing ski gloves, also pay attention to the following nuances:
- The lining makes the gloves more comfortable and improves moisture management. Most often it is made of wool, fleece or synthetic materials.
- Cuffs prevent snow from getting inside. Long cuffs do their job well, but limit wrist mobility. Short ones do not have this drawback, but they offer little protection from snow.
How to Wear Winter Gloves
You shouldn't wear gloves during the winter - not that it seems stupid. The question is what you wear them with.
Gloves are one of the winter wardrobe essentials that are often overlooked. You don't have to base your style on them, but nothing beats a quality pair of genuine leather gloves.
While they will forever remain clothing accessories, keep in mind that they can completely change your appearance.
Take black leather gloves: wear with a black suit if you want the look of an assassin or someone who has a personal armored basement and lives in an area where women routinely go missing. Neither of these images is a particularly desirable view in modern society. So, for the love of everything you hold dear, don't wear them without a coat.
Choose the perfect gloves
In order not to be disappointed in the purchased product, remember the selection rules:
— it is necessary to try on not only dresses or trousers, but also gloves. When ordering gloves in an online store with delivery , you should do this after receipt. If the product is made of high quality material, the gloves will fit tightly on the hand, without folds or wrinkles. The color must be even, the seams are carefully processed, the surface is smooth, without unevenness.
Pay attention to long gloves , which can be easily hidden in the sleeves of outerwear. Inspect the lining carefully. It should have a “good, even haircut” and not shed. It is better not to wear husky gloves in high humidity. There is a risk that they will lose their shape and aesthetic appearance. They withstand frost very well, so it is better to wear them in cold weather.
Best Winter Glove Brands
Dents
British brand Dents is so passionate about gloves that they even have their own museum dedicated to them. It is located in Wiltshire, where the company was founded in 1777. Each pair of Dents leather gloves is hand-sewn using traditional methods. There is no better option for smart or driving gloves.
Uniqlo
Winter accessories from Uniqlo, the unofficial master of fashion staples, are predictably great. Along with the Japanese brand's cashmere models, many of its winter gloves feature the famous Heattech fabric, which, when in contact with your body, helps release and retain heat.
Hestra
Swedish label Hestra, named after the small town where the family brand is based, has been producing gloves since 1936. In fact, he only produces gloves. This means you're guaranteed a pair that's sleek enough for the city, but warm enough for the slopes.
The North Face
After collaborating with the likes of Supreme and Junya Watanabe to successfully position it as a fashion brand, it can be easy to forget that The North Face is a bona fide outdoor label. Pick up a pair of mittens from American brand Thermo Ball, which, surprisingly, does the same thing as Off-White, only for half the price.
William Lockie
Craftsmanship and quality reign supreme at the William Lockey Heritage Factory. Introduced in 1874, the brand's ultra-soft gloves are knitted in Hawick, a town in Scotland known for its knitting industry. Buy a pair made from the finest Mongolian cashmere and these mittens will soon become a good and reliable solution.
66 North
It's no surprise that 66 North, based in Gardabair, Iceland, has excelled in creating outerwear since 1926. The brand has a large selection of beautiful mittens (no, this is not an oxymoron). And since they're designed to be worn in sub-zero temperatures, you can be sure they'll be comfortable, too.
Weekday
From sleek technical gloves to timeless classic designs made from premium leather and organic cotton, 'high street' hero Weekday has just about every type of glove available. This is a good place to check out if you're trying to keep up with style.
What types of fingerless gloves are there: types of materials and designs
The main gradation is always carried out according to the quality and type of material. Mittens come in: knitted (knitted), leather and leatherette (eco-leather). The first and last options refer to economy class, the second – premium class. The features of each type are as follows:
- From yarn, fabric. Inexpensive, quite warm, they are often bought by young girls and saleswomen who are forced to trade in open markets. Hands warm well, but cannot boast of wear resistance, they quickly lose their attractive appearance, become stretched, and become deformed.
- Made from eco leather. What is attractive about these fingerless gloves is the price. They look very similar to natural ones, but are cheaper. The model range is wide, the color palette is also wide. The option is not very practical: leatherette quickly becomes tanned, creases, cracks, and folds form on it. There is no talk of warming up.
- Genuine Leather. Please note that it varies. There are low-grade raw materials that are not well-made, and products made from them do not last long. And there is exclusive quality, often European. Such mitts are suitable “for both the feast and the world”, they can be worn all year round, moreover, in the summer they will be comfortable, and in the winter the back of the hand will not acquire “pimples”.
In terms of style diversity, it is worth highlighting:
- Miniature models that barely cover their palms. An exclusively summer option, more decorative than functional.
- Classic. The length of the gloves is up to the wrist, the length of the “fingers” is up to the first phalanx. Most often these are car gloves - convenient for driving, but they can be worn not only by drivers, but also by pedestrians, since they are very convenient and practical.
- Long options. Usually - evening. Less often - street ones, bought for vests, sleeveless vests, coats with ¾ sleeves. They also protect your hands well from wind and cold and can be equipped with a fleece or silk lining.
Are fingerless gloves suitable for Russian frosts?
Let's start with the fact that everyone has their own way of moving along the street. Someone stands for hours at public transport stops - then they cannot do without warm woolen mittens, or even fur ones. Some people make short runs from home to work, spending no more than 10 minutes in the open air. In this case, the mitts will not allow you to freeze, but you can look for something warmer. However, fingerless gloves will be the best solution for car owners and their passengers, allowing them to preserve sensory perception without losing the visual appeal of the wardrobe.
And Russia is a huge country. Somewhere beyond the Arctic Circle it will be cool in such clothes for your hands and in the car, but in Sochi and Krasnodar it will be hot outside. Muscovites should not deny themselves the pleasure of wearing what they like. Our humidity and average daily winter temperature make it possible to wear mittens in the city in any weather.
