Hiking is a wonderful recreational hobby that exposes you to harsh weather and natural elements like rain, snow, sharp rocks, thorns, and such. So, you need to keep your hands protected at all time with the best waterproof gloves for hiking!
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In this article, you will be introduced to eight of the best waterproof hiking gloves available in the market today, along with their features and the important factors to consider when choosing the perfect pair. So scroll down and read more!
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Top Waterproof Gloves for Hiking of 2019
Listed below are my top waterproof gloves for hiking favorites that I think are worth your while as well. I included their most prominent features to hopefully help you narrow down your options and get the best pair of gloves for your needs!
Perfect Curve Glove by Glacier Glove
Made with soft and supple yet durable TechLine Neoprene material, the Perfect Curve Glove by Glacier Glove combines strength with comfort and function.
True to the name, these gloves feature perfectly pre-curved fingers to fight fatigue and offer maximum performance as you hike. There is also a seamless palm design that prevents snags and elevates comfort.
These gloves are made with a 100% waterproof shell to protect your hands from the weather elements. They are also designed to keep your hands dry and warm, thanks to the 2MM fleece-lined Neoprene material, blind stitching, and glued construction.
A fully integrated Pro-Strap with a wrap design allows you to adjust the cuffs to create a nice, secure fit. Sizes range from extra small to double extra large.
SealSkinz Waterproof Multipurpose Glove
The SealSkinz Waterproof Gloves are so versatile that you can use them for more than just hiking but for fishing, walking, and camping as well! These all-weather multipurpose gloves is also windproof, breathable, and touchscreen friendly.
Because these close-fitting stretch knit gloves are made with a 96.5% Nylon and 3.5% Elastane outer shell, you are assured of durability and flexibility. The inner is made with 2% Elastane, 2% Nylon, and 84% Merino wool to keep your hands warm and comfortable. The Merino wool lining also features a stretch Dry technology which helps control moisture accumulation.
The palms and fingers are also printed with a chevron pattern to provide increased grip and control when handling or holding things even in wet conditions. This also helps you get the dexterity required in various outdoor activities.
You can get these gloves in black, hi-viz yellow, olive green, or red. Sizes are small, medium, and large.
Outdoor Research Men’s Alti Gloves
Next, we have the Men’s Alti Gloves by Outdoor Research, a pair of gloves offering amazing dexterity thanks to the company’s revolutionary 3Dfit technology. This technology gives the gloves a new and improved ergonomic design for better performance and function.
The gloves are made with 90% Nylon and 10% Spandex Material for a reliable waterproof protection and flexibility. The material used are also windproof, breathable, and moisture-wicking so your hands stay protected, dry, warm, and comfortable no matter what weather you might be facing on the hiking trail.
For an even better warmth during freezing cold weather, these gloves come with Primaloft Hi Loft shell which enhances moisture management and dexterity. You will also love the Alpen Grip palms that let you stay in control.
These gloves are available in two color schemes: all black and charcoal and natural. Sizes are small to extra large.
Black Diamond Men’s Patrol Gloves
The next pair of gloves we are looking at are the Men’s Patrol Gloves by Black Diamond. The design and construction of these gloves are inspired by the classic, timeless, and durable leather work gloves.
The Men’s Patrol gloves are designed to be easy to put on and easy to remove. They are also a versatile pair of all-day utilitarian gloves fit for most if not all glove applications.
The outer shell is made with 92% Nylon and 8% Spandex material for a perfect combination of flexibility, durability, and protection. The inner lining is made with 100% polyester that is quick-drying and abrasion-resistant. It even has a 100g Thermolite insulation at the back of the hands.
The palms are made with 100% goatskin leather as well as the knuckle patches. For extra warmth and comfort, the gloves also use a Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft Fleece material on the palms.
Available colors include black and natural. Sizes range from extra small to double extra large.
Outdoor Research Men’s Centurion Gloves
Next, we have another amazing pair of gloves from Outdoor Research: The Men’s Centurion Gloves! Like the Alti Gloves, the Centurions are well-made gloves that combine function with style.
The outer shell is made with 100% Nylon for durability with a Gore-Tex insert for waterproofing, breathability, and flexibility. Soft fleece liners and a lightweight EnduraLoft insulation located on the back of the hands made with 100% polyester function in conserving your body heat so your hands stay warm during cold weather.
These gloves are also windproof and moisture-wicking for your optimum comfort and protection. AlpenGrip LT palms even add durability, grip, and reinforcement.
Other features include a gusseted wrist entry, tapered wrists, an undercuff construction, and convenient hook and loop wrist closures.
You can choose among sizes small to extra large and two color schemes: black and cobalt with naval blue and burnt orange.
Gordini Men’s Polar II Waterproof Gloves
The Gordini Men’s Polar Ii Waterproof Gloves feature a four-way stretch Nylon construction with three layers of thermal plys for the ultimate breathable, windproof, and waterproof protection.
The unique fabric makes these gloves a cut above the rest in terms of durability and weather-proofing. The fingers are even made with genuine deerskin that is flexible, durable, soft, and breathable.
Thanks to the Downtek insulation of 10% goose feathers and 90% goose down feathers, your hands stay toasty inside. MegaLoft on the palms add strength and grip.
These Aquabloc Polar II gloves keep water and heat out without adding unnecessary bulk of weight.
Available colors include black and a combination of black and gold. Sizes range from small to double extra large.
Black Diamond Soloist Cold Weather Gloves
The Black Diamond Soloist Gloves are another pair of go-to gloves for hiking and other outdoor adventures. It is specially designed to combat cold weather in alpine climbing.
These gloves feature a Dry waterproof insert and a removable Primaloft-insulated liner in order to provide versatile protection during freezing or wet winter days on the trail.
For warmer days, you can also use the waterproof, lightweight, and abrasion-resistant woven shell on its own so you can stay protected and comfortable. The Primaloft Gold insulation liner is also quick-drying and insulates even when wet.
Kevlar-reinforced palms made with Goatskin leather offers grip and allows your hands to stay protected when rappelling or conquering rocky terrains.
Available sizes are small, medium, large, and extra large.
Outdoor Research Men’s Versaliner
Last but not the least, we have another Outdoor Research model: the Versaliner. These gloves offer protection and insulation under inclement weather thanks to the removable waterproof and breathable outer shell made with Pertex Shield DS ripstop fabric and a 100-weight Radiant fleece liner.
The Versaliners not only fight water and weather elements from the outside but also wicks sweat and moisture on the inside for comfortable and dry hands. There is also a zippered storage pocket at the back of each hand that doubles as a heat pack pocket or a place to store some cash, cards, keys, and other small items.
Other features include a glove clip, reflective logo and trim, pull-on loops, and anti-slip silicone palm prints for an excellent grip.
You can get the versaliners in sizes ranging from small to extra large.
Factors to Consider When Picking the Best Waterproof Gloves for Hiking
Before deciding to order or buy waterproof gloves for hiking, there are several factors you should consider and features to look for. Here are some of the most important of these:
When & Where You will Hike
The first things you should consider are the season, weather, and temperature in the place where you will be hiking. Different gloves are suited for different temperatures and weather conditions.
For warmer days, opt for a pair of lightweight and breathable gloves to keep your hands comfy and dry. For cooler winter or fall days, choose a slightly thicker pair preferably with insulation so your hands and fingers will stay toasty and warm.
There are also gloves that are made for most or all seasons. These usually have removable liners and can be worn with layers for cold days or thinner when the temperature increases,
The trail is another factor to consider. If you will be dealing with a lot of trees or sharp rocks as you climb, you need gloves that will protect you from injuries, cuts, punctures, and such.
Fit
You are probably familiar with the old adage that suggests a perfect fit when one says something “fits like a glove”. Naturally, you want your gloves to fit your hands perfectly because having ill-fitting gloves may be worse than wearing no gloves at all.
Especially when hiking, a pair of gloves that is too large or too tight could cost you your manual dexterity, protection, freedom to move, and overall performance. All of these are important and necessary. Without these, all other features and functions of your gloves are useless.
Therefore, make sure to get your hands’ measurements and compare these with given size charts. For your peace of mind, all gloves listed in this article are available in a range of sizes so you have a better chance of finding a pair that will fit you.
Outer Shell
The outer shell of any hiking gloves are what often gives them qualities like waterproofing, breathability, and flexibility. Look for materials that prevent water from the outside to seep through but still allows your hands to breathe and stay dry on the inside.
Some of the most notable outer shell materials include Membrain, Gore-Tex, and Pertex. These provide great weather protection from harsh winds, rain, and snow.
The shell should also be durable enough to stand against wear and tear due to contact with rough surfaces. Usually, leather palms and reinforcements improve the protective qualities and prolong the life of gloves.
Insulation and Lining
Of course, the type of insulation you will require in your gloves also depends on the temperatures that you will be facing outdoors. Winter hiking gloves often have some kind of synthetic filling or padding that conserves your natural body heat and keeps cold air out.
Lighter and thinner waterproof gloves during summer, spring, and warmer fall months use materials that offer insulation but without the unnecessary bulk. The lining could be either made with wool or fleece.
Some gloves also have moisture-wicking linings which allow moisture from sweat to evaporate quickly so your hands stay dry and cool inside the gloves. This type of liners also reduces conductive heat loss to keep your hands or fingers from freezing.
Either way, the proper amount of insulation should keep your hands comfortably warm and not cause too much sweating. The thickness and softness of the lining will also affect your comfort levels and the freedom of your fingers to move.
Protection
Hiking gloves should be designed and adapted to different outdoor conditions and environments. You as a hiker should feel comfortable and confident in using the gloves even if you are hiking along a lake, through a mountain pass, across a forest, or up rocky hills.
The best waterproof gloves for hiking should, therefore, be versatile and have the ability to protect your hands from all kinds of possible dangers such as bug stings, animal bites, moisture, extreme temperatures, scrapes, cuts, and burns.
The amount of overall protection your gloves can provide will ultimately depend on the quality of the materials used, design, and construction. There should also be reinforcements on high-stress glove areas like the fingertips, palms, and thumb crotch.
Material
There is a wide range of waterproof glove materials to choose from and each has its own benefits and disadvantages. Here are some of them:
- Cotton or wool – these materials are soft and gentle on the skin although they soak pretty well and fast once exposed to water. They also do not have the durability to last for a year.
- Synthetic fabric materials like nylon, polyester, elastane, and Spandex are all durable and strong. They also come with an added benefit of flexibility and stretchability that you need for unrestricted and smooth movements.
- Gore-Tex is probably the best material out there although it comes with a hefty price tag. It is known to offer excellent waterproofing and breathability as well. It is also lightweight and can keep your hands warm or cool depending on the weather thanks to improved temperature control. Usually, Gore-Tex gloves also have fleece, cotton, or wool linings for insulation so you can get the benefits of warmth without having to worry about soaking them.
- Leather gloves are sometimes naturally waterproof. They are also durable and tough while also having that great aesthetic look. However, these can be stiff and restrictive.
Style
There are also different styles and designs of gloves to choose from. These include:
- Normal gloves with five individual finger slots. These is the most common type and can also come with many different features like shorter cuffs for slipping under your sleeves or gauntlet types with longer cuffs that go up the elbows
- Lobster gloves have slots to put your thumb and index finger in while the remaining fingers sit in a mitten-like pocket. These are typically used by hikers or skiers who do not need much flexibility.
- Mittens are those with a thumb pocket while all the other fingers fit in one large slot. These offer great warmth although they fail to provide dexterity, flexibility, or versatility on the trail. There are also glove and mitten hybrids that still come with individual finger slots covered by a removable flap or pocket.
- Gloves with finger slits on the index finger, thumb, or both offer maximum protection and dexterity while also allowing you to do difficult tasks with your thumb and index finger without having to remove the entire glove.
Durability
Hiking gloves are an investment and to make the most out of your hard-earned money, you need to make sure they last long. Look for waterproof, windproof, puncture-resistant, and cut-resistant gloves.
Seam-sealed stitching and reinforcements on the fingertips, knuckles, and palms also add durability. Silicone and leather reinforcements are great because they add not just strength but also grip.
In Summary
The best waterproof gloves for hiking should not only be comfortable and appropriate for the weather conditions but also tough and durable even when faced with harsh conditions. Other important features include insulation, style, soft linings, and fit.
Now that you are on the right track towards the best waterproof gloves for hiking, you might also want to complete your hiking garments with the best waterproof jackets for hiking!