Combat Cold Fingers With These Heated Gloves for Skiing, Hiking, and Commuting

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They say that if your core is warm, your hands will be warm when layering for winter weather—and while we agree that layering up in your warmest winter coat is the best way to combat freezing cold, it’s still true that your head, hands, and feet get cold faster.

Especially if you’re grabbing chilly hiking poles or hopping on and off ski lifts, you need gloves t0 keep your extremities warm for winter. A good way to add some heat—instead of just trying to keep it in—is with a good pair of heated gloves.

Whether you’re shoveling snow, riding a motorcycle, or walking the dog, you can’t spend the entire winter with your hands stuffed in your pockets. Instead of relying solely on insulating layer to trap your body heat, heated gloves have batteries that power electric heating filaments to boost warmth. The battery packs are rechargeable and concealed in the gloves, so you won’t be fumbling with AAAs.

The Best Heated Gloves

• Best Overall: Savior Heat Electric Heated Gloves

• Best Liners: Day Wolf Heated Glove Liners

• Most Versatile Pair: Ororo 3-in-1 Heated Gloves

• Best for Avid Skiers: Outdoor Research Prevail Gore-tex Heated Gloves

• Best Work Gloves: Action Heat 7V Rugged Leather Heated Gloves

What to Consider

Fit and Use

Someone who rides motorcycles or snowmobiles in winter will want gloves with flexibility and ultimate dexterity like our Best Overall pick so you can work the gear shift and throttle, but if you need a pair for some warmth under your favorite driving gloves, you’ll be fine with a thinner, less heavy duty option like our pick for Best Liners.

Warm, waterproof winter gloves are usually bulkier than everyday gardening or work gloves. Heated gloves add a battery pack and layer of heating coils, so they’re often even more cumbersome, but we noted which options offer more flexibility and dexterity. Don’t expect to do much precision work in any heated glove, but something like our Best for Avid Skiers pick gives you the mobility you need to grip ski poles, adjust snowboard bindings, or shift gears.

Insulation

While these gloves do generate their own heat, insulation is still important because it’s what retains the heat. Natural insulators like fleece and wool make good glove liners and are comfortable against the skin while down- or synthetic-filled insulation between the outer and inner layers of the glove traps the heat in. Patented insulation like PrimaLoft and 3M Thinsulate are good names to look out for—they’re versions of the same insulation used in high-end winter jackets that keep heat even when wet and don’t easily compress.

Battery Life

Like anything powered by a rechargeable battery, heated gloves have varying run times on a single charge. Almost all of our recommendations have three heat modes—low, medium, high—and will, naturally, run longest while using the lowest setting.

Our top pick has a battery life of up to seven hours. But if you plan on only using gloves for an hour or so at a time between charges, you can prioritize other features like insulation or waterproofing.

Features

Most of our picks are touchscreen-compatible and have battery packs that are unobtrusive. Other design notes to look out for are elastic leashes for when you need to pull your gloves off but don’t want to lose them or extra pockets on the gloves to stash small necessities.

Gauntlet length depends on how much coverage you want for your wrists and adjustable wrist cinches can give you a more secure fit. All of our picks are at least water-resistant and will hold up in rain or snow.

How We Selected

We considered the different scenarios where people would want a pair of heated gloves and gathered options that would suit the variety of needs. We then tried a couple of pairs with the most promising features to test out for ourselves and asked our editors which pairs they’ve used on their own time. Relying on our expertise, knowledge of gloves, and past coverage, we winnowed the list down to these seven pairs. We also checked dozens of reviews from both customers and outdoors gear-heads for added intel on how these wear over time. Here are the best heated gloves that hold up to even the bleakest winter weather.

Electric Heated Gloves

This pair from Savior Heat will work for the majority of people whether you’re skiing, riding, or just outside and needing that extra warmth that only some electricity can provide.

The outer layer is made of a lambskin-polyester mix, and the interior is lined with fleece. A waterproof layer sits between those. Each glove has a one-button control to turn them on and off and cycle between three heating modes.

These are wind- and water-resistant, and the extended cuff of the gauntlet style adds further protection against wintry mixes.

Customers credit them for keeping their hands warm during a variety of activities: skiing, motorcycle riding, biking, and snow shoveling are just some mentioned in the reviews. Overall, the battery life lived up to expectations for these different activities.

Keep in mind that they run small, so you may need to size up. If you're hands hover in-between sizes size up.

Heated Glove Liners

These heated liners are great if you’re looking to bolster the warmth of your favorite work or riding gloves. They’re constructed of a polyester-Lycra blend to be form-fitting and easily layered under a heftier glove. And if it’s a relatively warm day, you can wear them on their own to benefit from the dexterity thanks to their thin build. The battery zips into a neoprene pocket at the wrist to keep them from hindering any mobility.

The majority of customers use these liners under their bulkier pairs since they don’t offer a lot of wind protection though those in mild winter climates can get away with using these an everyday pair. They're also a good option if you have arthritis or Raynaud’s disease. You can wear them on their own to serve as a heating blanket on a cold night and without dealing with unnecessary bulk.

3-in-1 Heating Gloves

This pair offers versatility by giving you a heated liner glove and an insulated outer glove. There's no sacrificing of features for either as both pairs are water resistant and touchscreen compatible.

The inner gloves have some stretch to them and house the battery pack in the outer wrist. The wrist adjusts with a Velcro strap for a snug fit. They can be worn with or without the outer glove but don't have much insulation. The outer gloves are packed with Thinsulate insulation, have an elastic leash, and the wrist can be adjusted with the pull-strap. Both have a nonslip textile on the palms for good grip.

The gauntlet doesn't extend as far as others on our list but still gives you ample coverage. Since both the inner and outer glove cinch they're capable of shutting out the cold and wind but if you're in severe temps and precipitation you should opt for another pair.

Prevail Gore-tex Heated Gloves

These waterproof gloves are packed with insulation and have a soft fleece lining to keep your hands warm and dry while hitting the slopes or going on a snowy hike. An indicator on the wrist changes color to let you know which heat level they're set at and the battery pack zips into the inner wrist to stay protected and out of your way.

They're touchscreen compatible but have elastic leashes to keep them close in case you do. The cinch wrists sit a bit higher on these, just under your palm for a closer, snug fit that's ideal for winter sports; It feels more natural and not like you're wearing a bulky pair of gloves. While I haven't had these long, the double-stitched seam construction suggests they'll last awhile.

The Prevail gloves come with batteries and wall charger but unexpected additions like a travel bag and wall chargers for Europe and the U.K. are appreciated and ensure you have everything you need no matter where your next ski trip takes you.

7V Rugged Leather Heated Gloves

This pair delivers on what you want from the classic work glove—ruggedness, durability, waterproofing—but keeps you warm in cold work conditions with its integrated thermal tech.

The glove heats the entire length of each finger as well as the thumb and side of your hand. Its double-layered leather palm provides a strong grip on tools, snow shovels, or machines, and the fingers are pre-curved for improved comfort and dexterity.

The interior is both fleece-lined and has a waterproof membrane that lets out moisture (i.e. sweat) so your hands stay dry and insulated. If the wind really pick up, you can cinch the wrist with the drawstring toggle cord.

Reviewers say these heated work gloves are heavy duty—durable against abrasions and nicks, and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Since they’re so thick, they won’t be good for any precision work, but will see you through most yard work.

Rechargeable Mittens Heated Gloves

Mittens may appear retro, but their warmth retention is unmatched. Add in some modern heating technology and your hands stay toasty for up to six hours. There are three heat settings that range from 100 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, with a polyester fill and a fleece lining to keep in the warmth. Since they’re mittens, they don’t afford the dexterity of gloves, so these are best suited for skiing or trekking poles. However, they do have separate finger gloves on the inside for a more secure fit.

Reviewers say these mittens warm up fast and are well-insulated. While the battery life is listed at 6.5 hours, some experienced it lasting even longer when left on the low setting.

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