Are mittens warmer than gloves for hiking?

Yes, mittens are warmer because your fingers share heat when kept together. However, they make dexterity even worse than thick gloves—you're essentially working with flippers, which makes them useless for any task requiring precision.

What's the best glove system for winter hiking?

Carry at least two pairs: thin liner gloves for dexterity and general use, plus thick insulated gloves or mittens for when it's genuinely cold. Keep the thin ones in your jacket pockets for easy access and accept that you'll be swapping them throughout the day.

Do those touchscreen-compatible gloves actually work in cold weather?

They work for operating a touchscreen, but they're too thin to keep your hands warm in actual cold conditions. You'll be able to technically use your phone, but your fingers will still go numb, making the dexterity pointless anyway.

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Gloves: The Impossible Compromise Between Warm and Useful

Your hands need to open zips, hold poles, check maps, and not go numb—ideally all at the same time. Why no single pair of gloves has ever solved this, and what combination might.

6 July 20268 min read