Winter running gloves: how to choose the best pair for the cold

Hands are often the first part of the body to suffer from cold while running, because they receive relatively little blood flow compared to the large leg muscles working at full capacity. The wrong pair of gloves can ruin an otherwise great workout, so it's worth understanding what to look for before buying.

Materials and levels of protection

Winter running gloves roughly fall into three tiers. Lightweight models, made from stretchy technical fabric, suit cool but not freezing days, roughly between 5 and 12°C: they breathe well and fold easily into a pocket once your hands warm up. Mid-weight models, often with a windproof panel on the back of the hand and warmer fabric on the palm, cover the range of roughly 0 to 8°C and are the most versatile choice for runners training regularly through winter. Heavy models, built for sub-zero temperatures or for runners who are particularly prone to cold hands, add insulating padding and sometimes an elastic cuff at the wrist to block drafts.

Full gloves or mitts: when to choose which

For running, unlike cycling, full-finger gloves are almost always the better choice because your hands aren't in contact with a cold metal handlebar but are still exposed to wind as they swing through the running motion. Half-finger models or mitten-style flip-tops (a design typical of some running brands) are mostly useful for runners who use a smartwatch or chest strap and want to tap the screen without removing a glove.

Touchscreen compatibility and practical details

How much to spend and when to replace them

A good pair of mid-weight running gloves sits in a fairly accessible indicative price range, and it's one of the purchases with the best ratio between cost and comfort gained over winter. It's worth owning two pairs: a lighter one for milder days and a heavier one for January and February, so you don't have to compromise when temperatures shift between workouts.

Recommended products

To get through winter with warm hands: windproof touchscreen running gloves for everyday use, a pair of padded running gloves for freezing temperatures for the coldest days, and a running ear-warmer headband to complete cold-weather head protection.

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