The development of heated gloves—like with heated vests—is one of the better innovations in outdoor wear. As much as we enjoy spending time in nature during the winter months, we hate cold hands. It’s hard to concentrate on your hunt or effectively work if your fingers are so cold you can no longer feel them. For anyone with arthritis or other hand pain, it can be downright painful to venture out in winter. Luckily, battery-operated heating elements are here to change the game.
Wading through the hundreds of different options to find the ideal gloves can be a chore. That’s why we’ve done the homework for you. It doesn’t matter if you need something for work or for ice fishing, we’ve got you covered with the best heated gloves available for cold weather.
Specs
Pros
Cons
The Ororo gloves have excellent battery life and keep your hands warm even when the heating isn’t switched on. (Photo/Travis Smola)
When it comes to battery life, the Ororo heated gloves—which feature three heat settings—performed better than I expected. I was able to run the gloves on the maximum temperature setting for approximately three to four hours and on the medium setting for at least five. However, the low setting was where they really shined. These gloves ran for a solid eight hours on that setting. Because they were so warm even without turning on the electricity, I highly doubt I’ll ever use the medium and high settings.
The battery packs have a slim profile that tucks neatly into the cuff without interfering with work. (Photo/Travis Smola)
My only real complaint is that I feel the dexterity could be better. The insulation makes the fingers a bit too fat for shooting a rifle or shotgun. But the grip on the palms and fingers has a tacky feel to it that’s perfectly suited for working with shovels or other hand tools where super fine control isn’t needed. I’ll be using these to clear the driveway of snow once winter returns to Michigan. These gloves would also be excellent for operating a tractor, ATV, or snowmobile in cold temperatures.
Specs
Pros
Cons
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Not a ton of dexterity
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Expensive
The Savior gloves are plenty warm without an electric feature. But they also feature larger 2200 mAh batteries that help keep your fingers toasty through longer days outdoors. Because they are waterproof and thick, you can wear these gloves whenever there is snow or slush on the ground. The windproof quality makes them an excellent choice for work or riding a motorcycle, too. They are thick, so there is some dexterity loss. But Savior Heat made the button for heat control quite large, so you can easily operate it without removing the gloves.
These gloves are a hair on the expensive side. But that’s to be expected for this battery size and durability. While we like these gloves best for work—like construction or ranch work—they are versatile enough to be used in a variety of outdoor scenarios.
Specs
Pros
Cons
Surprisingly, there are not a lot of dedicated hunting gloves featuring electronic heating. This pair is both windproof and waterproof—perfect for hunters who don’t like to head in once the weather takes a turn for the worst. The 7.4V battery packs will help the warming functions last through a full day in frigid temperatures, and the buttons are large enough that you can operate them while wearing the gloves. Plus, they have fingertips that can operate a touchscreen.
The three heat settings allow you to customize just how warm your hands are (and the soft cotton material is extra cozy). However, we wish there were more camo patterns other than Realtree Edge. Not that the deer will notice or care, but some of us like our camo outfits to match.
Specs
Pros
Cons
The Snow Deer gloves offer surprising dexterity for thicker gloves. They are suitable for everything from hunting to motorcycling thanks to the sheep leather palms that help provide additional grip. The heated wires in this pair of gloves extends completely to each of the fingers, making them a great option for anyone with arthritis or circulation issues in the hands. There is also fleece in the glove liners to help retain heat and repel moisture.
These gloves have a shorter battery life than some of the other options on this list. But they’re very well constructed. Features like the sheepskin palm and fleece lining add a lot of additional value for the money here. If you need gloves that are versatile for more than one outdoor activity, these are the ones to consider.
Specs
Pros
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Tons of dexterity
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Waterproof
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Long cuff
Cons
These featherweight gloves offer a great deal of dexterity that’s ideal for work or recreational activities in bitter cold conditions. The extra reinforcement of the palm and inside of the fingers further emphasizes the fact that these gloves are made with cold weather activities in mind. You can also cinch the cuff tight to prevent extra snow and wind from getting in at the wrists and dropping your core body temperature.
These heated gloves have a slightly shorter run time than we’d expect for a battery of this size. It runs for about two hours on high, three hours on medium, and five hours on low. Extra batteries are a necessity if you need them super toasty for long periods. That said, we think the shortened runtime is a decent tradeoff for the extra dexterity offered by these gloves.
Specs
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Battery: None
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Shell Material: Fleece
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Insulation: Thinsulate
Pros
Cons
Heated gloves that utilize batteries can be quite expensive. Not everyone can drop $100+ on a pair of gloves. Thus, a good alternative is these Hot Hands gloves/mittens that utilize disposable hand warmers instead. A box of Hot Hands hand warmers can cost as little as $25 and will easily keep you stocked for a couple of winters. I personally prefer this style of glove and mitten combo for hunting because it’s so easy to pull off the mitten top, giving full dexterity to your bare fingers without removing the glove completely. I’ve successfully shot a few deer wearing gloves just like this during Michigan’s firearms season.
The real downside is that the disposable warmers aren’t the most environmentally friendly. But the flip side is that you don’t need to ever worry about forgetting to charge a battery. And the fleece outer layer and Thinsulate insulation do an excellent job of keeping fingers warm even without the warmers. Gloves like this prove you don’t always need to break the bank to own a quality piece of equipment.
How We Tested Heated Gloves
For the gloves I tested, I first made sure the batteries were fully charged. I then ran each pair on the highest warmth settings to assess the battery life of each glove. I also wore the gloves while performing a variety of activities both recreational and for work. This allowed me to evaluate the comfort and dexterity of each pair. Additionally, I considered the following factors when making my decisions:
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Insulation: Do the gloves have insulation? What type of materials did the manufacturer use?
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Weatherproofing: Are the gloves waterproof? Will they handle a downpour?
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Additional Features: Can the gloves manipulate a touch screen? Are there are other features that set them apart from the pack?
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Value: How does the price match the materials and battery life?
The Ororo heated gloves were our favorites. (Photo/Travis Smola)
What To Consider When Choosing Heated Gloves
There are a few different types of heated gloves. The most popular style utilizes an electronic battery system and heated wires in the fabric, which is extremely effective for staying warm. The downside is that gloves like this are often expensive and require frequent recharging. Most have a battery life of six to eight hours depending on the set intensity level.
There are also gloves and mittens with small pockets for chemical hand warmers. One pro to this style is the reduced cost. Of course, you can only use the disposable hand warmers once before tossing them in the trash. There’s also waste from the airtight wrappers this style of warmer is sealed inside, so it’s not exactly the greenest solution out there. But you don’t have to worry about charging any batteries and you can quickly replace the warmers in the field once they lose heat.
Intended Use
When picking a glove, think about how you plan to use it. Thicker gloves are great if all you plan to do is ride a snowmobile or ATV. However, they can quickly become useless if you need to do more delicate tasks. Thick gloves can make it difficult to squeeze the trigger on a rifle or work on an engine. Think about dexterity and how much you’ll need. At the same time, be careful not to buy gloves that are too small or too tight.
For gloves that will be used primarily for working, it pays to go with thicker materials like leather that are built to take abuse. Ideally, the palms will be reinforced for heavier tasks like ranch work. It’s not a bad idea to go for work gloves that are waterproof—or at least water-resistant—either.
Many clothing manufacturers are now making their gloves with at least one specialized fingertip designed for operating a screen. The quality of these fingertips varies depending on the glove. Some gloves just don’t have the dexterity for typing or sending emails effectively. But quality ones make for great hunting gloves when you want to stay in touch with your buddies without losing any warmth.
FAQs
Q: Are heated mittens better than heated gloves?
Mittens are almost always warmer than gloves, and that includes heated mittens. This is simply because mittens allow your fingers to share warmth and slow heat loss. Of course, this comes at the cost of dexterity for more precise tasks.
Q: Are tight or loose gloves warmer?
It can be a bit of a balancing act to find the right fit for warm gloves. Go with gloves that are too loose and you lose dexterity and warmth. If the gloves are too tight, they might cut off circulation. The ideal solution is to find gloves that fall somewhere in between. The gloves shouldn’t be so tight they feel restricting, but they also shouldn’t fall off your hands.
Q: Are heated gloves waterproof?
Waterproof capabilities vary from glove to glove. Some have that feature built in standard while others may need to be kept out of the snow and ice to function properly. Be sure to read the fine print on any pair you buy first. Most work gloves are built rather ruggedly and will handle a little water.
Final Thoughts
While the technology for heated gloves continues to improve, the Ororo gloves were a standout for us in terms of battery life. These large versatile gloves will get you through the worst sub-zero temperatures that nature can dish out, and the competitive price makes them a solid option for gearing up for another long winter. Even if you choose another pair on this list, the best heated gloves will keep your digits nice and warm all season long.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
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