Having cold hands when out for a day’s skiing can literally ruin your whole outing. To keep your hands warm throughout winter, it’s important to choose the right gloves or mittens, so follow this guide!
Whether you’re skiing or snowboarding, it generally happens in winter, and it’s cold! And your extremities: feet, hands and head are the first organs to feel the cold and its effects. It’s therefore vital to protect them properly to make the most of your ski outings. A good pair of gloves or mittens can make all the difference, especially if you have poor circulation.
Depending on your snow sport of choice, you will have different requirements in terms of waterproofing and grip.
Gloves and mittens for alpine skiing
For alpine skiing, you need gloves or mittens that protect your hands from the wind when you’re going down the slope and that keep them warm when you’re not moving. With your fingers are separated, you’ll find simpler movements easier to perform while on the slopes: opening your backpack, carrying your skis, holding your poles. In mittens, your fingers are grouped together, except from your thumb, and this keeps them really warm! However, it is not as easy to move your hands compared to a pair of gloves.
What warm gloves should you choose for snowboarding?
If you're snowboarding, you'll be looking for gloves that are waterproof so that you can use your hands to push yourself up out of the snow and that have an excellent grip. They should also fit under the sleeves of your jacket so that no snow gets inside them. And with our most technical products, you can easily slip a wrist protector into the glove sleeve.
Which gloves should you wear for cross-country skiing?
For cross-country skiing, you need gloves that enable you to move your hands well so that you can do the following tasks: put your crampons on, remove skins, etc. Thin, breathable and fitted with a silicone or leather coating on the palm for excellent grip, they should also protect your hands from the wind when you are going downhill.
Get gloves on for cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiers will need a pair of gloves that are lightweight and breathable, that wick away perspiration quickly and that are windproof for downhill runs.
Do you need glove liners for skiing?
Whatever your style of skiing may be, there are many benefits to wearing removable glove liners if you have cold fingers. Like underwear, they are an initial layer of protection, absorbing any perspiration from exercise and providing an extra layer of warmth. You can even ski in glove liners alone in the spring when temperatures are milder.
Spotlight on lobster gloves
Suitable for most snow sports, lobster gloves are halfway between a mitten and a glove. The thumb and forefinger are separated, giving you the dexterity of a glove, while maintaining the warmth of a mitten. They look like lobster claws, hence their name!
All of our products have an elastic strap to wrap around the wrist, allowing your child to take off their gloves safely. No more risk of losing them on the ski lift!
Finally, size is important when selecting ski gloves. The pair you choose should not compress your fingers because this which cuts off circulation and makes your hands feel colder. When you try them on, leave 1 cm at the end of each finger when your hand is outstretched. The optimal size allows a thin layer of air to slip between your hand and the glove lining for optimal breathability and to wick away perspiration, maintaining warmth. Take note that some glove designs can be adjusted at the wrist with a Velcro fastener, so they do not compress anything, while also managing to keep the cold out. Since not all our gloves have the same size chart, we recommend referring to the "Which size to choose" section of the product sheet for your favourite pair!
Tip: If you are used to wearing silk gloves underneath your ski gloves, make sure you wear these inner gloves when you try on your gloves!
1 : MEASURE AROUND YOUR PALM
First of all, take a tape measure. The tape measure should pass over the knuckles of the back of your hand. Your hand is flat, not bent, your fingers are slightly apart, and the tape measure is not tight around your palm.
2 : Measure the length of your hand
To measure length; - Take a sheet of paper, a small notebook, a pencil and a tape measure. - Stand up, put the notebook at the bottom of the sheet of paper, and make a mark at the top of the notebook. - Then press your wrist against the notebook, with your hand flat on the paper. - Move the notebook to the end of the middle finger, and draw another line. Finally, remove your hand from the sheet, and measure the distance between the two lines to get the total length measurement of the hand.
Unsure what the difference is between water repellency and water resistance? We’ll explain everything!
Unsure what the difference is between water repellency and water resistance? We’ll explain everything!
What does it mean if something is water repellent?
All Decathlon gloves and mittens have been treated with a water-repellent coating. This means that the fabric doesn’t absorb water, the water actually slides off the surface of the fabric. In this way, the textile doesn’t soak up water and stays lightweight and warm.
What makes a pair of gloves waterproof?
In addition to the water-repellent treatment, we also use a waterproof membrane that acts as a barrier to water, making the gloves waterproof. Water-repellency and water resistance combine to give you moisture-resistant gloves!
Which gloves are the warmest?
The answer is simple: the mittens! By reading the warmth scales on product sheets or on signs, you can find the pair of gloves that provides the most warmth depending on the weather conditions!
How to look after your ski gloves and remove unpleasant odours
We've created a dedicated set of instructions for looking after your gloves, whether they're synthetic or leather. Always remember to dry your gloves after an outing and wash your glove liners regularly.
You’re now ready to choose your pair of ski gloves or mittens! Choose your ski equipment carefully : jacket and pants, helmet and mask, and good socks!
