Ski & Snowboard
The Best Ski Gloves: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four ski gloves on waterproofing, insulation, palm material, cuff design and what each brand actually publishes.
The short version
The Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski is the pick: goat leather palm, a replaceable G-Loft liner, a long snowlock gauntlet and Hestra's 6 of 8 warmth rating, built for full days far from the lodge. The Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX is the value buy, with a GORE-TEX insert, 200 g / 130 g EnduraLoft insulation, a cinchable gauntlet and a removable leash at a mid-range price. The Kinco 901 suits riders happy to wax their gloves: warm Heatkeep insulation and tough pigskin at a budget price, but no waterproof membrane and a knit cuff instead of a gauntlet. Skip the OutdoorMaster 3M Thinsulate Ski Gloves: a TPU insert and synthetic PU palms at a price close to gloves with real leather or GORE-TEX. Best for: resort skiers and riders who want dry hands on cold days.
Our picks at a glance
- Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski - 5 finger - Buy. A guide-grade leather ski glove with a replaceable liner and a long snowlock gauntlet.
- Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX Glove - Buy. A GORE-TEX insulated resort glove with a gauntlet cuff and a lifetime guarantee, at a mid-range price.
- Kinco 901 Lined Heavy-Duty Premium Grain & Suede Pigskin Ski Glove - It depends. A warm, tough pigskin work glove that many riders ski in, as long as they wax it.
- OutdoorMaster 3M Thinsulate Waterproof Ski Gloves - Skip. A feature-packed budget glove whose materials fall short of what the price nearly buys elsewhere.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Waterproofing
- Insulation
- Palm
- Cuff
- Liner
- Leash
Ski gloves all promise warm and dry hands, but the materials behind that promise vary a lot: a GORE-TEX insert, a TPU membrane, waxed leather or just a water-resistant shell. We compared a premium leather glove built for ski guides, a GORE-TEX glove at a mid-range price, a cult pigskin work glove and a best-selling budget glove. The differences show up in the palm, the cuff and the insert, not in the marketing.
A guide-grade leather ski glove with a replaceable liner and a long snowlock gauntlet.
Best for: Skiers who spend full days outside in the cold and want a glove that lasts for many seasons.
- Goat leather palm and fingers give strong grip and wear well against poles and edges.
- The G-Loft liner can be swapped when it gets damp, and Hestra sells wool and standard replacement liners.
- A long gauntlet with a snowlock, a wrist strap and a pinky-finger eyelet with an included carabiner.
- The most expensive glove here.
- Leather needs occasional treatment to stay water-resistant; Hestra sells a leather balm for it.
- Hestra's description calls the backhand fabric waterproof, while its materials list describes the Triton fabric as water-resistant, so expect leather care rather than a sealed membrane.
- Rated 6 of 8 for warmth, not Hestra's warmest; very cold hands may want the mitt version.
A GORE-TEX insulated resort glove with a gauntlet cuff and a lifetime guarantee, at a mid-range price.
Best for: Resort skiers who want GORE-TEX waterproofing and a full feature set without paying for leather.
- GORE-TEX waterproof insert, the most established membrane in ski gloves.
- EnduraLoft ECO insulation, 200 g on the back and 130 g on the palm, at a listed 167 g per glove.
- Cinchable gauntlet, ladder-lock wrist cinch, removable leash, heat pack pocket and touchscreen-compatible fingers.
- The palm is AX Diamond Grip synthetic, not leather, so it may not match goat leather for long-term abrasion.
- The liner is fixed, so a wet interior has to dry overnight.
- Bulkier insulation than a leather glove gives up some dexterity.
A warm, tough pigskin work glove that many riders ski in, as long as they wax it.
Best for: Budget-minded riders who don't mind waxing leather and mostly ride in cold, dry snow.
- Heavyweight Heatkeep thermal insulation laminated to a TR2 lining, plus a neoprene back-of-hand layer.
- Full-grain pigskin palm with suede reinforcement patches sewn with Draylon thread.
- A packet of Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather is included.
- No waterproof membrane; keeping it dry depends on waxing it yourself.
- A knit Omni-Cuff instead of a gauntlet, so it sits under the jacket sleeve rather than over it.
- Work-glove styling: Kinco lists no leash, pocket or touchscreen fingers.
- Kinco notes the finger patches are left off size small.
A feature-packed budget glove whose materials fall short of what the price nearly buys elsewhere.
Best for: Occasional beginners who ski a day or two a year and prioritize pockets over durability.
- 140 g 3M Thinsulate C40 insulation, a stated figure many budget gloves don't publish.
- Two zippered pockets, wrist leashes and touchscreen fingertips.
- Four sizes, 30-day returns and a 2-year warranty listed on the product page.
- Palms are PU synthetic leather, which tends to wear through faster than real leather on pole grips.
- Waterproofing comes from a TPU insert behind a surface OutdoorMaster itself calls water-resistant.
- No gauntlet closure is described beyond adjustable cuffs, so snow sealing depends on the jacket.
- The Kinco 901 costs a little more and brings real pigskin and heavier insulation.
| Criteria | Army Leather Heli Ski - 5 finger Top pick | Revolution GORE-TEX Glove | 901 Lined Heavy-Duty Premium Grain & Suede Pigskin Ski Glove | 3M Thinsulate Waterproof Ski Gloves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Skiers who spend full days outside in the cold and want a glove that lasts for many seasons. | Resort skiers who want GORE-TEX waterproofing and a full feature set without paying for leather. | Budget-minded riders who don't mind waxing leather and mostly ride in cold, dry snow. | Occasional beginners who ski a day or two a year and prioritize pockets over durability. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget | $ · budget |
| Waterproofing | Proofed leather, liner system | GORE-TEX insert | None (wax included) | TPU insert |
| Insulation | G-Loft, removable liner | EnduraLoft 200 g / 130 g | Heatkeep, heavyweight | 3M Thinsulate C40, 140 g |
| Palm | Goat leather | AX Diamond Grip synthetic | Full-grain pigskin | PU synthetic leather |
| Cuff | Long gauntlet with snowlock | Cinchable gauntlet | Knit Omni-Cuff | Adjustable cuff |
| Liner | Replaceable | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed |
| Leash | Wrist strap | Removable leash | None | Wrist leashes |
| Listed weight | Not published | 167 g | Not published | Not published |
| Guarantee | Not stated on page | Infinite Guarantee | Not stated on page | 2-year warranty |
Which one is right for you?
- Skiers who spend full days outside in the cold and want a glove that lasts for many seasons. Buy it Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski - 5 finger
- Resort skiers who want GORE-TEX waterproofing and a full feature set without paying for leather. Buy it Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX Glove
- Budget-minded riders who don't mind waxing leather and mostly ride in cold, dry snow. It depends Kinco 901 Lined Heavy-Duty Premium Grain & Suede Pigskin Ski Glove
- Occasional beginners who ski a day or two a year and prioritize pockets over durability. Skip it OutdoorMaster 3M Thinsulate Waterproof Ski Gloves
How we judged the field
Five things decide whether a ski glove keeps your hands working all day. Waterproofing matters most, and it comes from either a membrane insert (GORE-TEX, a TPU film) or treated leather. Insulation decides warmth, and the useful listings name the material and the amount. The palm takes the abuse from poles, edges and lift bars, so leather usually outlasts synthetic. The cuff decides whether snow gets in when you fall. Finally, a removable liner or a leash changes how the glove lives with you on long days.
The field splits into three camps: premium leather gloves built around a liner system, synthetic GORE-TEX resort gloves, and budget gloves that pile on features. We picked a Hestra leather glove designed for ski guides, an Outdoor Research GORE-TEX glove at a mid-range price, the Kinco 901 work glove that many riders ski in, and a best-selling OutdoorMaster budget glove. Every spec below comes from the maker’s own product page.
The Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski was built for ski guides in western Canada, and every detail points at long days far from a warm lodge. The palm and fingers are goat leather, which Hestra describes as durable and proofed, and the backhand uses Hestra’s Triton polyamide fabric. Inside sits a G-Loft liner that you can pull out and swap when it gets damp, and Hestra sells both a standard and a wool replacement liner. The long collar has a snowlock and a Velcro closure, a wrist strap keeps the glove from dropping off the lift, and an eyelet on the pinky with an included carabiner lets you hang it upside down on your harness or pants. Hestra rates it 6 of 8 for warmth, 7 of 8 for durability and 6 of 8 for mobility. The catch is price and care: it costs the most here, and leather needs balm to stay water-resistant. For skiers who ride often and want one glove for years, it is the one to buy.
The Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX Glove is the value pick because it puts the most established waterproof insert in skiing into a mid-range glove. A GORE-TEX insert sits behind a 2L recycled nylon ripstop shell, and EnduraLoft ECO insulation adds 200 g on the back of the hand and 130 g on the palm. OR lists the weight at 167 g, and the feature set covers what resort riders want: a cinchable gauntlet, a ladder-lock wrist cinch, a removable leash, a glove clip, a heat pack pocket and touchscreen-compatible fingers. It is also covered by OR’s Infinite Guarantee. The trade-offs are in the details. The palm is AX Diamond Grip synthetic rather than leather, the liner is fixed so a soaked interior has to dry overnight, and the insulation adds bulk that costs some dexterity. For most resort skiers who want dependable dry hands without paying leather prices, it is the smart buy.
The Kinco 901 is a work glove with a cult following on the ski hill, and the reasons are simple: it is warm, tough and cheap. Kinco pairs a full-grain pigskin palm and a suede pigskin back with heavyweight Heatkeep insulation laminated to a TR2 lining, a neoprene back-of-hand layer and a foam-padded knuckle strap. High-wear patches are sewn with Draylon thread, and Kinco includes a packet of Nikwax leather wax. That wax is the key to the whole deal, because the 901 has no waterproof membrane. If you wax it before the season and again as it wears, it handles cold, dry snow well; skip that step and it will soak through. The knit Omni-Cuff can be worn inside or outside the glove, but it is not a gauntlet, and Kinco lists no leash, pocket or touchscreen tip. Kinco also notes the finger patches are left off size small. For riders on a budget who like maintaining their gear, it is a great value; for anyone who wants a glove that works out of the box in wet snow, it is not.
The OutdoorMaster 3M Thinsulate Waterproof Ski Gloves look like a lot of glove for the money: 140 g of 3M Thinsulate C40 insulation, a TPU waterproof insert, two zippered pockets, wrist leashes, touchscreen fingertips, 30-day returns and a 2-year warranty. The problem is the materials that take the wear. The palms are PU synthetic leather, which tends to scuff and wear through on pole grips faster than real leather, and OutdoorMaster describes the outer surface as water-resistant with the TPU insert doing the waterproofing. The product page describes adjustable cuffs rather than a true gauntlet with a snow seal. None of this makes it a bad glove for one or two beginner days a year. But the Kinco 901 costs only a little more and brings real pigskin and heavier insulation, and the Outdoor Research Revolution adds GORE-TEX for a mid-range price. For anyone skiing more than a few days a season, spend a bit more and skip this one.
Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski - 5 finger vs Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX Glove: which should you buy?
The Hestra and the Outdoor Research take different routes to dry, warm hands. The Hestra relies on proofed goat leather, a Triton fabric back and a removable G-Loft liner you can swap when it gets damp. The Revolution relies on a GORE-TEX insert and fixed EnduraLoft insulation. The Hestra wins on palm durability, grip feel and the ability to fix a wet glove mid-trip by changing the liner. The Revolution wins on out-of-the-box waterproofing, on features like the heat pack pocket and touchscreen fingers, and on price.
Choose the Hestra if you ski many days a season, ride in cold places, handle poles and edges a lot, and don’t mind treating leather once in a while. Choose the Outdoor Research if you ski a week or two a year at resorts, often in wet snow, and want a glove that stays dry without any care. Both have long gauntlets, so either will keep snow out of your sleeves.
What to look for
- A named waterproof insert: GORE-TEX or a clearly described membrane beats a vague “waterproof” claim on the outer fabric.
- Insulation amount: a stated gram figure, like 200 g / 130 g, tells you more than words like “thermal” or “premium”.
- Palm material: goat or pigskin leather lasts longer on pole grips than PU synthetic leather.
- Gauntlet cuff: a cuff that goes over the jacket sleeve and cinches closed keeps snow out when you fall.
- Removable liner: a liner you can pull out dries overnight and can be swapped for a spare on multi-day trips.
- Leashes: wrist leashes stop a glove from dropping off the chairlift when you take it off.
Our final take
For most skiers, the Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX is the easy recommendation: a GORE-TEX insert, a gauntlet and a full feature set at a mid-range price, with a lifetime guarantee. If you ski a lot or in real cold and want a glove you can keep for years, the Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski is worth the premium for its leather palm and replaceable liner. The Kinco 901 is a warm, tough bargain if you commit to waxing it. The OutdoorMaster glove is fine for a day or two a year, but its synthetic palms make it poor value for anyone who skis regularly.
Questions, answered
Are leather ski gloves waterproof?
Leather on its own is water-resistant, not waterproof. Brands treat it (Hestra calls its goat leather proofed) and owners re-treat it with wax or balm over time. Some leather gloves add a waterproof insert, others rely on the leather and a removable liner that you dry at night. If you ride in wet snow often, a GORE-TEX insert like the Outdoor Research Revolution is the more reliable way to keep hands dry.
Gloves or mittens for skiing?
Mittens are warmer because your fingers share heat in one compartment. Gloves give better dexterity for buckles, zippers and phones. Hestra sells the Army Leather Heli Ski as a 5-finger glove, a 3-finger model and a mitt, which is a good way to see the trade-off in one product. If your hands run cold, start with mittens.
Do I need to wax Kinco gloves?
Yes, if you want them to stay dry. Kinco includes a packet of Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather with the 901 because the glove has no waterproof membrane. Owners typically apply it before the season and again when water stops beading. Without it, the pigskin will soak through in wet snow.
What does a gauntlet cuff do?
A gauntlet extends past the wrist and goes over your jacket sleeve, then cinches closed. That blocks snow from getting in when you fall or reach into powder. Undercuff designs, like Kinco's knit cuff, tuck under the sleeve instead. Gauntlets suit powder days and falls; undercuffs are less bulky.
Is 3M Thinsulate warm enough for skiing?
It depends on the amount, and many listings don't say. OutdoorMaster does publish 140 g of Thinsulate C40, which is a meaningful amount for a glove. Warmth also depends on fit, the liner and whether the glove stays dry. A warm insulation figure does not make up for a membrane that leaks or palms that wear through.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski - 5 finger vs Outdoor Research Revolution GORE-TEX Glove.
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