How to choose cold weather gloves that actually keep you warm
Are mittens warmer than gloves?
Yes, and it is not close. Mittens keep your fingers together so they share heat instead of each one fighting the cold alone. A deerskin chopper mitt will out-warm a glove of the same weight every time. The tradeoff is dexterity. If you need to handle keys, tools or a phone, go with a glove, or with a flip top mitten that frees your fingers when you need them.
Does the leather matter?
It does. Deerskin is the softest and most flexible leather we use, and it stays soft in the cold instead of stiffening up. Elkskin is heavier and more abrasion resistant, better suited to work than to dress. Cowhide is the toughest and the least expensive, and it breaks in over time rather than starting soft. Goatskin sits in between, with natural water resistance from its lanolin content. deerskin and cowhide compared
What about linings?
Unlined leather gives you the most feel and is right for driving or moderate cold. Thinsulate adds warmth without much bulk. Heatlok is warmer again. Sherpa lining is the warmest option in this collection and the right pick for standing still outdoors: watching a game, ice fishing, or clearing a driveway at fifteen below.
Getting the fit right
Leather stretches and molds to your hand, so a glove that feels snug on day one will feel right by week two. Too loose is worse than too tight, because air gaps let heat escape. Measure around your palm at the widest point, not including the thumb, and match that number to a size. our sizing chart
