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As a regular hiker, it’s inevitable that at some point you’ll end up out hiking at night. While hiking at night is another really beautiful way to enjoy the mountains, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Believe it or not, you can get some spectacular views when all the stars align, as they say.

However, more often that not, your visibility is of course not going to be that great and so the views not always that spectacular. It is night after all 🙂

However, aside from intentionally going out night hiking, there is a strong possibility that a time will come when you’re out in the mountains at night but not by choice. On a summit for example on a hike in Winter where things may not go according to plan.

Picture this …

How Easy could this Happen?

You’re on a Winter day hike, setting out at 10am and you reach your destination around 1pm. It’s lunch time so you stop to have a bite to eat before making your way back to base.

Night falls at 5pm so you’ve got plenty of time, 3 hours there, 3 hours back with 1 hour, minus the time you stop for lunch, to spare. All good!

However, as you enjoy your lunch and take a hot drink in, the clouds start to close in quickly and the weather takes a turn for the worst. You know you’ve 4 hours maximum to get back before it gets dark so you decide to cut your lunch short and set out on your return journey.

Visibility is getting worse by the second, it starts to pour with rain and the wind starts to go up a few gears. You check your route plan and start to follow a bearing you took when you planned your hike last night.

Unbeknownst to you though, your compass has taken a knock in your pack and is now broken and pointing you in the wrong direction by 10 degrees. Unaware of this you push on.

That seemingly small margin or error means you’re now going further into the mountains in the wrong direction as opposed to back to your car.

The visibility is getting worse, so it’s a while before you figure out that something is up. You notice the land under your feet should be sloping steeply down by now for the route you should be travelling, but it is in fact going upwards.

At this point, an hour has passed before you’ve realized your error. With no visibility and not knowing your exact location, you have no choice but to spend another hour trying to get back to where you were to first confirm your position.

Your compass isn’t working and unfortunately no one else in your hiking party brought a compass along and you didn’t pack a spare.

The Long Journey Back

You manage to get back to the place you first made your error, that means you’ve just added at least 2 hours to the journey to get back to your car. You are now faced with the problem of getting back to your car from there, again with a damaged compass in zero visibility.

It will be slow going and it will take a lot of your mental resources to get out of that one. Let’s say that adds at least another 2 more hours to your trip back to your car.

So, now your initial 3 hour trip back to your car will now take at least another 5 hours, 2 hours for the mistake and 5 hours back to your car. You’re now looking at 7 hours return journey in total, assuming you go the right way too of course. The earliest you can hope to get back at is 8pm!

The Importance of Having a Headlamp

In terms of hiking, the story above may seem like a very drawn out way to state what may seem obvious to some, however it may not be so obvious to others.

In the scenario above, which could happen to anyone, whether you wanted to or not you’re going to be hiking at night. A lot of the time, especially in Late Autumn, Winter and early Spring, carrying a headlamp is a very smart thing to do, even when you only plan to go out for a day hike.

Should you get stuck in the mountains late in the evening, you will at least have some artificial light to help you see your way safely back.

Another great advantage to having a headlamp is that you can use it hands free so while you’re trying to figure a route out on your map or sort out whatever problem you may be confronted with, you don’t have to hold a torch in one of your hands.

Also, should be unable to walk, it can really help a rescue team find you at night. An emergency whistle is another critical piece of kit but if the wind is drowning the sound of that out, a flashing headlamp in the distance, assuming visibility is reasonable, is a really easy way to pin point your position.

Aide from these advantages in terms of hiking, if you enjoy any outdoor activity at night, a headlamp will come in handy. For example, if you like camping, a headlamp is a lot more handy to use than a handheld torch.

While you’re rummaging about looking for your stuff, it’s a really easy way to have good light to see what you’re doing.

In summary, a good headlamp is a really important piece of your hiking kit. It’s not only practical and functional, but it can play a significant role in helping to keep you safe on the trail, and can potentially even be a life saver.

What is a Headlamp?

OK, so let’s start from the start. For those who don’t know what a headlamp is, it’s pretty much a lamp that attaches to your head. It usually comes in a strap that can be adjusted to fit your head size. The lamp itself pivots at the front as shown in the picture below.

All headlamps are operated by a button or two on the lamp itself, see the black button on the center of the lamp in the picture above.

The lamp above is my current headlamp, the Black Diamond Storm. You can check out our best hiking headlamp recommendations to see some excellent options availble on the market today.

Headlamps are designed with all manner of outdoor activities in mind. From cycling, to hiking, to camping, they can be utilized for lot’s of different outdoor activities. The one above is a typical one you would use on the trail for hiking purposes.

What Should you look for?

Headlamps are broadly rated using three key measurements / indicators.

These items are usually listed on the side of the box on any good headlamp like in the picture below.

While these measurement ratings are important and fundamental things that you need your headlamp to have decent capability in, don’t take them too seriously. There are so many factors at play, it can be hard to say how useful the indicated ratings really are.

For example, Light capability and Burn Time will simply fade with use but some lamps do of course fade quicker than others. However, these 3 key performance indicators do provide a general performance expectation guide.

On top of that though, there are other essential components and things you should consider when thinking about buying a headlamp so let’s look at those next.

Durability and Construction

You will most likely be carrying your headlamp in your pack and so it will be getting shaken about and possibly even banged into things every now and then, if your pack bumps a tree or some rocks for example.

This is where a tough and good design is critical. If your headlamp is built in a flimsy way, it won’t be able to take a knock or two.

You need something that is designed and constructed with tough outdoor use in mind. We are of course primarily interested in hiking, so most of these are small 3*1*1 inch devices that sit on your head.

It’s worth noting, that you can get much bigger and more powerful headlamps for other specific outdoor activities. I happened to use a cycling headlamp, at least that’s what I was told it was for, one night for a night navigation exercise I was doing once.

I didn’t have my normal headlamp for some reason and the outdoor center lent this to me for the night. Anyway, this thing was HUGE! It was big and chunky and sat heavy on my forehead.

Not good in terms of size, weight or packability for hiking, but man could this bad boy light up the place lol 🙂 you could have landed a plane with it, it was that powerful!

As mentioned, I think it was a headlamp specifically used for cyclists who are moving fast and need good visibility from much further away. Excellent light but not really practical for hiking.

Waterproof

If you’re wearing your headlamp on the mountains, at some point it will take a battering from the elements. So as well as being durable it needs to be able to withstand the elements and be able to continue to work fine in very wet conditions.

Again, the physical make-up and design will have a lot to do with this. Keep this in mind when you’re shopping around for one.

Ease of Use

I think this is really important. Most headlamps will come with some form of pivot on them, as in the picture above. that is the lamp itself can be pivoted to point in several different directions. For example, straight ahead or pointing down.

Useful depending on what you want to do. For example, you can aim a flood light function straight ahead to survey a broader area in closer proximity or target a specific feature further in the distance with a spot light.

As well as that, ideally you want something that is easy to operate with gloves on. If the headlamp is too fiddly, you may need to take gloves off to work with it which isn’t ideal in cold and wet conditions.

Most headlamps will have several settings options in them e.g. to make the beam stronger, to use a strobe feature, etc.

Ideally these functions can be easily accessed and utilized without having to do anything too complicated in terms of fiddling with buttons and so on.

Functions

There are a lot of functions that can be available in a headlamp. Normally, in terms of hiking, there will be a:

Floodlight:

This is the main beam that is most employed on the trail at night, certainly the one I use the most anyway. It’s effectively the main beam and will light up a broad area in a closer proximity.

Excellent for a campsite or taking a look in your immediate area for some land features, that type of thing.

Spotlight:

Some headlamps will have a spot feature. this enables the user to focus all the power into one much smaller but more targeted beam. Say you want to focus on something off in the distance for example.

This can be very useful for night navigation as if you’re looking for a specific feature in the distance, you can focus in on it. Very useful when trying to confirm your position using specific land features.

Red Night Light:

Most headlamps will have a red (or green) night light setting. The main purpose for this is that it can be a little less heavy on juice and apparently, red light can be seen easier at a distance than white light. So, if you’re in a rescue situation, it will preserve battery life and help identify your location easier.

I also read somewhere that the red light setting doesn’t spook animals and so will not draw their attention to your position. Possibly useful for hunters but also if you don’t want to freak a herd of animals out as you walk by them.

This function isn’t something I have ever used to be honest. Thankfully I haven’t been in a rescue situation before and hopefully I never will.

Price

Price is a lot of the time directly correlated to quality when it comes to hiking gear, and I have definitely found that to be the case with headlamps.

I have in the past bought a cheap headlamp but the performance was rubbish and rather than saving a few bucks, I felt I wasted the purchase price. Frankly, it was dangerous trying to hike in the dark with it.

I only did this once though. From that point I decided I’d get a good quality headlamp and spend a bit more on it to ensure I had good quality. The price range of a headlamp for the trail will be anywhere from $15.00 at the cheaper end of the scale to $200.00 at the higher end.

I think you can get a good headlamp for in and around $40.00 to $60.00 so you don’t have to break the bank.

As a warning though, headlamps are one of those hiking gadget areas where you can get really expensive lamps that are terrible performers and very reasonably priced ones that are a top performers. Go figure!

It’s worth doing your research well and as it’s an electronic product, it’s good to shop for one online as you will get better deals with sales, coupons and so on.

What I Recommend

I think for the trail you need to of course take all the factors listed above into consideration. However, I specifically recommend the items below

1. As mentioned above, starting with the 3 key standard rating indicators, as a guide, when it comes to:
   • Light: aim for a range of  between 100 to 200 lumens and a light lock feature is a good idea so it isn ‘t turned on accidentally in your pack
   • Burntime: aim for an upper limit of 50+ hours and ideally a meter gauge to display the power left
   • Distance: aim for an upwards range of 70+ meters
2. Ensure the headlamp is on a movable / inclining pivot that is practical and functional. This gives you a range of areas in which to fix point the headlamp e.g. you can incline the light to point it down towards the ground or out in front of you and so on.
3. Look for an adjustable head strap that works well so you can find a comfortable fit. This means other folks can use it too should they need to, just need to adjust it to their head size.
4. A variety of a beams is a good idea. I like to have a:
   • Good main flood beam
   • Functional spot light
   • Night light option (red or green usually)
   • Some flashing or strobe capability (can be very useful in an emergency)
5. You don’t have to break the bank but I think you should be willing to spend at least $40.00+
6. While it gives no guarantee, choosing an established brand name with lots of good user reviews is sensible and a good brand will stand over their kit should something not work or fail.

What I am Currently Using

I am currently using the Black Diamond Storm Headlamp and I have been very happy with it. It’s got a tough and sturdy build with a nice design, and it’s a cinch to operate all the light settings on it from one main button on the top of the headlamp. It’s also easy to operate with gloves on which is awesome.

It also has a simple to use lock feature and a power gauge to indicate how much juice is left in it which works well, but if I have one criticism of it, it is that it is hard enough on batteries and can burn through them quite quickly.

Conclusion

Choosing a headlamp for the trail is surprisingly detailed. There are a fair few things to consider for sure. There are also so many different headlamp options available, it can be hard to know where to start.

I hope this buying guide has went some way in helping to make the whole process that bit simpler and helps you in the process of buying a headlamp for the trail.

Always establish your needs before you buy and even if you’ve no interest in night hiking, think of it in terms of emergency use if a situation, as I started out this guide with, should arise.

In that scenario, an emergency when you need it most, you will really want it to be functional and working well. You  will be grateful you spent a bit of time, taking the time to choose a good headlamp and parted with those few extra bucks to get a good one.

Remember to check out our top hiking headlamp recommendations if you’re in the market for one.

As a final note, always carry spare batteries with you and should you be heading into the wilds for a longer trek, it can be a really good idea to bring a spare headlamp with you. Yes, I mean a complete replacement should the other one fail. Better to be safe and all that.

If you liked this guide and found it useful, please like and share it 🙂

Today I wanted to take a look at a gear item I haven’t touched on across the site too much as yet. That is hiking gloves and specifically, what are the best hiking gloves in 2021 to use on the trail.

Gloves are of course a really important part of your complete day hiking kit . Your hands are one of your extremities that are usually exposed to the outer environment so they are on the front line, so to speak, in terms of dealing with the elements.

There are many different types of hiking gloves available and there is the usual mind boggling brand choice available. They run from everything from a light polyester type glove, to a full on ski glove.

Different gloves will have different functionality of course. You can get gloves that have specific features like waterproofing, or touchscreen friendly, (so you can still operate a smartphone screen with them on).

This article contains a lot of information, so a quick explanation on how it is laid out might help. Basically, there are three core sections.

The first lists out the best, what I will describe as, light or 3 season gloves. These are gloves you might use across chilly, but not very cold times of year while on the trail.

The second is dedicated to Winter hiking gloves, these are the gloves you need in tough winter conditions and Arctic expeditions. Finally, the last section is buying advice.

If you have no time for any of that, and just want to cut to the chase 🙂 For general hiking from mild to chilly conditions, we recommend the Black Diamond Crag climbing gloves. For serious winter protection, we recommend the Alti mitts from Outdoor Research.

Best Light Gloves For Hiking

So, on to the first section, let’s look at the best general hiking gloves, for mild to chilly conditions.

1. Black Diamond Crag Climbing Gloves

Get the Black Diamond Crag Climbing Gloves on Amazon now!

Black Diamond Crag Climbing Gloves Features Summary:

• Synthetic leather and breathable stretch mesh fabric
• Knuckle padding
• Synthetic leather palm
• Fingers with reinforced index finger and thumb crotch for durability
• Hook-and-loop cuff closure with pull-on/clip-in loop
• Weight Per Pair :  70 g (2.5 oz)
• CE certified to EN 420 and EN 388 (2131)

Best Uses: Hiking, crag climbing, Mountaineering, belaying, rappelling.

The crag climbing gloves from Black Diamond are a very lightweight but very tough pair of gloves. Although designed for cragging, belaying, etc., their construction features transfer over very nicely to hiking.

They are constructed using synthetic leather and breathable mesh fabric. This enables your hands to breathe. This capability works well in these gloves, as when cragging, etc. you need your hands to be comfortable and dry inside.

The gloves provide further hand protection via the knuckle padding, nice to have if you intend to do a bit of scrambling while out on the trail.

The synthetic leather palm provides extra protection around the soft fleshy part of your hand, and the index finger is reinforced while the thumb has a crotch for durability. Specific features for cragging, but again nice to have.

The cuffs are closed using a hook-and-loop cuff closure. The gloved also have a pull-on / clip-in loop to aid you when putting them on.

On the downside, the gloves are not touch screen compatible and are not suitable for very cold or wet conditions.

Overall, very nice dexterity and a comfortable fit is provided on the material design and construction of these gloves. Our top choice!

2. Best Budget Hiking Gloves – FREETOO Airsoft Tactical Gloves

Get the FREETOO Airsoft Tactical Gloves on Amazon now!

FREETOO Airsoft Tactical Gloves Features Summary:

• Tough gloves designed to protect your hands from abrasion and scratching in sports and activities
• Gloves provide both protection and dexterity
• Snug fit wrapping your palm and all fingers
• Adjustable wrist Velcro
• Flexible and not bulky to allow good movement and digit dexterity.
• Made with odor-free breathable materials employing a functional vent design
• Comfortable to use in hot weather as well as in mild winter seasons.
• Dual-layer synthetic leather palm provides excellent grip
• Reinforced palm, knuckle padding and double stitching
• Designed for heavy use as tactical gloves but also great for work gloves, camping, hunting, shooting and other outdoor gloves
• 3 months warranty

Best Uses: Hiking, hunting, camping, general outdoor use

The FREETOO tactical gloves are made with the military in mind, so you know that you are first and foremost getting functionality and durability as key requirements.

The first thing of note is the design and construction of the gloves. They are made to be very tough and abrasion resistant, while still enabling good movement and dexterity.

These are of course fundamental needs in terms of having to enable the capability to handle a wide variety of uses and tasks as a soldier.

These capabilities transfer nicely across to the world of hiking, where flexibility and being able to protect your hands from scapes and cuts, is a must.

The elastic and spandex material offers a very comfortable fit that lets your hands breathe so they can be used in cold and hot weather, however they are not winter gloves.

They are secured using velcro around the wrists and there are a whole bunch of extra advantages in the construction like knuckle padding, reinforced palm, double stitching and so on.

Overall a rugged and tough pair of gloves at a nice price, and our favorite budget pair!

3. Outdoor Research Activeice Chroma Full Sun Gloves

Get the Outdoor Research Activeice Chroma Gloves on Amazon now!

Outdoor Research Activeice Chroma Gloves Features Summary:

• Fabric: ActiveIce™ – 91% polyester, 9% spandex stretch knit
• Weight: 1.1oz / 30g Avg. Weight for size L
• Active Cooling
• UPF 50+
• Breathable and lightweight
• Excellent wicking and quick Drying
• Reflective Logos
• Perforated
• Durable Palm Overlay
• Tapered Wrist
• Glove Clip

Best Uses: Hiking, climbing, camping, backpacking, paddling, general outdoor use in hot sun

The Activelce Chroma gloves are specifically made with the sun in mind, offering UPF 50+, so very high sun protection.

With that in mind, they are perfect for anyone who spends a lot of time enjoying outdoor activities in the sun, that requires their hands to be protected.

Think hikers, climbers, people paddling, trail runners, backpackers, etc. Anyone who will be out in the sun for long periods, and definitely does not want sunburn on their hands.

The gloves employ ActiveIce™ fabric technology which uses xylitol crystals which cools you as the fabric wicks away sweat. This of course works great for the aforementioned group of activities.

The gloves are perforated so very  breathable and lightweight, so comfortable to wear while out on the trail and easy to pack away. The gloves are not designed to be waterproof, but they will dry quickly should they get wet.

They feature reflective logos with a durable palm overlay with a tapered wrist. They also a glove clip so can be clipped together and on to something when not in use.

They are more pricey than other options, but Outdoor Research are a well known and quality brand, so you know you are getting performance and good protection.

4. Mountain Made Outdoor Gloves

Get the Mountain Made Outdoor Gloves on Amazon now!

Mountain Made Outdoor Gloves Features Summary:

• Fabric: synthetic leather, 88% Polyester 6% Spandex 6% PVC Rubber
• Breathable stretch mesh fabric
• Knuckle padding
• Synthetic leather palm
• Fingers with reinforced index finger and thumb crotch for durability
• Hook-and-loop cuff closure with pull-on/clip-in loop

Best uses: Hiking, running, cycling, general outdoor use.

These outdoor gloves from mountain made are made to offer warmth and performance. They are multi-purpose and so suitable for a whole range of activities, not just hiking.

They are constructed using 88% polyester, 6% spandex and 6% PVC rubber. This construction ensures a nice flexible and comfortable fit. They also have built in grip material across the palms and fingers,

They stretch well in all directions and employ an anti-bacterial treatment to prevent odor. They have an anti-slip zipper design to adjust the fitting to provide the right level of comfort and warmth that you need.

They are absorbent and quick drying, so while not waterproof, your hands should stay warm for a time in them when wet, and they will dry out quickly when the rain passes.

They breathe freely and are also lightweight, so they are easy to carry when not in use. They are designed to preserve heat well keeping your hands in good shape no matter what you throw at them.

A nice pair of gloves for the trail indeed.

5. OZERO Winter Thermal Gloves

Get the OZERO Winter Thermal Gloves on Amazon now!

OZERO Winter Thermal Gloves Features Summary:

• Stylish and nicely designed
• Lightweight, windproof and water resistant
• Touch screen compatible
• Constructed as thermal running gloves
• Elastic cuffs to get a snug fit
• Machine washable

Best Uses: Hiking, running, cycling, golfing, general outdoor use.

Yes, these are listed as Winter gloves, but not in the winter hiking gloves section below, what gives? The Ozero thermal gloves are designed to be a moderately warm pair of gloves, but they are not suitable for really tough Winter conditions, so we kept them in this section.

They are lightweight and have a nice and stylish design providing a comfortable fit. They are touch screen compatible which is a nice thing to have for sure, and they have been tested and work well with many iPhone and Galaxy models.

They feature silica gel particles in the palm, middle finger and index finger, so they offer good grip. The cuffs are elastic offering a snug and comfortable fit. The gloves are designed as thermal running gloves, so their functionality transfers nicely over to hiking.   

The gloves are water resistant and windproof, so they will work well in light rain or light snowy conditions. The fabric of the shell of the gloves is waterproof, not the entire glove, so they are not meant to handle more tough and relentless conditions.

It’s worth noting, that these gloves are designed to be tight, so if you prefer a bit of a looser fit, maybe get a size up.

Finally, they’re a very budget friendly price, so they will definitely not break the bank!

6. Aegend Lightweight Running Gloves

Get the Aegend Lightweight Running Gloves on Amazon now!

Aegend Lightweight Running Gloves Features Summary:

• Fabric: 88% polyester & 12% spandex
• Lightweight and warm
• Breathable and durable
• Wicking an anti-static function
• Anti-slip silicone design for grip
• Touchscreen compatible
• Can be used standalone or as liner gloves
• Zero-piling
• 30-day no hassle returns & 12 months replacement warranty

Best Uses: Hiking, running, cycling, walking, riding, working outside on a mild cold day

These lightweight running gloves from Aegend offer a nice and comfortable fit with a lot functional capability thrown into the mix.

They are constructed using a mix of polyester (88%) and spandex (12%) so they stretch well to enable a good fit.

They are breathable and lightweight, so they can wick moisture and dry quickly should they get wet. The palm of the gloves feature anti-slip silicone, to help ensure you have a secure holding on anything you grip.

Next up, they are touch screen compatible, which is great should you need to take a call or if you are using an app for fitness tracking or for navigational assistance. You can work away without taking off your gloves.

These gloves have the advantage of being able to be used on their own, or they can also work as liner gloves, a glove inside another pair of gloves e.g. under ski mittens.

They are excellent for hiking, running, cycling or just going for a stroll on a chilly Sunday afternoon. They come in three sizes that fit for all women and men, small medium and large.

Aegend provide a 30 day no hassle return policy and a 12 month warranty, so you have time to try them out before committing.

Finally, we have another of lightweight gloves that are wallet friendly, coming in at a very budget friendly price.

Best Winter Gloves for Hiking

In this next section, we look at the best Winter gloves for hiking in Winter. These are the type of gloves or mittens you need for very cold, even Arctic type, conditions.

1. Outdoor Research Alti Mitts

Get the Outdoor Research Alti Mitts on Amazon now!

Outdoor Research Alti Mitts Features Summary:

• Fabric: GORE-TEX 2.5L 100% nylon 40D ripstop shell – Pittards® Armortan® leather shell palm – 100% nylon ripstop liner – PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation 170g in shell and 340g in liner
• Weight: 12.8oz / 364g Avg. Weight for size L
• Waterproof, windproof and breathable
• Wicking
• Fully Seam-Taped
• Water-Resistant Leather Palm
• Moonlight Pile Fleece Liner Palm
• Kevlar Stitching
• Removable Liner
• Heat Pack Pocket
• Removable Leash
• Pull-On Loop
• Glove Clip
• Carabiner Loop
• AlpenGrip Tabs Prevent Slipping
• Elasticized Wrist
• SuperCinch Gauntlet™
• Pre-Curved Box Construction
• Three panel thumb

Best Uses: Serious expedition hiking, mountaineering, climbing 8,000 meter peaks, probably a bit much for general use in cold winters but they will certainly do the job!

So, where to start with the Alti mitts from Outdoor Research, they’re our number one choice. These are serious mittens that are designed and constructed with extremes in mind.

If you are planning to ascend an 8,000 meter peak in the near future, then these are the ticket for you.

Given that they can take on a job like that, any other general outdoor use in tough Winters, will not be a problem for these tough mittens.

They feature a removable liner which is nice to have, and they have some serious construction in them. For example, kevlar stitching … need I say more. These are tough ass mittens.

They have a heat pack pocket so you can add an additional heat source should you need to. The leather palm is water resistant and they feature a moonlight pile fleece liner, which is soft and comfortable.

The wrist is elasticized, and they have a super cinch gauntlet to help get a secure fit.

Overall, you have serious hand protection in the Alti mittens, but they come at a hefty price. The upside is that it is more an investment, as these mittens will last a very long time.

Note that the links above are to the men’s version of these mittens, you can find the women’s Alti mitts on Amazon here.

2. Best Budget Winter Gloves –
Mountain Made Princeton

Get the Mountain Made Princeton Winter Gloves on Amazon now!

Mountain Made Princeton Winter Gloves Features Summary:

• They come in four sizes: small, medium, large and x-large
• Waterproof
• Very warm, can handle cold conditions
• Dual action thermal fit with adjustable tightening strap
• Cuff pulls
• I year warranty

Best Uses: Winter hiking, skiing, outdoor activity in Winter

The Princeton Winter gloves from Mountain Made offer excellent warmth for much colder conditions.

They are constructed using a dual action thermal fit which are secured using an adjustable tightening strap with a cuff pull. That means you can seal the heat in and keep a warm and comfortable environment around your hands.

They come with a top hand pocket which is an interesting touch. Perhaps useful for a key or the like, but also functional if you want to utilise a hand warmer in it.

They are not touch screen compatible, but that is hard to get working well on thick winter gloves. The gloves are waterproof and so will keep you good in tough cold conditions.

The next thing of note is their price, they are very affordable, so functionality at a nice price, always a winner.

In terms of quality, they have a very high user review rating across hundreds of reviews,  so they have a lot of satisfied users.

Overall, we have an excellent pair of budget winter gloves that will keep you good on the trail at the colder times of year.

3. Black Diamond Soloist Finger Cold Weather Gloves

Get the Black Diamond Soloist Gloves on Amazon now!

Black Diamond Soloist Gloves Features Summary:

• Fabric: Shell: 92% nylon/8% Spandex, Palm: 100% Goat Skin, Lining: 100% Polyester
• Weight: 261 g (9.2 oz) – per pair
• -29/-12 ºC (-20/10 ºF)
• 100% waterproof BD.dry™ insert stays with removable liner
• Lightweight, abrasion-resistant, Pertex® Shield shell with four-way stretch
• Removable liner features 340 g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation and high-loft fleece lining
• Goat leather palm, plus palm patch with Kevlar stitching

Best Uses: Hiking in very cold weather, general outdoor use in very cold condition

The Soloist gloves from Black Diamond are another very tough pair of gloves designed for very cold Winter use.

They come with a split finger design, which means you get some of the advantages of mittens, while retaining a bit more dexterity and movement.

They come with a dry waterproof insert and a removable Primaloft insulated liner which dries quickly when wet. This provides good protection in wet Winter conditions.

The waterproof shell can be used as a standalone, when it’s a bit warmer. The fleece lining provides additional comfort and warmth.

The palm is goat leather and is reinforced with Kevlar stitching, so these gloves can easily handle rocky terrain, rappelling, an even technical alpine climbing.

The soloist are an excellent pair of winter gloves that will provide serious protection from the elements.

They will also last you many years so you should get plenty of use out of them. Only downside is their price, they are pricey, but that is expected with a pair of specialized gloves purpose built for seriously tough conditions.

4. Carhartt Waterproof Insulated Mitt

Get the Carhartt Insulated Mitts on Amazon now!

Carhartt Insulated Mittens Features Summary:

• Fabric: Shell: 100% Polyester; Palm: 100% Polyurethane; Lining: 100% Polyester
• Pull On closure
• FastDry technology lining wicks away sweat for comfort
• Durable polytex shell
• Stretch fleece cuff
• Reinforced polyurethane (PU) palm
• Brow wipe
• Hand wash and do not put in dryer.

Best Uses: Hiking in very cold weather, general outdoor use in the depths of Winter.

The Carhartt mittens provide a super snug and comfortable fit, that will keep your hands nice and toasty in very cold conditions.

Mittens are an excellent option instead of gloves in very cold conditions, as they leave your fingers touching inside them, and so sharing the heat directly across your fingers.

These mittens are constructed using 100% polyester on the shell and the lining, with 100% polyurethane in the palm. The shell is durable polytex and the PU on the palm is reinforced. The lining is also very functional and comfortable when wearing.

They come in multiple colors, so come nice options to choose from. The top of the gloves also feature a brow wipe, so you can wipe sweat from your face, without having to take your mittens off.

The face shape is flat and the FastDry technology lining ensures that sweat is wicked away, so you have a comfortable climate around your hands. They also feature pull on closure, so easy to pull the second one on after you have you have put the first one on.

To wash, you need to get a bit of elbow grease in with your hands, as they are not machine washable. Some hot water and detergent is all you need though, and drip dry is the way to go.

Again, they come in at a very wallet friendly price, so there is a lot to like in the carhartt mittens! Note, these link to the men’s version of these mittens.

5. Black Diamond Mercury Mitts

Get the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts on Amazon now!

Black Diamond Mercury Mitts Features Summary:

• Fabric: Shell: 92% Nylon/8% Spandex, 100% Goat Skin Palm, Lining: 100% Polyester.
• Weight: 260 g (9.2 oz) – per pair
• -29/-12 ºC (-20/10 ºF)
• 100% waterproof BD.dry™ insert stays with removable liner
• Removable liner features split-finger design
• Lightweight, abrasion-resistant, Pertex® Shield shell with four-way stretch
• Removable liner features 340 g PrimaLoft Gold Insulation and high-loft fleece lining
• Goat leather palm, plus palm patch with Kevlar stitching
• Wipe pad

Best Uses: Winter hiking, general outdoor use in very cold conditions

The Mercury mittens from Black Diamond are one of their toughest offerings in terms of Winter gloves. Designed to work in temperature range of -20 to -10 F (-29 to -12 C), they  provide rough protection in very challenging conditions.

They feature a fully waterproof insert and primaloft insulation, so you can have a dry and comfortable fit, even in rain or snow. They offer a four-way stretch fabric so they have good mobility and flexibility in the construction.

The liner is removable and features a split finger design, and they can be used on their own. The insert also provides moisture protection in terms of breathability, so whether it’s wet in or outside the mittens, you will be good.

They also feature kevlar stitching so they are a very sturdy pair of mittens that can take on a lot of beating in the tougher seasons, or on tough expeditions. They have a wipe pad too so you can wipe your brow when its cold but your pushing hard.

These are another serious pair of mittens, that are designed for very tough conditions. Again, they are pricey, but also again, mittens of this type and with the attention to detail in construction, will be more expensive.

With the prime brand mark of Black Diamond thrown in for good measure, you have a pair of quality performing mittens in the Mercury Mitts.

6. MCTi Waterproof Cold Weather Gloves

Get the MCTi Waterproof Cold Weather Gloves on Amazon now!

MCTi Waterproof Cold Weather Gloves Features Summary:

• Fabric: Windproof Polyester, Insulate Thinsulate, Waterproof TPU
• 3M Thinsulate Insulation: The gloves are insulated with 40 grams 3m thinsulate and 140 grams warm cotton
• Weight: 260 g (9.2 oz) – per pair
• -12 ºC (10 ºF)
• Waterproof and breathable TPU insert
• Durable and soft nuback palm
• Three composite surface layer
• Adjustable wrist buckle and elastic one pull closure
• Pair clips with connected finger linings
• Heated warmer pocket design

Best Uses: Hiking, skiing, snowboarding, general outdoor use in very cold conditions.

The MCTi gloves are constructed with skiing, snowboarding, and other such winter activities in mind, so using them for winter hiking is a good fit.

They are waterproof and windproof and so will protect you from the nasty stuff outside to a temperature -12 ºC (10 ºF), so good for tough enough conditions.

They come with soft full covered nubuck palm, and reinforced rubber fingers, useful for flexibility, say if you’re using ski’s. The gloves also come with a nose wipe located on the thumb finger.

They are well insulated with 3M Thinsulate Insulation, 40 gms 3m thinsulate and 140 gms warm cotton. Thick enough to keep your hands warm, but with enough movement ability to keep flexible.

I would be a little concerned about the cotton element, as if they get wet, that will be a problem. There are some user reports of the gloves not being very breathable, and so moisture build up on the inside combined with cotton insulation, is not a good recipe.

However, not everyone had issues, and found the gloves to be warm and functional. They have a zipper pocket so a hand warmer can be utilized.

Overall, they are a comfortable pair of gloves that will provide good warmth in tough conditions, and they come in at a good price. They’re basic but functional.

What to Consider when Buying Hiking Gloves

First off, as with any piece of hiking kit, you need to think about where you will be predominantly doing your hiking. That will determine what specific functionality you need to consider.

If you hike only in sunny climes all year round, gloves may not actually be high on your requirements list 🙂 or you may just need something to protect your hands from the sun.

If you like to head out into the Winter snow, then you of course need a much more substantial pair of gloves.

Hand Size

Kind of stating the obvious but if you don’t know what size of gloves you normally wear, you need to find out. This can be easily done in any store and standard gloves will give you a reasonable idea of what size you should run with.

The sizes usually run in Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and most sellers will give you guidance on what size to go for and that kind of thing. So it isn’t complicated or at least it shouldn’t be in most cases.

Waterproof

So, do you need your gloves to be waterproof (or as waterproof as anything can realistically be)? There are different options available and some gloves do perform better than others in this area.

However, keep in mind that I don’t really believe that any hiking gear clothes item is really 100% waterproof. This is even more important if you are going into Arctic type conditions, you need them to keep your hands dry and protected.

Breathability

We’ve discussed breathability on the site before. You’re on the move on the trail so you will sweat and so, in tandem with being waterproof to some degree, your gloves having some wicking capability is a good idea.

Breathability and wicking are two different things really, but overall, air needs to be able to circulate in some form in most cases. You need moisture on the inside to have an avenue out and away from your skin.

Insulation

How much insulation do you need? If your gloves get wet will they still retain warmth? Things worth considering. Normally, synthetic material is better at retaining heat when wet than natural fibers like wool.

My main hiking gloves, which are predominantly polyester and neoprene, are fine when wet, as long as I am moving they keep heat great.

If you are needing serious winter gloves, then this is an even bigger factor. The Insulation should work well, and it’s best to avoid materials that will get cold and water logged if they get wet, like cotton.

Warmth

Tying in with Insulation, will you be hiking in the depths of winter in really cold conditions? How much mobility are you happy to sacrifice to get more warmth?

Logically ski gloves will be warmer than a driving glove style fit. I accommodate this with multiple pairs of gloves which I explain further below.

That’s also why the best gloves listed above are split into two sections. One is specifically for year round hiking, even light Winter. The other category is for when you need serious Winter protection. They’re vastly different in what they need to do, hence the split.

Mobility

Would you like good mobility e.g. still able to work a compass, change settings on your watch, etc. while you have them on? Some gloves will be more restrictive than others so if this is a big one for you, take it into account.

For me, I can usually take a glove off if I need to for some dexterity but my main gloves aren’t actually bad for general hand movement, using a compass and so on.

If you are talking about tough winter gloves, taking them off may not be an option in very cold conditions, so a little bit of movement can be good.

Winter hiking gloves usually come in the form of gloves, mittens, or somewhere inbetween. Mittens are very effective in terms of heat, but obviously, you’re sacrificing mobility.

Good to have a think on this and pick out what is best for your specific needs.

What I Recommend

As always, I want to try and give you my approach to what I do for this. In my opinion, there is a catch all approach which I use that I think should cover most average day hikers year round in most hiking conditions.

(I always say that as if you’re going into extreme conditions e.g. sub-zero temperatures in the Arctic, you will need specialist kit but that doesn’t fall into my category definition of average day hiking).

I have 3 pairs of hiking gloves and I use a combination of them all year round. My gloves are old, so I can’t give you exact specifics on the models of gloves I use.

However, the type of gloves I outline below hit the mark in terms of functionality, align to what I use and also have excellent user reviews.

My Primary Pair of Hiking Gloves – Year Round Use

The first pair is my main stay pair of gloves. They are a pair of gloves I can use in pretty much all conditions. Similar to the Black Diamond Crag Climbing Gloves listed in the first section of this post, they are an excellent option that can be used on the trail, on their own most of the year round.

The aim of these gloves is to be very functional with minimal limitation. The design is such that you maintain good dexterity for your fingers, while wearing them.

I like a snug fit, and good of protection for my hands, so good abrasion resistance. I want my main pair of gloves to be breathable and odor free, so I can get as much out of them in warm as well as colder weather.

Overall, a middle of the road but rugged pair of gloves that are versatile enough to be utilized in a variety of outdoor activities, not just hiking.

Touch screen compatibility is nice to have, but it’s not a deal breaker for me. You can get a decent pair anywhere between $20 and $60 dollars, for that you shouldn’t go too far wrong!

My Secondary Pair of Hiking Gloves – Spring to Autumn Use

I have a pair of old liner gloves that I use in cooler temperatures in warmer climes. Pictured below are a similar pair of gloves to what I use.

They double up as a glove liner so you can use them in tandem with another pair of hefty gloves if you needed to e.g. thick mittens, gloves. That would only be required in seriously cold conditions though, not average day hiking.

I normally use this pair as my spare pair from mid Spring to Mid Autumn (when it’s not really cold). They also come in handy if someone is short a pair of gloves or, heaven forbid, I lost my primary pair.

Again, they come in and around the $20 to $40 mark, so very accessible in terms or price.

My Secondary Pair of Hiking Gloves – Winter Use

My third pair is basically a pair of ski gloves. In really cold temperatures, I work with the Primary Pair and my Secondary Pair for winter use.

Any of the gloves listed in the Winter gloves section above will work for this. Now, if you are facing seriously cold temperatures, then you may need to invest in a really high end pair of these, say if you are going into Arctice type conditions.

They are however an economical buy with decent reviews which matches what I do use … I will explain that in more detail in the Price section below.

If it’s too cold and I need to heat my hands fast, I pop my ski gloves on (warm mittens also work well). I generally find that after a while, when my hands have warmed up, I can comfortably return to my primary pair, my hands normally actually get too hot in the ski gloves if I wear them too long while hiking.

I’ve never had the need to double up gloves with the ski gloves, they are more than warm enough on their own. However, if that was required, the liner gloves would be the best accompanying partner to the ski gloves. So, overall, I think I have every base pretty much covered.

Price

You can spend a wide variation on gloves. From $20 dollars for a cheap and reasonable Spring pair to $200 dollars for a very hi-tech waterproof, make your breakfast in the morning for you in Everest Base Camp, pair 🙂

I say that only half-jokingly as, from my personal experience, gloves to some degree are one of those areas that you can get away with using a non-fancy pants brand name.

How so? Well, when it comes to my regular main pair of gloves, like the Freetoo gloves above,  I wouldn’t compromise. I wanted to spend a bit of extra money to get a good pair as they are my main pair of gloves used year round when I am out hiking, so I did invest in a pricey brand name pair.

However, as you can see with the gloves listed here, you really don’t need to spend a lot unless you want to. The liner glove ones I use, brand name also, aren’t overly expensive either and a non-brand pair would probably work fine for what they are used for.

As alluded too in the winter glove section above, the pair I use that are definitely not anything special are my ski gloves. I bought them in a standard department store before going skiing two years back.

They were cheap as chips but man do they work a treat for my needs. Ski Gloves can of course be really expensive but I’m not really a skier.

A basic pair of ski gloves is more than enough for my basic hiking needs in the mountains in winter. They keep my hands nice and toasty in very cold conditions.

However, as mentioned above, if you’re tackling hiking in a tough Minnesota Winter, it would be advisable to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a really top pair of winter gloves.

They will provide all the protection you need and will last a long time, due to their more expensive construction.

Conclusion

So, I hope you found this post on what are the best hiking gloves in 2021 informative and useful.

To summarize, I always have two pairs of gloves in my day pack. In winter, I have my primary pair, from the first category above, and my ski gloves, and I alternate between the two utilizing the ski gloves when serious warmth is needed.

Most days, even in winter, my primary pair are enough. The rest of the year, my primary pair of gloves are my main stay gloves and I have my old liner gloves mainly as a back-up pair.

This approach works well for me so if you’re thinking about getting hiking gloves, I recommend you give it a try, assuming it works with te conditions you hike in of course.

As a final note, hiking gloves are one of the things I always have a spare pair off in my day pack, I’ve been caught out once or twice and was very grateful to have a spare set in my pack.

As always, please like and share … you know you want to 🙂