7 Best Hunting Gloves For Cold Weather To Keep You Warm

The best overall hunting glove for cold weather is the Drake Waterfowl LST Refuge glove. It is a very versatile glove that is well insulated and can be used for shooting. It also has a Gore-Tex membrane, which makes it high quality.

Hunting during the cold is not fun, especially if you do not have the right gear. Freezing hands can ruin your entire hunting trip. You pose the risk of getting frostbite, your aim is terrible, and you have an overall lousy hunting experience. 

This article will give you up to seven hunting gloves for cold winters that will solve all of these problems. I have been hunting for years and have first-hand experience of how vital a decent glove is. Below is a list of some of the products that you will encounter in this article:

• Drake Waterfowl LST Refuge HS (Best Overall)
• Spika Windstorm Glove (Budget-Friendly)
• SITKA Gear Mountain Glove (Highest Quality)
• HotShot Pop Top Mitten (Best Cold Weather Mitten)
• ScentLok Fleece Pop Top (Best Fingerless Odorless Mitten)

Let me explain why you need a decent hunting glove for the cold, then we can start with the gloves themselves.

Why You Need Hunting Gloves For Freezing Weather

In this section, I will tell you exactly why you need a good pair of insulated hunting gloves for those cold hunting trips.

Frostbite

Frostbite is the last thing that you need when going out hunting. If you pose the risk of getting frostbite, then I would not hunt in the first place. Frostbite is when your fingers are so cold that they literally freeze and end up dead. In severe cases, the doctor will need to amputate them to prevent gangrene.

Loss of sensitivity

If your hands are also too cold, then you can get a loss of sensitivity to your fingers. When you get to that moment when you cannot feel your fingers anymore, it can become a problem. To shoot effectively, you need to feel the trigger and the stages it needs to go through before the hammer hits the primer.

Shaking

Shaking is part of our body’s natural defense against the cold. It helps our muscles to move so that they create enough heat to counter the cold. Shaking is terrible for aiming and hunting overall. With the right set of gloves, you will eliminate the need for your hands to shake from the cold.

Bad hunting experience

While keeping the previously mentioned points to mind, it is not a pleasant experience to get cold when hunting. If you have to sit and shiver the entire day, then you can just as well go home and sit in front of the fireplace and daydream about hunting.

#1 Drake Waterfowl LST Refuge HS (Best Overall)

• Size: Small, Medium, Large and X-Large

The glove from Drake Waterfowl was my favorite because it is very well insulated, and you do not need to take it off when shooting. Most of the times, a very well insulated glove will hinder your shooting performance because it reduces sensitivity and is too thick.

The outer shell is made with Refuge HS™ fabric that makes it durable. This layer is also treated with a durable water-repellant to keep it dry. This glove is also reinforced with a Gore-Tex membrane that is also breathable and waterproof.

This glove is very well insulated and consists of a total of 340g of insulation per glove. This insulation helps to keep the heat inside and keeping your hands warm. You will discover a zippered pocket at the back of the glove that can be used to insert a HotHands patch (not included). This patch makes the glove even warmer than usual.

The palm area is reinforced with digitized goat leather that will improve your grip and allows the glove to take more punishment in that area. This glove is also very comfortable to wear and uses velcro and a buckle to sit firmly on your hand. The camo consists of Mossy Oak Bottomland, Realtree Max 5, and Realtree Timber.

Cons: None

---

#2 Spika Windstorm Glove (Budget-Friendly)

• Size: Small/Medium & Large/X-Large

If you are tight on a budget and want a hunting glove that will help keep your hands warm, you might find this glove from Spika useful. This glove is on the lower end of the price spectrum. It has several features that will help to keep your hands warm and dry.

The inner layer is made with 330gsm fleece fabric that is very well insulated and very soft on the hands. This layer makes it more comfortable to wear. This glove also uses a Hydroshield membrane that prevents it from getting wet and stopping the wind from blowing through.

It has touchscreen compatible pads on the thumb and index finger, so you do not need to take the gloves off to use your smartphone. This glove also uses durable grip pads on the palm area to give you a better grip and improve the glove’s lifetime.

The cuff is made out of neoprene rubber and combined with velcro to give you a more comfortable fit and protect your wrist against the elements. This glove also makes use of the Realtree Xtra camo pattern.

Cons: It is not suited for the late hunting season.

---

#3 SITKA Gear Mountain Glove (Highest Quality)

• Size: Medium, Large, X-Large and XX-Large

Sitka’s glove is a high-performance glove suitable for shooting and will also keep your hands warm. It uses several fabric types with a filling that will give it waterproof, windproof, and insulation properties.

It uses a combination of Gore-Tex Infinium and a Windstopper membrane that lets you hunt from early to late season. Each glove is also stuffed with 230 Merino wool that gives it even better insulation.

The entire lower part of the glove is reinforced with Oiltac leather, giving you a better grip and improving the glove’s durability. The cuff on the wrist also uses a buckle and velcro to make the glove fit better and tighter. There is also a leather pull tab at the end of the wrist that makes it easier to pull the glove off.

This product uses several camo patterns that include Optivade Subalpine and Optivade Open country. It also comes in color black. This is a high-performance glove that can be used for shooting and is well insulated.

Cons: It might be too expensive for some people.

---

#4 HotShot Pop Top Mitten (Best Cold Weather Mitten)

• Size: Medium, Large and X-Large

If you are seriously considering hunting during the late season and need the warmest gloves, I would recommend these pop top mittens from HotShot. I loved this product because you can pull the mittens back to free the fingers just before taking the shot. This feature is essential if you do not want to take the gloves off each time you reach for your rifle.

The primary material used to make this glove is polyester, which means a lot if you want a glove that will last for years to come. This product uses 80 grams of 3M Thinsulate Insulation, which puts it in the HF3 category. Gloves in this category are the warmest that you can get. The mitten is also supplemented with a small zippered pocket in which you can insert a heated pack.

This glove also has a scent control system in place, which makes up the Odor-X lining. This lining helps to eliminate the odor-causing bacteria that give off your scent. Hands tend to sweat a lot, and with this feature, the animals are less likely to smell you.

The mittens can easily be pulled back and kept in place with the silent magnetic closures’ help. This feature allows you to pull the mitten back silently before taking the shot. The fingers are not fully exposed and are also covered with thin and stretchable material. 

The index finger is also incorporated with a Pro-Text touch technology that enables you to use a touch screen device such as a smartphone. This mitten comes in the color scheme Realtree Edge and Mossy Oak.

Cons: The pullover mitten might be too much of a hassle for some people.

---

Types Of Hunting Gloves

There are three main types of gloves that you can get for hunting. Every type will have a different purpose, and some are better than others in various aspects.

Full fingered gloves

This type of glove will cover your entire hand and, in some cases, your wrist area as well. They work the best for insulation and keeping your hands dry and warm. The only problem with some of these gloves is that they are not optimized for performance. Some of them might be too thick, which is why some hunters will take them off before shooting.

Fingerless gloves

These gloves are very nice to have as they provide support and help to protect your hands. They are also very nice to use while shooting because there will be no fabric between your finger and the trigger. The only problem with fingerless gloves is that they do not keep your hands warm. They will only keep your palm warm but not your fingers.

Mittens

This type of glove will have to be the warmest. Mittens for hunting are very thick, and some even come with a pocket to insert a small heating pad. The problem with most mittens is that they are bad for shooting. You will almost always have to take them off before aiming your rifle at the deer. The best mittens for hunting are pop top mittens that can be pulled back to free up the fingers.

What To Look For In Hunting Gloves For Cold Weather

This section will guide you through the process of choosing the right glove for your needs. These are the same criteria that I followed when researching the products.

Durability

If you are going to buy hunting gloves, you need to make sure that they are durable enough to last at least a couple of seasons. Try to find gloves that are made from durable material. Some of the best materials for durable gloves are polyester, nylon, Gore-Tex, neoprene, and leather. You also do not want to put yourself in the position where you need to buy gloves each year.

Insulation & thickness

Insulation and thickness go hand in hand because the thicker the glove, the more insulated it will be. It is not always the case but will be true in most cases. Some of the gloves in this review will be filled with merino wool and Thinsulate. Some gloves, such as mittens, will have a small pocket where you can insert a heating pad. 

You should also try and find a balance between having a glove that is thick enough but also not too thick as to where it will compromise shooting performance. 

Waterproof

In this article, we are not explicitly looking at waterproof hunting gloves. We are looking at hunting gloves that will keep your hands warm. The caveat to this is that gloves need to have at least some form of waterproofing to keep you warm. Wet gloves tend to freeze in very cold conditions, so you do not want to have wet gloves. 

The gloves in this section need to be waterproof enough to hunt during rainfall and snow without any complications.

Size

Sometimes it is acceptable if your pants or jacket are one size too big or small, but it does not work for gloves. Gloves are like shoes when it comes to how they should fit. Gloves often come in sizes that range from Small to XX-Large. Below is a video that will show you how to measure your hands:

One mistake that most people often make is that they think shoe size and glove size are correlated, so you often hear complaints that the gloves do not fit properly. First, you need to measure the circumference of your hands, then you can get your size on the table below.

Size	Measurement
Small	6.75” to 7.25”
Medium	7.5” to 8”
Large	8.25” to 9”
X-Large	9.25” to 10”
XX-Large	10.25” to 11”

Comfort & flexibility

Now that you have the right fit, you need to make sure that the glove inside is comfortable and that there are no movement restrictions. Most of the gloves will contain fleece on the inside, which will be soft in texture and improve insulation. 

Gloves that contain spandex or elastane will be more flexible than others and will reduce restrictions. You should also make sure to get a glove that is not too bulky or thick. This problem can be an issue when you are trying to shoot your rifle.

Breathability

For most people, breathability is not such a huge deal because they will take the gloves off before it even comes to that. If breathability is a big deal for you, I recommend getting a glove made from a breathable material. Material such as polyester, nylon, and Gore-Tex is breathable.

Glove length

For decent insulation, you need a glove that can go over the sleeve of your jacket as well. If the glove is too short, then your wrist or the area above it will be exposed. There is not a specific length to look for as nobody has the same build.

Camo

Gloves only cover a small part of your body, which is why camo is not that important. It is essential to keep in mind that you should stay away from bright colors when choosing gloves. If camo is vital for you, you will be happy to know that most of the gloves will come with various camo options.

Scent control

Gloves tend to make our hands sweaty, which is why it might be an excellent investment to get gloves that have odor-reducing properties. Some gloves make use of silver that is a natural anti-microbial to bacteria that produces odor. Gloves with good breathability are also useful at reducing sweat.

Touch screen compatibility

This feature can be handy if you spend a lot of time on your smartphone. Some gloves have special patches on the index fingers and thumbs that are touch screen compatible. This feature is useful in freezing conditions because the last thing you want to do is take off your glove.

See Also

• Best gloves for bow hunting
• Best duck hunting gloves
• Best waterproof hunting gloves
• Best heated gloves
• Best tactical gloves

Materials

Below is a list of some of the materials used to make the gloves. Some materials can be used alone, while others need to be combined with other materials to make up for weaknesses.

Gore-tex

This material is very desirable and is often an excellent determining factor for quality and durability. Gore-Tex is a synthetic material that is windproof, waterproof, and durable. The pores of this material are super fine, preventing water droplets from leaking through and helping with breathability.

Very high profile brands commonly use this material. The video above will give you some history on this material.

Merino Wool

Merino wool is a natural material that comes from Merino sheep. It is an excellent insulator because of the small air pockets between the fiber strands. The only problem with this material is that it is not durable and waterproof. The best way to use it in hunting gloves is as a filler between two layers of fabric.

Neoprene

This is a synthetic material that is used in diving suits. It is the best waterproof material that you can find for clothes or gloves. You will commonly find neoprene in duck hunting gloves. It is also an excellent insulator and is very durable.

Leather

Leather is also a natural material that is very durable if treated right. It is not used as a stand-alone material but is combined with other materials to make gloves. Leather will most commonly be used on the palm and can be textured, which will improve the grip.

Fleece

Fleece is most commonly made from polyester. The strands are brushed until it is super fine and has the same texture as wool. It has a soft texture and is an excellent insulator. Most gloves will have a fleece lining on the inside.

What To Wear With The Gloves In Cold Weather

The first thing that I would recommend to people is to get some base layers. You can wear base layers underneath your hunting clothes when it is cold. Base layers do not make you feel bulky and will not restrict your movement.

Hunting jackets are also useful at keeping you warm. With hunting jackets, you will keep your upper body warm and protected during the cold.

Final Word

Most of the gloves that I encountered online was not good at all. Some of them were not well insulated and made from low-quality materials that would not last one hunting trip.

If you encounter the same problem, you will love this glove from Drake Waterfowl that counters all of them. This glove is made from a combination of materials that includes Gore-Tex and Refuge HS™ fabric.

I have a wide variety of gloves that ranges from mittens to gloves that have anti-odor properties. What was your favorite and why?

---

Recently Published

• 
  Best Heated Hunting Gloves: Don’t Freeze Your Fingers Off
• 
  7 Best Waterproof Hunting Gloves To Keep You Dry
• 
  8 Best Gloves For Bow Hunting: Recently Updated