As the weather turns colder and the winds pick up, I won't leave the house without a trusty pair of gloves.
Like protecting your feet from getting wet and cold with the best walking boots and socks, cold hands can ruin a walk, and as someone who occasionally suffers with Raynaud's - a condition that affects your blood circulation that and causes the fingers to change colour and a pins and needs like sensation - I know this only too well.
A great pair of hiking gloves will protect you against the wind and rain, help you conserve heat and keep your hands nice and toasty. A fleece, wool, or thermal lining is the best at this, and you can also look out for ethically sourced merino wool blends for extra warmth.
You might think all gloves are the same, however, there are a many differentiating features. I personally prefer a thinner glove over a chunky mitten as I find them less restrictive. There are also gloves that come with removeable mittens, or a touchscreen finger, wrist clips, internal warmers, and may other features.
Our Testing Process
Every product featured in our BBC Countryfile Magazine guides undergoes a thorough and rigorous testing process to ensure readers get reliable, practical advice. For hiking gloves, we start by evaluating materials, construction, and design features in controlled conditions, looking at warmth, waterproofing, breathability, grip, and flexibility. Each pair is then put through real-world testing on a variety of walks, from muddy country paths and steep hill climbs to cold, wet, and windy conditions, to see how they perform under everyday outdoor challenges.
Comfort, fit, and durability are assessed over multiple wears, and we compare similar gloves side by side to highlight the best options for different needs and budgets. All testing is conducted independently, with no influence from brands, ensuring that our recommendations are based solely on genuine performance and practicality in the great outdoors.
Why Trust Leonie?
Leonie Helm is an experienced outdoor writer and product tester with a deep understanding of countryside gear and hiking essentials. She has spent years exploring trails across the UK and abroad in every kind of weather - from icy winter rambles to wet, wind-beaten hikes - giving her first-hand insight into what makes great outdoor kit. Leonie suffers from occasional bouts of Raynaud's syndrome - a painful conditions which affects her circulation, meaning she's always on the look out for a highly effective pair of gloves for winter walks.
She has personally tested a wide range of hiking gloves for warmth, comfort, grip, and durability, assessing how each pair performs on real walks as well as during controlled comparisons.
Her reviews for BBC Countryfile are completely independent, with no paid partnerships or brand influence, ensuring that every recommendation is based purely on genuine performance, fit, and value for money. Her practical experience and impartial approach mean you can trust her guidance to help you find gloves that will truly stand up to the great British outdoors.
This article is regularly updated with new products, price changes and availability to ensure you're getting the best guidance in 2025.
The Best Hiking Gloves in 2025
Dare2B Unisex Endurance Stretch Liner Gloves
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- Price: RRP £30.00
- Materials: 85% recycled polyester and 15% elastane fabric
- Suitable for: Walking / hiking
Three Things To Know:
- Recycled Materials: Made from 85% recycled polyester
- Touchscreen Compatible: The conductive embroidery on the index finger and thumb allows easy use of touchscreen devices
- Reflective Details: Stay visible in the dark with reflective print details
As the weather turns colder, or when hiking in unpredictable weather, it's important to get yourself a pair of the best hiking gloves. I pulled on my Dare2B Endurance Stretch Gloves as the wind picked up along the ridge above Llyn Idwal – that sharp, biting cold you only get in the Glyderau. The fit was spot on – snug without being restrictive – and the stretch-binding cuffs kept the chill firmly out. The recycled fabric flexed easily as I scrambled over wet rock, and the gel-print palms gave me just enough grip to feel secure.
When I paused near Tryfan’s summit to take a quick photo, the touchscreen-friendly fingertips came into their own – no need to peel the gloves off in the wind. The reflective detailing caught the last light on the way down, a subtle bonus for fading visibility. They’re not full-on winter gloves, but for a brisk day in Eryri, they were perfect – lightweight, comfortable, and warm enough to let me enjoy the view without thinking about frozen fingers.
What we like
- Compatible with touchscreen devices
- Reflective details
- Recycled materials
- Stretch binding to cuffs
- Enhanced grip
Things to consider
- Not suitable for freezing temperatures
Check availability at Dare2B.
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Mountain Warehouse Softshell Touchscreen Gloves
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- Price: RRP £32.99
- Materials: Polyester 100%, Artificial leather backing: Polyester 100%, Coating: Polyurethane (pu) 100%
- Suitable for: Walking / hiking in very cold and rainy weather
Three Things To Know:
- Weather Proof: Protective and insulating the windproof fabric is lined with fleece
- Grippy: The palm has rubberised grip pads for holding onto water bottles or hiking poles
- Touchscreen Pads: Two touch sensitive pads on the index and thumb
Designed for use in harsh wind and rain, the Mountain Warehouse Softshell Touchscreen Gloves are a great addition to your winter outdoors kit. The thin windproof membrane kept my hands toasty in piercing winds, and the woven combination material stayed breathable and kept my hands dry in light showers.
When I'm out reviewing gear I also need to be able to access my phone to take pictures, so the touch sensitive pads on the index finger and thumb come in really handy, and mean I don't have to expose my hands to the elements when using my phone.
The design feels durable and strong, and while some might find these gloves a bit bulkier than others, they offer great protection in unpleasant weather.
What we like
- Effective windproofing
- Touchscreen pads
- Very warm
- Durable
- Breathable
Things to consider
- Slightly bulky
Check availability at Mountain Warehouse.
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Montane Duality Insulated Waterproof Gloves
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- Price: RRP £100.00
- Materials: 88% Nylon (recycled), 12% Elastane; Contains non-textile parts of animal origin (100% goat leather); 80% Polyester, (50% recycled), 20% Polyurethane; 100% Polyurethane; 100% Polyester, (100% recycled); 100% Polyethylene
- Suitable for: Snowy conditions
Three Things To Know:
- Heavy-Duty Protection: The GORE-TEX inner layer provides waterproof protection and the PrimaLoft Gold insulation shields hands from the cold
- High Quality Materials: These gloves are made with goat leather for extra durability
- Touchscreen Compatible: Touchscreen pads mean you don't need to remove the gloves to use technology
These gloves have become my go-to gloves for extreme weather. The GORE-TEX glove insert keeps my hands completely dry while staying breathable, and the goat leather palm makes these gloves feel more luxurious that your average hiking glove.
Despite the heavy duty nature of the design, features like the pre-curved fingers and thumb mean that the gloves still feel flexible and easy to use without compromising on dexterity, and the nose wipe on the thumb comes in handy when strong winds inevitably make my nose run. The brushed tricot fabric is incredibly soft and durable and provides lightweight insulation that dries quickly, and the Velcro adjustable wrist strap means I can tighten the gloves up over or under what I'm wearing to keep the wind fully out.
What we like
- Durable
- Waterproof
- Well insulated
- Nose wipe
- High quality materials
- Flexible
Things to consider
- Expensive
Check availability at Montane.
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Craghoppers Unisex Gallus Gloves
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- Price: RRP £20.00
- Materials: 50% Merino wool, 30% nylon polyamide, 20% acrylic
- Suitable for: Cold but dry days
Three Things To Know:
- Made with Merino Wool: These gloves are made with 50% Merino wool to keep hands warm and comfortable on winter walks
- Touchscreen Compatible: The gloves have a touchscreen finger and thumb
- Great Insulation: With advanced insulating technology these gloves are suitable for a range of activities
These gloves have a 50% merino wool blend, which provides excellent protection against the cold, thanks to the material’s effective insulating properties. They come with a soft, knitted construction and a ‘touchscreen finger’, so you can use your phone without taking them off.
Also included in the design is a handy pairing attachment to help you clip the gloves together for easy storage.
What we like
- Merino wool
- Soft on the skin
- Touchscreen finger and thumb
- Clip to attach gloves together for storage
Things to consider
- Not suitable for very wet conditions
Check availability at Craghoppers.
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Outdoor Research Coldfront Down Mitts
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- Price: RRP £87.96
- Materials: Bluesign approved sustainably sourced 100% recycled polyester outer and responsibly sourced 650 down inside insulation
- Suitable for: Extreme cold / skiing
Three Things To Know:
- Packable: These gloves pack down tight and loft back up in seconds
- Designed for Extreme Weather: With RDS-approved 650 down on the inside for the coldest days
- Extra Grippy: Silicone print on palms and thumbs for extra grip
There’s no messing around with these super-cosy mitts, stuffed with responsibly sourced goose down. These are the kind of thing you’ll want to wear when winter really bites – whether walking in the snow, shopping in a Christmas market, or watching wildlife in a frosty wetland. A slightly sticky silicon coating on the underside helps you grip hiking poles or binoculars.
Bear in mind that once wet, down stops insulating, so it could be worth getting a pair of waterproof over gloves for wet weather activities.
What we like
- Extremely warm
- Pack down small
- Unisex
- Recycled materials
- Silicone grip
Things to consider
- No touchscreen pads
- Down stops insulating when it gets wet
Check availability at Amazon.
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Extremities Insulated Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove
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- Price: RRP £35.00
- Materials: 100% Polyester
- Suitable for: Very cold, very wet weather
Three Things To Know:
- Lightweight: Lightweight 85g insulation for extra warmth
- Waterproof: These gloves have a waterproof and breathable membrane to keep hands bone dry
- Extra Grip: Silicone grip on palm and fingers to make it easier to hold hiking or skiing poles
With a warm insulating layer and a waterproof membrane to keep your hands dry, these gloves offer some effective weather protection. They also boast a grid of slightly sticky silicone on the palm and the inside of the fingers. This improves your grip – until it gets wet, when it loses its adhesive quality.
The size came up a little large for me, and the extra bulk made them more difficult for fiddly tasks than I expected. The outer fabric on the palm is not attached to the inner layers and tends to slide around on them as you grip things. This might not bother you, but I would recommend you try for size before you buy if you can, as a close fit might resolve the problem.
What we like
- Fully waterproof
- Lightweight insulative membrane
- Stretchy
Things to consider
- Silicone loses grip when wet
- Sizes come up a little big
Check availability at Outdoor Action.
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Have we missed any hiking gloves you'd like to see reviewed? Want to share your experience with any of the above models? Contact leonie.helm@ourmedia.co.uk
