Kids Ski Gloves buying guide

Are you looking for a simple way to protect the little hands of your kids from low temperature? Opt for suitable kids ski gloves. The gloves will offer adequate warmth and are quite comfortable.

The gloves protect the hands from the icy-cold temperature and are soft and comfortable. However, you have to look into certain aspects while selecting a particular model.

You have to look into the size, material, fit, durability, warmth level, and other additional properties. Long gone are the days when you had to look here and there for all the information.

With a comprehensive buying guide, you can have access to all the information at a single stop.

You save a lot of your valuable time, and you can quickly analyze all the pointers to funnel down the best product.

So, let us start with a quick introduction without any further delay and then move further into this guide.

What are Kids Ski Gloves, and why should you opt for them?

It is essential to protect your child's hands from the cold while skiing, so you should choose the best quality ski gloves specifically made for kids.

When you are out there on the snow for an extended period, you must be careful to keep your kids warm and dry. Usually, hands are prone to get cold very quickly. Also, you will not want your child to have freezing fingers.

You should make sure the gloves are well-designed so that they can offer an adequate level of warmth, comfort, and dexterity as well.

Kids Ski Gloves vs. Mittens

Gloves are generally known for their dexterity because they are designed with separated fingers. With gloves, your kids will have better mobility of hands and fingers than mittens.

Therefore, it is very much possible to handle gear, tighten shoe buckles, adjust zippers without even removing the gloves.

You can choose lightweight gloves if your kids are into aerobic activities like cross-country skiing, where the body can produce a right amount of heat.

Mittens also have the same constructions as gloves, but they provide more warmth compared to the gloves. Unlike the gloves, the fingers share a single compartment in mittens so they can generate more warmth.

However, they are less nimble than the gloves, so it will be a little challenging to access the pockets or pick up a phone.

The 3-finger design or Lobster mittens are also available that have a construction between gloves and mittens.

So, it depends on your preference whether you need dexterity or warmth for your kids, and then you should choose a design accordingly.

Things to deem about while selecting appropriate Kids Ski Gloves

Size Guide

When you buy the ski gloves for your kids, you must check the size properly. It is very crucial to get the right size along with the right balance.

You should choose gloves which are not too large or too small. Getting the right size will allow your children to move their hands and fingers freely.

If you choose a larger size, your kids can not hold a tight grip. It is important to have room for breathability but having the loose fit means allowing the air to get inside your sleeves.

Therefore, you should check the sizing chart before buying the gloves if you are unsure about the size. But you should make sure that you are choosing the right size at the end.

Material

You will want to go for the best shell materials for kids ski gloves. It is essential for protection as well as dexterity.

Typically, two materials are used in constructing the gloves, including leather and synthetic. Both of these materials have their benefits and drawbacks, so you should choose material meets up your needs effectively.

1. Leather

Ski gloves made up of leather are very comfortable because of their natural feel.

Leather is incredibly soft, so it provides better flexibility, which means you can move your fingers without any restrictions. It also looks better than synthetic shells.

But one major downside of this material is that it can have leakage if you use them in the water for a more extended period. So, you should maintain the leather ski gloves regularly.

You can consider a leather treatment such as Snow-seal or Hestra leather balm to keep the gloves water-resistant.

2. Synthetic

If your priority is to get more water protection, you should look for the synthetic materials. Two types of synthetic shells are available such as nylon and polyester.

Nylon has a natural water resistance capacity. Though it is tougher, it does not have much dexterity. On the other hand, polyester has a special coating, and it offers more flexibility.

However, both nylon and poles have more breathability than leather, but synthetic gloves have more weight and less comfort.

Fit

If you want to have more warmth for your children, you should choose kids ski gloves with a proper fit. Getting the right fit is also very important for comfort.

Typically, larger require more body heat to increase the warmth. Moreover, your children will not have a good grip on the poles.

On the contrary, having smaller ski gloves will impede the free movement of hands, creating discomfort for your kids.

It will be better to choose ski gloves that allow you to stretch your fingers so that you can adequately pinch the fabric at the end of the gloves.

You should make sure that the gloves have a comfortable fit, so your kids' wrists are not exposed, and they provide more warmth to keep them toasty in colder weather conditions.

You can follow the given tips to get the right fit of the ski gloves for your children –

1. You should ensure that the fingers hardly touch the later part of the gloves. There should be an inch gap between the fingers and gloves.
2. The construction materials of the gloves should be a little stretchable so that they can expand slightly.
3. Having a proper fit of the gloves will allow you to buckle up shoelaces or hold the maps without removing the gloves.
4. You should choose a comfortable material with less break-in period, which means they will come into the shape of your hands very quickly. Also, you should follow the manufacturer's guides for break-in and maintenance.
5. Pre-curved fingers are very helpful in getting a firm grip after wearing the ski gloves.

Style

You will find ski gloves for kids with a wide variety of styles. You have the freedom to choose the style according to your preferences.

Traditional gloves are very common to find. They are designed with a synthetic outer shell and comfortable lining. The classic style can be appropriate for almost all skiing conditions.

On the other hand, leather gloves are mostly preferred for their durability and warmth. Although they are not very waterproof, you can consider a leather treatment to increase the gloves' waterproofness.

If you are a freeride skier, you can search for pipe gloves made up of waterproof synthetics. Also, they come with a grippy palm, so they offer better dexterity for the skiers.

Moreover, you will find non-treated leather, fleece, or woolen gloves, which can be considered for different ski activities.

Insulation

When it comes to choosing kids ski gloves, you should pay much attention to the insulation, and also, you should make sure that it is suitable for your skiing style.

If your kids are prone to become cold quickly, you should opt for thicker insulation for skiing in colder weather. On this note, you should remember one thing that not all thicker insulation comes warmer.

With an excellent insulating fabric, you will keep the fingers and hands dry for a long time.

Some high-quality insulators mainly include synthetics offering more warmth and mobility for the skiers.

Though they are a little expensive, it will be an excellent decision to have them for extra comfort.

A wide variety of insulation is available in the market. Some of the significant insulations include—

1. Down

Down can be the best choice for dry weather conditions. Similarly, it works effectively in colder situations when you have moderate activities.

It comes with a combination of feathers and down plumules that efficiently trap air inside the gloves. Thus down can give maximum protection to your hands from snow and cold.

You should select down having a higher rating to ensure that they have better insulation properties. But if you use them in wet conditions, it will not work correctly and will take more time to dry.

2. Primaloft®

Primaloft® is mainly made with synthetic microfiber, which works as an excellent insulator. It is able to preserve body heat and maintain energy in an effective manner. Primaloft® can be a good option for skiing in wet conditions.

Primaloft® is less water than down because it has less weight, but it has better breathability and more water resistance capacity.

Also, it is compressible enough, and you can consider this insulation for wet conditions.

3. Thinsulate™

Ultrathin microfibres are used to make Thinsulate™, so they are very lightweight and provide a right amount of insulation. If you want your ski gloves to be more dexterous, you can choose this insulation without any doubts.

Waterproofness

You must consider the waterproofing feature of kids ski gloves before you make a purchase. The thickness of the gloves will not be useful if they cannot prevent water from soaking.

Simply put, the ski gloves should be waterproof rather than water-resistant so that your kid's hand and finger can remain warm and dry even in the harshest conditions.

Usually, waterproof/breathable membranes are used to prevent moisture from getting inside, and they also help the water vapor escape. These membranes are inserted between the insulation and outer shell.

Gore-Tex® is the most common waterproof/ breathable membrane that is used in designing ski gloves. It is incredibly waterproof and breathable so that you do not need to worry about protecting your hand from wet and cold situations.

Some manufacturers have their own waterproof/breathable fabrics such as MemBrain®, HyVent®, etc. that offer waterproof features at an affordable price.

If your gloves have a DWR finish, you can look for chemical treatment, and it is applicable for leather to enhance their water resistance capacity.

You should also know that waterproof gloves are windproof too, so they can protect the hands from chilly wind effectively.

Gloves Liners

The main reason behind using glove liners is to provide some more warmth to the skiers. They work as added protection inside the ski gloves, and because of their snug fit, they can work effectively.

Therefore, when you are going to choose kids ski gloves, you must look for the liners to enhance the hand's protection of your children.

The best thing about this extra layering of liners is that they can be used separately. You are able to buy the outer shell of the ski gloves, and then you can change the liners according to the outside weather.

If you want to go for thinner liners, you can choose wool, synthetic, or silk material for extra insulation.

Otherwise, you can search for thicker liners like polyester, which is suitable for insulation but does not have better moisture-wicking capacity.

You can also remove the bulky gloves if the weather gets warmer and just use the liners for protection and warmth.

Layered

Nowadays, many kids ski gloves come up with the dual-layer. It is highly recommended to select dual-layer ski gloves for your children designed with a removable liner.

Generally, these removable liners are made up of fleece, which is very comfortable to wear. Having the dual-layer gloves means you have three pairs of ski gloves.

Both the layers are beneficial in providing extra warmth and resist wind and water from getting inside the gloves.

It will be a crucial decision to choose a double layer instead of a single layer because you will be able to take off the liners according to your convenience if the condition becomes warmer.

When you plan for spring hiking, you can simply wear the outer shell for good water protection, but you will not need any extra warmth.

Furthermore, if you are going skiing in the coldest weather, you can easily consider thicker gloves with a single layer to reduce costs.

Warmth

Gloves are different from mittens in terms of warmth. So, it is essential to find a pair of ski gloves for your kids to provide better warmth to keep their hands and fingers protected from colder conditions.

In case you are taking your kids for skiing in hotter weather, it will be less important to have gloves that are too warm. However, you should make sure that they have excellent waterproofing features.

It is needless to mention that you will want warmer gloves when you are skiing in extremely cold weather. Now, how much warmth you need may vary from one person to another.

Some hikers tend to have colder hands very quickly where others can remain warm for a long time. So, you should check the shell material in the first place to determine the warmth provided by the gloves.

Durability

It is no brainer that durable gloves can last longer without any replacement. This is why you should check the durability of kids ski gloves before buying.

It is a bit difficult to determine the gloves' durability by looking at and feeling the texture. So, you should pay attention to the materials used in the outer shell.

If the gloves are made up of leather derived from cowhide or goatskin, you can completely rely on the gloves to be long-lasting. You just need to take proper care of the gloves.

Some people also like to have synthetic materials because they have a lower price and low-maintenance. They are durable enough to last for an extended period without any care.

Cuff Length and Style

For kids ski gloves, you will have two cuff lengths, as you find in other gloves. Both these cuff styles have their advantages, and you should choose the length depending on your needs.

The shorter length reaches up to the base of your wrists, where the longer cuffs extend over the jacket's sleeves.

People are more likely to choose a shorter length for better mobility. On the flip side, more extended cuffs offer you better protection from the snow.

1. Under the cuff

Choosing the short cuff length comes with an advantage that it can be extended up to the wrists, which means you will have more freedom to comfortably move your wrists.

Additionally, your ski jacket cuffs will lie over the gloves to be less possibility of the snow getting inside your sleeves.

You can also look for a jacket sleeve designed with Velcro tabs because the "under" style perfectly matches these sleeves.

2. Over the cuff

If you have a longer cuff, they will be extended over the jacket sleeves easily. Therefore, it can provide better protection than "under the cuff" style. It can prevent the snow from creeping in very effectively.

However, it is completely your personal preference whether the ski gloves go over the jacket's cuffs or not. But you should check the jacket's cuffs beforehand to determine the protection and adjustability of the gloves.

Touchscreen Compatibility

The touchscreen compatibility of kids ski gloves closely related to their dexterity. Usually, gloves are more dexterous than mittens. It will be better to check this feature while you are choosing the gloves for your children.

It is nothing unusual that you need to access your smartphone or tablet during skiing. Some manufacturers are designing their gloves with comfortable fingers and plans, which are compatible with a touchscreen.

Therefore, you will not need to remove your gloves to operate your phone. Usually, lightweight and mid-lightweight ski gloves have better dexterity, and in turn, they are more compatible with the touch screen of your mobile or tablet.

It will be imperative to go for a full finger and palm compatibility in case you need to use your mobile frequently.

Additional Features

1. Adjustable Cuffs

It is crucial to look for the toggle fastening for kids ski gloves because they can keep debris and snow away from the cuffs. So, your hands will be clean, dry, and warm during skiing.

2. Textured Palms

Some ski gloves are built with embossed texture covering the palms and fingertips. It helps the skiers to have a stronger and firmer grip to hold the ski poles tightly.

3. Fleece Lining

Another essential feature that is mostly found in high-quality ski gloves. Generally, polyester or any other synthetics are used in making the inner lining. But you can look for the fleece lining to maximize the warmth.

4. Heat vent/Pocket

There are some gloves available with zippered pockets. It provides breathability to your hands to not feel stuffy and lets the hot air run through the gloves.

5. Goggle Wipe

Some gloves have in-built goggle wipes that help to remove snow, debris, water, etc. from the goggle lenses so that you can have a clear vision without any hassles.

6. Nose Wipe

Your kids may have a runny nose while skiing in the cold weather. So, these nose wipes come in handy to wipe the nose. These are nothing but some soft patches found on the gloves to wipe the nose.

7. Padding

Having extra paddings will be helpful to increase insulation, and they can reduce the impact of a sudden falling and mountain cold.

8. Wrist Cinches/Straps

The main purpose of using the wrist cords or inches is to ensure that the gloves fit your hands firmly, and thus they can keep snow and wind away from the gloves. Also, if you fall, these straps will hold the gloves in their place.

9. Wrist Cord

If you do not want to lose your gloves, you should consider the wrist cords. They make sure that the gloves do not drop off accidentally, and they will be safe even though you remove them frequently.

10. Articulated Fingers

It is another essential feature, especially for thicker ski gloves that help you grip the ski poles firmly. Pre-curved fingers make it easy for you to hold and object comfortably for a long time.

FAQs

1. What are the advantages of handwarmer pockets?

These small pockets are present on the backside of the product. Small warmer packs can be inserted to provide extra warmth for the hands. Moreover, these pockets can be used to keep other small items as well.

2. With the perspective of skiing, should I invest in mittens or gloves?

No doubt mittens provide extra warmth, but they are no good for grabbing skiing equipment. So, invest in suitable ski gloves to enjoy the activity smoothly.

3. What are the advantages of liner gloves?

These thin gloves are worn beneath the ski gloves for extra comfort and warmth. They give a snug fit and repel the moisture to keep your hands comfortable.

Final Verdict

Now that you are aware of what kind of ski gloves you need, you can easily hunt down your ideal gloves and have a great skiing adventure!

Here in this guide, we have presented all the pointers that define the usability and performance of ski gloves. All you have to do is skim through the information and make an informed purchase.

Protect the hands of your loved ones with elite ski gloves and enjoy your expedition smoothly