In an ideal world, we’d all run comfortably in shorts and a t-shirt all year round. But unless you live in a warm climate, there’s a good chance you find yourself needing to bundle up during chilly fall and winter runs.
While runners often focus on wardrobe essentials like running tops, jackets, and tights, being comfortable in your cold-weather runs hinges on your accessories as well – one of which being a good pair of running gloves.
Cold hands are not only uncomfortable, but they can make training feel even longer than it is, and make hitting your Garmin to capture your split or ripping open a gel mid-run nearly impossible.
The wide range of options can make buying running gloves surprisingly difficult. To help, we’ve done the research, tested the products, and chosen the best running gloves to help ensure your hands stay nice and warm no matter what Mother Nature has in store.
What Temperature Do I Need to Wear Running Gloves?
Before you can decide which gloves on our list are best for you, you must first know your needs.
Do you need warm running gloves? Or are you looking for the best cold weather running gloves?
Most runners start wearing gloves when the temperatures dip below the mid-40s in Fahrenheit or about 5-6 degrees Celsius. However, this is highly individualized depending on your comfort level, acclimatization, circulation, and how long you’ll be running outside.
If your hands feel cold, stiff, or swollen during or after a run, you should be wearing gloves to maintain circulation and protect your fingers from discomfort or potential frostbite.
Plus, studies evidence that being cold for prolonged periods can reduce mental alertness, which can lead to more accidents when running (source). Gloves are an important part of keeping you warm and safe!
The 6 Best Running Gloves for Any Season
Without further ado, here are our picks of the best glovers for runners – no matter which weather you plan on running in.
#6: Best Waterproof Running Gloves: Seirus Innovation 1171 Soundtouch Xtreme All Weather Gloves
The coldest runs call for winter running gloves that are as hearty as the runner who braces the cold. The Seirus Innovation 1171 Gloves are warm, fully waterproof, and surprisingly form-fitting, allowing you greater dexterity over other comparable models.
They are made from silver nylon and spandex coated in polyurethane to provide maximum waterproof protection. The cuffs are comfortable and crafted from neoprene and spandex, forming a tight seal to block out any rain, sleet, or winter wind.
These running gloves are impressively durable and hold up even after washing time and time again. Offered in many color options, they also clip together which helps to prevent them from getting separated when being stored (nothing more annoying than losing one glove!).
#5: Best Lightweight Running Gloves: Smartwool Liner Gloves
When the weather is milder and you just need a lightweight running glove, we recommend Smartwool Liner Gloves. They cut the chill and keep your hands comfortable without getting overly hot and sweaty mid-run.
The Smartwool Liner Gloves are designed to be worn under warmer gloves, making them a versatile piece of running gear perfect for year-round training. However, you can also wear them alone for early spring and late fall runs when you only need a light layer to protect your fingers from the cold.
The Smartwool Liner Gloves are machine washable and touchscreen compatible. They have a lightweight, somewhat loose-knit blend of 46% Merino wool, 46% acrylic, and 8% elastane. The wool imparts fantastic temperature-regulating abilities, keeping your hands and fingers warm in cold weather and cool when it’s warm.
#4: Best Winter Running Gloves: Sealskinz Waterproof All-Weather Gloves with Fusion Control
There’s nothing worse than running with freezing hands in gloves that are soaked through with winter sleet or rain. The Sealskinz Waterproof All-Weather Gloves with Fusion Control are the best running gloves for when the forecast calls for rain, sleet, or snow.
These 100% waterproof running gloves are impressively breathable, due to the fusion control technology, which bonds a waterproof hydrophilic membrane to the running glove’s outer shell and inner liner, making for a warm yet intimate-fitting glove.
The result is a glove that’s warm and waterproof but still permits natural dexterity and effective grip control. There’s also a cozy merino wool liner, providing warmth on winter runs while wicking moisture to prevent your hands from overheating or becoming sweaty.
The shell of these waterproof running gloves is constructed from a durable and abrasion-resistant stretched Lycra, ensuring the gloves hold up should you slip and fall, and the palms are made with synthetic leather suede and the fingers have silicone grippers.
A nice perk is that the silicone grippers are touchscreen compatible. Lastly, the cold air is sealed with the hook and loop closure system.
#3: Best Touchscreen-Compatible Running Gloves: Zensah Smart Running Gloves
If you like to use Strava or another running app on your phone during your run, having a pair of touchscreen-compatible running gloves will save you from the cold exposure of needing to remove your gloves to use your phone.
Although many running gloves claim to be touchscreen-compatible, the Zensah Smart Running Gloves outperform the rest of the pack.
These affordable running gloves eliminate the frustration of poor conduction between your finger and your phone, giving you peace of mind to just enjoy the run. Their slim fit maximizes your dexterity and makes it feel like your fingers are completely unencumbered.
In addition to letting you easily operate your phone, the Zensah Smart Gloves are lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking, so perfect for milder temperatures. They have little clips to pair them together when not in use, a nose wipe area, and silicone fingertips and palms to ensure you have a secure grip.
#2: Best Everyday Running Gloves: The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves
The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves are great for everyday use – suited for weather that’s chilly but not frigid, windy but not precipitating heavily.
They are made from 93% recycled polyester, with a four-way stretch knit construction, giving you flexibility and a full range of motion even in the cold.
The gloves are touchscreen compatible in all five fingers and have silicone grippers on the palm to enhance your grip on your phone, water bottle, or dog leash.
The North Face Etip Recycled Gloves feature high-tech “Radiometric Articulation“, which keeps your hands in their natural relaxed position, meaning you don’t get that tight or stiff feeling in your fingers that can happen when running gloves try to force them into a slightly abnormal resting position.
These running gloves are also easy to wash and dry quickly, block the wind, and are lightweight, should your hands get too toasty and you need to take them off mid-run.
#1: Best Running Gloves Overall: TrailHeads Touchscreen Gloves with Reflective Waterproof Mitten Shell
When the weather is chilly, many runners ask, “Should I wear running gloves or mittens?” TrailHeads Touchscreen Gloves with Reflective Waterproof Mitten Shell offers the best of both worlds in their convertible running gloves design.
These gloves have an optional mitten flap for maximum versatility, making them perfect multi-season running gloves. The mitten layer is fully waterproof and conveniently tucks into a little pocket on the back of the gloves for milder days when you don’t need it. While this shell isn’t super warm, it’s enough to cut the chill from wind, snow, sleet, or rain.
The TrailHeads Touchscreen Gloves are lightweight and comfortable. There’s a nose wipe area, reflective stitching, and little magnets to hold the running gloves together as a pair when not in use. Even better, you can still control your phone or GPS watch through the touchscreen-compatible fingers.
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