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Jun 05, 2025

The 8 Best Winter Gloves in 2025 - Winter Gloves for Men

If your labors take you outdoors this winter, these gloves are designed to keep your hands protected and toasty warm in frigid temperatures. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We

If your labors take you outdoors this winter, these gloves are designed to keep your hands protected and toasty warm in frigid temperatures.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Working outdoors in winter weather is often hardest on your hands. You can keep your mitts from going numb with a good set of gloves, but not any old pair will do. A good set of winter work gloves has enough insulation for warmth and enough flexibility to work a cordless drill, operate a chainsaw, or push a snowblower.

Unlike gloves designed for winter recreation, winter work gloves have a rugged outer shell that’s tough enough to protect your hands from abrasions, cuts and even punctures. Some can even stop a chainsaw blade. Ahead, we’ll break down all the attributes you need to consider when shopping for a pair of gloves to protect your hands during the colder months of the year while reviewing some of the best winter work gloves out there. If your work subjects your hands to frigid temperatures, we have the gloves for you.

Mittens offer the best protection from cold because your fingers stay together to better conserve body heat. They also have fewer seams where air can enter. But with mittens, you sacrifice dexterity, making it difficult to manipulate smaller objects or operate a drill, chainsaw, or other machines that require a trigger finger. And forget about operating your smartphone with a pair of mittens on.

Gloves separate fingers for better dexterity to zip up your jacket, grip a hammer, operate a snowblower, grab nails or screws, and use your smartphone. But gloves also prevent your fingers from grouping together to conserve heat. Gloves have more seams than mittens and hence more openings for the cold to creep in.

If warmth is a priority, go with a set of mittens. If your cold weather work involves operating tools and equipment, gloves are probably a better choice.

Most winter work gloves include some mix of Thinsulate, foam insulation, and fleece. Thinsulate material traps heat well but is also thin enough to give your hands enough freedom of movement to operate tools and equipment.

A layer of cotton or wool foam provides additional insulation to trap hear in the glove. Most winter work gloves use a fleece or lambs wool inner layer that feels soft on the skin while also providing an additional layer of heat retaining insulation, and some winter work gloves also have reflective liners that help trap heat inside.

Remember that while more layers of insulation keep your hand warm in lower temperatures, too much limits your dexterity, making it hard to wrap your fingers around a handle or manipulate buttons and knobs.

Winter work gloves have either a nylon, latex rubber, or leather shell, or some combination of these materials. Nylon, latex, and rubber gloves, such as the LOCCEF winter work gloves, have more dexterity, but wear quicker than leather. Leather gloves, including the OZERO leather winter work gloves, are stiffer but offer a certain measure of cut and puncture resistance. Rubber gloves like the Toolant waterproof work gloves are waterproof, offering total protection in wet conditions.

If you go with leather gloves, you’ll find both deerskin and cowhide options. While cowhide is more durable, this type of leather is also stiffer, which can limit your hand’s dexterity unless you take the time to break them in. Deerskin, such the Wells Lamont deerskin gloves, are softer and more malleable, but won’t hold up as well as cowhide.

If you need max protection and durability, stick with cowhide; otherwise look for a deerskin or nylon glove to give you hands better mobility. Go with a rubber glove if you're working in wet conditions.

While all-leather gloves are inherently grippy, winter gloves made from nylon and rubber use a variety of different materials on the palm and insides of the fingers to add grip. This helps ensure your hands don’t slip as you’re shoveling, hammering, or pushing a snow blower.

Goat skin leather, which is more supple than cowhide and deerskin, is often used to add grip to nylon gloves, while rubber winter gloves have a sandy latex coating around the palm and fingers that adds grip.

Look for winter work gloves with a cuff that extends to cover the wrist, ensuring there isn’t a gap between the glove and your jacket. Some winter work gloves have cinch straps for tightening the glove around your wrist to prevent cold air and moisture from getting inside.

Not all winter work gloves are waterproof. If you’re working in wet conditions, look for a glove like the Vgo winter heavy duty mechanic glove that has a waterproof membrane that dry hands. As with most waterproof garments, note that waterproof gloves won't let moisture to escape your hands should you work up a sweat. This isn’t a bad thing if it’s cold out, but for milder days you’ll probably need an alternate pair of gloves.

While insulation and dexterity are certainly key in a winter work glove, don’t forget that its primary function is to protect your hands from cuts, abrasions, burns, punctures and other hazards. A good work glove has thicker layers of leather, kevlar, or rubber on the back of the hand and fingers that guard from abrasions, punctures, and cuts. Specialized chainsaw winter work gloves, such as the Vgo Chainsaw Gloves, has patches on the back of the off hand that can actually halt a chainsaw blade. Likewise, winter work gloves should have a rugged leather or rubber layer or patches in the palms and interior parts of the fingers for added protection.

Over the years I’ve used winter work gloves to protect my hands while chopping up firewood, shoveling snow, and putting sets of chains on my truck. What I’ve found is that the best winter work gloves keep your hands warm and protected from injury and provide a comfortable grip for tools and for operating machinery. Given that warmth often equates to the thickness of a glove’s insulation (often resulting in stiffer gloves), finding a good pair of gloves that accomplishes the above can be a challenge.

With those demands in mind, I looked for winter work gloves that use construction methods and materials that promote freedom of movement and warmth. All of my selections also qualify as work gloves, meaning they have designs and materials designed to protect hands from cuts, abrasions, and punctures. You won’t find any ski gloves here. Since a good work glove needs to fit snugly to your hand to be effective, I only chose work gloves that come in multiple size options to fit men and women with various sized hands.

Along with my own experience, I also leveraged the expertise of the Popular Mechanics test team. The list below is the result of extensive research on more than two dozen pairs of work gloves, comparing specs and reading through dozens of customer reviews for each.

Carhartt knows a thing or two about work wear, and that shows in its Cold Snap insulated work gloves, which balance cold protection and dexterity. The Cold Snaps have enough insulation for admirable warmth but not so much that they’ll prevent you from operating a cordless drill or working the controls on a snow thrower.

Goatskin covering the palm, fingers and thumb, plus an additional layer of rubber on the fingertips and palm ensure you get a good grip on whatever you’re working with. A strip of leather protects the knuckles and forefingers from abrasions while you work.

The Coldsnap gloves also incorporate Carhartt’s Storm Defender technology, which is a waterproof lining that blocks moisture but lets water vapor from sweat to escape, so your hands stay dry while you’re working.

A longer than average cuff that runs past the wrist prevents gaps forming between the gloves and your coat sleeves. There’s also a cinch for tightening the cuff around your wrist to keep snow out. Sure, there are warmer gloves out there, but they don’t offer the dexterity you need to get work done like Carhartt’s Cold Snaps.

The problem with a lot of winter work gloves is that they’re bulky, making it difficult to grip a snow shovel handle, work snow blower controls, or grab a log of firewood. Lamont gloves are an exception. They’re equipped with a layer of 3M Thinsulate that provides enough dexterity to work. And while they may not offer the same protection as those with heavier insulation, they’ll keep your hands warm in moderate cold.

These work gloves are made from deer skin, which is softer and more flexible than cowhide, so you won’t have to put these gloves through a break-in period. Note that these work gloves are not waterproof. If you want winter work gloves that lets you to move your fingers and won’t break the bank, these are the ones.

These gloves are a great option if you’re working a wet outdoor job in frigid temperatures. They consist of a waterproof nitrile coating that has a sandy texture on the palm and fingers for added grip. Inside the gloves is an acrylic thermal layer that provides insulation. A hook-and-loop strap on the cuffs lets you cinch them tight around your wrists to block cold air and moisture.

While there are gloves out there that offer better cold protection, the thinner layer of insulation makes these gloves more flexible. That means you’ll have an easier time gripping a cement trowel or working a socket wrench while wearing them. The grip is also touch-screen-compatible, so you won’t have to remove them to work your smartphone. If you need a waterproof glove that won’t hinder your ability to work, these are the ones.

If your cold weather activities involve working on small engines, then consider Mechanix Wear Coldwork gloves, which protects your hands from the cold without restricting their movement. They’re made from thin flexible material that allows for gripping socket wrenches and other small tools.

While they aren’t the warmest gloves on our test, the 40g 3M Thinsulate keeps your hands warm in freezing temperatures. These gloves are durable enough to handle work, thanks to the faux leather palm and a reinforced thumb.

An adjustable wrist closure prevents snow or other debris from finding its way into the glove. And since the gloves are machine washable, they're easy to clean. They’re the perfect pair of gloves for winter car repairs.

Vgo’s gloves are a clear reminder that winter work gloves aren’t just about protecting your hands from Mother Nature but also from whatever harmful materials or dangerous tools you’re working with. That’s evident in their construction.

Thick panels of thermal plastic rubber shield the backs of the hands and fingers, while abrasive synthetic leather protects the interior. There’s also a layer of neoprene to absorb vibrations from power tools and other machinery followed by a third layer of goat leather.

As for protecting your hands from the cold and wet, there’s a layer of 3M Thinsulate insulation plus a breathable waterproof membrane that blocks water while allowing sweat to escape. Yes, these gloves sacrifice some dexterity, but if you want serious protection for your hands in winter weather, these are the ones.

These winter work gloves deftly walk the line between dexterity and protection, providing just enough fleece lining to insulate from the cold while still allowing you to move your fingers freely.

They conform well to your hand with flexible material that makes gripping a snow scraper or operating a snow blower an easy feat. And with a non-slip grip that covers the entire palms, thumb and fingers, it’s easy to pick up screws, nails, and other small items while wearing them. Since they have a rubber coating on the exterior, they’re completely waterproof.

The gloves also offer good protection against injury since they’re rated for both puncture resistance and abrasion resistance. They’re a well designed pair of work gloves that keep your hands warm without too much bulk.

If you’re looking for maximum warmth while working in cold conditions, Ozero’s winter work gloves are the answer. Ozero’s gloves use a thick lambswool lining for warm hands even when the temperature drops below freezing. They also have an outer that consists of thick cowhide that provides ample protection from cuts and abrasions while you work.

Though the gloves are thicker than other work gloves, they have design features to improve their dexterity. The fingers are going to be gun cut, which means the two middle fingers are cut from a separate piece of leather to maximum freedom of movement.

They also have a keystone thumb that’s sewn independently to the palm for better dexterity. With its smart design and quality materials, the Ozero winter work gloves are the warmest we recommend.

Chopping up firewood with a chainsaw is a common wintertime activity—and these gloves literally have you covered.

Like all designated chainsaw gloves, they come equipped with a patch of fabric on the back of the left hand that meets standards for cut resistance. Unlike standard chainsaw gloves, this pair is insulated with a layer of 40G insulate for warm hands in freezing temperatures. Plus, they're waterproof and moisture wicking, so your hands stay dry as you work.

Layers of textured PVC on the palm allow for a good grip on the chainsaw handle. Plus, there’s an exterior layer made from stretchable fabric that lend freedom of movement. If your wintertime work involves a chainsaw, these are your go-to work gloves.

Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.

Danny Perez is a Reviews Editor for Popular Mechanics with a focus on men's style, gear, and home goods. Recently, he was coordinator of partnership content at another product journalism outlet. Prior to that, he was a buyer for an independent men's shop in Houston, Texas, where he learned all about what makes great products great. He enjoys thrifting for 90s Broadway tees and vintage pajama sets. His spare time is occupied by watching movies and running to impress strangers on Strava.

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