Slowly but surely, the mountains are reopening! Some resorts have recently announced their plans and procedures they have put in place for reopening. As we get closer, this is the perfect time to take stock of your gear and compare it to our Ski and Snowboard/ Snow Packing List. This is Part 2 of our series. Part 1 was over apparel such as jackets and base layers. This time, we’ll be going over gloves, mitts, and liners.
Why Are These Important?
While most things on the packing list are necessities on the mountain, few are as important as gloves, mitts, and liners. Depending on the conditions, your hands and feet are two areas that can quickly get cold if exposed to the elements or if you don’t have the proper gear. The last thing you want is for your day on the mountain to end due to frigid frozen fingers.
Gloves
If you take a look at the snow packing list, you’ll see that gloves and mitts fall under the same category. While they each cover your hands, there are big differences between the two. We’ll first start with gloves. Gloves give you more freedom compared to mitts. A traditional glove covers each finger individually which allows you a bit more dexterity when moving them around. Look for gloves that have a waterproof shell and a soft internal liner. For skiing and snowboarding, look for gloves with attachment loops so you can easily take them off and not worry about losing them. Some gloves even have special materials so that you can interact with your mobile device while gloved, or even so you can wipe your goggles without scratching them.
Mitts
On the other hand (hopefully, you have a pair of gloves and not just one!), you have mitts. Mitts give you the ultimate in warmth by sacrificing finger dexterity. Their main identifying feature is that the fingers all go into one section of the mitt with the thumb getting its own section. The bunched-up fingers help retain heat, especially in conjunction with a waterproof shell and soft interior liner. Look for mitts that have the same additional features that we discussed with gloves. Another option is to have a mitt hybrid with a removable section. Some mitts the compartment where all the fingers reside can be removed. Also, look for mitts with zippered pockets to place hand warmers or other accessories while enjoying your time on the mountain.
Liners
Another item on the snow packing list is glove liners. These handy items provide an extra layer of warmth in conjunction with either gloves or mitts. They also help wick moisture away from the hand, keeping your hands from getting cold. Use liners if you want that extra layer of warmth or even to help you fit into gloves or mitts that are slightly too large for your hands.
That pretty much covers it for gloves, mitts, and liners. Remember, this is a great time to take stock of your gear. See if any of them need to be updated or try a different way to pack your gear for a more efficient system. As for gloves, make sure your gloves work for you! If you have more questions about your winter adventures, check out our new Adventure Resource Guide (ARG). With articles like our Ski Buying Guide, you’ll be sure to find plenty of information on how to improve your next adventure. Or, come see us in-store at your local Sun & Ski Sports.