Running in the summer and winter both bring their own challenges.
In the summer, we find ourselves complaining about how sweaty we get and how much we can’t wait for cooler weather.
Winter then comes along, and we can’t help but moan about how cold it is.
Things get even worse if we don’t have the right gear. Our bodies quickly lose body heat and what should be a fresh morning run turns into a terrible, quite painful experience.
However, since our bodies lose most of their heat through our hands, a good pair of running gloves can make things more enjoyable.
Soft materials or new high-tech fabrics help keep us warm and improve performance, so it only makes sense to own a pair.
There may be a wide range of gloves to choose from, but we’ve got you covered.
We have compiled a list of the best running gloves to buy if you want to stay warm this winter.
We’ve even answered some frequently asked questions and provided you with a handy buyer’s guide of things to consider.
Without further ado, let’s dive straight in!
OUR TOP PICK
The first running gloves on our list are the lightweight touchscreen running gloves from New Balance.
Available in four different colors, these gloves are suitable for any runner who wants to keep warm as they run.
Designed to protect you from the coldest of elements, these New Balance gloves not only look very stylish but also feel great to wear.
Made from 100% lightweight polyester, the gloves are soft on the skin, skin-tight, and come with anti-odor technology.
This comes in handy because it ensures the gloves don’t start to smell when you sweat.
New Balance has also equipped its gloves with reflective strips so that you’re easily visible to oncoming traffic.
Despite offering impressive comfort, arguably the best feature, and also our favorite feature the gloves come with is the innovative fingertip and palm gripping technology.
This technology lets you use your smartphone or smartwatch as you run without having to take the gloves off.
This is beneficial to those of you who listen to music, track your run, or simply need to reply to people on the go without stopping.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, New Balance has made these gloves wonderfully affordable , so we can all enjoy them.
Pros
- Stylish - The New Balance running gloves look awesome.
- Touchscreen capabilities - You can use your smartphone or watch without taking the gloves off.
- Anti-odor control - No matter how much you sweat, the gloves will not smell.
Cons
- Not super thick - In freezing conditions, these gloves might not keep you warm enough.
Also available at
EDITORS CHOICE
For those of you planning on running in extremely cold conditions, these running gloves from TrailHeads could be your best option.
Despite costing more than most gloves on this list, these running gloves are well worth the money because of how much they offer.
For starters, they offer touchscreen capabilities and a waterproof design.
Secondly, they provide extreme comfort and warmth during cold winter days.
The best feature the gloves come with, and the one that makes them super comfortable and warm, is their 2 in 1 versatility.
The gloves can be effortlessly converted into a pair of mittens to give you more warmth to tackle winter elements.
The mitten part of the gloves conveniently sits in the pocket found at the top of your wrist, ready for whenever you need them.
What makes the mittens even better is that they come equipped with waterproof and reflective padding.
This reflective feature will help cars and other runners easily see you as you run, keeping you a lot safer.
Overall, if you want a stylish, versatile, and wonderfully warm pair of gloves, you can’t go wrong with the TrailHeads touchscreen running gloves with reflective mittens.
Pros
- Never lose one glove again - This pair of gloves comes with small magnets that keep the gloves together when you’re not wearing them.
- Convertible - Change the style of your glove to suit your needs.
- Incredibly warm - These New Balance gloves will keep you lovely and warm.
Cons
- Pricey - You will have to pay more for these gloves.
Also available at
BEST VALUE
If you don’t want anything too technical and instead seek a pair of fashionable gloves that get the job done, the next pair on our list could be perfect.
The Nike Sphere Running Gloves 3.0 are a popular choice with many runners because of their simple, yet stylish design and excellent performance.
While their design may not be anything revolutionary, we found that these gloves provide the quality we come to expect from any Nike sports product.
Made from spandex, polyurethane, spandex, and polyester, the gloves are both warm and cozy.
Complete with a neat touchscreen design, Nike’s famous logo, and some reflective detailing, there really isn’t anything to dislike about the gloves.
Also available in a wide range of different sizes, almost any runner can find the glove that fits them perfectly.
The only downside we came across when taking a look at these gloves was the lack of colors available. While this doesn’t affect the performance of the gloves, it would
be nice to have a bigger range of colors to choose from.
However, for the job they do, this is a compromise we are more than willing to make.
Pros
- Simple, yet effective - These gloves offer no-nonsense comfort and warmth.
- Great brand - Nike is famous for producing high-quality sporting products.
- Stylish - You will love wearing these gloves.
Cons
- Lack of colors - A wider range of colors would be nice.
RUNNER UP
The next pair of gloves on our list is a great option for people that take part in more than one outdoor sport.
Still ideal for anybody who loves to run, these Simari gloves are also an excellent choice if you like to hike and cycle.
Designed with an incredibly soft and cozy cashmere lining, these gloves effectively trap the heat in and block the wind out, letting you focus solely on your running performance and not how your hands feel.
Made for women, men, and teenagers, this pair of gloves from Simari also comes with plenty of neat features that make your winter running experience even better.
Two of the best features are the glove's touchscreen capabilities and the anti-slip grip. These features come in handy (pardon the pun) when holding your phone or gripping onto your handlebars.
You’ll also be pleased to hear that these gloves come in 10 different colors. This gives you a much better chance of finding a color that suits your personality.
When we tested the Simari Winter Sports Glove, we were impressed with the whole package.
They perform well, look great, keep you warm, and come in a variety of different options. What more could we ask for?
Pros
- All-round good gloves - These gloves provide everything we could possibly need.
- Durable - This pair of gloves is made from durable spandex and polyester.
- Reasonably priced - These gloves represent great value for money.
Cons
- Quite thin - In freezing conditions, these gloves might not keep you as warm as you’d like.
RUNNER UP
The final pair of running gloves on our list is the winter thermal gloves from Ozero. If it’s a thicker pair of gloves you’re after, these are well worth taking a look at.
Offering more warmth, comfort, and waterproof resistance than other running gloves on the market, these Ozero gloves will give you all the protection and functionality you need and expect from a pair of running gloves.
Protecting you well from even the harshest of winter conditions, this pair of gloves is made out of elasticated leather and polyurethane.
They also come with a waterproof outer shell fabric which is why they are also wind and water-resistant.
The elastic cuff on these gloves helps to guarantee a more secure, tight fit that helps the gloves stay on your hands as you run, and also offers more protection from the elements.
While these gloves also offer touchscreen capabilities, our favorite feature of the gloves was the silica gel particles that provide us with a much better grip.
This extra grip makes the Ozero gloves much more suitable for other sports aside from running.
An example of this is cycling. With help from the gloves, we can grip the handlebars much easier.
Pros
- Great price - For everything you get with these gloves, the price is wonderful.
- Comfortable - These gloves fit amazingly and keep hands lovely and warm.
- Packed with features - This pair of gloves comes equipped with an array of features.
Cons
- Rippable cuff - Some users have stated that the cuff can rip if you’re not careful.
Buyer’s Guide
Before making any purchase, you need to take a number of things into account to ensure the product you are buying offers everything you need.
This is no different when looking for a pair of running gloves. You need to make sure the pair of gloves you plan on purchasing fits all the necessary requirements you have.
To help you understand what you need to think about, we have listed some of the most important factors below.
By taking these factors into consideration, you’ll be able to make a purchase that you can be pleased with.
Materials
The sole purpose of a pair of winter running gloves is to keep your hands warm and comfortable.
Bearing that in mind, it is crucial that you find a pair of gloves made from the best materials that will help do these things.
While there are a number of different materials good at doing this, some are better than others. These include polyester and polypropylene.
You should look for a pair of gloves made from polyester because it has great breathability properties.
This comes in useful because the material will help the glove breathe and wick sweat.
This will help keep your hands dryer and more comfortable, while also helping you maintain warmth.
Polypropylene is a good material because it is great at protecting gloves from wind and water. By being wind and water-resistant, your hands will stay much warmer.
Fit
Another hugely important thing to consider when buying running gloves is how well they fit. If a glove is too big, it will let cool air in or potentially fall off your hand.
If a glove is too small, it could cut the circulation off to your hand causing you a lot of discomfort.
A pair of running gloves should fit nice and snug on your hands. In fact, they should almost feel like an extra layer of skin.
When looking for a pair of gloves, it could be a good idea to check the measurements before making your purchase. You can then compare those measurements to the size of your own hand.
Touchscreen Capable
While features don’t directly impact how warm your running gloves keep your hands, there are still certain features you should always look out for.
In our opinion, you should always try and find a running glove that has touchscreen capabilities.
The reason for this is pretty simple. When running, most of us like to check our smartwatch to see how we’re performing, change songs, or even answer phone calls.
Without touchscreen capabilities, this would be impossible.
Having a pair of gloves with touchscreen features lets you do all of these things easily without having to take your gloves off which would then negatively affect your performance.
Thickness
Generally speaking, the thicker a pair of running gloves are, the warmer they will be.
This can be a very important thing to think about, especially when you find yourself running in icy conditions. If your gloves aren’t thick enough, you may as well not wear them.
Try your best to look for a nice thick pair of gloves, or a pair you can convert.
Convertible gloves can make life a lot easier when changing how hot or cold your hands feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Tight Should My Running Gloves Be?
A pair of running gloves should always feel nice and comfortable, fitting quite snug.
They shouldn’t be too big or loose because they will fall off your hands or let in way too much cold air and wind.
This will quickly make your body a lot colder. On the other hand, they shouldn’t be too tight either.
If your gloves are too tight, they may actually create some pain, making your hands feel numb or sore.
If possible, the best thing to do is to try the gloves on before you buy them.
Are Running Gloves Worth It?
Running gloves are definitely worth it. They help keep your body warm when the weather is cold.
We lose most of our body heat through our hands and feet, so wearing a pair of gloves makes complete sense.
A good pair of running gloves can even improve your running performance.
They can improve performance because instead of struggling with your hands and how cold they are, you can focus all your attention on your running performance. Being more comfortable as you run also helps.
How Are Running Gloves Washed?
Washing running gloves is actually pretty simple.
You can either put them in the washing machine on a very low setting or simply wash them by hand in warm but not boiling water.
Ideally, the water will have a temperature of approximately 30° or less.
It is worth noting that you should let your clothes dry naturally. Putting them in a tumble dryer can cause irreversible damage.
It is also worth knowing that most running gloves don’t have to be washed that often as they are normally designed with anti-odor technology.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, that concludes this article looking at the best running gloves on the market right now!
Owning a pair of running gloves for the winter is an excellent way to keep your body warm and comfortable as you run.
Running without gloves will lead to all your warmth quickly leaving your body through your hands.
As a result, you will quickly feel uncomfortable, cold, and in quite a lot of pain.
The gloves on our list differ in the features they offer and how much comfort they provide. However, they all share one thing in common.
They all keep your hands warm. Picking gloves with additional features such as touchscreen capabilities and convertible mittens might be a nice touch, but you can also expect to pay more.
Now that you’ve made your way through our list and have our buyer’s guide at your disposal, take some time to look at each pair of gloves.
You can then start to narrow down the options until you find the pair of running gloves that suit your needs and requirements best.
For the first year, I wallowed in my feelings and gained 50 pounds as a result. The next year, with the help of a professional or two, I began working on myself and seeing changes.
Surprisingly enough, I found running to be my main source of comfort in such a trying time. I began running once a day for five minutes, working up to 10, then 20, 30, 40 - until I was running for an hour each morning.
Running started my day off right and on the days where I ran, I found that I was more likely to excel in work and have a better day mentally.
So, that is why I have created Run In The Sun. I want to make your running journey as easy as possible so that you can feel these benefits too. I promise you, it will be so worth it!
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