The snow glove or snow mitt debate is one of the many decisions you will have to face up to when buying your kit for this ski season. Trivial it may seem but vital nevertheless, I can’t imagine anything worse than cold fingers on a mountain!

Take for example the Salomon Women Force GTX Insulated Snow Mittens and the Salomon Women Force GTX Insulated Snow Gloves. The price for both glove and mitt is the same at £54.99, the product name is virtually identical, and their features are a mirror image; made of Gore-Tex, soft PU fabric, advanced skin warm technology, a short fur cuff, elastic wrist closure, PES. What’s all the fuss about?

Despite the same construction materials, the differences in shape are crucial. While gloves ensure mobility, mittens increase the warmth potential due to your fingers being in the same compartment. Here starts the catch 22 decision; warmth or mobility, obviously you want both so how to decide?

Snow Mittens

Mittens: reduced dexterity reduces versatility but if you get cold hands on the mountain, mitts are a no brainer.

Snow Gloves

Gloves: the established first choice of many skiers due to their exceptional mobility, they also have their faults; expect colder hands than mitts so be warned if your fingers are prone to getting a bit nippy.

Mitt or glove is fundamentally a personal preference but, whichever you pick, ensure that they are a good fit and are made of Gore-Tex where possible. The fact that the Salomon Women Force GTX Insulated gloves and mitts remain the most popular piste hand accessory, despite their elevated price, is thanks to the fact that they are made of Gore-Tex.  These gloves and mitt are testament to the fact that Gore-Tex as an outer material is well worth the extra pounds, ensuring the best in breathability and waterproofing while on the slopes.

No matter which you pick, ensure that second to the type put the material at the fore and buy Gore-Tex if you can stretch your wallet a little further.

by