Buying Gloves: Sizes and Materials

Material types: leather, softshell and fleece

Most gloves are made from one of these three main materials, often combined with each other.

Don't just look at the outer material: many gloves combine a softshell or leather shell with a fleece lining for extra comfort.

Touchscreen compatibility

Want to use your phone without taking your gloves off? Look for conductive fibres or fabric at the fingertips, usually recognisable by a separately stitched or coated section on the thumb and index finger. Test in-store or check reviews to see whether the screen responds reliably: not every glove marketed as "touchscreen-compatible" works equally well with damp or cold fingers.

How do you choose the right size?

Measure the circumference of your hand around the knuckles (without the thumb) and the length from your wrist to the tip of your middle finger. Always compare these two measurements with the manufacturer's size chart, since fit varies by brand and material: leather, for example, stretches more than softshell. A glove that's too tight often insulates worse because the air inside can't warm up; one that's too loose gives less feel and grip.

Curious what a size chart like that looks like in practice? Take a look at the size chart for the Øven heated gloves as an example, which breaks down width and length for every size.

Want warmth too? Consider heated gloves

Material and size determine how comfortable a glove feels, but in persistent cold, long days outdoors or with sensitive hands, active warmth can be that extra bit you need. Electrically heated gloves add an adjustable heat setting to an ordinary, well-fitting glove. Wondering whether that's worth it for you? Read the full comparison in Regular or Heated Gloves: What Do You Need?