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Stay warm and stay tethered to your tech. Long Cuff Nitrile Gloves
When it's 10 below and the wind is whipping, you might really start to resent the buzzes coming from your phone. Thankfully, today's best winter gloves won't leave your fingers exposed when it's time to answer calls, texts and work emails. Touchscreen gloves are easy to find and increasingly reliable. They can do it all — keep your hands toasty and work seamlessly with your smartphone or tablet.
Though we haven't tested all of the picks on our list of the best touchscreen gloves, the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab is constantly putting cold weather gear — the best winter coats, fleece-lined leggings, winter boots and more — to the test to find the most high-performing options out there. When testing apparel like ski gloves, heated gloves and touchscreen gloves, our analysts assess attributes like materials, construction and fit and design. We also work with consumer testers to collect feedback and data on real-life performance.
To find the best touchscreen gloves, we considered styles from top-performing brands in winter apparel tests, personal favorites from our product experts and scoured popular retailers for top-selling products with overwhelmingly positive reviews. These touchscreen gloves get high marks for comfort, warmth and style and — of course — tech compatibility.
Our top pick for winter gloves overall, this pair is as versatile as it gets and has a durable, high-quality construction to help you get more mileage. Though you may need a glove liner for very cold temperatures, the pair performed very well in our Lab tests, thanks to thoughtful design details, including touchscreen compatibility on all five fingers and stretchy fleece lining with a women's specific fit. They're not all bulky, which affords more dexterity. Our pros also like the silicone detail on the palm for a better grip on your tech or holding onto an icy railing in winter weather. There's even a handy snap to keep both gloves securely together when you're not wearing them.
If you don't want to spend a ton of money on a pair of gloves, this Amazon best seller won't disappoint. The simple pair has garnered more than 53,000 reviews with an average 4.2-star rating, thanks to a stretchy knit-synthetic blend that includes acrylic to help trap heat and keep fingers warmer. Reviewers say the touchscreen compatibility — on the thumb, index and middle finger — is reliable, too. Plus, our experts appreciate the silicone grips that span the entire palm. Unfortunately, they aren't water-resistant, so they're not ideal for wet, snowy days.
For exceptionally cold weather, glove liners like this pair from Smartwool are vital if your go-to pair isn't heavily insulated. Our experts like this pair because it's made of a very soft, stretchy merino wool that helps keep your hands warm without overheating. They're thin and move with your fingers, so they're great for all kinds of activities from everyday wear to skiing and snowboarding. In tests, our Lab pros were surprised by just how warm the liners were, plus liked the touchscreen compatibility on the thumbs and index fingers if you're wearing the liners solo. On the downside, testers said the pair lacked grips and was, therefore, a bit too slippery to get a secure hold on tech.
While we haven’t yet tested this model in the Lab, our pros like that this relatively affordable pair of ski gloves is packed with extra features that add to the overall value. The pair is constructed with wrist leashes, a nose wipe and touchscreen compatibility. They're also treated with a water-repellent finish and have a special DryVent insert to keep hands dry. Unfortunately, they're made of faux leather rather than premium materials like genuine leather or GORE-TEX. On the upside, the gauntlet hem is adjustable, so snow won't creep inside while you're getting your runs in.
Heated gloves may be the ultimate treat on a very chilly day, but many tend to feel bulky — not this style from Outdoor Research. The gloves have an innovative design with fully integrated heating elements (read: no bulky wires) that make them easy to use on the go. The heating, adjustable to three different levels, radiates throughout the fingers and the back of the hand with a maximum run time of eight hours on the lowest setting. For added comfort, the pair is insulated and lined with fleece. Overall, our pros were impressed by just how warm the gloves were. One tester who wore them walking around in a snowstorm described them as "life-changing."
One of Amazon's top-selling pairs, these gloves receive praise for the contoured and tailored fit. They're made of a buttery soft genuine leather, plus have a thin yet plush fleece interior for added warmth. The pair is packed with features that make them as smart as they look, too. They boast touchscreen compatibility on the thumbs and index fingers, as well as palm grips to help you get a better grip on your phone, tablet and other devices. Just note: As is typical with leather gloves, these have a relatively snug fit, so you may want to size up.
Whether you're walking your dog or sneaking in some exercise during those dangerous dawn or dusk hours, a pair of high-visibility gloves is a great investment — from both a comfort and a safety perspective. While they might not be the most fashionable, we love this pair, available in a range of ultra-bright neons. They're easy to spot on their own, but also have reflective accents that catch headlights. They're a touch warmer than your average shell, too, thanks to a fleece lining. And if you need to stop mid-run or cycle, the touchscreen compatible thumb and index fingers make it possible to fire off a text or an email without risking chilly fingers.
For a classic style that affords plenty of warmth, we recommend these highly-rated cable knit touchscreen gloves from C.C. The pair, which has earned nearly 18,000 reviews and a collective 4.4-star rating, is made out of 100 percent of very comfortable 100 percent acrylic material. The design includes SmartTips technology on the thumb and index fingers for screen compatibility, plus faux suede palms for an anti-slip grip. They're practical and stylish, not to mention, they come in dozens of colors to suit your personal style. They are, however, on the bulky side, which may limit dexterity in some cases, like if you're trying to do any precise work like re-tying boots, for example.
Touchscreen gloves may be a dime a dozen these days, but it's not easy to find mittens with tech compatibility. Most still feature the fold-over design that exposes your fingertips — not ideal for exceptionally chilly days or prolonged exposure. These water- and wind-proof mittens are a welcome exception. The tips of the thumbs and palms of the hands are all touchscreen compatible, so you can operate your smartphone or tablet without exposing any skin at all. (Of course, they're still mittens — a design that inherently limits dexterity.) Despite the budget-friendly price, they're packed with other features that add to the allure, too: wrist leashes, a soft-coated thumb backing to wipe goggles, clips and even a zippered pocket to carry cash, keys and other small essentials.
If it's warmth you're after this winter, chances are you've heard of Canada Goose. The luxury brand may be known for their down-fill jackets, but also manufactures fancy gloves that will help keep your hands just as warm as the rest of your body. If you're willing to pay up, you can score the thick, plush pair. The lightweight nylon exterior is both water-resistant and windproof; the interior boasts 600-fill power white goose down insulation and a temperature-regulating merino wool lining. To help you stay tethered to your tech, the palms are nice and grippy and the fingertips touchscreen compatible. Elasticized cuffs keep snow and wind out, clips keep gloves secure when you're not wearing them and reflective details help keep you visible, even in those early morning or late afternoon hours.
Touchscreen gloves utilize conductive elements in the fingertips that allow you to use your device, even when your hands are covered — but they're not foolproof. Touchscreen gloves may not work if your phone, tablet or other touchscreen device uses a thick glass screen protector, which can be an insulator. If touchscreen compatibility is important to you, make sure to try out your gloves on any device you're likely to use or opt for convertible gloves (those with fingertips that fold over) instead. If you're having trouble, try adjusting the sensitivity settings on your device. On both Android and Apple phones, you can find this option under settings.
Brigitt Earley is a freelance writer and editor with over 15 years of experience writing about consumer products, including clothing and apparel. She worked under the guidance of experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab to research what makes touchscreen gloves work well, and independently sourced the picks in this story.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
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