The Best Running Gloves

Running gloves fly under the radar in comparison with other bits of running gear. The best running shoes are more exciting, as are running jackets and other winter running gear. However, neglect to cover your hands and any run in the cold quickly becomes an ordeal rather than a pleasure.

There are just two things the best running gloves need to do: keep your hands warm and not make them sweaty. Everything else—reflective patterns, conductive fingertips—means nothing if they can’t pull this off. But it’s not easy to achieve, because gloves that are lightweight and breathable might not be thick enough at the start of a run, while heavier fabrics can make for unpleasantly clammy palms after 20 minutes. Waterproof gloves are most often best avoided, because it’s almost impossible to find ones that are breathable enough that your hands won’t get as wet from sweat as they would have from the rain.

So I set out with a simple mission to find running gloves that keep your hands warm and dry. Here are those gloves.

How I Test Running Gloves

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I run a lot—around 50 to 70 miles a week—and I tend to really feel the cold in my hands. I also suffer from chilblains on my fingers most winters. I am, in short, an ideal person to test running gloves, and I wear each pair I review for a few weeks of chilly running to see how they fare. I’m looking for comfort, warmth, a lack of clamminess, and preferably touch panels on the fingers so I can use my phone at times.

The Quick List

This is a short rundown of my top picks. You’ll find more detailed reviews further down the page—click on the link to jump to the relevant product review. 

The Best Running Gloves

Best Overall

These gloves are our go-to option this winter, offering enough warmth without bulk thanks to the convertible design. In glove mode they are practical – it’s easy to use your phone or handle other items – and you can flip the mitten over for extra warmth when required. We would like the ability to button the mitten in place or tuck it away when not using it, but otherwise these are pretty much perfect. You’re not likely to need anything warmer except for long runs in sub-zero temperatures.

Best Budget Gloves

These soft gloves do a good job of keeping your paws warm, although they absorb water quickly so are best reserved for dry days. The gloves have touchscreen panels on the thumbs and index fingers, as well as reflective details. These gloves are always reduced to under $10/£10 and at that price you can’t really ask for more.

Best Lightweight Gloves

If you just need a little extra warmth on the run and fear sweaty hands as much as cold ones, these lightweight gloves are a strong option. They’re thin enough that your hands won’t overheat even when pushing hard in workouts or races, but do still retain some warmth to take the edge off the cold. The silicone pattern on the palm means you have a more secure grip on your phone, and the fingertips play nice with touchscreens.

Best Waterproof Gloves

I recently tested five pairs of Sealskinz gloves for running, and my favorite pair overall were actually these cycling gloves. Cycling gloves tend to be warmer than running gloves, and even waterproof running gloves can sometimes leave my hands too cold. The Bodham are thicker and cozier than running gloves, but you can still handle objects while wearing them without feeling too clumsy, and they are touchscreen-compatible, though it’s hard to use a phone while wearing them.

Although they’re thick they are breathable, and I’ve worn them on hard runs without my hands getting clammy. I’ve also worn them for two-hour trail runs in freezing and wet conditions and they kept my hands warm and dry. If you want a bit more protection than you get from standard running gloves for cold runs in the rain or snow, then the Bodham gloves will serve you well.

Best For Using Your Phone

Most running gloves are touchscreen-compatible these days, but these gloves make it especially easy to use your phone on the run. The tight fit of the gloves and the Etip panels mean that your touches are precise and your screen registers them reliably, while the silicone pattern on the gloves helps you grip your phone securely.

The gloves are fairly lightweight so they might not be enough to keep your hands warm on very cold days, but on those occasions they are thin enough that you can use them as a liner and slip a warmer mitten on top. 

Best Mitten/Glove Combo

The NDO 2-in-1 mittens will cost you a bit more than other gloves, but you are getting both mittens and gloves for your money and will be well set for pretty much any weather. The soft liner glove works by itself on milder days and has touchscreen-compatible tips, while the windproof and highly water-resistant outer mitten is easy to slip on over the liner when conditions demand it.

There are some neat features too, such as the large reflective sash on the mittens and the hidden magnets that hold them together when not in use. The gloves fit a little big in my experience—especially the liner glove, something which can make it harder to use the touchscreen tips—so sizing down might be the best way to go.

Best Water-repellent Gloves

Waterproof gloves are the gold standard for keeping your hands dry on the run, but they can make your hands too warm in mild conditions. The Acle water-repellent gloves give you some protection from showers, and are much more breathable and less chunky than a fully waterproof glove.

The soft fabric is comfortable and I found that the gloves fit really well so I could use a smartphone easily even while running. The silicone pattern on the gloves also helps to ensure your phone won’t slip from your grasp. Once the temperature hits freezing I prefer a warmer glove, and could even use the Acle as a liner glove under a mitten, but they are thick enough that people who run hot will get by in most winter conditions wearing these.

More Recommendations

These heavy-duty mittens may well be better suited to hiking than running, and Montane does have more lightweight options in its line-up, but they are also a fantastic option for sub-zero days or for people who particularly suffer from cold hands. I have been beset by chilblains the past two winters, so these warm, waterproof mitts have become invaluable for extra protection against cold and wet weather. They pack up into a pocket-sized stuff sack if you do find them too warm during a run.

This list includes a lot of performance gloves made from impressive technical materials, but if you prefer a classic knitted option, the REFLECT360 Explorer glove from Proviz is a great pick. The company has managed to make the gloves both cosy and hi-vis, with reflective yarn threaded throughout.

As with practically all modern gloves, the Explorers’ tips are touchscreen-compatible, while the knitted design makes them more suitable for use when not running than most running gloves. The downside of knitted gloves is, of course, that they get cold and wet very quickly when running in the rain, and they don’t dry all that quickly. If you feel that will be a problem for you, you’re probably better off with Proviz’s standard REFLECT360 gloves

They’re not the warmest gloves on this list but they are by far the cheapest, so any bargain hunters who have no intention of running outside in sub-zero temperatures will be satisfied. The index fingers and thumbs have conductive patches to operate touchscreens, and there are reflective logos on the backs of the gloves.

More Running Gear

• Suit up in the best winter running gear and even the worst weather won’t worry you
• Shine like a beacon with the best reflective running gear
• The best running gear for men and women, and what to know before you buy