From WIRED · Simon Hill · · 4m
Keep your hands warm with touchscreen gloves
A guide to gloves that let you use your phone without removing them in cold weather.
In brief
A guide to gloves that let you use your phone without removing them in cold weather. Touchscreen gloves combine warmth with phone usability. WIRED tested six top pairs across different styles and budgets. Originally reported by WIRED.
The problem with cold hands
Traditional gloves keep fingers warm but don't work with smartphone touchscreens. Touchscreen gloves solve this by using conductive materials or special fingertip technology.
How the testing worked
WIRED tested each pair by answering calls, browsing the web, and sending text messages in thirty to forty degree Fahrenheit weather. Comfort, grip, and warmth were also considered.
Boost your phone first
Before buying gloves, increase your phone's touchscreen sensitivity. On Android, go to Settings, Display and touch, Touch sensitivity, and toggle Increased sensitivity on.
iPhone sensitivity settings
On iPhone, go to Settings, Accessibility, Touch, tap Haptic Touch or three D and Haptic Touch, then select Fast. Also tweak Settings, Accessibility, Touch, and Touch Accommodations.
Best overall: Glider Gloves
Glider Gloves use conductive copper in the yarn for accurate touchscreen control. At twenty dollars, they offer the most control and accuracy among tested gloves.
Glider Gloves strengths
You can tap, swipe, pinch to zoom, and use all your fingers, not just the tips. The soft brushed interior and silicone grip sections ensure comfort and prevent phone slipping.
Glider Gloves trade-offs
They are not thick enough for extreme cold and not waterproof, so they won't handle snowballs. Sizes feel small initially but loosen with wear. They sometimes sell out.
Best waterproof: Cross Point Gear
Cross Point Gear Waterproof Knit Gloves cost fifty four dollars and work extremely well for cyclists, dog walkers, and anyone in all weather. Touchscreen fingertips enable effective typing and swiping.
Cross Point Gear construction
They feature a clever three layer waterproof construction: a dense knit outside, a breathable Artex membrane that blocks water, and a cozy moisture wicking liner inside.
Cross Point Gear performance
They worked great in heavy rain and stayed dry even when briefly submerged. The outer layer eventually gets soaked through, but the inner layers keep hands dry.
Best knitted: Moshi Digits
Moshi Digits Touchscreen Gloves cost thirty six dollars and are very warm and comfortable. You can use all your fingers and thumbs to type quite accurately.
Moshi Digits durability issues
Rubber strips in a wavy pattern enhance grip, but the knitted fabric is slippery. The inner microfleece lining sometimes separates from the outer layer, and the weave frays easily.
Best fingerless: Heat Company
The Heat Company Heat two Softshell Gloves cost eighty seven dollars. These fold over mittens have wind and water resistant goatskin leather palms with long cuffs.
Heat Company design
They feature two fold back sections: a mitten top to cover fingers with a hand warmer pocket, and a separate thumb cover with sewn in magnets to keep them out of the way.
Best leather: Kent Wang
Kent Wang Deerskin Touchscreen Gloves cost ninety five dollars and come in black, dark brown, and tan. The deerskin is wrinkle resistant and treated with a touchscreen friendly layer.
Kent Wang comfort
They are comfortable and cozy with a lovely cashmere lining, which explains the price. They work well with touchscreens but require practice to type due to fingertip seams.
Best heated: Venustas
Venustas Heated Gloves cost one hundred thirty dollars and have three heat settings activated by a color light up button. The cozy fleece lining is very comfortable.
Venustas battery trade off
Each cuff has a zipped compartment to store a battery that must be charged. The lowest heat setting lasts up to ten hours, but the high setting only lasts three hours.
Alternative solutions
If you don't want touchscreen gloves, consider a stylus like the Bargains Depot two in one Stylus at nine dollars, or a rechargeable handwarmer for your pocket.
At a glance
Touchscreen gloves combine warmth with phone usability. WIRED tested six top pairs across different styles and budgets.
