Best Snowmobile Gloves for a Warm and Comfortable Ride

There are many good brands out there that make good snowmobile gloves, but the question which gloves are good for you? There are many gloves that work well in one situation and they may not work well in the other situation, so we decided to put them in a test and see which gloves are the best, and when to use them.

To test them, we started our journey in the early morning, and we had to write around 30 miles on the trail to get into the backcountry. So, we needed good heavy snowmobile gloves. There were many options, and nearly all of them worked decent. However, out of all of them, FXR Fuel Gloves were the best. They were clearly warmer than the Klim Togwotee and Castle X Epic-G1 gloves. After riding 30 miles at a speed of 70 miles an hour, our hands were warm and comfortable.

However, the Klim Togwotee Gloves gave a slightly better grip on the throttle than the FXR and Castle X gloves we tested. The Castle X Epic-G1 Gloves were also good, but you get what you pay for. These are decent, but they’re not in competition with the other two gloves we had. After a few miles, Thomas’s hands started to get cold because they were not providing enough insulation. On the other hand, FXR Fuel Gloves have 300g of Thinsulate on the back, 250g on the thumb, and 200g on the palm which was enough for us. So, for riding on the trails, you should go with good bulky warm gloves because your hands will start to get cold after a few miles, and as you’ll not move on the trail, you’ll just ride.

You can choose FXR Fuel Gloves or Klim Togwotee Gloves, both are really good options. The Castle X Epic-G1 Gloves are also good for warm days or you can buy them if you’re on a budget, but if you prefer them, you may have to wear another pair of thin gloves inside them.

Once we reached backcountry, we changed our gloves to thin gloves that provided more grip so we could feel the brakes and throttle because everyone struggles with the grip with these big gloves. As we were doing mountain riding, we needed decent insulation, but insulation alone was not the deciding factor, we also needed a good grip so we could have full control of the throttle and brakes on the sled.

We started with the MCTi Waterproof Ski Gloves, these are the most affordable gloves we tested, and they cost less than $30. You can also get a similar type of gloves for less than $20. They were actually better than our expectations. They were waterproof and actually provided good grip because they’re designed for skiing. So, when you do skiing, you also need a good grip to hold the ski poles that’s why they had good grip. But, the insulation was decent, not very good. They may be good for a warm day, but when the temperature drops below -10 or -15 degrees Celsius, you will need a little warmer gloves.

When we used 100% Hydromatic Brisker Snowmobile Gloves, we found that they were good in terms of grip, but they were just water resistant, and our hands got wet inside them. They also lack insulation. So, we are not confident in recommending these gloves.

The Klim Inversion Insulated Gloves and the Klim Klimate Insulated Gloves are the best gloves we recommend for mountain riding. Out of these two, which one you should choose depends on the information you need. The Klim Inversion gloves provide slightly better grip than the Klim Klimate but they have less insulation as compared to the Klim Klimate. If you’re riding on the mountains, and you need just decent insulation, but good grip and waterproof, they’re a good option, you can go with Klimate Inversion Gloves or Klim Klimate gloves, both are good.

Best Snowmobile Gloves in 2023

FXR Heated Recon Glove

One of the best heated gloves for snowmobiling in the market is the FXR Heated Recon. These heated snowmobile gloves are perfect if you’re someone who struggles with really cold fingers and hands during snowmobiling.

These gauntlet-style gloves offer a warm 300 grams of Thinsulate insulation on the back of the hand and 200 grams in the palm and fingers. It has a three-stage thermal heat control button so you can easily set your preference from light to high heat settings.

The nylon laminated shell material of these gloves provides optimal durability. It is also made with the hipora membrane for breathability and waterproofing. The palm and finger parts are made with full-grain leather and come with polar fleece lining for comfort and warmth.

Its pre-curved finger design is great for the overall fit and feel of the gloves. These features and materials make the gloves already warm enough even without turning the heat settings for less extreme cold weather.

It is available in a wide array of sizes from XXS to 4XL. Whatever your size is, they got you covered. The adjustable wrist strap provides further fit for your hands so it doesn’t loosen up or slip away.

These heated gloves are operated through a dual-port wall charger and two rechargeable 7.4V lithium polymer batteries in each glove. Depending on the three heat settings and conditions, the batteries can last up to five hours. Additional batteries are also available if you prefer snowmobiling for long hours and distances.

A few have noticed that it takes a little while for the gloves to heat up and the batteries don’t last that long in very cold weather.

I am quite surprised that what the company has achieved to do with this product. For me, it’s an absolute steal of a deal. I am in love with this!

KLIM Togwotee Gloves

The KLIM Togwotee gloves highlight its Gore-Tex + Gore-Grip Technology to create versatile, weatherproof, durable snowmobile gloves for all your snowmobiling needs. The Gore-Grip system permanently bonds the Gore-Tex waterproof and breathable membrane to the glove’s framework.

The palm and finger parts of the gloves are made up of leather. It also comes with a silicone grip zone to add durability and protection to the palms and fingers.

The gloves have a heavy-duty nylon construction to ensure durability and less wear and tear on the product. The silicone-injected knuckle padding provides added protection on the main parts of the back of the hand.

For less cold weather, these gloves come with a removable polyester fleece line inner glove that you can remove, or for colder weather, these fleece liner gloves add additional warmth without being bulky or adding too much weight.

An adjustable wrist closure and extended gauntlet with a one-hand pull shock cord help secure this full-length gauntlet-style glove easily with just one hand. The outer layer also features an integrated goggle squeegee and brushed tricot lining. 

These gloves are available in XS to 3XL. However, others noted that the gloves don’t fit their fingers well. Some fingers fit perfectly but the others are too long. Some suggest purchasing a size bigger than their usual size.

If I have to be honest, I am quite surprised with the efficient design of this thing. Everything seems to be inch-perfect for me and I think it couldn’t be done any better than this. So, thumbs up from me!

Castle X Epic-G1 Gloves

Castle X Epic-G1 is one of the most popular and comfortable snowmobile gloves available in this year. These gloves are constructed with a strong high tenacity dobby nylon outer shell for durability.

It also offers 3M Thinsulate Platinum Insulation with 200 grams at the top of the hand and 150 grams on the palms to keep your hands and fingers warm while snowmobiling.

The top part of the gloves provides a good aggressive gauntlet with a great adjustment to tighten or loosen the gloves depending on the strength of the wind or snow. The adjustable wrist strap helps you adjust the fit of the gloves whether you want a tighter fit or a more comfortable feel.

The gloves have a good synthetic palm for a great grip and the finger paddings have great overlays for great performance and longevity. It also comes with a padded knuckle panel for further protection.

The gloves also feature accordion zones and pre-curved fingers for easier flex and less strain on the hands making it very comfortable while out on your all-day-long rides.

These are also perfect for low light or night rides with their 3M Scotchlite reflective materials.

The hipora full membrane material of the gloves makes them waterproof and windproof while also breathable on the hands so it is nice and comfortable while used.

In extremely cold weather, some have complained that the warmth these gloves provide is not enough and their hands start to feel cold after a while.

Phew! That was a lot to talk about for me! Now, let me get this straight. I think, considering the price point you are getting this thing, I mean it’s worth giving a shot. So in my opinion, if you are on a tight budget, go for this thing and trust me you won’t regret it!

FXR Fuel Glove

If you’re looking for one of the warmest gloves on the market, FXR Fuel Glove got you covered.

These heated snowmobile gloves give you the warmest feel with their Thinsulate insulation. It has 300 grams at the back of the hand, 250 grams on the thumb, and 200 grams on the palm guaranteed to solve your cold fingers and hand problems in extremely cold weather while snowmobiling.

The shell is made with durable nylon and tough polyester with reinforced full-grain leather on the palms and fingers for maximum durability and added warmth on the gloves.

The hipora membrane provides the gloves with waterproofing while maintaining the breathability of the gloves for less hand strain and comfort.

The polar fleece lining helps with humidity while on track. The suede padding on the thumb is very handy to absorb moisture and also comes with a goggle wipe on the index finger.

It also has pre-curved fingers and features a wrist strap adjuster with a shock cord adjustable storm cuff to easily adjust the gloves according to your preferred fit.

These gloves are available in sizes XS to 3XL. However, few have complaints about the sizes being smaller or the other glove being a perfect fit while the other pair is a little smaller in comparison.

KLIM Inversion Gloves

If you are looking for light snowmobile gloves, KLIM Inversion gloves are one of the best snowmobile gloves. Keep in mind that these gloves are not armored gloves but more motocross with insulation gloves intended to use for less extreme snowmobiling. 

One of the highlight features of these gloves is the 60 grams of Thinsulate insulation on the backhand that provides warmth.

These gloves feature a full Gore Windstopper construction guarantee to be 100% windproof but are different from Gore-Tex technology so it is not waterproof so take note of that. However, this technology allows the glove to not absorb water quickly and to dry quickly once it gets damp.

The e-Touch index finger is very handy when you need to use GPS or other electronic devices so you don’t have to remove the gloves every time. 

Other features of these gloves include refined fit and updated fabrics and an elastic on the wrist to secure the gloves in place. It also has high-grip silicone across the palm but only in a small portion of it. Some wished the silicone grip is placed throughout the palm and thumb for a better grip as things get slipper

I know that the looks are not that interesting with this thing. I think the company mostly focused on the build quality of the product and man they got it right!

I mean, look at this thing, it’s comfortable and if you’re looking for something durable, I think you should go for this.

How to Choose Snowmobile Gloves

Here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect gloves for your next snowmobile ride.

Insulation

Good insulation in snowmobile gloves is one of the best ways to ensure your hands will stay warm and dry. By trapping body heat inside the glove, insulation prevents heat loss due to wind chill. Insulation also blocks moisture from entering the glove, keeping hands dry and comfortable in even the coldest of temperatures.

Different materials are used for insulation in snowmobile gloves to provide different levels of warmth and protection.

Common materials include fleece, Thinsulate, Primaloft, and Polartec.

Fleece is a lightweight fabric that is great for light insulation, while Thinsulate and Primaloft are synthetic materials, designed to provide maximum warmth with minimal bulk. Polartec is a high-performance fabric, ideal for extremely cold temperatures. Each material offers unique benefits and features to ensure you find the perfect glove for your needs.

When shopping for snowmobile gloves, it is important to pay close attention to the insulation rating. Different manufacturers may rate their gloves differently, so it is important to compare the insulation rating of different gloves. Each material will have its own insulation rating that you can use as a guideline for purchasing.

Waterproofness

Waterproofness is important as it resists water from getting inside while riding. It can be an uncomfortable feeling to ride with hands soaked in moisture.

Waterproofness can be incorporated in the gloves in the form of a membrane laminated to the fabric, placed between the outer shell and the insulation, or the fabric is coated.

You will see Gore-Tex® technology frequently used in ski and snowboard gloves as the level of waterproofness, breathability, and protection it offers are high.

However, many glove makers offer their proprietary technology too, such as Marmot MemBrain® and The North Face HyVent®. These are also very effective and often less expensive. Waterproof gloves are also mostly 100% windproof.

Heated Snowmobile Gloves

If you are looking for something to beat the extra cold weather, you can go for heated gloves that are battery-operated and have a heating system that keeps your hands warm even in the harshest of winters.

These gloves usually include rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and also can operate on different levels of heat output. The heated gloves are slightly more expensive and bulkier than non-heated gloves.

So, if you are thinking about buying heated gloves for snowmobiling, then be ready to spend a little extra as compared to other snowmobiling gloves.

Your gloves should provide enough heat to make you comfortable when you’re snowmobiling. Other things that can make you comfortable and warm when riding are snowmobile face masks, boots, warm socks, and heated goggles.

They will save you from your extreme cold weather the same as snowmobile gauntlets will.

Touch-Screen Compatibility

In the age of technology where most electronic gadgets are screen touch, it is impossible to either navigate or operate any such gadget without touch screen compatible fingertips.

Therefore, it is a must to make sure that your gloves are touch-screen compatible so that you can operate your mobile phone or GPS while on a ride without having to take your gloves off. Save yourself some trouble.

So, get yourself snowmobiling gloves that are compatible with touch screens because you don’t want to remove them whenever you want to use a GPS.

Size and Fit

A proper fit is important for you to keep your hands warm and comfortable. The right size and fit also provide well enough dexterity. You can protect your hands from wind and snow creeping in if the gloves fit right and snugly.

The sign of a right fit is when you make a fist, the glove should not feel too tight or too loose. Always consult the manufacturer’s sizing chart before you pick a pair of gloves.

Gauntlet and Gloves

Gauntlets and gloves are often confused for being the same type of protective wear, but there are some key differences that set them apart. Generally speaking, gauntlets are longer than gloves and extend past the wrist to protect the forearm. On the other hand, gloves stop at the wrist and provide protection from the cold only to the hands.

When it comes to snowmobiling, gauntlets are generally seen as being a better choice over gloves since they provide more coverage and can help protect against cold winds.

However, gloves also have their own advantages. They are typically less expensive than gauntlets, and they also provide more dexterity when compared to gauntlets. They are also usually easier to put on and take off than gauntlets since there is no extended cuff.

What Type of Gloves Do I Use for Trail Riding and Mountain Riding?

The type of gloves you should use during your snowmobile ride largely depends on what kind of ride you are undertaking. For instance, if it is trail riding, then I usually go for fat, bulky snowmobile gloves. This is because when I’m riding my snowmobile at a higher speed on the trail, the wind can be quite chilling and intense. During these times, big gloves offer utmost warmth and protection to my hands ensuring that I get excellent insulation while keeping my hands safe from any obstacles that could come my way when I’m riding swiftly.

However, when it comes to mountain riding, my preference is for gloves that offer great grip and good insulation. This is because, with mountain riding, more dexterity is needed since it involves physical maneuvering rather than speedy rides. With heavy gloves, your hand movement gets a bit restricted due to the additional weight, making it difficult for you to navigate the rocky terrains and steeper slopes. I do opt for decent insulations in these gloves for the mountain ride in order to ensure that my hands are warm but the main focus is on easy movability and maintaining control.

In the end, the choice of the type of glove for your snowmobile riding depends on the kind of activity you are understanding. Every activity has specific demands and you need to make sure that you are fulfilling them before you go out with your sled.