Choose winter hiking gloves on the assumption you'll layer an outer glove over a thin one. No. 1 is the Mammut Eiger Nordwand Pro 2 in 1 Glove, built with a GORE-TEX waterproof bag and a design that switches between a gripping chamber and a warming chamber. To keep the weight down, there's also the combination of the 43g Fleece Pro Glove under the 54g Arctic Mitten.
The Gear Nerd's Pick
Gloves get wet from sweat inside before they get wet from outside. finetrack explains that hands sweat easily and that extremities are the first part of the body to get cold. So instead of relying on one thick pair, I split it into a thin pair that lets sweat out and an outer pair that stops snow and wind.
Key points
- The Central Council for Mountain Accident Prevention's winter mountain gear checklist includes both gloves (with a spare) and overgloves as must-carry items
- Mammut's 2-in-1 is 258g and ¥38,500. Layering the Fleece Pro Glove and Arctic Mitten comes to 97g and ¥30,250, 161g lighter and ¥8,250 cheaper (the waterproofing is built differently)
- For each glove, Mammut spells out the use it was made for: hiking, mountaineering or Eiger Extreme
Winter hiking gloves come as a set of inner, spare and overglove
The Central Council for Mountain Accident Prevention's winter mountain gear checklist lists both "gloves (including a spare)" and "overgloves" with the mark for must-carry items.
That means winter gloves aren't something you buy one pair of and finish. You choose by combination: an inner pair, an outer pair, and a spare pair.
How I chose
The first thing I looked at was whether the waterproofing is built into the inside of the glove. Next I sorted by the use each glove was made for, and by weight.
On its official pages, Mammut writes the weight and the intended use (hiking, mountaineering, Eiger Extreme) separately for each glove, so they can be compared on a consistent yardstick. Hiking in Japan and abroad, I've come to think of gloves not as one pair but as layers. This ranking is made from what you can buy on Rakuten.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mammut Eiger Nordwand Pro 2 in 1 Glove
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥38,500 (as of 10/14). Prices change daily. For clothing, check the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) against your own measurements. If unsure, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanThree things in choosing winter hiking gloves
- Assume layering: split into a thin glove that lets sweat out and an outer glove that stops snow and wind
- Waterproof build: whether it's just the outer fabric or has a waterproof bag (insert) inside the glove
- Finger shape: five-finger for fine work; mittens and three-finger warm the fingers against each other
Quick table of winter hiking gloves
| Rank / model | Weight | Intended use | Official price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Eiger Nordwand Pro 2 in 1 Glove | 258g | Eiger Extreme | ¥38,500 |
| No. 2 Arctic Mitten | 54g | Mountaineering | ¥23,100 |
| No. 3 Eiger Nordwand Warm 3 Finger | 225g | Eiger Extreme | ¥33,000 |
| No. 5 Shelter Softshell Convertible Mitten | 84g | Hiking | ¥13,200 |
| No. 6 Fleece Pro Glove | 43g | Hiking | ¥7,150 |
Why layer gloves in winter
finetrack explains that hands sweat easily even among body parts, and that the inside of gloves is surprisingly wet during activity. It also says that when the body gets cold, blood flow to the ends of the hands and feet is reduced to protect the body's core, so the extremities get cold first.
That's why it's hard to hold a good temperature with one layer, and the maker's idea is to adjust by swapping gloves of different thicknesses. The checklist listing "gloves" and "overgloves" on separate lines follows the same pattern.
Calculating weight and price when layered
Put the No. 2 Arctic Mitten over the No. 6 Fleece Pro Glove and it's 43 + 54 = 97g, 7,150 + 23,100 = ¥30,250. That's 161g lighter and ¥8,250 cheaper than the No. 1 2-in-1 (258g, ¥38,500).
But the 2-in-1 has a GORE-TEX waterproof bag inside the glove, while the Arctic Mitten is written only up to "windproof and water resistant." Lightness or a waterproof build: this is where the ranks split.
Why this order
| Rank | Model | Why it's ranked here |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pro 2 in 1 | A waterproof GORE-TEX bag inside, and you can switch between a gripping chamber and a warming chamber. |
| #2 | Arctic Mitten | At 54g it works as the layered outer, but there's no waterproof bag inside. |
| #3 | Warm 3 Finger | Mammut calls it the warmest, but it can't switch to a gripping form like No. 1. |
| #4 | Astro Guide | Windproof WINDSTOPPER at ¥15,400, lower than the top 3, but made with ski touring in mind. |
| #5 | Shelter Mitten | An 84g mitten whose fingertips fold back, but its intended use is hiking. |
| #6 | Fleece Pro | It becomes the inner pair at 43g, but one pair alone can't serve as the winter outer. |
No. 1 Mammut Eiger Nordwand Pro 2 in 1 Glove | a waterproof bag and two chambers
Inside, microfleece splits the glove into two chambers, and you switch between a chamber for grip strength and a chamber for warmth. A GORE-TEX ePE bag sits inside the glove, and Mammut writes 100% waterproof. A build that goes for both of winter gloves' troubles with one pair is honestly impressive.
The weak spot is the 258g weight, about 4.8 times the No. 2 Arctic Mitten (54g). It suits people who spend a long time putting their hands in and out in snow.
No. 2 Mammut Arctic Mitten | a 54g outer pair
The outer is Pertex Quantum, with PrimaLoft Gold Luxe insulation on the back of the hand and base. At 54g, Mammut also says it compresses. It's just the right lightness for an outer pair that you wear over a thin glove.
No waterproof bag is inside, so it doesn't suit gripping snow firmly for long. It suits people who want to cut weight.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mammut Arctic Mitten
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥18,652 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥54,800, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanNo. 3 Mammut Eiger Nordwand Warm 3 Finger | the warmest build
The pair Mammut calls the warmest of its own gloves. A three-finger design that combines a mitten's warmth with finger usability, with PrimaLoft Gold Luxe on the back of the hand and a GORE-TEX ePE waterproof bag inside.
At 225g it's 33g lighter than No. 1, but it can't switch to five fingers. It suits people who put preparing for cold above everything.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mammut Eiger Nordwand Warm 3 Finger Glove
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥57,360 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥67,860, and change daily. For clothing, check the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) against your own measurements. If unsure, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNo. 4 Mammut Astro Guide Softshell Glove | windproof WINDSTOPPER
The outer is GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER, which Mammut explains as excellent in windproofing and breathability. Mammut writes that it made it for ski touring, and the price is ¥7,700 or more lower than the top 3.
Here's the weak spot. It's built for ski touring, so its aim differs from an outer pair for gripping snow. It suits people looking for a pair to wear while moving on windy days.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mammut Astro Guide Softshell Glove
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥19,600 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥25,200, and change daily. For clothing, check the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) against your own measurements. If unsure, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNo. 5 Mammut Shelter Softshell Convertible Mitten | frees the fingertips
Fold back the cover over the fingertips, including the thumb, and snap it to free your fingers. It means you don't have to take the mitten off to use your phone at the summit or take things out of the pack.
The intended use is hiking, and no waterproof bag is inside. It suits people who want one pair to cover winter hiking and everyday use.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mammut Shelter Softshell Convertible Mitten
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥11,170 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥15,900, and change daily.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaNo. 6 Mammut Fleece Pro Glove | a 43g inner pair
A stretch Pontetorto Techno Stretch fabric, which Mammut writes can also be used as an inner glove. At 43g, it works with touchscreens too.
One pair alone can't stop winter snow and wind. It suits people looking for an inner pair to layer with outer gloves, or a spare pair.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
Mammut Fleece Pro Glove
Lowest price on Rakuten: ¥5,500 (as of 10/14). Prices vary by shop, up to ¥18,360, and change daily. For clothing, check the maker's size chart (height, chest, waist) against your own measurements. If unsure, check the shop's return and exchange terms.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWinter mountain gloves and how makers write the intended use
Mammut explains that its Eiger Extreme gloves suit hard climbing in severe conditions, and writes them separately from hiking gloves. Read a glove's intended use against the difficulty of the mountain you're going to.
The Central Council for Mountain Accident Prevention's warning says that winter mountains need a trustworthy leader with ample winter-mountain experience and a party able to respond to accidents. For training sessions and courses, the contacts are the National Mountaineering Training Center and the Japan Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Association.
Who is it for?
This suits people heading to snowy-season mountains who want to bring an inner pair, an outer pair and a spare pair.
If you already have all three, or only go to mountains outside snow season, your current gloves are enough.
Gloves that protect your hands on rock are chosen on a different yardstick from winter ones. I compared them in the helmet and rock glove article.
For pants to wear on winter mountains, I judged them in the Flow Wrap Pants review.
FAQ
How many pairs of gloves should I carry for winter hiking?
The Central Council for Mountain Accident Prevention's winter mountain gear checklist lists both gloves (including a spare) and overgloves as must-carry items.
For winter hiking, mittens or five-finger gloves?
If you do a lot of fine work, five-finger; if you think first about warming your hands, mittens or three-finger. There's also an in-between build such as the Shelter Mitten, which lets you free your fingertips.
Can I walk the winter mountains in inner gloves alone?
Mammut writes that the Fleece Pro Glove can also be used as an inner, and sets it apart from the winter outer pair. In winter, you use it layered with outer gloves.
Gear in this article
Ad · Images: Rakuten IchibaSources
- Mammut official online store: Eiger Nordwand Pro 2 in 1 Glove
- Mammut official online store: Eiger Nordwand Warm 3 Finger Glove
- Mammut official online store: Arctic Mitten
- Mammut official online store: Astro Guide Softshell Glove
- Mammut official online store: Shelter Softshell Convertible Mitten
- Mammut official online store: Fleece Pro Glove
- Mammut official online store: glove list
- finetrack official: Gloves / Glove layering
- Central Council for Mountain Accident Prevention: winter mountaineering warning and winter mountain gear checklist (attached to the Japan Sports Agency's notice, December 2025)
