The best touchscreen gloves will keep your hands warm while you stay connected to the digital world during winter. No more fumbling with your phone or GPS while your fingers turn into icicles – these gloves are equipped with special conductive material in the fingertips, letting you swipe, tap, and scroll with ease, all without exposing your digits to the chilly air.
Before you dive into the world of touchscreen gloves, it's essential to consider your usage. Are you embarking on an Arctic expedition or just navigating the urban jungle? While most gloves are suitable for everyday use, if you're braving the elements in extreme conditions, opt for a rugged pair that prioritises warmth over touchscreen sensitivity. Check out our guide to the best cold-weather gloves for those frigid adventures.
But beware of the chunky glove trap! If you're planning an active outdoor excursion, bulky gloves might leave you sweating and uncomfortable. Opt for a more streamlined design that balances warmth with breathability – after all, there's nothing worse than soggy gloves on a winter hike. Prefer not to wear gloves at all? No problem? We have a handy guide to the best hand warmers, too.
When choosing your perfect pair of touchscreen gloves, keep an eye out for full-hand conductivity. While most gloves focus on the fingers and thumbs, if you're a tablet typist, you'll appreciate having all ten digits ready to tap away. Stay warm, stay connected, and conquer winter with style and functionality!
The best touchscreen gloves to buy now
Why you can trust T3 Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best touchscreen gloves overall
Fabric: 30% Wool, 70% Acrylic
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Conductible digits: four
+ Warm as toast
+ Trad looks
- It's too warm for mild weather conditions
The Furnace Pro gloves might look like the equivalent of a school-teacher's tweed jacket, all leather patches and home-spun goodness, but there's serious tech lurking in these traditional knitted gloves. The first hint that ‘Furnace' might be appropriate is the weight – 110 grams (medium) is quite a heft for a pair of gloves, and there's an excellent reason for that – a Primaloft Gold insulation layer. That outer is indeed wool, just in an acrylic mix to keep damp at bay, while an X DRY Extremities membrane ensures the inner stays dry.
In a final minor masterstroke the conductive touchscreen fingertips mirror the pu leather palm-pad, creating a vintage look that'll blend in with any event, from office to hillwalking. Most importantly though, these will keep you downright toasty whatever the weather throws at you – a modern classic.
Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Best lightweight touchscreen gloves
Fabric: Recycled outer with DWR, PrimaLoft insulation, microfleece lining
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Conductible digits: four
+ Trap heat extremely well
+ Very light and packable
- There are more robust options for adventuring in
- There are more stylish gloves for urban wear
Our pick for the cosiest touchscreen gloves around right now is the Montane Prism gloves. With an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, these pack down into a parcel just a little bigger than an apple, ready to sling in your rucksack just in case they're needed. The index fingers and thumbs are conductible and pre-curved to make them nice and dexterous, too.
PrimaLoft GOLD insulation traps heat remarkably well, and the Pertex Quantum shell offers a good amount of wind resistance while still allowing the fabric to breathe. While these aren't quite hardy enough for proper expeditions, for running, hiking and general casual glove-wearing, they'll work a treat.
Read our full Montane Prism gloves review.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen gloves for winter sports
Fabric: polyester, nylon, polyurethane
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Conductible digits: four
+ Super warm
+ Allow easy finger movement
- Hard to operate smaller devices
- On the bulky side
Designed for winter sports use but actually pretty handy for any very cold weather, The North Face Montana FUTURELIGHT Etip are our pick for the best touchscreen gloves for skiing and snowboarding. These are gauntlet-style gloves with many features you’d expect to see on a pair of dedicated mountain gloves – plus, of course, the touchscreen-friendly ‘etip’ overlays on the thumb and forefinger.
There's a synthetic leather palm for durability and flexibility, plus medium-weight insulation to keep things supremely cosy. These also include a layer of FUTURELIGHT, TNF’s flagship waterproof-yet-breathable membrane, which also makes an appearance in the brand's best waterproof jackets.
Read our full The North Face Montana FUTURELIGHT Etip review.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen liner glove for milder days
Fabric: 91% Polyester, 9% Elastane
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Conductible digits: index and middle finger plus thumb
+ Nice and flexible
+ Moisture-wicking technology
+ Carabiner loops
- Not super warm on their own
For active types who need a liner glove or a lighter-weight option for milder days, these Marmot touchscreen gloves are well worth a look. These are made from Polartec Power Stretch fabric, which promises ultimate freedom of movement, and Marmot promises moisture-wicking technology to prevent clammy hands, too.
On their own, these aren't built for all-out warmth – instead, they're geared towards active use, milder weather, or for wearing underneath a pair of ski gloves. The big logo means they might not be everyone's top choice for urban wear, though.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen gloves for wet conditions
Fabric: 95% Polyester, 5% Elastane
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Conductible digits: four
+ Water repellent
+ Quick drying
- Not entirely waterproof
Are you headed somewhere wet? Designed to be ultra-water repellent, these lightweight, single layer, mostly fleece gloves from waterproof specialists SealSkinz have an extra feature. On the palms is a silicone print for added grip, which is a nice feature considering all wearers will likely be packing a phone.
However, only the index fingers and thumbs are conductive, so this is pair for checking a phone, but not for maximum productivity. Also, note that these are water repellent but not waterproof, which means in a downpour you're still going to get wet hands – for ultimate waterproofing, you'd be best investing in some ski gloves.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen gloves for all-over conductivity
Fabric: GripTrak and micro fleece
Sizes: S/M, L
Conductible digits: four
+ All over conductivity
+ Extra grippy
- Not the most durable
Do you need to type and tap in the cold? Available in light grey and dark grey, and in two sizes, these touchscreen gloves from Moshi have conductive fibre on all 10 fingertips. That gives you great versatility, but also safety; the Moshi Digits also have an S-shaped pattern on the palm and fingers that offers a decent grip of handheld devices, which Moshi calls GripTrak.
Meanwhile, inside is a microfleece lining for softness and warmth, which is what all gloves should be about. These have a slightly lower price point, and a few reviews have flagged up issues with fraying, so if you need something ultra-durable you might be better looking elsewhere in our ranking.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
How we test
There is only one way to test touchscreen gloves: by wearing them in cold weather while trying to operate our smartphones. As well as making sure the gloves fit the purpose, we also look at other features, such as warmth, comfort, flexibility and style. There isn't one touchscreen glove that ticks all the boxes; some are better for keeping your hands warm, while others allow you to operate your smart device more easily. We rank each pair based on these criteria to decide which is best overall and best suited for specific purposes.
FAQ
Do touchscreen gloves really work?
Yes, touchscreen gloves are designed with conductive materials in the fingertips that allow you to interact with touchscreen devices while keeping your hands warm. These gloves typically have conductive threads or materials in the thumb and index finger, enabling you to tap, swipe, and perform various touch gestures on screens.
While they may not offer the same precision as using your bare fingers, touchscreen gloves are effective in providing basic functionality without exposing your hands to cold weather. It's essential to choose high-quality gloves and ensure they fit well for optimal touchscreen responsiveness.
How do digital touch gloves work?
Digital touch gloves work by incorporating conductive materials into the fingertips or entire glove construction, allowing them to interact with touchscreen devices. These materials, often metallic fibers like silver or copper, enable electrical conductivity, mimicking the conductivity of the human skin. When wearing these gloves and touching a touchscreen device, the conductive material transfers the electrical charge from your fingers to the screen, enabling touch functionality without the need to remove the gloves.
Can you wash touchscreen gloves?
Yes, touchscreen gloves can typically be washed. However, it's important to check the manufacturer's instructions or label for specific washing guidelines to avoid damaging the gloves. In general, it's recommended to hand wash them with mild detergent and cold water, then air dry them flat to maintain their integrity and functionality. Some touch screen gloves may also be machine washable on a gentle cycle, but always follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer.
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