Who likes cold hands? (Raise those frozen hands). The answer is nobody. And with the right fleece gloves, you need never worry about frozen fingers again. Fleece technology has come a long way since the old days when fleece wasn’t breathable. Today, a variety of material innovations make fleece gloves a great choice no matter you want to do in the outdoors. Here are three things to look for that will help you find the perfect fleece gloves this season.
When choosing a pair of gloves, few materials can rival the versatility and comfort of fleece. Fleece is warm, breathable, soft, and ultra-lightweight. Throw on a pair for a cool walk in the fall woods or wear them on stand during the early deer season. Fleece gloves are made in a variety of weights, from ultra-light, liner gloves to heavier weights that make a lot of sense for skiing or winter camping. One of the big pluses to fleece is that because it is made from polyester (a petroleum product), it's naturally hydrophobic, so it sheds water, unlike down, which absorbs moisture and will lose its insulating qualities when wet. Bottom line is that fleece will help keep your hands warm even when its wet.
When choosing fleece gloves, it’s important to think about what kind of activity you’re going to need your gloves for most.
Light activities: If you're simply looking for something to keep your hands warm while you're driving, a light- to mid-weight pair of fleece gloves will probably do just fine. If you're just hanging around by the fire, something on the lighter side will do, but if you plan on sitting on a deer stand for hours where you're not moving, you'll definitely want to go for the highest gram count you can find.
Aerobic activities: Conversely, if you’re hiking hard or cross-country skiing, your hands will sweat (and get colder) in heavier fleece gloves. Go lighter and you’ll find these types of fleece gloves breath better. If it gets really cold, simply use them as liners to pair with a heavier/waterproof outer glove.
Fleece is rated by weight in grams--100g, 150g, 200g, etc.—the higher the gram count, the warmer the gloves will be. Look for the number of grams when you shop and think about how much warmth you really need for the activities you're going to be enjoying. When it comes to fit, you don't want to buy gloves that are too small. What you're trying to do is create a tiny air pocket between the tips of your fingers and the glove material itself. By allowing just enough room so that your fingers almost touch the tip of the glove, but not jam up against the tips, you'll create that perfect dead-air space for warmth without sacrificing all of your dexterity. It follows that longer cuffs that fit snuggly and can actually be worn underneath your coat (you want to avoid any exposed skin) will keep cold and snow out and warmth in.
