# Gloves Versus Mittens **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470 "2017-02-10T15:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/1 "2017-02-10T15:40:00Z")
I always thought of mittens as little kid stuff and it never occurred to me to wear them as an adult. But a few years back my father told me he thinks mittens are a lot better for keeping fingers warm, so I bought a pair from Land’s End, and I agree with him. Makes sense too, when you think about it, as there’s less finger surface being protected by one layer of material. Question is why people wear gloves for serious cold situations. Meaning, I can understand why people wearing light insulation for situations where they don’t need much protection anyway would prefer the look of gloves, and possibly even the added use of the non-thumb fingers. But in serious cold situations, e.g. shoveling snow or the like, I don’t see any advantage at all in gloves. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/2 "2017-02-10T15:51:08Z")
I can say that mitts are alive and well in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/3 "2017-02-10T15:53:32Z")
You’re probably right, for shoveling snow. If what I’m doing requires any manual dexterity, though, I always want gloves. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/4 "2017-02-10T15:57:06Z")
I also feel they keep my fingers warmer than gloves. Any time I can (things that do not require using individual fingers) I’ll pick mittens over gloves any day. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/5 "2017-02-10T15:58:53Z")
Mittens are good if you have an injured finger and are trying to protect it. They also have lobster claw gloves where two fingers are in one part and the other two fingers are in the other part. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/6 "2017-02-10T17:04:25Z")
As someone who spends a lot of time outside in the cold weather, I have a variety of both. Mittens are certainly better at keeping your fingers warm, but at the cost of losing manual dexterity. For many activities (such as skiing) that trade off just can’t be justified. I fiddle with too many things and would have to remove my mittens often. There is a compromise, [Split Finger mittens](https://www.rei.com/product/103614/rei-co-op-split-finger-mittens) that give you additional flexibility while still keeping your hands quite warm. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/7 "2017-02-10T17:33:32Z")
I also spend a lot of time outside in winter in Alberta - I usually wear gloves, because after a while when you’re exercising in the cold, your hands get _too_ hot in mittens. It sounds counter-intuitive (“don’t you want to bundle up to your ears outside in the cold?”), but your body produces a lot of heat. What I’ve found works best is knitted gloves and long coat sleeves, so I can pull my hands in out of the wind. I don’t wear a toque, either - just a headband to keep my forehead and ears warm, and for the same reason - I get too hot with my whole head covered. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/8 "2017-02-10T17:33:44Z")
I also work outdoors a lot and the other alternative is both. I have a light set of mecahnic’s style gloves for when I have to do fiddley things and a mitten overshell that handles the cold until I get on site (often by quad or ski-doo). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/9 "2017-02-10T17:44:55Z")
I used to have a pair of fleece-lined gloves that had separate thumb and index finger, but the other three were together. Very warm and very practical. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/10 "2017-02-10T17:50:23Z")
I used to have a pair of military Arctic mittens like [these](http://cdn-1.olive-drab.com/images/mitten_ecw_mil-m-834_01_700.jpg). Kept you warm nearly to your elbows and prevented snow from easy entry. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/11 "2017-02-10T18:31:04Z")
Another Canadian that uses mittens here! A while back we were gifted with some [Hudson’s Bay Company Olympic mittens](http://www.parentscanada.com/family-life/gifts-that-give-back/Hudsons-Bay-Olympic-mittens) at work. On regular days I wear a pair of fairly thin gloves. As it gets colder I put the mittens on over top of the gloves. That way I have the added warmth of the mitten but my hands are still mostly protected if I need to take the mittens off to do something with my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/12 "2017-02-10T18:32:08Z")
Mittens are warmer and my go-to for all times when manual dexterity (beyond, say, shoveling a driveway or scraping windshields) is not required. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/13 "2017-02-10T18:39:48Z")
I use a combination: [fingerless gloves with a finger cover](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20516?feat=506573-GN3&page=windbloc-converta-mitts). Need dexterity? Flip the cover up. Need to be warm? Flip it down. I also have a nice pair of mittens I wear when shoveling snow. But if it’s not too cold, I prefer gloves. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/14 "2017-02-10T20:04:52Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I use a combination: [fingerless gloves with a finger cover](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20516?feat=506573-GN3&page=windbloc-converta-mitts). Need dexterity? Flip the cover up. Need to be warm? Flip it down. > > I also have a nice pair of mittens I wear when shoveling snow. > > But if it’s not too cold, I prefer gloves. Ha! I was just about to post that I use mittens when hunting, and the mittens have a flap for when you need to stick your fingers out. My newest mittens have a compartment for a hand warmer, so my fingers stay nice and warm. I’ve never used mittens when shoveling snow, though. It seems to me I need the dexterity, but maybe I’m wrong about that. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/15 "2017-02-10T20:17:04Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > If what I’m doing requires any manual dexterity, though, I always want gloves. That problem is that gloves don’t seem to provide adequate dexterity so you end up removing your hand from them anyway. For example you try to put a small nut on a bolt. Neither a mitten nor glove (except very thin one (which isn’t warm) will hold the nut). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/16 "2017-02-10T21:34:19Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I use a combination: [fingerless gloves with a finger cover](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20516?feat=506573-GN3&page=windbloc-converta-mitts). Need dexterity? Flip the cover up. Need to be warm? Flip it down. > > I also have a nice pair of mittens I wear when shoveling snow. > > But if it’s not too cold, I prefer gloves. My wife has a similar pair called “Glittens”. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/17 "2017-02-10T21:53:40Z")
I have arthritis in my hands and getting gloves on is really a challenge, so I go with mittens. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/18 "2017-02-10T22:40:16Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I use a combination: [fingerless gloves with a finger cover](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20516?feat=506573-GN3&page=windbloc-converta-mitts). Need dexterity? Flip the cover up. Need to be warm? Flip it down. We actually sell quite a few of those in adult sizes in our camping and hunting department where I work. I think people who spend serious time outside during the winter have no problems buying adult mittens, but these days most people are just hurrying between inside a building and inside a vehicle so it keeping the dexterity/styling of gloves might matter more to them. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/19 "2017-02-11T00:27:17Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I use a combination: [fingerless gloves with a finger cover](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20516?feat=506573-GN3&page=windbloc-converta-mitts). Need dexterity? Flip the cover up. Need to be warm? Flip it down. I just bought a pair of those before Christmas–I call them “convertibles” since they have flip-tops for finger coverage. Convenient for handling small objects or working buttons without taking off (and possibly dropping or losing) a glove/mitten. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470/20 "2017-02-11T00:28:49Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > There is a compromise, [Split Finger mittens](https://www.rei.com/product/103614/rei-co-op-split-finger-mittens) that give you additional flexibility while still keeping your hands quite warm. These look like something you’d wear after prenatal mercury poisoning. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > I use a combination: [fingerless gloves with a finger cover](https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20516?feat=506573-GN3&page=windbloc-converta-mitts). Need dexterity? Flip the cover up. Need to be warm? Flip it down. > > I also have a nice pair of mittens I wear when shoveling snow. > > But if it’s not too cold, I prefer gloves. > [@Chefguy](#): > > My wife has a similar pair called “Glittens”. The ones I have were advertised as “glomitts.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gloves-versus-mittens/779470.md?page=2)