How to Keep your Hands Warm while Skiing


Keep hands warm

One thing that can ruin a wonderful day on the slopes is having cold hands. Even though you are producing body heat to warm yourself up, it usually won’t be long before you start feeling your hands getting cold.

Staying warm in the midst of a long ski day is important for your health and for you to fully enjoy this wonderful sport. So, what do you really need to do to keep your hands warm while skiing?

Hands are vulnerable to frostbite, so it is very important to take good care of them.

You have to invest in a quality pair of ski gloves or mittens and in liners. Although, it cannot be any kind of gloves, they have to be ski-specific, warm, windproof, waterproof, and must not cut out blood circulation. Focus on ski gloves that are capable of withstanding freezing weather conditions.

Below, we’ve put together a list of tips that will help you stay warm and cozy during your winter activities.

 

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Top tips for staying warm on the slopes

1. Wear quality gloves

One way to keep your hands warm is to invest in high-quality ski gloves that actually do their job. Wear ski-specific gloves with long cuffs, so that they can go under your ski jacket. These gloves should also be waterproof to keep your hands dry, even during heavy snowfall.

Also, remember to put your gloves on before going outside and not after you’ve stepped out of the lodge. Stepping outside with bare hands results in tightening of blood vessels and will prevent warm blood from flowing. In such cases, even if you put your gloves on, it can be difficult to warm up your hands. Another thing to keep in mind is to check the tightness of your wrist straps, whether on gloves or your jacket, so you can avoid cutting off blood circulation.

2. Glove liners

A pair of glove liners adds two to three degrees to your gloves and absorbs humidity, thus preventing your hands from getting cold when you’re not active. Glove liners also dry more easily than a glove’s inner lining. You can also opt for touch-screen liners, so that you won’t have to remove them while using your phone. It is also good to invest in a versatile pair of liners that have moisture-wicking abilities and are warm enough to be used without gloves over them.

3. Heated gloves

Heated gloves can provide an extra boost of warmth on really cold days. These gloves have small batteries that are flexible enough to fit inside the cuffs and have small heating materials through the glove and up the fingers.

You should pay attention to the heated gloves’ features because some are not suitable for highly-active winter sports, while others are tougher to take a beating as well as waterproof and windproof.

4. Raynaud’s syndrome

Today, a lot of manufacturers make ski gloves and mittens that can keep your hands warm even if you suffer from Raynaud’s syndrome. These kinds of gloves or mittens are great for blood circulation and are heavily insulated with a balance of waterproofness and moisture-wicking abilities.

5. Consider mittens

Mittens aren’t just made for kids. In fact, a lot of skiers and snowboarders make use of mittens because they keep your fingers together, allowing them to share warmth, and let warm air circulate inside. If you are worried about being able to hold your ski poles, don’t overthink it. A lot of brands manufacture mittens that are flexible enough to let you grip on ski poles without sacrificing their overall quality.

6. Use hand warmers

These are materials that can give your hands a boost of warmth during frigid weather conditions. Some hand warmers come in disposable packs, but you can always opt for rechargeable hand warmers.

Hand warmers can also be small heated objects that you can carry in your backpack as an emergency for colder days, like a thermal flask. Bringing a hot drink can also warm you up, and the thermal flask doubles as a hand warmer.

 

Not sure whether you should get gloves or mittens for skiing? We’ve listed the pros and cons of each equipment to help you answer the question “Are gloves or mittens better for skiing?“. 

 

7. Keep your core warm

You also have to focus on keeping the rest of your body warm, especially your core, or torso. To keep your hands warm, make sure that the rest of your body is also insulated. The best way to do this is to wear highly-breathable clothing that can wick moisture away, is highly waterproof, and has great insulating properties. You should also consider layering up so that you can adjust based on your activity. It is best to wear moisture-wicking base layers, and then top them up with a lightweight and flexible mid-layer.

8. Stay dry

Wet hands can result in cold hands, so it is important to keep them dry. Invest in a good pair of waterproof gloves or mittens and liners that can to wick moisture away from your hands when they get sweaty. A lot of manufacturers make use of high-end materials and technology with these abilities, so it is best to focus on those features.

9. Keep moving

In cold temperature, leaving your hands motionless for a long time is never a good idea. With simple movements, you can warm them up and increase the blood flow in your fingers. But, be cautious when moving your hands and fingers, especially when you are holding ski poles or trekking poles.

10. Avoid alcohol consumption

Alcohol may warm you up, but it is best to avoid it entirely because skiing under the influence is dangerous and can also affect your blood circulation and lower your body temperature. You should also avoid smoking as it constricts blood vessels and reduces blood circulation, which causes cold hands and feet.

11. Fuel up

Hungry people tend to feel colder, so it is best to start the day by eating warm meals to warm and fuel you up for a day of high-intensity skiing. Throughout the day, also have nutritional and high-calorie snacks with a good combination of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to energize you.

 

Final thoughts

Dressing correctly in the cold is essential to keep your entire body warm. Thus, investing in clothing and accessories based on your winter activities should not be disregarded.

To avoid getting cold hands while skiing, your topmost priority is to stay warm and dry with a quality pair of gloves or mittens. You should also take care of your core by coming up with a layering system that offers insulation, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties.

Furthermore, you should not forget to recharge yourself by having a good night’s sleep and eating a hearty breakfast before setting off for a day on the slopes.

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