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Compared to being bare-handed, we all know how great it is to wear gloves in the freezing cold - until it's time to use your phone or any other touchscreen device. More than likely, you've tried to use your device without any success, and ultimately took your gloves off to send that text message or answer that phone call.
Tech-friendly, or touchscreen gloves, are the best way to stay connected without having to endure the cold. While fabric usually gets in the way of you and your tech device, touchscreen gloves feature conductive technology that allows the body's electricity to pass through to the screen.
After researching, we rounded up the best touchscreen gloves for all your cold-weather needs, including an exceptionally warm fleece option, a performance running pair, a classic leather style, and more.
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Made with a four-way stretch fleece, The North Face Etip gloves are a warm, comfortable option that lets you use all of your fingers on a touchscreen.
These gloves are available in both women's and men's sizes.
The North Face's popular Etips are a great winter glove all-around. They're made from a blend of polyester and four-watch stretch fleece that has a conductive polymer coating to allow for touchscreen compatibility.
What really makes these gloves special is that you can use all of your fingers on a touchscreen, not just your index fingers and thumbs like most other tech-friendly gloves. This, along with radiometric articulation technology, which keeps your hands in their relaxed resting position, and ample grip, makes the Etip Gloves feel very natural to wear. Just about anything you can do without gloves on, you'll be able to do while wearing The North Face Etip Gloves.
These aren't the warmest tech-friendly gloves you can buy, but the balance between wearability and comfort still makes them the best. Having gloves that are marginally less warm, but not at all bulky makes up for the difference.
Read my full review on The North Face Etip Gloves here.
Pros: Comfortable, lots of grip, warm, touchscreen compatible on all fingers, snaps keep the gloves together as a pair
Cons: Not as warm as other options
The best affordable touchscreen gloves
If you're looking for a basic pair of gloves that'll knock the chill off and not empty your pockets, Uniqlo's HEATTECH Knit Gloves are a solid choice.
The sizing of these gloves is gender-neutral.
Uniqlo HEATTECH Knit Gloves aren't super technical, made for performance, or designed for extreme weather conditions — but for those who just need a basic pair of gloves to block the winter chill, that's perfectly fine.
Although the design is simple, these gloves still feature Uniqlo's famed HEATTECH technology that wicks your body's moisture into the fibers and converts its kinetic energy into heat. Air pockets within the ultra-thin fibers trap the heat and retain it, and the result is a lightweight layer of warmth.
Originally priced at $14.90 (currently on sale for $5.90), HEATTECH Gloves are super affordable and well worth the money if you're simply using them for everyday outdoor activities like commuting, or running errands.
Pros: Affordable, multiple colors available
Cons: No added grip, touchscreen compatible on index fingers and thumbs only
The best fleece touchscreen gloves
When temperatures are really cold, a heavier fleece goes a long way. The Patagonia Synchilla Fleece Gloves use the same 100% recycled material as the brand's popular fleece jackets and tops.
The sizing of these gloves is gender-neutral.
Patagonia Synchilla Fleeces are some of the brand's best-selling items because they're extremely warm, comfortable, and sustainably made from 100% recycled materials.
The Synchilla Fleece Gloves provide the same level of warmth and coziness as your favorite fleece tops, but for your hands. They're slightly bulkier than The North Face Etip Gloves, but if warmth is more important than dexterity, then you'll want to consider this option. The gloves feature elastic wrists to block air from blowing in, and they're also designed to wick moisture and dry quickly so your hands will stay warm in many different weather conditions.
While most gloves come in size ranges like S/M and L/XL, Patagonia offers the Synchilla Fleece Gloves in individual sizes from XS through XL. If you're not completely sure what size you wear, I recommend using the size chart to ensure a good fit.
Pros: Exceptionally warm, made from recycled materials
Cons: Slightly bulky, touchscreen compatible on index fingers and thumbs only
The best touchscreen gloves for running
Freezing hands can deter some of the most dedicated winter runners, but the Nike Therma Sphere 360 Running Gloves were designed to keep you warm while remaining nimble. Reflective accents also help keep you visible.
These gloves are available in both women's and men's sizing.
It goes without saying that outdoor running is most enjoyable when the weather is nice, but if you're dedicated to putting in miles on the pavement year-round, then warm running gear is a must.
Designed specifically for runners, the Nike Therma Sphere 360 Gloves are made from a lightweight fabric that's been optimized for warmth. Other useful features include silicone grips on the fingers and palms for securely holding your smartphone and reflective accents on the cuffs and Swooshes that increase visibility.
Although you'll only be able to use touchscreens with your index fingers and thumbs, it's enough to change your music, track your workouts, or send a text while you're out on your runs.
Pros: Moisture-wicking DRI-Fit material, reflective accents for visibility, lots of grip, hands can move naturally
Cons: Touchscreen compatible on index fingers and thumbs only
The best leather touchscreen gloves
The Banana Republic Moto Zip Leather Gloves have a sophisticated look that goes well with formal outerwear like peacoats and topcoats.
When suits, dress shoes, briefcases, and overcoats are a part of your wardrobe, you'll need a pair of refined gloves to go with your dapper style. That's where leather versions come in.
Banana Republic's Moto Zip Leather Gloves feature a 100% tumbled leather shell with wool lining. The combination of materials makes them very warm and efficient at blocking wind, while maintaining a timeless look that you can wear season after season.
You won't initially have the same range of motion and dexterity as some of the other options on this list, but after several wears, the leather material will break into a more comfortable and personalized fit.
This pair is specifically designed for men, but we also recommend Ugg's Shearling-Cuff Leather Tech Gloves as the best leather touchscreen gloves for women — they're warm, stylish, and the fingertips are all tech-friendly.
Pros: Classic design, high-quality leather, lined with wool
Cons: Touchscreen compatible on index fingers and thumbs only
What else we considered
There are a lot of other touchscreen gloves on the market outside of the five pairs we recommended in this guide. Here are a few other pairs we considered that didn't make the cut:
Moshi Digits Touchscreen Gloves ($29.95): Moshi's Digits Touchscreen Gloves have a few things going for them: They have touchscreen compatibility in all 10 fingers, grips on the fingers and palms, and a 10-year warranty. However, the knit design is too similar to much more affordable gloves, like the Uniqlo HEATTECH Gloves we recommend. For $30, I believe The North Face Etips are a better choice.
Timberland Touchscreen Gloves ($34.99): Timberland does a great job at creating leather (especially nubuck) products, so this pair was considered for the best leather pick. As much as I personally like the brand, I decided against including this pair because the design is distinctly Timberland, which could make them hard to pair with other styles and brands you own.