Running isn’t a seasonal sport, you can run all year round, no matter what’s the weather. Being a running lover isn’t just about choosing proper running shoes, jackets, and tights, it also refers to picking the right gear such as the best running gloves. They guarantee comfort during a chilly fall or winter run without making your fingers numbed and frozen.
Thus, a runner should bundle up properly by wearing comfortable warm yet breathable and elastic clothing, including protecting their hands from cooling. Buying proper running gloves isn’t easy: it requires sufficient research on what gloves model serves well, their temperature management, and defining your needs.
In a hurry?
In a hurry?
In a hurry and can’t keep reading? How about you check out the
Nike Men’s Dry Tech Lightweight Running Gloves.
These best cold weather running gloves are made of lightweight and breathable material to avoid sweaty hands while guaranteeing warm and dry palms.

Top 8 Best Running Gloves Reviewed
- Nike Men’s Dry Tech Lightweight Running Gloves - Top Pick
- New Balance Lightweight Running Gloves - Runner-Up
- Adidas Dash 2.0 Winter Performance Gloves
- FanVince Winter Running Gloves
- Tough Outdoors Thermal Running Gloves
- Aegend Lightweight Running Gloves
- Unigear Lightweight Anti-Slip Running Gloves
- FREETOO Winter Running Gloves
1. Nike Men’s Dry Tech Lightweight Running Gloves - Top Pick
- Type: running, outdoor exercising
- Sizing: M-XL
- Material: polyester
- Color palette: black/silver
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: moderately cold winter, windy fall/spring
These best cold weather running gloves are made of lightweight and breathable material to avoid sweaty hands while guaranteeing warm and dry palms. These lightweight running gloves with a weight of just 0.1g provide good protection from windy and cold weather. It has light coverage for running in moderate temperatures. When it’s frosty outside, you can wear the second pair of gloves on these ones, which becomes possible due to their thin layer.

Photo by @hey_daystory
Positives:
Good protection from wind, yet stay breathable
Best suitable for cold weather: thin and keep warm well
Perfectly fitted as expected
Could be better:
Weak touch screen fingertip grip
No silicone elements on the palm
2. New Balance Lightweight Running Gloves – Runner-Up
- Type: running, outdoor exercising
- Sizing: S/M - L/XL
- Material: 86% polyester, 14% spandex
- Color palette: black, gray, dragonfly, hi-lite
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: cool spring/fall, wind chill, cold weather below +10 degrees Celsius
These warm running gloves have a reflective graphic logo, touchscreen, and smartphone touch-tip, silicone gripper on the palm to keep your gadget firmly. New Balance Dry & New Balance Fresh technology ensures sweat removal and keeps your hands dry and warm while resolving the issue of bad odors from sweating. These grippy waterproof gloves for running are feeling like a second skin due to the 3D stretch fabric.
They’re perfect for chilly fall and spring running workouts by guaranteeing your hands stay warm and comfortable even during heavy rains and strong winds.
Positives:
Feel like a second skin
Not bulky, you have a full-hand functionality
Anti-microbial properties to avoid unpleasant odors
Could be better:
Have narrow temperature windows where they can make sense
- Type: running, biking, outdoor exercising
- Sizing: XS/S - 7-7 ¼”, L/XL - 7 ¾”-8”
- Material: polyester
- Color palette: black/white
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: brisk windy days
Here you are the ultimate lightweight running gloves with Climawarm technology that keeps your hands warm due to excellent thermal insulation, still providing superb breathability. The moisture-wicking feature makes your hands stay dry and warm even during and after the longest intense running sessions.
You’ll enjoy exercising with them thanks to their high functionality: there are thumb and index touchscreen conductivity pads that simplify using your smartphone while you work out without taking gloves off.

Photo by @chef.wong_l
Also, you get an extended cuff for updraft protection, so they keep even warmer for your hands and wrists. Moreover, there’s a hidden pocket compartment on the back of the hand to store some little essentials while running.
Positives:
Hidden pocket to store little items
Stylish & high-functional design
Perfect for windy and brisk weather
Could be better:
Quite loose fit making touch fingertips difficult to type precisely
No silicone particles
- Type: running, cycling, hiking, outdoor exercising
- Sizing: men XS-XL, women S-XXL; 3.09”-3.54” mid-finger length, 7.4”-8.86” palm circumference
- Material: polyester
- Color palette: black
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: cool winter, windy and rainy fall&spring
These gloves will keep your hands warm even for extra long workouts thanks to insulated warm and soft polar fleece fabric inside the gloves and a knitted cuff that is longer than in other gloves. They’re water-resistant and windproof due to their high-quality waterproof membrane and polar fleece material. So, these properties make them one of the best warm running gloves that can withstand frosty winters and windy chilly falls.

The touch screen design with the thumb and index pads and anti-slip surface enables you to click your smartphone and not be afraid of slipping it off the hand. Also, you’ll like multiple silicone particles on the thumb, forefinger, middle finger, and palm that increase gripping features.
Positives:
Lengthened knitted cuff
100% refund guaranteed
3-layer thermal fabric
Could be better:
Are slightly oversized, need to choose a smaller size for a better fit
Aren’t too tight on the end of the fingers making it difficult to touch the screen
- Type: running, cycling, outdoor exercising
- Sizing: XS-XL, 6.5-7” - 9-10” palm circumference
- Material: polyester
- Color palette: black
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: cold temperatures 5-10 degrees of Celsius
These water-repellent gloves go with the brushed fleece fabric inside to keep your hands warm in low temps, making them one of the best gloves for running in moderately cool and brisk weather (5-10 degrees Celsius).
One-Touch Technology makes them sensitive, so you can swipe and type easily without hard touch and taking them off. Embossed gripping is made to avoid slipping your device from the hand. Thanks to the stretchy material, these gloves are anatomically fit with a low-bulk design that provides you excellent dexterity and high precision of touch.

Additionally, these gloves can be used as standalone or glove liners for ski gloves for extra warmth.
Positives:
Good snug fit
Budget-friendly
Block wind very well
Could be better:
Poor gripping, too risky to use your phone while running
Should press hard when typing
- Type: running, cycling, climbing, hiking, lifting weights, driving
- Sizing: S-L, 8.26-9.45" palm circumference, 7.48-8.26" length from width to mid finger
- Material: 88% polyester, 12% spandex
- Color palette: black
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: winter, early spring, fall
You can use them as liner gloves under ski mittens and other bulky gloves, or as standalone ones in moderate weather conditions.
The Touchscreen fingers design is compatible with all devices' screen types, silicone grip design with 4 pieces combination of the palm and fingers guarantees that your phone won't slip from your hand even during active movement.
Polyester fleece lining keeps your hands warm and comfortable, due to the fabric's elasticity and breathability you can easily put on and off the gloves. Double cuffs suppress wind blow. Additionally, anti-pilling and anti-static material features ensure your hands breathe and wick instantly.
Positives:
30-days free return, 12 months warranty
Have double-layer cuffs
Warm enough for their thickness
Could be better:
The touchscreen feature works well for scrolling, but not texting
Finger pads are too big for precise typing
Not waterproof
- Type: running, biking, cycling, driving, outdoor exercising
- Sizing: M-L, palm length 6.7-7.4” - 7.8”, palm circumference 7-9” - 7.4-9.4”
- Material: viscose 41.8%, cotton 29.8%, acryl 23.4%, spandex 5%
- Color palette: black
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: mild, moderately cool weather, the lowest temp resistance is 5 degrees of Celsius
These gloves are perfect for mild winter, fall, and spring, so if you want to wear them in cold frosty conditions, you’d better use them like a lining below the bulky gloves. The stretchy material fits your hands well by staying durable and guaranteeing high dexterity. Their lower elastic cuff of 1.57” in length resists cold and wind. These gloves can be also considered the best running gloves for women because the M size fits perfectly for a small hand.

Photo by @insta_casual_ua
Integrated silicone dots vouch for an increased firm grip. No extra seams around the thumb that provides anti-ripping and durability of the gloves, and improved elastic stitching. Conductive microfiber points enable one to type without taking gloves off. Velvet fabric absorbs moisture and releases heat.
Positives:
M size fits perfectly and snugly even for tiny hands
Reinforced elastic stitching
The maximum range of motion of the thumb
Could be better:
No water-resistant feature
Seams come apart after several uses
- Type: running, cycling, driving, hiking, outdoor exercising
- Sizing: XS-XL, palm width 6.8-7.2” - 8.8-9.5”
- Material: 94% polyester, 6% spandex
- Color palette: black, brown
- Closure type: pull on
- Season suitable for: cold winter, fall, and spring, serves well above the temperature of 4 degrees below zero
Anti-slip features with a streamlined design and snug fit of the gloves ensure a high level of dexterity making it easy to use your phone during the activity with no worries about its slipping off the hands. The gloves have good cushioning inside, yet stay lightweight. These touch screen running gloves are flexible for comfortable use: no matter whether you want to type a message or take a photo, all these options are possible thanks to the thumb and forefinger-sensitive touchscreen pads.

Photo by @freetoo_us
These running gloves weigh 60g making them a good lining for skiing or cycling bulky mittens. A pair of these gloves will serve you long due to their high durability and double stitching.
Positives:
Excellent customer service, quick response if you want to make an exchange
The superb quality of the stitching
Are good for moderately low temps
Could be better:
Not so warm as expected
Poor gripping lines just for half of the palm
What are the Benefits of Using Running Gloves?
Keeping Hands Warm in Different Weather Conditions
Our hands get cold quickly when the temperature goes down because our body tries to keep our core and internal organs warm by increasing blood circulation. That’s the main reason why our extremities get cold during a cool winter run. Tough weather conditions aren’t the reason for stopping your outdoor running workouts.
Therefore, properly chosen running gloves keep your hands warm and dry, so you won’t notice harsh weather conditions, i.e., cold wind, snow, rain, or frost. Perfectly fit running gears work for all conditions in which you run. To get the most out of the chosen gloves you should consider the temperature outside, the intensity of your training, and the tendency of your overheating.
Extra Protection and Better Grip
It’s better to look for the gloves with extra wind-proofing properties: multiple layers of the material are designed to stop the wind and protect hands from windchill and stiffnes feeling. The next point you should consider is gloves gripping texture on the palm side. For instance, if you regularly get out your phone from the pocket, or want to uncover a protein bar, or gel on the go, then a good secure grip on the palms is imoprtant for you to consider when choosing a perfect gear. Such silicone patterns brings much better traction when holding objects and there’s no need to stop running to get out a phone.
This feature refers also to trail and course obstacle runners. They wear gloves to protect their hands while running through diverse terrain surfaces, i.e., to cushion from accidental falling thanks to padding elements. Also, they will provide extra grip when a runner needs to climb up or down the rock, or climb the rope, overcome obstacles, jump through the roots and so on. In such harsh and extreme conditions, running gloves are must-have because they also bring runners’ hands mobility and dexterity while protecting them.

Be More Visible
With reflective accents on the gloves, a runner becomes more visible for the upcoming traffic and attracts more attention to the drivers in the evening with their hands moving and waving while running in poor light districts. Generally, high-visibility elements on the sports wear can significantly reduce accidents in low-light conditions.
What to Look For in Best Running Gloves?
Price/Quality
The price tag is also important when choosing the best winter running gloves: high-quality garments can’t be cheap and their price shouldn’t be super high considering the specific features. The more durable the material is, the more extra features running gloves have, and the higher price will be for the item. The average price for good gloves may vary from $20-30 and they should be touchscreen compatible, with reflective and non-slip elements, made of durable fabric to allow optimal breathability, moisture-wicking, and keep the warmth.
Design

Comfort
Running gloves should be comfortable for everyday use, they don’t have to compress your palms and fingers, as well as they don’t have to be loose. The main point is that comfort depends on the material: gloves for running should be made of flexible, stretchy fabric that is highly durable to provide users with ultimate comfort while staying functional sports gear. They should prevent sweat, stiffness, and numbness of the hands in any weather conditions.
Stretchy material should guarantee a snug fit that also simplifies the usage of smartphones without taking the gloves off. So, you may feel them like a second warm layer. Too big gloves can cause enough discomfort, i.e., skin chafing and irritation, especially if your hands are already sweaty. Too small gloves prevent normal blood circulation to your extremities, so they’re becoming colder more quickly.
Material breathability also plays a crucial role in vouching for a high level of comfort. They should be ventilated enough to keep your hands dry while staying warm. Polyester material copes with this task perfectly due to its high breathability and absorbency features.

Stitching
The quality of stitching refers directly to the material and its thickness level. You’d rather choose gloves of thicker material for cold weather, and you’ll wear thin ones on warm days. As usual, the front side of the gloves is made from thicker fabric to protect hands from wind, while the opposite side is thinner to absorb sweat in the palm area and make hands dry and warm.
That means your gloves can be produced from several types of synthetic fabric that should be stitched well not to make it easy to tear accidentally or avoid gloves seams split in the stitching of two materials.
Durability
Durability is connected to the material your gloves are made from. The majority of gloves are made from polyester, spandex, and nylon, also merino wool is becoming popular nowadays. These materials wick away moisture and provide runners with additional warmth and protection.
For instance, polyester brings good absorbency and breathability while not having water protection and wind resistance features. The same is with acrylic and elastane. Fleece gloves don’t absorb water well, but are soft and keep hands warm and highly protected. Polypropylene material can protect hands from wind and is water-repellent, but it’s not breathable enough which results in internal sweat accumulation.
Protection
Choosing the right running garments is important both for starters and experienced marathon runners. If you keep your body warm during running, you get better performance, maintain your health, and have an injury-free workout. Besides proper warm-up exercises, you should wear comfortable and warm clothes, as well as appropriate running gloves that will protect your extremities from being frostbite and numbed.

So, when picking a pair of gloves, consider what temperature range and weather conditions they’re designed for. When speaking about winter or cold fall/spring running, such gloves should have a warm fleece lining, moisture-wicking material that is moderately thin, and light not to slip off your hands or bunch up on the palms. They should bring you extra thermal insulation and protection, so after running you still feel your fingers keep the warmth.
Also, a vital point in selecting running gloves is the possibility of not exposing your hands to the cold when you want to use your phone to type something or take a photo quickly. So, the chosen pair of gloves should be warm enough, soft inside, flexible, and breathable to bring you maximum comfort while working out.
FAQ
Is It Good to Wear Gloves While Running?
Running in the cold with gloves influences athletes’ general comfort, maintains blood circulation to your fingers and protects them from being stiff, cold, and swollen because of frost. Even experienced runners wear gloves to avoid injuries in case of losing their footing and falling.
Are Wool Gloves Good for Running?
Wool gloves can become useful for your low-temperature running training if the temperature is going below 7 C, so your fingers are becoming highly susceptible to frost. Wool is a pretty breathable material that enables air circulation and protects your hands from overheating and extra moisture. Still, wool gloves keep hands warm inside.
Why Do Ultra Runners Wear Gloves?
There may be several reasons: gloves do help to warm up since fingers aren’t working hard while running. Also, runners use gloves as sweat rags to wipe their faces from salty sweat. Another reason is that running gloves can save runners’ hands from injuries and occasional falls or tripping.
Conclusion
- Practicing Sport in Cold Environments // NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8471173/
- Running in Winter: Benefits and Protection Strategies // HealthLine: https://www.healthline.com/health/winter-running
- Tips for First Time Cold-Weather Runners // Very Well Fit: https://www.verywellfit.com/tips-for-first-time-cold-weathered-runners-5205528
- The Effects of Gloves on Grip Strength and Muscle Activity // Sage Journal: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1518/107118188786762603
- Workout glove having a wrist wrap // Patents: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9067123B1/en
Oleksandr is a running coach and member of the Nike Run Club coaching team for 8 years. A participant in national and international competitions at distances from one kilometer to the ultra trail. Owner of mountain trail running camps. Nowadays Oleksandr is responsible for creating running training programs for athletes of various levels, coaching personally offline and online, conducts trail running camps in the mountains, participates in competitions.