Choosing the best winter gloves for you is crucial for our safety and comfort during the most challenging season of the year. Our gloves are a core item in our equipment in the winter and are one of the most important pieces of gear you will take onto the hill. A glove that is well-suited to the harsh demands of the Cairngorm plateau will be overkill for use elsewhere much of the time.
Main image: Kirsty Pallas awarded the Gabbro her best value accolade | Credit: Alpkit
Conditions often change very quickly however, and it is possible to experience extremely cold conditions anywhere in the UK whilst hiking. In the wettest conditions, even the gloves with the best possible waterproofing will wet-through. As such, it is common practice to take more than one pair of gloves for winter hillwalking.
Some people feel the cold in their extremities far more than others. If that’s you, look for a glove with more insulation. If you are more likely to be moving fast, look for breathability as a priority.
Winter hiking gloves should include a waterproof membrane and DWR coating, as keeping moisture out is even more important in winter than the rest of the year. If you are a regular hiker, prioritise durability, and look for gloves with reinforced palms, taped seams and high-quality materials.
Make sure you choose gloves that fit properly. A glove which is too big will feel clumsy and make simple tasks difficult. Too tight a glove will reduce movement and allow the cold to creep in more quickly. Take time to try and balance all of these factors when choosing a glove, as it will have a huge effect on your overall comfort on the winter hills.
Salewa Ortles Powertex Tirolwool Responsive
Kirsty Pallas’ Best in Test 2025
Salewa have crafted warm but light gloves that kept me warm and mostly dry over many winter days.- low volume
- smooth lining which helps with wet hands
- no connecting clips
- palm not reinforced
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £110 |
| Weight: 140g for Women’s S/glove size 6 |
| Materials: Nylon outer, merino wool and polyamide lining, goat leather palm |
| Insulation: Polyester and wool |
| Waterproof: PTX Performance Insert |
| Features: Wrist elastic, velcro cuff, carabiner loop, pull on loop |
| Sizes: XS – L |
| Men’s version: Yes |
| salewa.com |
The Salewa Ortles Powertex Tirolwool Responsive Gloves are warm but light and have kept me warm and mostly dry over many winter days. The insulation is a mix of wool and polyester, which is very cosy, while also being fairly low volume.
A few very handy features like elasticated wrist loops so you don’t lose them, and a pull-on loop which is a good size make these an almost perfect winter glove. Adding a connecting clip would make it easier to find both in the depths of a dark rucksack!
Read more: Kirsty Pallas’ full Salewa Ortles Powertex Tirolwool Responsive gloves review
Black Diamond Glissade
James Roddie’s Best in Test 2025
The overall performance of this glove matches similar products I have tried that almost cost twice as much.- very warm
- breathable
- good value for performance
- leather palm does not extend over fingertips
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £75 |
| Weight: 172g (Size M pair) |
| Materials: Outer 100% recycled Polyester, goat leather palm |
| Insulation: Thinsulate |
| Waterproof: Pertex Shield and BD.Dry insert |
| Features: Drawcord cuff, nose wipe, pairing clip, carabiner loop |
| Sizes: XS – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| blackdiamondequipment.com |
The Black Diamond Glissade is an impressive glove, which I found very well-suited to the rigours of harsh Scottish winter conditions. A size Medium pair weighs 172g – marginally less than other gloves providing similar levels of insulation. Warmth is excellent for a glove which feels relatively low bulk and dexterous. Black Diamond emphasise the ability of these gloves to remain breathable when you are working hard. I was surprised with how well they performed whilst moving fast up some Grade I winter gullies.
At £75 RRP, the overall performance of this glove matches similar products I have tried that almost cost twice as much. After using a pair for a couple of weeks at the start of the winter, I found myself reaching for them whenever I was heading out in the most challenging weather.
Read more: James Roddie’s full Black Diamond Glissade review
Rab Pivot Gore-Tex
Lucy Wallace’s Best in Test 2023
The Rab Pivot waterproof gloves are warm enough for most activities, including walking and climbing.- warm
- dexterous
- grippy
- not touchscreen-friendly
- short fingers
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £120 |
| Weight: 1210g (L) |
| Materials: Gore-Tex, Pittards leather, PrimaLoft Gold insulation |
| Features: nose wipe, knuckle padding, long gauntlet with drawcord closure, wrist loops |
| Sizes: S, M, L |
The Rab Pivot waterproof gloves are warm enough for most activities, including walking and climbing. The outer fabric is a stretch soft shell across the backs of the hands, and butter-soft Pittards leather on the palms and fingertips.
The insulation is lovely compressible PrimaLoft Gold, and a silky microfibre lining wicks really well. The fit is narrow, and the fingers are a bit short – the gap between the fingers feels a bit like having webbed fingers.
Read more: Lucy Wallace’s full Rab Women’s Pivot Gore-Tex Gloves review
DexShell Ultra Weather Winter Gloves
Chris Townsend’s Best in Test 2023
These gloves, with just one downside, are surprisingly warm despite the low bulk and light weight- dexterity
- warmth
- lightweight
- cost
- seams on fingertips
- no leashes
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £45 |
| Weight: 145g (L) |
| Materials: Taslan polyester, textured anti-slip PU, Porelle membrane, PrimaLoft Gold with CrossCore, polyester fleece |
| Features: nose wipe, touchscreen-compatible thumb and forefinger, clip together |
| Sizes: S – XL |
The DexShell Ultra Weather Winter Gloves are made from soft, flexible fabrics and are surprisingly warm. The price and weight are both low. There are big loops on the cuffs for attaching leashes, though none are provided. A minor concern is that there are seams over the fingertips. For most hillwalking these shouldn’t be a problem but for scrambling or technical climbing they could be a weak point.
Read more: Chris Townsend’s full DexShell Ultra Weather Winter Gloves review
Alpkit Gabbro
Kirsty Pallas’ Best Value in 2025
Other than not having a pull-on loop, I can’t really fault these gloves from Alpkit which come at a competitive price.- price
- reinforced palms
- no pull-on loop
| Quick specs |
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| Price: £64.99 |
| Weight: 153g for XS/glove size 6 |
| Materials: Polyester and spandex shell, polyester pile lining, goat leather palm |
| Insulation: Primaloft Gold |
| Waterproof: PorelleDry insert |
| Features: Drawcord cuff, nose wipe, carabiner loop |
| Sizes: XS – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| alpkit.com |
The Gabbro is Alpkit’s top end glove and a fair match with others in this test, but at a very competitive price. A generous amount of Primaloft Gold makes them a warm choice, but not too bulky. The shell is a stretchy softshell making them flexible for climbing or mountaineering, and this also runs between the fingers. On my samples, the fabric has started pilling a little here, but this is after digging in snow and clearing cracks in rock. Overall, I think they should stand up well to a reasonable level of abuse.
Other than not having a pull-on loop, I can’t really fault these gloves. They are a workhorse that will deal with any weather thrown at them, and really are a steal at this price. I’ve had them walking, climbing, mountaineering, and just standing around, and they’ve kept me warm each time.
Read more: Kirsty Pallas’ full Alpkit Gabbro review
Rab Xenon Mitt
Kirsty Pallas recommends
For the weight and price, these gloves are impressive, but not as my only winter glove.- weight
- price
- not waterproof
- less durable palm than leather
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £50 |
| Weight: 61g with stuff sack for XS |
| Materials: 100% recycled Pertex Quantum shell, nylon lining, PU palm |
| Insulation: Primaloft Gold |
| Waterproof: No |
| Features: Double cuff, pull on loop, pack away into a stuffsack |
| Sizes: XS – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| rab.equipment/uk |
Only just sneaking into the winter gloves category, the Xenon mitt is the lightest touch in the test, as well as being the lightest in weight. It’s only really a full winter option for folk moving fast and light, but Primaloft Gold insulation packs a lot of warmth for its bulk, and these gloves will ‘upgrade’ a wet liner glove to feeling very toasty quite quickly. The 100% recycled shell is Pertex Quantum, which is very light allowing the insulation to loft, and DWR treated to provide some water repellency. These mitts are not waterproof, and will wet out much quicker than anything else on this test.
For the weight and price, these gloves are impressive, but not as my only winter glove. I found myself using these for a walk off the hill, once my bigger gloves had wetted out, but I was moving fast and constantly. I’ve also used them ‘summer’ mountaineering as an on/off option between belaying and climbing when it’s been wet, and they’ve made a huge difference.
Read more: Kirsty Pallas’ full Rab Xenon Mitt review
Black Diamond Soloist
Kirsty Pallas recommends
These gloves were great for belaying or if it was very cold and wet. If you ‘run cold’ these are worth considering.- warmth
- long cuffs
- weight
- dexterity
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £125 |
| Weight: 266g for XS |
| Materials: 100% recycled polyester shell, fleece lining, goat leather palms |
| Insulation: Primaloft Gold |
| Waterproof: BD.Dry insert |
| Features: Removable liner, double cuff, carabiner loop, nose wipe |
| Sizes: XS – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| www.blackdiamondequipment.com |
The soloist is a big beefy glove with heaps of warmth. Primaloft Gold is the insulation, with more on the back of the hand where the weather will impact most, and slightly less on the palm to increase dexterity. The shell is 100% recycled with a DWR finish and a slight stretch which helps with dexterity. There’s a waterproof insert which held off the constant rain we ‘enjoyed’ last winter! The liner glove is removable, making drying them out easier, and has a lining of warm fleece.
A lovely soft nosewipe for the inevitable cold runny nose finishes off the features. I would find these too warm for actively walking, but they were great for belaying or if it was very cold and wet.
Read more: Kirsty Pallas’ full Black Diamond Soloist review
Mammut Norwand Pro
Kirsty Pallas recommends
If you run warm or are going to spend most of your day moving, then these will be plenty warm.- dexterity
- neoprene cuff reduces drafts
- not as warm
- small pull on loop
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £150 |
| Weight: 145g for S/glove size 6 |
| Materials: Polyester, goat skin leather, neoprene cuff |
| Insulation: Primaloft Gold |
| Waterproof: Goretex insert |
| Features: Velcro cuff, knuckle padding, carabiner loop, pull on loop |
| Sizes: 6 – 12 |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| www.mammut.com |
Mammut have produced a really solid mountaineering glove with the Norwand Pro, it’s light, low volume and warm. The insulation is Primaloft Gold but at 60gsm, it’s at the lighter end of the scale – useful on the move, less so when stationary. The shell of the glove is stretchy, and there’s a Goretex waterproof insert. Due to the glove being thinner than the others, they do wet out slightly quicker, as there’s less insulation to absorb the water.
While these gloves weren’t the best fit for me, I really liked the low volume and features as a winter climbing and mountaineering glove. If you run warm or are going to spend most of your day moving, then these will be plenty warm too.
Read more: Kirsty Pallas’ full Mammut Norwand Pro review
Extremities Capitol Peak
James Roddie recommends
These are an excellent option for the coldest winter conditions or if you suffer from especially cold hands.- extremely warm
- very windproof
- bulky
- wrist toggle loosening
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £60 |
| Weight: 215g (Size L pair) |
| Materials: Polyester outer and lining, PU palm |
| Insulation: Primaloft Gold Eco |
| Waterproof: Extremities X-Dry |
| Features: Drawcord cuff, compression strap around wrist, pairing clip. |
| Sizes: S – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| terra-nova.co.uk |
This is an extremely warm glove. Part of my testing involved standing largely still for 1 hour in -8C air temperature on a Munro in the Fannichs, and these gloves kept my hands as warm as any glove I have ever tried. Similarly, they coped very well with extremely high windchill on the Cairngorm plateau in January. Many walkers will actually find these gloves too warm for winter hill walking much of the time. Therefore, these are an excellent option for the coldest Scottish winter conditions or if you suffer from especially cold hands.
Overall, these are an attractive option for using in the coldest conditions, and are perhaps best suited to cold and dry, rather than cold and damp days. You may find them too warm much of the time, but they will come into their own when other gloves just aren’t quite toasty enough.
Read more: James Roddie’s full Extremities Capitol Peak review
Keela Extreme
James Roddie recommends
These are ideal to take as a second pair of gloves on very wet days when you know you will need more than one pair- low weight
- textured palm grip
- not as waterproof as some other gloves
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £59.95 |
| Weight: 140g (Size M pair) |
| Materials: Nylon shell, polyester lining |
| Insulation: Primaloft |
| Waterproof: Primaloft |
| Features: Drawcord cuff, nose wipe, pairing clip, textured palm |
| Sizes: S – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| keelaoutdoors.com |
At 140g for a size Medium pair, these are noticeably lighter than some of the other gloves in this test. However, they offer respectable levels of insulation in cold conditions. I found the waterproofing to be a bit less effective than that found in some of the other gloves, but it still does a good job in moderate rain and wet snow. The lining is soft and cosy, and the materials feel high quality throughout.
Considering their relatively lightweight design and overall performance, these are ideal to take as a second pair of gloves on very wet days when you know you will need more than one pair. They offer good performance in winter conditions at an affordable price, at a relatively low weight.
Read more: James Roddie’s full Keela Extreme review
Sealskinz Southery
James Roddie recommends
Overall, they work well as a winter hiking glove and cope admirably with a variety of situations.- dexterity
- warmth
- cost
- no pairing clips
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £85 |
| Weight: 202g (Size M pair) |
| Materials: 50% polyester, 40% leather, 5% elastane, 5% polyurethane outer; 100% polyester inner; goat leather palm |
| Insulation: Primaloft Gold |
| Waterproof: Aquasealz membrane |
| Features: Drawcord cuff, nose wipe |
| Sizes: S – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| sealskinz.com |
The Sealskinz Southery is a good all-round winter glove. Sealskinz claim it to be suitable for ‘extreme cold weather’. Whilst not as warm as some other gloves in this test, I found the Primaloft Gold insulation to provide plenty of warmth in most winter conditions. The wind-proofing is superb and I was happy with breathability. The Aquasealz waterproof membrane is very effective in heavy rain and wet snow. Like all gloves however, they eventually wet through in the wettest conditions.
At £85 these are the most expensive gloves in this test, but they do not quite offer the performance and features provided by some of the alternatives. Overall, however, they work well as a winter hiking glove and cope admirably with a variety of situations.
Read more: James Roddie’s full Sealskinz Southery review
Mountain Equipment Guide
Lucy Wallace recommends
Not the warmest gloves out there, but ideal for active use in cold and damp conditions typical of British winters- good value
- dexterous
- short cuff
- not touchscreen-friendly
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £65 |
| Weight: 169g (L) |
| Materials: 100% polyamide shell, goatskin palm, microfleece and pile lining, Drilite waterproof insert |
| Features: karabiner loops, drawcord closure, nose wipe |
| Sizes: XS, S, M, L |
| Men’s version: yes |
Mountain Equipment describes the Guide as ‘the workhorse’ of its extensive range of gloves. It boats tough polyamide shell, with grippy goatskin palms and a waterproof membrane. The fit suits broader hands, with pre-curved fingers and careful seam placement near the tips. The gloves come with karabiner clips on the middle finger and on the cuffs.
These are not the warmest gloves out there, but they are ideal for active use in the cold and damp conditions that are typical of British winters.
Read more: Lucy Wallace’s full Mountain Equipment Women’s Guide Gloves review
Black Diamond Guide
Lucy Wallace recommends
Warm and beautifully-constructed, these excellent winter gloves come at a cost- extremely warm
- removable inner glove
- long gauntlet
- reduced dexterity
- not touchscreen-friendly
- expensive
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £160 |
| Weight: 300g (L) |
| Materials: nylon, spandex shell, goat leather palm, PrimaLoft Gold, wool and microfleece liner, Gore-Tex waterproof insert |
| Features: nylon and goat leather outer with insulated waterproof liner Snow cuff, with drawcord, foam knuckle pad |
| Sizes: XS, S, M, L |
| Men’s version: yes |
The Black Diamond Guides are by far the warmest pair of gloves that I tested. The outer shell is beautifully constructed from supple soft shell and goatskin. The removable liners are waterproof, and dry much more quickly than one-piece gloves. The long cuff has a drawcord and is designed to go over shell clothing – perfect for powdery snow days, but less useful in freezing rain.
Read more: Lucy Wallace’s full Black Diamond Women’s Guide Gloves review
Montane Supercell
Lucy Wallce recommends
Despite having tons of pile insulation, the Montane Supercell is very nimble-fingered and warm enough for active use- dexterous
- good value
- not as warm as some
- not touchscreen-friendly
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £65 |
| Weight: 189g (L) |
| Materials: Granite Stretch soft-shell, 500D nylon reinforcement, goatskin palm, Freeflow Mantle waterproof membrane, pile lining |
| Features: leash strap, elasticated cuff and wrist adjustment |
| Sizes: XS, S, M, L |
| Men’s version: yes |
Despite having tons of pile insulation, the Montane Supercell is very nimble-fingered. The shape is narrow and will suit people with slender hands and long digits, and it is the perfect fit for me. The pile lining feels lovely, and whilst not as warm as some it is enough for active use in typical British winter conditions. Supple goatskin palms provide grip and protection from the head of an ice axe.
Read more: Lucy Wallace’s full Montane Women’s Supercell Glove review
Montane Anti-Freeze Packable Down Mittens
Chris Townsend recommends
As an emergency item they’re excellent but they’re not ones to wear most of the time.- very warm
- lightweight
- cost
- not waterproof
- minimal dexterity
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £60 |
| Weight: 115g (L) |
| Materials: recycled Pertex Quantum Eco, nylon/PU, 750 fill power water-resistant down, recycled nylon |
| Features: baffled construction |
| Sizes: XS – XL |
| Cuffs: adjustable, inner stretch wrist gaiter |
Mittens from Montane are designed for an emergency boost of warmth over liner or fleece gloves. They’re not waterproof, though the down is water-resistant so they should stand some dampness. They’ll probably only be worn for short periods anyway, just long enough to warm hands. As an emergency item they’re excellent but they’re not ones to wear most of the time.
Read more: Chris Townsend’s full Montane Anti-Freeze Packable Down Mittens review
Extremities Furnace Pro
Chris Townsend recommends
These gloves are soft and flexible, and have better dexterity than others in this test.- soft material
- flexibility
- comfort
- lightweight
- cost
- no leashes
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £50 |
| Weight: 115g (L) |
| Materials: 70/30 acrylic/wool, XDry membrane, PrimaLoft Gold |
| Features: touchscreen-compatible, PU reinforcements, clip together |
| Sizes: XS – L |
| Cuffs: zipped |
The Furnace Pro gloves are very comfortable and warm. The outer has a water-repellent treatment, so it doesn’t absorb water. The fingers are shaped and curved, and there’s a zip at the cuff to ensure a close fit. Gloves are soft and flexible, and have better dexterity than stiffer ones.
Read more: Chris Townsend’s full Extremities Furnace Pro review
Mountain Hardwear Cloud Bank Gore-Tex
Chris Townsend’s verdict
The Cloud bank gloves are aimed squarely at resort skiers who suffer from the cold so dexterity is poor.- warm
- touchscreen compatible
- poor dexterity
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £100 |
| Weight: 191g (L) |
| Materials: nylon/goatskin shell, Gore-Tex insert, PrimaLoft Black insulation |
| Features: touchscreen-compatible, karabiner loops, hook and loop cuff closure |
| Sizes: S, M, L |
Mountain Hardwear’s Cloud bank gloves are aimed squarely at resort skiers who suffer from the cold. The padding is bulky, and even moving my fingers takes work, let alone gripping things, made worse by the presence of a seam right across the ends of each finger, which further reduces dexterity. On the plus side, there’s built in touchscreen capacity, which is impressively sensitive.
Read more: Lucy Wallace’s full Mountain Hardwear Women’s Cloud Bank Gore-Tex Gloves review
66 North Langjokull
Chris Townsend’s verdict
The warmest of the synthetic insulated gloves tested, these gloves do come with extra weight as a consequence- warmth
- non-adjustable cuffs
- no leashes
- quite heavy
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £70 |
| Weight: 200g (L) |
| Materials: nylon Cordura, Pittard leather, PrimaLoft, Gore-Tex, Polartec Power Stretch |
| Features: elasticated wrist, clip together |
| Sizes: XS – 2XL |
Langjokull gloves are warmest of the synthetic insulated ones tested, as you might expect from an Icelandic company. The synthetic insulation is thicker than on the other gloves and the gloves are quite bulky, which means that dexterity is minimal. They are very comfortable to wear, and the fleece lining feels instantly warm. The leather on the palm and fingers gives good grip and should prove durable.
Read more: Chris Townsend’s full 66 North Langjokull
Outdoor Research Arete II Gore-Tex
Chris Townsend’s verdict
These gloves are especially good for hillwalkers who venture onto easier-graded winter climbs.- gauntlet style
- leather protection
- comfort
- separate liner
- leash
- expensive
- quite heavy
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £90 |
| Weight: 265g (L) |
| Materials: 88% nylon/12% spandex, WR goat leather, 100G EnduraLoft polyester, Tricot polyester, Gore-Tex; liner glove: 40% wool, 35% acrylic, 25% polyester |
| Features: nose wipe, touchscreen-compatible liner gloves, clip together |
| Sizes: men S-XL, women S-L |
The Arete II gloves are the only men’s ones reviewed that come with separate liners and leashes. They’re also the only ones with long, wide gauntlet cuffs designed to fit over jacket sleeves. Leather protection on the palm, thumb and fingers is more extensive than on the other gloves too, covering the whole area and wrapping over the fingers completely. These gloves work fine for hillwalking but would be especially good for hillwalkers who venture onto easier-graded winter climbs.
Read more: Chris Townsend’s full Outdoor Research Arete II Gore-Tex reviews
How we test
Kirsty has small hands with wider palms and short fingers. The gloves were tested in a wet winter and spring season of 2023/2024 working as an instructor, and winter climbing and mountaineering in the Scottish Highlands, both on snow and rock. Kirsty often wears liner gloves in winter under her main gloves, and these were tested both with and without. Weights are all from reviewers’ digital scales.
James tested these gloves in a variety of conditions during winter 2023/24 in the Scottish Highlands. Weather included 40mph + winds, heavy rain, wet snow, dry snow and clear/frosty days. James usually wears size medium gloves.
Lucy had all these gloves on an extended test in the Scottish mountains, walking and mountaineering, since early 2022, during one of the wettest and wildest winters in memory.
Chris tested these gloves in the Cairngorms in cold, wet, windy, and sometimes snowy weather in winter, spring and autumn 2022. All of these gloves are so warm, he could only wear them comfortably in those conditions.
Features to look for in the best winter gloves
Insulation
With cold temperatures, higher winds, and snow or ice, winter gloves need to be insulated to keep hands warm, and able to function. Looking for Primaloft or wool insulation, meaning it will retain some warmth even when wet. It’s worthwhile looking at how the insulation is distributed around the hand. Often, more insulation can be found across the back, to retain some dexterity in the fingers and across the palm.
Waterproofing
Given UK winters are often on the wetter side, having some waterproofing is really useful to keep the cold out. Most winter gloves have a waterproof insert, which might be a brand’s own waterproofing, or Goretex. But with all gloves, they will wet out eventually, mostly due to the number of seams, and the big hole where your hand goes in, it’s just a matter of which one will stay dry the longest.
Dexterity and fit
Choosing a winter glove is often a compromise between insulation and dexterity. Finding a glove that has enough insulation for you, while still being able to do intricate tasks like using zips or opening snacks, is the tricky bit. Fit also comes into this, because a glove can be as dexterous as possible, but it won’t matter if the fingers are too long for your hands. It’s worth reading both sets of reviews regardless of gender, as gloves are often a ’unisex’ fit.
Cuffs
The cuffs are where you can lose a lot of heat, and take on water, so having adjustable cuffs is crucial. This is usually either a drawcord or velcro, but whichever it is, you want to make sure you can adjust it with the other glove on. Most winter gloves have a secondary elasticated cuff at the wrist, which keeps the glove in place, and warmth in. The length and bulk of cuffs are also worth considering, as this can affect if you can tuck them into your jacket, or if they only go over the outside.
Palm material
A leather palm is waterproof, hard wearing, and grippy for things like ropes or axes, which is essential for mountaineering or climbing in winter. A PU palm will still be grippy, but wear a lot quicker. A reinforced leather palm has two layers of leather on the high wear areas, which lengthens the lifespan of the palm and glove overall.
