Gloves and Mitts

Thermal gloves trap warmth around the hand using insulating fabrics such as fleece or synthetic fill, keeping fingers functional in cold or windy conditions. They suit hiking, mountaineering and snow sports, where dexterity matters as much as warmth. ThruDark's Centurion Gloves use Polartec® Wind Pro fleece with Polartec® Hardface™ technology for a mid-weight glove that holds heat without sacrificing grip. They sit between lightweight liners and heavyweight mitts.

As with the rest of your hiking kit, a three-layer system works best for cold weather hiking: a breathable liner, a mid-weight insulator and a weatherproof outer. Start with the Heritech Gloves, add the Centurion Gloves for wind resistance, then switch to the Engage Gloves, with a waterproof HDry membrane and PrimaLoft® Gold insulation, for the coldest, wettest stretches. Every ThruDark glove in this system has been tested in conditions from the Cairngorms to the Arctic Circle and Iceland.

Scrambling and technical terrain demand a glove that grips rock and protects fingertips from abrasion. The Engage Gloves use a goat leather palm with a double-layer panel and reinforced fingertips, keeping their pre-curved shape close to the hand for a natural grip on holds. With a 9/10 durability rating and a waterproof HDry membrane, they resist repeated contact with rough surfaces without losing dexterity. ThruDark's founder Staz wore these gloves on the lower slopes of Everest

Mitts keep fingers together in one chamber, losing less heat than gloves, which insulate each finger separately. That matters at extreme cold or high altitude: the Patriot Mitts use 600 fill power goose down and a Pertex® Quantum Pro shell, with HDry technology sealing the outer surface to keep cold and wet out. The Engage Gloves keep more dexterity for technical tasks. Both have been tested in conditions from the Cairngorms to the Arctic Circle and Iceland.

Sweat builds up when a glove's breathability can't keep pace with effort, leaving hands cold once you stop moving. For high-output sections, choose the Heritech Gloves, with die-cut air holes across the palm and a Clarino AX Stretch microfibre suede panel that lets moisture escape. Switch to a warmer, less breathable glove like the Centurion or Engage once pace slows and wind chill becomes the bigger risk.

Technical hiking gloves run S/M/L/XL. Measure around the fullest part of your open hand at the knuckles and check it against each style's size guide, since fit varies by construction. A glove that fits too tightly makes hands feel colder, so if you're between sizes, size up. This matters most with insulated gloves such as the Engage Gloves or Patriot Mitts, where a snug lining leaves less room than a lightweight liner like the Heritech Gloves.