It’s a question we get all the time: What is the best glove for my winter holiday? Whether you’re headed to the Arctic or Japan, we know how crucial it is to have the right gear dialed in before you hop on that plane. There’s nothing worse than investing in gear that doesn’t work for you. Finding a glove that works best for everyone can be tricky but we’ve learned some tips over the years to help you get the right glove for your winter holiday.
Best Gloves for Lofoten, Norway
Photos by Christian Hoiberg
Hatchet, Tinden or Senja Mitt between Nov - February / Markhof Pro V3 all other times.
It’s no doubt that Lofoten tops the charts when it comes to dream winter photography locations. With its idyllic seaside fisherman cabins and frequent Northern Light shows, Lofoten has made a name for itself as a winter photography must-do. But being in the far north during winter has its challenges. During winter Temperatures range from -2 to -15 with the short daylight and ocean side weather conditions making it feel even colder.
If you’re traveling to Lofoten during November - February, we recommend taking the Hatchets or Tindens. These are our warmest five-fingered gloves. They are wind and water resistant and insulated with a merino wool inner and Thinsulate insulation. The FlipTech on the finger and thumb allow full access to your dials and settings without having to remove the gloves. If you're more of a mitten person or you're getting cold more easily, our Senja Mitt in combination with the Senja Liner is a great choice. It's super warm on those cold but beautiful aurora nights yet super versatile with the Senja Liner if the weather turns out to be nicer than expected.
Outside of November - February, you can get by just fine with our fan favorite, the Markhof Pro V3 gloves. These are the gloves we take everywhere. They are great for walking around town but also warm enough for the mountain. These gloves also have a merino wool inner with Thinsulate Insulation as a mid-layer.
You can check Lofoten's average temperatures here.
Best Gloves for Japan
Photo by Charlotte Workman
Skadi LRS Mitt - Perfect pow glove with all that snow + Layering option with the 2 in 1.
For many, Japan is considered powder heaven. Many ski resorts in Japan get nearly 15 meters of snow each season so if you’re headed to Japan to chase the waist-deep powder, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got the perfect glove to accompany you.
We recommend the Skadi LRS Mitt for a Japan holiday. The Skadi is a 2-in-1 mitt that makes customizing your warmth a breeze. The mitt comes with a Power Stretch Pro Liner glove for extra insulation. When you need to use your fingers, unzip the side of the mitt to reveal one finger or four. For milder days, you can wear the mitt all on its own without the liner. Flip tech on the thumb allows you to have complete dexterity.
Best Gloves for Iceland
Left Photos by Denis Palanque, right photo by Luca Ruggiero
Hatchet, Tinden or Senja Mitt:
Those headed for an Icelandic winter should be prepared to bundle up. While the lowlands of the island tend to be relatively mild for its latitude (0° C), the Highlands tend to average around -10°C with the lower temperatures in the northern part of the island ranging from -25° to -30°C. Those seeking the Northern Lights are in for a cold night where covering up is essential. For Iceland winters, we recommend our Hatchet or Tinden glove, our warmest five-fingered gloves. Made out of goat leather and 2 ply twill, the outer is water and wind resistant. The gloves are insulated with a merino wool inner and Thinsulate insulation. The even more cozy option is the Senja Mitt with it's double layer of insulation and it's weatherproof shell. Combined with the Senja Liner you're ready for those long windy winter days Iceland will throw at you.
Best Gloves for British Columbia, Canada
Photo by Todd Easterbrook
Get ready for deep winter Skadi LRS Mitt / Hatchet / Tinden
Similar to Japan, Canada is known for its epic powdery winters. For those visiting British Columbia, we recommend the Skadi LRS Mitt. This glove performs great in powder and will keep you warm in the deep winter. This glove provides the ultimate customizability performing as a glove, a mitt or both! A side zipper reveals all four fingers and the FlipTech on the thumb gives you complete control. Wear it on its own on warmer days or pair it with the included Power Stretch Pro liner glove for colder days.
If a five finger glove is your preferred option, this is where the Hatchet and Tinden come in. These are our warmest five-fingered gloves and they are built for cold, snowy conditions. The FlipTech on the fingers overlaps to ensure no snow gets in the glove if you take a spill. They are insulated with Thinsulate Insulation and the goat leather and 2 ply twill on the outside make this glove water and wind resistant. If it get's really nasty out there, you can layer them both up with our Polartech Powerstretch Pro Liner for an extra layer of warmth and protection.
Best Gloves for Antarctica
Photo by Muench Workshops
Markhof Pro V3 & Power Stretch Pro Liners (due to only visiting in summer it should only be around 0 to -2 degrees.)
Despite being one of the coldest places on Earth, Antarctica requires only a modest glove since visitors usually only visit in the summer months. During the summer, the days are long and the sun is plentiful and temperatures typically hover around 0° to -2°C. For this reason, we recommend the Markhof Pro V3. This is our most popular glove and performs both in the city and the mountain. For extra cold days, you can pair it with the Powerstretch Pro Liner to get a few more degrees of warmth.
However, if you are one of those amazing adventurers that go deeper than the regular tourist and decide to follow Sir Ernest Shackleton's footsteps (and probably share a sip of whiskey at his grave as a tradition) you should be prepared for some deep winter conditions.
As most expedition cruises only reach the Antarctic Peninsula at around the 66th latitude, some routes go much further south and inland. A great example is the Union Glacier at the 80th latitude, where it’s significantly colder. Emperor penguin colonies along the Weddell Sea sit around the 75th latitude at the edge of the ice shelf and are also notably chillier than typical tourist landings. While cruise operators often quote temperatures between –5°C and –24°C, conditions can feel even more extreme with wind and exposure. If you already have a pair of Markhof Pro V3 or similar, just add our expedition-ready Alta Arctic Mitt and you’ll be well-equipped to stay warm even in these harsher environments. If you don't have any gloves so far, the Senja Mitt & Senja Liner combination is a great fit to battle those Antarctic conditions. Thanks to their ultra-warm yet low-bulk build, they are letting you shoot comfortably with fingertip control when needed and instantly slip into full mitt warmth when the polar wind bites.
Best Gloves for New Zealand
Photo by Nico Babot
Despite being a Southern Hemisphere winter destination for many, New Zealand’s winters are quite mild. Being a maritime climate, the temperatures rarely drop below 0 meaning your hands don’t need to be layered up too heavily. We recommend the Markhof Pro V3 for your New Zealand winter. It’s just enough to protect you from the elements without being too big or bulky.
Best Gloves for Alaska and Yukon
Alta Arctic Mitt + Hatchet / Tinden or Markhof
For serious winter chasers, Alaska and the Yukon might be the ultimate winter photography destination. Isolated and remote, these areas provide some of the harshest winter conditions as well as some of the biggest rewards when it comes to winter photography. For these die-hard winter lovers, we recommend our ultimate glove layering system.
We designed the Alta Arctic Mitt as the “glove for your glove.” It’s exactly as it sounds, a large mitt that goes over your normal photography glove. It adds the ultimate protection against the elements. When you need to operate your camera or use your hands, simply take off the gloves and drop them behind your back on the included harness or keep them on and unzip the Mit to reveal your base glove.
For your bottom glove, we recommend the Hatchet/Tinden or the Markhof, based on how cold you run and your personal temperature preference. For extra warmth, go with the Hatchets/Tindens. If you prefer a slimmer fitting glove, we recommend the Markhof Pro V3. Both will be a great fit under the Alta.
And it's never wrong to take the Powerstretch Pro Liner as an extra layer with you. You'll thank us when you need it.
Happy shooting all you winter loving creatives.
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