Burton’s Official Snowboarding Gloves Buyer’s Guide

Snowboarding gloves (or mittens) are a mandatory piece of every rider’s outerwear kit, but with so many different options, finding the right pair can feel overwhelming. The good news is that there’s a perfect pair of gloves or mittens for every condition and use. Hiking the back bowls at your home mountain and don’t want sweaty palms? Need extra durable protection against sharp edges during park lap methods? Or maybe you just want to spend your time building a snowman. Whatever the case, we’ve got you covered.

Burton offers a large selection of snowboarding gloves and mittens, but you probably noticed that there are (literally) tons of different sizes, styles, materials, features, and levels of warmth. To help make your shopping experience easier, we sat down with the Burton Guides customer service team, softgoods experts, and professional snowboarders to assemble this comprehensive snowboarding gloves buyer’s guide.

This step-by-step process will help you choose the perfect pair, and is specifically designed for shopping online at burton.com – just apply the appropriate filters as you work through the following steps.

1. Choose Gloves or Mittens (and liners)
2. Choose Your Preferred Level of Warmth
3. Select a Cuff Fit
4. Decide on Features & Tech
5. Select Colors & Prints
6. Establish Your Budget
7. Get the Perfect Fit

Pro tip: To purchase gloves or mittens at a Burton store, simply ask the friendly Burton Guide behind the counter and they would be happy to walk you through this process.

Step 1: Choose Gloves or Mittens (and Liners)

Many riders find themselves torn between purchasing snowboarding gloves or mittens. The good news is that there really isn’t a wrong answer. The decision to choose gloves or mittens is entirely personal and depends on your preferences for fit, warmth, and dexterity.

• Snowboarding Gloves provide more dexterity than mittens, allowing you to perform intricate tasks, like tying boot laces, adjusting buckles, or operating jacket zippers. Gloves can also make it easier to hold things, like poles (while skinning), or a beverage (when it’s time for après). The biggest limitation with gloves is warmth, which you should be aware of if you have circulation issues or frequently ride in very cold conditions.
• Snowboarding Mittens excel at keeping hands and fingers warm in cold environments by keeping all of your fingers together. They can also be less restrictive than gloves, with more room inside for chemical hand warmers. Mittens pair especially well with Burton’s Step On binding system – look Ma, no buckles. The biggest limitation with mittens is a lack of dexterity for performing intricate tasks.
• Glove Liners are like base layers for your hands. They’re made from moisture-wicking fabric which moves sweat away from your skin, keeping hands dry while adding additional warmth. Pair glove liners with insulated gloves or mittens for additional warmth and comfort while riding.

Step 2: Choose Your Preferred Level of Warmth

The assessment of how warm or cold we feel can vary significantly from person to person. So instead of giving specific temperature ratings, (such as, 32 degrees Fahrenheit) Burton snowboarding gloves and mittens are categorized into three general categories, or riding conditions.

• Mild (All-season): Mild gloves and mittens offer limited or no insulation and are good for highly aerobic activities, spring conditions, and non-winter outdoor activities like hiking, trail running, or camping. Note that most liners are considered all-season.
• Cold (Mid-Winter): Cold gloves and mittens are the standard and are good for moderate winter temperatures. Mid-winter gloves and mittens can be used in colder weather when paired with liners and/or hand warmers.
• Arctic (Ice Cold): Arctic gloves and mittens provide the most insulation for the coldest winter days. Pair this type of glove/mitten with a liner and/or hand warmer if you get cold easily or have circulation issues.

Because Burton's glove and mitten styles and level of insulation can change from season to season, you'll want to check the hang tag or product description to ensure you are getting the level of warmth that you need.

Note: The temperature ranges above are best used to understand how warm one pair of Burton gloves or mittens will be compared to another.

Step 3: Select a Cuff Fit

Burton gloves and mittens come in a variety of lengths, and we describe them as either under-the-cuff or over-the-cuff.

• Under-the-cuff gloves and mittens are shorter and less bulky in the wrist area so that they fit comfortably under the cuffs of your snowboarding jacket. They’re a great choice for milder temperatures, resort riding, or anyone who prefers this style. Under-the-cuff gloves and mittens generally secure with an elastic Velcro closure, keeping them snug around your wrists.
• Over-the-cuff gloves are longer and may extend up to 6+ inches (15cm) past the wrist. These gloves and mittens are designed to secure over the cuff of your snowboarding jacket, giving more protection from cold weather and snow. Over-the-cuff fits are great for frigid mid-winter riding, storm days with falling snow, and backcountry trips where the highest degree of protection from the elements is needed.

Step 4: Decide on Features & Tech

Burton snowboarding gloves are available with many different features and technologies to make your day on the mountain more comfortable and convenient. The following list describes the most popular options that are available as product filters for gloves and mittens on Burton.com.

• GORE-TEX: Gloves and mittens with a GORE-TEX waterproof breathable membrane (with GORE’s Warm technology) are guaranteed to be durably waterproof, windproof, and breathable.
• Dryride: Dryride is Burton’s waterproof-breathable technology. Dryride gloves and mittens are highly-breathable, waterproof, and quick-drying.
• Leather: Full leather gloves deliver the highest level of durability with classic styling that’s hard to beat.
• Living Lining: Burton’s thermo-regulating technology that helps regulate your body temperature more effectively in changing conditions. A smart layer of fabric helps regulate temperature with fibers that shrink to increase ventilation or expand to trap more warmth.
• Touchscreen Compatible: Touchscreen-compatible fingers allow you to use your smartphone while wearing your gloves. This feature is offered on a wide variety of models, from liners to insulated gloves, and even some mittens.

Two additional features that are not included in the product filters on Burton.com, but which you should consider when selecting snowboarding gloves or mittens:

• Wrist Leash: Wrist leashes are cords that secure your gloves to your wrists or snowboarding jacket. They prevent accidental drops from the chairlift (great for little groms) or loss when you yard sale. Many Burton gloves and mittens offer this feature.
• Handwarmer Compatible: Generally, handwarmer compatible refers to the small pockets (often secured with a zipper) on the non-palm side of the glove/mitten that provides a place for chemical handwarmers. This feature is great for people with circulation problems, or for anyone who wants their hands to stay extra warm on the hill. Additionally, hand warmer pockets can be unzipped and left open to promote ventilation on warm days.

Note: Glove and mitten features and technology are always changing. For a comprehensive list of available options, visit the glove and mitten shopping category on Burton.com.

Step 5: Select Colors & Prints

Snowboarding gloves and mittens are there to keep your hands warm, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish too. It can be fun to select a pair that compliments your snowboarding jacket and snowboard pants. Not into flashy colors? Don’t worry, most styles are available in black or other neutral colors.

Step 6: Establish Your Budget

Whether you are snagging an entry-level-priced model, premium [ak] gloves and mittens, or finding a deal on sale items, the bottom line is that we offer a glove or mitten for every budget.

Pro tip: You can sort all Burton gloves and mittens by price on burton.com.

(Final) Step 7: Get the Perfect Fit

You wouldn’t run a marathon in a pair of shoes that are too tight, and you shouldn’t try to endure a day of snowboarding in a pair of gloves that don’t fit properly. Gloves that are too small will restrict circulation, leading to cold hands and fingers. They are also more likely to wear out prematurely because of added stress on the seams. Once you’ve figured out which pair of gloves or mittens you want, follow these simple steps to get the perfect fit.

Start Here: Review Burton’s online glove and mitten size chart to determine what size to order. And don’t worry if you accidentally get the wrong size. You’ve got 30 days to return unused products for a full refund.

You can also, head to your local Burton snowboard shop to try on gloves or mittens in person.

Note: It’s a good idea to try on gloves with the snowboarding jacket that you will wear while riding. This will help you make sure the gloves fit comfortably over or under the cuffs of your jacket.

To Determine Fit In-person: Start by putting a glove on your dominant hand (dominant hands are generally a little bit bigger).

With your other, bare hand, pinch the excess material at the tips of your gloved fingers. You should have a little bit of extra room at the fingertips, approximately ¼ inch (.5 centimeters).

Finally, clench your gloved hand into a fist. There should be minimal pressure from the glove and no restriction of the movement of your fingers or hand. Repeat the process for your non-dominant hand.

Pro tip: If you plan on using snowboarding glove liners, be sure to wear them when trying on gloves to get a proper fit.

When in Doubt, Visit a Burton Retail Location

After reading this buyer’s guide, you should have all the information you need to order that perfect pair of snowboarding gloves or mittens online. But even for the most confident reader, we know that sometimes you’d prefer to visit a Burton store where you can try on a variety of gloves first-hand. The good news is that our knowledgeable retail staff are ready and eager to discuss all of the materials, options, and styles available, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.