A dozen skiers and riders just finished a full winter of testing 32 new pairs of ski gloves and mittens — from Vermont's Sunday River and Mad River Glen to Tahoe, Grand Targhee, Alta and Arapahoe Basin — and narrowed the field down to nine winners. The verdict is a handy cheat sheet for anyone whose usual excuse to quit early is numb fingers.

The big prize, Best Overall, went to the Rab Guide GTX Gauntlet ($170), a Gore-Tex and PrimaLoft Gold glove with a full goat leather palm that testers called warm, durable and versatile enough for daily wear beyond the slopes. Its low-profile cuff tucks neatly under or over a jacket sleeve, and a finger loop lets ski tourers clip it to a harness.

The warmth crown was split. For mittens, the Mainers Mitt ($195) took it — goat leather and nylon built with recycled 3M Thinsulate and Polartec fleece, and made by a company that normally supplies cryogenic lab gear rated for temperatures below -200°F. Testers even found them surprisingly dexterous for adjusting boots and goggles. For gloves, the LEKI Griffin Pro Zero ($160) won with padded fingers, a grippy silicone palm and touchscreen-compatible fingertips, though it's worth knowing they're water-resistant rather than fully waterproof.

Bargain hunters have a clear pick too: the Columbia PowBound ($85) came out as best value, with a waterproof shell, goat leather palm and both men's and women's sizing — just size up, as they run small.

The rest of the list covers specific niches. The Gordini Alp Pro Mitt ($160) is the everyday choice, with waxed leather and 600-fill down that stayed dry and comfortable from chilly mornings at Jackson Hole to warmer afternoons — just don't machine-wash it. Ortovox's 3 Finger Glove ($180) is the best 'lobster' design, giving you independent thumb and index finger for zip pulls and buckles while the remaining fingers share warmth, all lined with non-itchy, odour-resistant wool. The North Face Montana 3-in-1 GTX ($115) is a rare 3-in-1 system that actually works, with a waterproof shell, a grippy touchscreen-friendly liner and a fleecy middle layer. The Hestra Fall Line ($190) takes the durability award, and the Minus 33 Heavyweight ($170) is the pick for cold hands.

Why does gear news belong on a travel site? Because gloves are often the difference between a full day on the mountain and an expensive morning followed by hot chocolate in the lodge. Renting skis is easy almost anywhere; good handwear is not — and it's heavy to pack the wrong pair. If you're booking a ski trip this winter, matching your glove to the destination matters: waterproof options like the Rab or Columbia suit wet coastal snow in the Alps or Pacific Northwest, while a warm mitt like the Mainers earns its keep in dry, deep-cold resorts such as Alta or Big Sky.

The full roundup also name-checks runners-up from Gordini, Black Diamond, Oyuki and Flylow if none of the winners fit your budget or fit.