How and when to use each part of the backpacking glove system

Sun Gloves

• Comfort range while hiking 30-100F
• Comfort  range while static 50-100F

Sun gloves are the base on which every backpacking glove system is built. They come with us on virtually every hike and we wear them throughout most of the day. They prevent sun burns, decrease sunscreen use, add comfort when holding trekking poles, protect against abrasive surfaces, and provide a small dose of warmth and wind resistance in cold weather. The Glacier Glove Ascension Bay are our preferred model.

If we’re wearing gloves at all, nine times out of ten they’re sun gloves. While hiking at a moderate pace, they’re likely all you need in temps down to freezing, assuming it’s dry out.

Lastly, as this is a cold weather focused article, we note that sun gloves are also perfect for hiking on top of snow in sunny weather, and when fleece/wool is too warm, but you want the extra UV protection and a small dose of wind resistance.

Fingerless Convertible Fleece Gloves

• Comfort range while hiking 10-40F
• Comfort range while static 30-50F

Fingerless Convertible Fleece Gloves gloves are responsible for keeping your hands comfortable in temps ranging from 30-50F without sacrificing dexterity. Assuming you choose a secure flip system like the TrailHeads Convertible Running Mitts, they are agile enough to be kept on while pitching a tent, operating a stove, and tying off a bear bag. When temps drop and dexterity is not require, close them off for a significant boost to warmth.

Be extra careful about choosing your convertible mitts; we conducted a marketplace survey in Q1 2025 and found an overwhelming majority of them to be very poorly designed with unreliable closure. That was why we used to prefer basic fingerless gloves, but ever since finding a good pair, we usually bring convertibles instead.

Rain Mitts

• Expands comfort range when layered by ~10F

Ultralight rain mitts are an integral part of the system that protects hands against wind and precipitation. The ideal pair is extremely lightweight, weighing approximately one ounce, and are also highly breathable. We prefer models like the Enlightened Equipment Visp Mitts, Zpacks Vertice Rain Mitts, and Mountain Laurel Designs eVent Mitts.

Keep the rain mitts stowed somewhere accessible when the weather looks threatening. Layer them over top of your warm fingerless gloves to protect fingertips against convective cooling in wind, and keep your whole hand dry in rain or snow.

In truly awful weather, layer the rain mitts over your puffy mitts and warm fingerless gloves to create an expedition-style modular winter mitt system. This will keep your hands warm in temps down to about 0F, depending on your circulation and how much heat you generate while hiking.

While not particularly durable or agile, you won’t use rain mitts all that often, they’re virtually weightless, and you’ll be very thankful to have them when needed. They provide a very important function for a miniscule weight penalty.

Puffy Mitts

• Comfort range while hiking -10-20F
• Comfort range while static 10-30F

Puffy mitts are responsibly for keeping your hands warm in temps ranging from freezing, all of the way down to 0F (and beyond, though that exceeds the scope of this article). They are a critical part of the system in shoulder season and winter, despite the fact that you will likely never use them in core summer backpacking season.

We have a strong preference towards “flip mitts” like the Enlightened Equipment Torrid, which can pop open allowing the wearer full dexterity for accomplishing camp chores and other backcountry tasks. Synthetic insulation is preferred to down because of its superior performance when wet, and the likelihood that your puffy mitts will come into contact with snow.

For temps 0F and below, Enlightened Equipment even offers a custom 50% thicker version.