Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Exceptional price for performance
- Great balance between moisture wicking and waterproofing
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Not touchscreen compatible
- Bulky
The Carhartt Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves are remarkable for the price. If you hike or spend time doing any activities in seriously cold, snowy winter places, then these are pretty much a no brainer.
I was actually surprised when I saw the price tag on these gloves. A pair for under $30 with this level of fill and weather protection is usually twice, if not three times the price.
They are bulky, but if you need a very cold suited glove, the dexterity you have to sacrifice with these gloves is well worth the trade off. The waterproofing, wind proofing and moisture wicking they offer are next level, meaning your hands will always feel dry and warm.
This article is part of our series on the best winter hiking gloves, view all other articles below:
Compare to Similar Products:
Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves | Rab Pivot Gore-Tex Gloves | Hestra Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves | Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Insulated Glove | Hestra Fall Line Glove | The North Face Women's Apex Insulated Etip Glove | The North Face Women's Montana Insulated Ski Mitt | Black Diamond Mercury Mitt Womens | Outdoor Research Stormtracker | Carhartt Women's Quilts | Carhartt Quilts Insulated Women's Mitts | Black Diamond Guide Gloves | Helly Hansen Men's LIFA Merino Glove Liner | Wells Lamont HydraHyde Leather Hybrid Men’s | Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor | Carhartt Men's Waterproof Insulated Glove | Mechanix Wear Coldwork Original | Arc'teryx Rho Liner Glove | Trendoux Winter Gloves | icebreaker Merino Oasis 200 Glove Liners | Cotopaxi Teca Fleece Gloves | Burton Touchscreen Glove Liners | |
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Buying Options | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Our Rating | Best Overall Winter Gloves | Warmest Winter Gloves | Best Insulated Gloves | Best Winter Gloves for Touchscreen | Best Winter Gloves for Men | Best Winter Gloves for Women | Best Waterproof Winter Gloves | Best Women's Technical Ski Mitt | Best Liner Gloves | Best Touchscreen Gloves | Best Budget Winter Gloves | |||||||||||
Type and Shape | Performance/technical/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Hiking/general sport | Performance/technical/ski | Hiking/general sport | Hiking/general sport/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Hiking/general/ski | Hiking/general | Hiking/general | Performance/technical/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Work | Hiking | Hiking | Work | Performance/technical/ski | General | General | General | Performance/technical/ski |
Warmth | High | Very High | Very High | Medium | Very High | High | High | Very High | High | Medium | Medium | Very High | Medium (Liner) | Medium | High | High | Medium | Medium (Liner) | Medium | Medium (Liner) | Medium | Medium (Liner) |
Water Resistance | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Water Resistant | Waterproof | Waterproof | Not Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Not Waterproof (Liner) | Water Resistant | Not Waterproof | Waterproof | Water Resistant | Not Waterproof (Liner) | Not Waterproof | Not Waterproof (Liner) | Not Waterproof | Not Waterproof (Liner) |
Wind resistance | High | High | Very High | High | Very High | High | High | Very High | High | Medium | Medium | Very High | Not Windproof (Liner) | Not Windproof | Not Windproof | Windproof | Not Windproof | Not Windproof (Liner) | Not Windproof | Not Windproof (Liner) | Not Windproof | Not Windproof (Liner) |
Fit | Fits true to size/High Dexterity | Fits true to size/High Dexterity | Fits true to size/Medium Dexterity | Runs Small/High Dexterity | Run Small/Medium Dexterity | Fits True to Size/High Dexterity | Fits True to Size/Medium Dexterity | Runs Tight/Medium-Low Dexterity | Runs Small/High Dexterity | Runs Small/Medium Dexterity | Runs Small/Medium Dexterity | Runs Small/Low Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs Large/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Fits Slightly Tight/High Dexterity | Fits True to Size/High Dexterity | Fits True to Size/High Dexterity |
Durability | High | Very High | Very High | High | Very High | High | High | Very High | High | Medium | Medium | Very High | High | High | Medium | Medium | High | Very High | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
Price | $70.00 | $155.00 | $127.96 | $73.35 | $139.99 | $59.90 | Price not available | $97.88 | $95.14 | $27.99 | $27.99 | $143.96 | Price not available | $15.08 | $31.47 | $28.29 | $32.99 | $40.00 | $7.99 | $40.00 | Price not available | $14.67 |
Analysis and Test Results
When testing, I found that these gloves certainly are intended for colder than cold temperatures. In fact, for some of my tests, I found them too warm. So if you’re looking for a glove for seriously cold places, then this may be it.
They’re grippy too, which is very handy when it comes to holding hiking poles, ski poles, shovels or even in ice climbing. The waterproofing and moisture wicking are particularly helpful here too.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
There’s no doubt about it, the Carhartt Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves are chunky! These are actually some of the most chunky gloves that I’ve tested. Whilst they’re not as slimline as some of the other gloves, they are certainly warm.
When we consider the price too, coming in at $29.99, they’re pretty full on for that budget. In fact, they’re some of the most well filled gloves for that price we’ve covered.
They keep you feeling very warm on extremely cold days, and for a lot of hikers I think these may be overkill. I actually found them too warm for some of my tests, but as soon as temperatures really took a turn downwards, they came into their own.
I also found them especially helpful when I needed to clear ice and frost from my car so I could head out. Due to the fact that these gloves are waterproof too and have a cuff and wrist strap that helps keep out snow and ice, my hands stayed dry all the way to the trail.
If you don’t experience the coldest winters where you live, you may be better with something thinner, as these gloves do have an impact on dexterity. However, if you live somewhere really cold, or experience really cold hands, then they are a great option and trade off for the slight dexterity you lose from wearing them.
Water Resistance
The Carhartt Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves have a waterproof insert and a durable shell. When you feel the gloves and look at them, it’s very obvious that they are made with waterproofing in mind.
To me, this feels in line with a ski glove or something that is really intended for harsh conditions. I actually feel (though I haven’t tested them for this yet) that these gloves would work really well for ice climbing.
These gloves are part of Carhartt’s Storm Defender collection (their in house technology). It’s designed to have a breathable membrane whilst also keeping you dry.
Wind Resistance
Once you put these gloves on, it feels pretty impossible to feel the wind in them. The combination of their waterproofing and shell type layer as well as their fill which keeps your hands very warm stops anything from the outside.
I think the only likely time you’d feel the wind in these gloves is if you were in some serious, serious cold temperatures, but for the winters that the majority of us experience, the wind protection of these gloves will be more than enough.
For skiing in very dry, cold climates, they will also work really well too. This will also help to stop your hands from chapping from the cold.
Comfort and Fit
I got hold of a medium for my tests, and they fit really well. This is the size I usually get in a glove, so it’s good to see that this seems true to size. One area I do think could be improved is the thumb is a little long.
This wasn’t a huge issue, but it did impact dexterity a little bit and made it less easy for me to hold or use my phone whilst wearing so much: so an area that could be improved. If you have longer fingers, you may find these gloves to be an even better fit though.
In terms of comfort, these gloves feel like putting on something a bit like a comforter. They are really soft and glide on really easily. The fleece lining/insert feels really good and everything else fitted really well around my hand.
Ease of Use
There is no real doubt that the Carhartt Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves are pretty bulky and this does have a bit of an impact on doing things with them on. For general winter temperatures, I do think this is overkill for the dexterity you lose.
However, for much colder temperatures, I do think that the dexterity you lose is worth it. I’m not saying you can’t do anything in these gloves, far from it. You just need to keep in mind that they’re not exactly like a second skin.
Materials
These gloves are made with a ‘polytex shell’ and have a polyurethane palm. In total, they are 100% polyester. It’s good to see this level of glove being made with entirely synthetic products.
On closer inspection, all of the materials look to be incredibly well made and look like they will stand the test of time. All of the stitching is really well done and it’s clear that attention to detail has been put into these gloves.
Appearance
The Carhartt Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves come in a small range of colors, you’ve got more muted versions, such as black and grey. You also have a yellow option (which I like) and a kind of blue/grey color.
These gloves don’t exactly hide away when you’re wearing them, and for a lot of people, they may be on the upper edge of what would be deemed good for day to day wear. Personally, I think the yellow version are really cool and contrast really nicely with some of the other gear I wear.
Features
For a cheaper end glove, they have some pretty impressive tech when it comes to their waterproofing and moisture wicking capabilities. They use Carhartt’s in house ‘Storm Defender’ technology which is aimed at providing extreme levels of waterproofing with moisture wicking. This is really clear when you use this product for it’s intended purpose.
They also have a pretty grippy palm. Obviously great for holding a phone, but also great for keeping hold of your hiking poles, an ice axe, and also a snow shovel. It would be great to see them make some improvements to be able to use your phone better with them on, though.
Durability
To me, it’s pretty clear that these gloves are here to stay. They show no signs of any areas that will blow a stitch. They are really well made and I’m pretty confident that they’ll stand the test of time.
To keep them their best, the brand suggests that you spot wash them with cold water and line dry rather than applying any heat. This is likely due to their waterproofing. If you look after these gloves, I have no reason to believe they won’t last a good few years, depending on your usage.
Sustainability
Carhartt are a brand that set up with sustainability or longevity of their products from the forefront. This is evidenced with their ‘Built to Last Commitment’. They actively have repair kits that can be ordered or their team can help.
They’re also working to produce more climate neutral and beneficial fibers for their products. Whilst this isn’t actively shown in the copy about these gloves, these are all good steps to see. Though I would love to see better transparency of this on product pages.
Price
This was an area that really impressed me with the Carhartt Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves. The fact that at present, they’re $29.99 for me is pretty remarkable.
If you’re buying from outside the US, this does come at a hefty premium, these specific gloves on the UK Amazon store come in at £69.56 at the time of publishing. So that will of course change the dynamic slightly if this is the case for you. Though, I think at $29.99 they’re well worth the money!
Conclusion
I think for the pretty small price of $29.99, the Carhartt Men’s Waterproof Insulated Gloves give a really good, full on option if you spend time in really cold temperatures. The moisture wicking to waterproofing ratio is simply amazing and they keep you warm all day.
If you don’t live in the coldest temperatures, you may find them overkill, and certainly the dexterity you lose as a result of how bulky they are may not be worth it if it isn’t as cold. Yet when used in really cold circumstances, the bulk trade off is well worth it.
This is a good, solid winter glove option from a well known brand that many love and trust. The price just makes them a no brainer.
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