Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Very warm – both windproof and waterproof
- Has more of a color range than most gloves and mittens
- Wrist strap keeps them on your hand if you need to take them off, with no fear of losing them
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- They’re pretty bulky and dexterity is limited
- Ability to use mobile device with them isn’t great
I really loved The North Face Women’s Montana Insulated Ski Mitt. Whilst it is generally marketed as a ski mitt, it is also great for very cold hiking. I loved the fact that these mitts give exceptional warmth, which in part comes from their 250g of heat seeker eco synthetic insulation.
In very cold wind, these mitts really handle so well. The fact that they’re completely windproof made a big difference for me when using hiking poles.
This actually allowed me to keep going on a couple of hikes where I may have turned back otherwise due to cold extremities. The DryVent waterproofing also helps dramatically to keep you dry in snowstorms or heavy rain.
For milder winter temperatures, you’re likely to find these too much. But for out in the alpine and colder locations, these mitts provide an exceptional option that will keep you comfortable all day long.
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 |
See The North Face Women’s Montana Insulated Ski Mitt in more detail:
Analysis and Test Results
As a mitt, The North Face Women’s Montana Insulated Ski Mitt offers less dexterity than a glove, for sure. However, unless you need to do technical work on your hikes, or fuller on, demanding scrambles, these mitts will give you all you need.
They’re perfect for ski adventures, but they’re also perfect for snowshoeing, and colder hikes too. Where I got to test these, I had a combination of snow, freezing rain and ice and they performed beautifully.
For basic tasks, these mitts also have the capability to let you use your phone. The thumbs are touch sensitive and you can unlock, take a photo and vaguely look at maps. This wasn’t the easiest, but it’s a nice to have. Texting is a no go, though.
I also love the wrist strap, which allows you to put the mitts on with these in place around your wrist. This is a great aspect that you usually find in more high-end gloves and mitts.
I often wear these mitts with a liner glove and for more fiddly tasks, it’s great to be able to take these off to complete them and know that they’re still hanging down and not getting lost. Especially important in harsher conditions where things can blow off.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
The North Face mentions that the Montana mitts come with 250g of ‘Heatseaker Eco’ synthetic insulation. This uses a hollow-core fiber technology which gives extra warmth.
In actual usage, these mitts are incredibly warm. I do find I get cold hands quite a bit, I have a health condition that impacts my circulation, especially so in extreme conditions. So, I found that the Montana mitts were incredible to use, especially with hiking poles where my hands are more exposed anyway.
I was also happy to see just how windproof these mitts are. They use The North Face’s ‘WindWall’ coverage. Which aims to keep out wind chill. They did just that. In my time testing these mitts, we experienced some pretty bad wind storms, and I couldn’t feel it at all wearing these!
Water Resistance
The North Face Women’s Montana Insulated Ski Mitt makes use of The North Face’s DryVent technology. This is similar to a number of other products of theirs that we’ve tested in other reviews.
I’ve always been really impressed with The North Face’s in house waterproofing technology. I’ve never experienced saturation on their products. These mitts are no different.
If you’re out in the snow or ice, there’s a good chance that your gloves or mitts are going to get wet at some point. Even when doing rock scrambles in ice, these mitts held out exceptionally well. They’ve also been put through their paces quite extensively through heavy, cold rain mid hike.
If you buy these mitts, I can honestly say, I don’t think you’ll be worrying about your hands getting wet. These mitts are solid.
Wind Resistance
As I mentioned earlier, tied into warmth is wind resistance. The Montana mitts make use of The North Face’s ‘WindWall’ coverage. This basically creates a wind proof layer or hardshell feel to the outer of the gloves.
Of course, the insulation helps here as well, but the fact that these mitts essentially have a wind shell makes them one of my top picks now when it comes to windy days out in the mountains. I use poles quite a lot when hiking, and these mitts help me to push on further, knowing that my extremities are staying warm.
The only thing that takes these mitts down a mark or two for me is the fact that their dexterity is limited. Of course, they’re a bit chunky mitt, so that’s to be expected.
However, if I need to navigate my map using my phone, I’ve found generally I need to take these off. I usually wear a liner glove too, but that’s a consideration you’ll really need to make in terms of the wind resistance.
Comfort and Fit
The Montana Mitts feel effortless and comfortable to wear. I got a medium and they feel like they fit true to size for me (I generally wear a medium in all gloves).
They slide on really easily, which is great if you’ve got cold hands already. The strap that goes around your wrist is comfortable and soft with no digging in at all. The drawcord around the wrist to keep them warmer is also easy to use too.
When your hand is in the mitt, it feels really soft and cushioned inside. To be honest, they feel to me like wearing a comforter on your hands!
They’re also roomy without being large. There is enough space for your hands to move around freely whilst wearing them, but not enough space for them to feel baggy, or provide the dexterity they do provide. In terms of comfort and fit, these mitts are top notch.
Ease of Use
I think it’s important to keep in mind that as a mitt, the Montana is always going to be a lot less easy to use than a full fingered glove. So, with that in context, I really feel like I’m picking at things here, but they are things that I noticed, and you should consider before you buy them, depending on how you plan to use them.
The North Face claim for the Women’s Montana Insulated Ski Mitt to be touchscreen compatible with their Etip design. This is similar to The North Face Apex Insulated Glove that I’ve also reviewed, but this is mostly just on the thumb.
In testing, I did find I could unlock my phone, open an app and close it. I could take a picture, and I could get into my mapping software. However, trying to zoom in/out, navigate was nearly impossible.
That said, with a liner glove and the strap that sits around your wrist, I could just take these off for more dexterity intense tasks. Similar to using my camera too – the strap made a big difference and meant I could keep my hands warm enough for things that needed it.
They do make things like going in your backpack, getting out a water bottle and other tasks a bit harder. I do find in winter I like to try and use a hydration pouch instead, as to limit my need to stop in cold temperatures and take off gloves, hats etc. So, this does help, but it certainly needs an adjustment.
Trying to adjust a shoelace or tightness on anything else was virtually impossible too. I did have to take these mitts off to do this. All in all, I love these mitts for the warmth and wind proofing they offer. But if you know you need a lot of movement, this might not be the best option for you and I would recommend the Apex Insulated Glove instead.
Materials
When looking through the materials listing that The North Face offers about the Montana Ski Mitt, it’s clear to see a great effort has been made in terms of recycled materials. In fact, all materials used are recycled. They’re also fully synthetic.
They also use insulation, in the form of a 250g loft layer, fleece lining and DWR treated polyester as well as a faux leather grip on the inner hand. The gauntlet is made of their in house ‘WindWall’ recycled polyester too.
It’s clear when you handle these mitts that they are made of great materials, they feel well made and durable and incredibly cushioned and comfortable. I particularly love the fleece layer inside that feels ultra rich and comfortable to wear. That extra layer of ultra soft comfort outdoors can be a real mood booster.
Appearance
One of the things I love about these mitts is that they come in a range of different colorways and patterns. This is dependent on which of the retailers I’ve linked to above that you shop through, and it seems more patterns are being released over time.
That’s great to see as many gloves and mitts can feel a little dull. That said, I did order these myself in black. However, I find I personally prefer darker color gloves and mitts. I still think that in black, these mitts look really nice and understated.
I think that the underside of the mitt looks great too. The faux leather which gives extra grip (great for hiking poles, holding a device etc.) compliments the overall design really nicely.
Features
The main features of these mitts is that they’re smartphone compatible. This is great, but from my tests, this is only useable to a point.
As I mentioned earlier in this review, they’re great for unlocking and taking a photo, but anything else is difficult. You will get frustrated and end up taking them off if you try to use them for much else.
The fact that the Montana mitts are also waterproof and windproof is another great feature, and for me, one of the best things about them. They’re ultimately comfortable and soft and just keep your hands feeling really great for the whole time you’re outdoors.
Durability
I’ve been testing these mitts for a while now and I have no reason to believe that they’re not built to last. When you look in great detail at their stitching and their construction, they’re incredibly well stitched and everything feels really well made.
They’re also pretty much scuff and scratch resistant too. I’ve put these mitts through their paces pretty well and they still look as if they’re new.
All areas where there is a fabric pull that is going to get some use, they are really well stitched with reinforced patches to help. This, I think, is likely to stop any pulling or fabric rips that would be possible in these areas over time. For the price, these mitts feel like a great investment to me.
Sustainability
Undeniably, The North Face have gone all out when it comes to creating a sustainable mitt here. Every element of the Montana Mitt is made of recycled materials, and PFC free treatments (such as the DWR).
They have also made use of synthetic fills and no animal based material in their construction. This is great to see, and The North Face are a brand that extensively make use of recycled materials for a lot of their products.
These mitts also feel really well made and like they’re built to last, which of course helps with sustainability too. I have no reason to believe that if you buy these mitts, you won’t get years and years of use from them.
Price
At the time of writing, these mitts are priced at $65/£60. So, you do pay a premium for them if you’re shopping outside the US. However, they also often seem to be on sale, so you’re likely to be able to pick them up for less.
Considering some of the price points that we’ve reviewed at in our best winter gloves for hiking round up, these are exceptionally well priced considering what they offer. The level of insulation and waterproofing for the price is outstanding.
I would expect these gloves to come in at a higher point than this, so I’m glad to see them offered at a pretty affordable price bracket. Considering the level of suitability they offer, how well made they are and the comfort whilst wearing, they’re a no brainer in my opinion.
Though, do keep in mind that if you want full functionality to use these and have full dexterity, I would recommend adding a liner glove like the Arc’teryx Rho Liner Glove. This will obviously add to the overall cost of getting a mitt and glove set up you’re happy with.
Conclusion
I think that The North Face Women’s Montana Insulated Ski Mitt is perfect for not just snow sports, but snow shoeing, winter hiking and cold weather conditions in-between. They’re effortlessly comfortable with their fleece inner and practically feel like wearing a comforter on your hands.
What’s not to love about that? Well, if you’re looking for full dexterity, these may not be the best fit for you, but then if this is you, you are likely better suited to a full finger glove anyway.
However, if you see these mitts for what they’re intended for, you’ll love what they offer. The warmth and wind proofing are next level. Seriously so. You won’t be feeling windchill in them, especially if you have your hands exposed a lot with hiking poles like I do.
For the price, these fully synthetic, full recycled material mitts are a steal. They feel like the construction of a much more highly priced product. The sizing feels perfect as they effortlessly glide on, which is welcome on colder days, and the strap to keep them on all the time helps more than you can imagine when you need it!
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