Not every ski day needs your warmest gloves. Spring laps, touring days and high-output days call for something lighter, and on the coldest days a thin liner inside your mitts makes them warmer. Here’s how glove liners and lightweight gloves work, and how to pick the right one.
what glove liners do
Add warmth. A liner adds a layer inside your glove or mitt. On the coldest days, that layer makes a difference.
Manage moisture. Sweaty hands get cold fast. A wicking liner pulls moisture away from your skin, and dry hands are warm hands.
Keep your hands covered. When you pull your hands out to adjust a buckle or check your phone, the liner stays on. Every liner below has touch-screen fingertips.
Work on their own. On mild days, a liner can be all you need. Our warmth ratings put liners at 50°F to 32°F (10°C to 0°C).
swany glove liners
- Powerdry Glove Liner, $30. Polartec Power Dry construction pulls moisture away from your skin, made for high-output days. Sizes S/M and L/XL.
- Polygiene Inner Glove, $35. Stretch fleece with a Polygiene antimicrobial treatment that prevents odor buildup, plus flip finger tech for precise tasks.
- Pure Merino Glove, $40. 100% merino wool for natural odor resistance and temperature regulation. Works as a liner or on its own in mild conditions.
- Cordura Thermal Glove, $45. Durable, lightweight Cordura fleece, built for layering or moderate conditions.
lightweight ski gloves
When it’s warmer, or you’re working hard enough to heat up, a lightweight glove gives you more dexterity and less bulk. These three are all designed for 40°F to 20°F (4°C to -5°C).
- Zephyr Glove (men’s, women’s), $90. Built for backcountry touring and lightweight mountain days. It’s almost all performance leather, with two small soft shell panels for flexibility. There’s no waterproof insert, which keeps it breathable and minimal for the uphill. It has a secure leash system.
- Navigator Hybrid Glove (men’s, women’s), $55. The lightweight glove for wet days. It has a soft shell, PrimaLoft Gold insulation for warmth without bulk, and a Dryfinger waterproof/breathable insert.
- Midweight Thermal Shell (men’s, women’s), $55. A durable Cordura glove with a performance leather palm and PrimaLoft Gold insulation. It has touch-screen fingertips and works across a range of conditions.
spring skiing and touring
Spring skiing means warm afternoons, wet snow and sweaty hands. A heavy insulated glove gets swampy fast.
- For touring and the uphill, go with the Zephyr. The leather holds up to poles and skins, and with no insert it breathes when you’re working hard. Re-treat the leather once a year to keep it shedding snow. Here’s how in our leather care guide.
- For slushy, wet spring days, go with the Navigator Hybrid. The Dryfinger insert keeps the water out.
- For warm, sunny laps, a liner like the Pure Merino or Powerdry might be all you need.
liners, lightweight glove, or both?
- If you run hot or ski hard, start with the Powerdry liner for moisture management.
- If you wear them several days in a row, go with the Polygiene Inner Glove or Pure Merino. Both resist odor.
- If you want one glove for mild days, go with the Navigator Hybrid or the Midweight Thermal Shell.
- If you tour, go with the Zephyr on the way up and pack your warmer gloves for the way down.
mitts with a liner built in
Some Swany mitts come with a liner. The Bocco Mitt (men’s, women’s), $170, and Norse Mitt (men’s, women’s), $110, both include a removable fleece inner glove with touch-screen fingertips. Both also have Toaster technology, a quick-access zipper that lets your hand out without taking the mitt off. Unzip, use your phone with the liner on, and zip back in. See all mitts with removable liners.
getting the most out of them
- Start dry. Put on dry gloves in the morning, and pack a spare liner on a big day.
- Take your outer glove off, not your liner. That’s what the touch-screen fingertips are for.
- Layer up. A liner works inside any glove or mitt, from the warmest to the lightest.
the bottom line
Going light doesn’t mean going cold. A good liner makes any glove warmer and drier, and a lightweight glove makes spring days and touring a lot more comfortable. Match the glove to the day, and keep your warmest pair for when you really need it.
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