Waterproof, insulated, heated: which freeride ski gloves should you choose?

Remote forests, steep slopes, deep snow and icy winds: freeride skiing exposes you to extreme conditions. Between approaches on foot or with climbing skins, technical manoeuvres, static transitions and long descents, your hands are exposed to the bitter cold. In this context, your gloves become much more than just accessories: they ensure your comfort, enjoyment and performance by keeping you warm, but also guarantee your safety by maintaining the precision of your movements.

As part of our partnership with the Freeride World Tour, we have therefore developed the best freeride ski gloves by combining the talent of the world's best freeriders with our expertise in body thermoregulation.

Waterproof, insulated and even heated: find out how these gloves designed for freeriding differ from classic alpine skiing gloves. And how to find the model that's best suited to you, depending on your practice, exposure to the cold and sensitivity of your hands.

The guide and expert advice for choosing the best freeride ski gloves for winter is right here, straight down the slope!

"By combining the talent of the world's best freeriders with our expertise in body thermoregulation, we have developed the best freeride ski gloves. "

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ALPINE SKI GLOVES AND FREERIDE SKI GLOVES?

Alpine ski gloves are designed for use on the slopes, in relatively predictable conditions: groomed snow, long periods on the ski lifts, breaks in mountain huts, moderate physical effort, etc. As a result, they are primarily designed to keep your hands comfortable and warm.

Freeride ski gloves, on the other hand, are developed to cope with more variable, sometimes extreme conditions: freezing cold, deep snow, strong winds, regular contact between your hands and your equipment or the environment, etc.

They therefore feature a more effective waterproof and breathable membrane; enhanced insulation; and more robust materials, such as leather palms or abrasion-resistant reinforcements. Their construction also prioritises the mobility of your hands and the precision of your movements, which are essential for the technical manoeuvres that ensure your safety. In short, a freeride ski glove is not only warm: it is technical, protective and durable enough to withstand a demanding environment.

‘Freeride ski gloves feature a more effective waterproof and breathable membrane; reinforced insulation; and more robust materials, such as leather palms or abrasion-resistant reinforcements.’

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD FREERIDE SKI GLOVE?

To design the best possible freeride ski gloves, we sat down with the sport's greatest champions and asked them two questions: ‘What are the essential characteristics of a good freeride ski glove?’ and ‘What would your ideal freeride ski glove look like?’ Athletes such as Juliette Willmann, Manon Loschi, Max Hitzig and Marcus Goguen all answered with one voice: "Good freeride ski gloves are simple gloves with very basic qualities, but these qualities are very difficult to achieve in extreme conditions. In other words, they must keep my hands warm and dry, regardless of the cold, wind, snow and technicality of the terrain."

At Therm-ic, we took up the challenge they set us and developed – in collaboration with our partner, the Freeride World Tour – a “pro model”: the Freeride Extra Warm Gloves - FWT Edition.

1. They keep your hands warm, even in extreme cold, thanks to Primaloft Gold, the best insulation technology on the market.
2. They keep your hands dry, even in the wettest conditions, thanks to the Sympatex membrane, which ensures flawless waterproofing and optimal breathability. Because a freerider's worst enemy is wet hands, whether the moisture comes from outside, with the snow, or from inside, through perspiration.
3. The composition – goatskin leather and Kevlar – gives these gloves, also available as mittens, unbeatable durability. Abrasion-resistant, they can withstand the sharp rocks or edges you might rest your hands on, both on the way up and on the way down.
4. They offer remarkable grip, thanks to short cuffs that allow for maximum dexterity and a firm hold on your poles for precise movements.
5. They feature an eco-friendly design, with 60% of the composition made from recycled materials.
6. They are highly versatile, as these gloves are also available as Freeride Extra Warm Mittens - FWT Edition ski mittens.

Two versatile models that are also suitable for occasional downhill skiing, ski touring or snowboarding, especially for freeriders who love the mountains in general.

"Good freeride ski gloves are simple gloves with very basic qualities, but they are very difficult to find in extreme conditions. "