Carry two pairs of gloves on a Welsh hill: fleece for dry cold, waterproof for the wet. The waterproof pair to buy first is the Sealskinz Acle, a soft shell glove with a waterproof membrane and a touchscreen grip.
Conditions on Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) can change within minutes, so one pair may not cover the day.
The Eryri National Park Authority, the public body that runs the park, describes the summit as much colder, wetter and windier than the start.
A fleece glove with touchscreen fingertips keeps your fingers working on the map and the phone. A waterproof glove keeps them warm once the rain or sleet arrives.
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Four pairs, three waterproof and one fleece:
- Sealskinz Acle Waterproof Soft Shell Glove, the waterproof pair to buy first, with a touchscreen grip
- Extremities Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove, a waterproof stretch glove with a silicone grip
- Extremities Insulated Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove, the insulated version for hands that go numb
- Berghaus Prism Polartec Glove, a light fleece pair (55 g) with touchscreen fingertips
| Your day out | What to carry |
|---|---|
| Rain or sleet, and you still need the phone | Sealskinz Acle Waterproof Soft Shell Glove |
| Wet day, map in hand, slim fit wanted | Extremities Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove |
| Cold ridge, hands that go numb | Extremities Insulated Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove |
| Dry cold on the climb, not waterproof | Berghaus Prism Polartec Glove |
Sealskinz Acle Waterproof Soft Shell Glove
Rain or sleet is forecast and you still need to use a phone or a map.
Sealskinz Acle Waterproof Soft Shell Glove Fully waterproof and breathable membrane, microfleece liningTouchscreen compatible grip, sizes S to XL Read the full specification on Amazon Sealskinz describes a three-layer build: a polyester outer, its own waterproof membrane, and a microfleece lining. The maker says the membrane is fully waterproof and breathable against rain, snow and sleet.
The touchscreen grip is the reason it comes first. Sealskinz says the grip works on a screen and holds in wet conditions, so the phone stays in use without bare hands.
Sealskinz also says it can be worn as a liner under insulated gloves. It publishes no insulation figure, so on a cold ridge the insulated pair below may suit better.
Best for: wet days when the phone and the map both stay out.
Extremities Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove
A wet walk where you want a slim, flexible glove for the map and compass.
Extremities Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove Waterproof and breathable stretch polyesterSilicone grip palm and fingers, brushed lining Read the full specification on Amazon The product description calls it a glove for when dexterity is key but you also need dry hands. The outer is stretch polyester, with a brushed lining and a double stretch cuff.
The grip is silicone on the palm and the fingers, where the Acle uses an S grip formation. Its description makes no touchscreen claim.
Check the listing before you count on it for a phone. The description also says it suits use alone or as a liner.
Best for: wet days that call for a slim glove and a silicone grip.
Extremities Insulated Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove
The summit ridge in wind, and your hands go numb in thinner gloves.
Extremities Insulated Waterproof Sticky Power Liner Glove Insulated, waterproof and windproof liner gloveSticky Power grip Read the full specification on Amazon Cotswold Outdoor’s listing for this version calls it insulated, waterproof and windproof. That adds a stated windproof claim to what the plain Sticky Power Liner offers.
Wind is the point on an exposed ridge, and this listing names the glove windproof. No insulation weight is given, so judge the warmth by the word insulated alone.
It carries the same Sticky Power grip name as the pair above. As with that pair, check the listing for touchscreen fingertips.
Best for: hands that go numb on a windy ridge.
Berghaus Prism Polartec Glove
A dry, cold morning on the climb, when you need fingers that work on a screen.
Berghaus Prism Polartec Touchscreen Glove Polartec 200 weight fleece, 55 gTouchscreen compatible fingertips, articulated fingers Read the full specification on Amazon Berghaus says the fingertips are touchscreen compatible, so you can use a GPS device and a smartphone without taking the glove off. It lists a close-fitting cuff and articulated fingers.
Berghaus gives the weight as 55 g and does not describe the glove as waterproof or windproof. That makes it the pair that comes off when the rain starts.
Care is by hand wash only, which is worth knowing before a muddy day.
Best for: dry cold on the way up.
Which pair for which day
The table sets the fleece pair and the waterproof pair against the weather.
| Day | Pair on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dry, cold start | Fleece pair | Fingers stay free for phone and map |
| Showers on the way up | Fleece pair, waterproof pair in the pocket | Swap when rain starts |
| Rain or sleet all day | Waterproof pair | Membrane keeps water out |
| Summit ridge in wind | Waterproof pair, insulated if hands go numb | Wind and cloud |
| Snow on the summit | Waterproof pair, fleece pair under it if it fits | Snow on top needs more than gloves (see the Authority’s winter advice) |
Wear the fleece pair while it is dry and swap to the waterproof pair when the rain or sleet starts.
What waterproof means on a glove
A waterproof walking glove usually has a membrane between the outer and the lining. Sealskinz names its membrane and describes it as fully waterproof and breathable, which means rain stays out and moisture from your hand can leave.
A membrane only works where the glove is closed. Rain that runs down your sleeve into the cuff reaches your hand anyway, so wear your jacket cuff over the glove cuff.
A glove sold as water repellent is a different thing from a waterproof one. Look for the word waterproof in the product description, as the three pairs above carry it.
How to choose and fit
Check size against the maker’s own range. Sealskinz sizes the Acle from S to XL, and Berghaus sizes its glove S-M, M-L and L-XL.
If you plan to wear the fleece pair under the waterproof one, try them together before the day.
Buy the waterproof pair first and the fleece pair second. The waterproof pair covers the day that can go wrong, and the fleece pair covers the dry spells.
We compile and explain public route and safety information. We guide nobody and sell nothing on the hill.
When you do not need to buy any of these
If your hands stay warm and dry in the gloves you own, buy nothing. A fleece glove you already have can be this pair, and on a dry summer day the fleece pair in the pack may be enough.
The pair you need most is the waterproof one, because rain, sleet or snow can arrive within minutes. Everything else for the rucksack is covered in what to pack for walking in Snowdonia.
From the car park to the ridge
The fleece pair goes on first, and the waterproof pair rides in your jacket pocket.
- Car park: fleece pair on, so the phone and the map stay easy to use.
- Climb: swap to the waterproof pair when rain or sleet starts.
- Summit ridge: the waterproof pair goes on and stays on.
By the ridge you want the waterproof pair on, or the insulated pair if your hands go numb. The Authority says the summit temperature can be much colder than at the start of the path.
Before you set off, and again on the ridge, check the mountain weather.
The fleece pair is the Berghaus Prism Polartec. The waterproof pair is the Sealskinz Acle, the Extremities Waterproof Sticky Power Liner or the Extremities Insulated Waterproof Sticky Power Liner.
