Why Do So Many Snowboarders Wear Mittens?

Look around any lift line or terrain park, and you’ll notice a clear trend: snowboarders love their mittens. While gloves offer the dexterity of individual fingers, a huge portion of the riding community opts for the classic “crab claw” design. This isn’t just a style choice—it’s a calculated decision based on superior warmth, practical functionality, and all-day comfort.

The Primary Reason: Superior Warmth

The number one reason snowboarders choose mittens is simple science. By keeping your four fingers together in a single compartment, they share their collective body heat. This creates a much warmer pocket of air compared to gloves, where each finger is isolated and must generate its own heat to stay warm.

On cold and stormy days, this difference is significant. Warmer hands mean better circulation, less discomfort, and ultimately, more time on the mountain before you have to retreat to the lodge. For a sport where you’re constantly in contact with snow, maximizing warmth is a top priority.

Surprisingly Good Functionality

The main argument against mittens is a perceived lack of dexterity. However, the tasks required while snowboarding don’t demand fine motor skills. Think about what you actually need to do:

• Ratchet down your bindings
• Zip up a jacket
• Hold a grab
• Carry your board

Modern mittens are designed with enough flexibility and articulated shapes to handle all these tasks with ease. Furthermore, many high-quality mittens come with removable, thin fleece liners (that are often gloves themselves), giving you full dexterity on the chairlift when you need to use your phone or find something in your pocket.

Durability and Simplicity

A pair of gloves has many more seams than a mitten—one for each side of every finger. More seams mean more potential points of failure where stitching can break or waterproofing can fail. The simpler construction of a mitten often translates to better long-term durability, especially in high-wear areas like the fingertips.

What to Look For When Buying Mittens

If you’re ready to join the mitten team, here are a few key features to consider.

Waterproofing & Breathability

Wet hands are cold hands. Look for mittens with a waterproof and breathable membrane like GORE-TEX to keep moisture from snow and sleet out, while allowing sweat to escape.

Example: Dakine Titan GORE-TEX Mitt

A classic for a reason. It combines a GORE-TEX insert with a durable shell and comes with a removable, touch-screen compatible liner glove, offering the best of both worlds.

Material & Durability

Durable leather palms, like those found on workwear-style mittens, offer incredible longevity and grip. Nylon shells provide more flexibility and are often treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish.

Example: Hestra Fall Line 3-Finger

A premium, all-leather option known for its incredible durability and comfort. The 3-finger design offers a great compromise between the warmth of a mitt and the dexterity of a glove.

Helpful Features

Little things make a big difference. Wrist leashes (so you don’t drop your mitts from the lift), removable liners for versatility, and a soft patch on the thumb for wiping your nose or goggles are all features worth looking for.

Conclusion: The Warm and Sensible Choice

At the end of the day, snowboarders wear mittens because they are the warmest and most comfortable option for a day on the hill. They provide all the necessary functionality for the sport while keeping your hands toasty, which means you can ride longer and have more fun. For most riders, making the switch from gloves to mittens is a comfort upgrade they’ll never go back on.

This article was created on July 19, 2025, in Dhaka, Bangladesh.