The best touchscreen gloves help you stay connected when you're out and about in the cold. Standard gloves don't work with touchscreen devices, but the best ones have conductive material woven into the fingertips, making it easy to use your phone or a hiking GPS or even go through your GoPro without exposing your fingers to the elements.
Before you buy, you'll need to think about how you plan to use your gloves; nearly all will be suitable for day-to-day use, but if you're planning on an outdoor expedition in the depths of winter, you'll probably need something more rugged. And it might be that you'll need to sacrifice touchscreen compatibility and aim for maximum warmth instead, in which case, see our guide to the best cold-weather gloves. We also have dedicated guides to the best hand warmers and best ski gloves for reference.
Just like with any other gloves, don't go for the chunkiest option if you're planning a big adventure with lots of walking or running; you'll soon warm up, start getting sweaty and lose the benefit of all that insulation (see our guide to running gloves for some specialised alternatives). Also, remember that most touchscreen gloves only have conductive fingers and thumbs, which is fine for basic tapping at your phone or smartwatch, but if you're thinking about typing on a tablet, you should look for gloves with 10 conductive digits.
The best touchscreen gloves to buy now
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Best touchscreen gloves overall
Fabric: 30% Wool, 70% Acrylic
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Conductible digits: four
+ Warm as toast
+ Trad looks
- It's too warm for mild weather conditions
The Furnace Pro gloves might look like the equivalent of a school-teacher's tweed jacket, all leather patches and home-spun goodness, but there's serious tech lurking in these traditional knitted gloves. The first hint that ‘Furnace' might be appropriate is the weight – 110 grams (medium) is quite a heft for a pair of gloves, and there's an excellent reason for that – a Primaloft Gold insulation layer. That outer is indeed wool, just in an acrylic mix to keep damp at bay, while an X DRY Extremities membrane ensures the inner stays dry.
In a final minor masterstroke the conductive touchscreen fingertips mirror the pu leather palm-pad, creating a vintage look that'll blend in with any event, from office to hillwalking. Most importantly though, these will keep you downright toasty whatever the weather throws at you – a modern classic.
Our rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Best lightweight touchscreen gloves
Fabric: Recycled outer with DWR, PrimaLoft insulation, microfleece lining
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Conductible digits: four
+ Trap heat extremely well
+ Very light and packable
- There are more robust options for adventuring in
- There are more stylish gloves for urban wear
Our pick for the cosiest touchscreen gloves around right now is the Montane Prism gloves. With an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, these pack down into a parcel just a little bigger than an apple, ready to sling in your rucksack just in case they're needed. The index fingers and thumbs are conductible and pre-curved to make them nice and dexterous, too.
PrimaLoft GOLD insulation traps heat remarkably well, and the Pertex Quantum shell offers a good amount of wind resistance while still allowing the fabric to breathe. While these aren't quite hardy enough for proper expeditions, for running, hiking and general casual glove-wearing, they'll work a treat.
Read our full Montane Prism gloves review.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen gloves for winter sports
Fabric: polyester, nylon, polyurethane
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Conductible digits: four
+ Super warm
+ Allow easy finger movement
- Hard to operate smaller devices
- On the bulky side
Designed for winter sports use but actually pretty handy for any very cold weather, The North Face Montana FUTURELIGHT Etip are our pick for the best touchscreen gloves for skiing and snowboarding. These are gauntlet-style gloves with many features you’d expect to see on a pair of dedicated mountain gloves – plus, of course, the touchscreen-friendly ‘etip’ overlays on the thumb and forefinger.
There's a synthetic leather palm for durability and flexibility, plus medium-weight insulation to keep things supremely cosy. These also include a layer of FUTURELIGHT, TNF’s flagship waterproof-yet-breathable membrane, which also makes an appearance in the brand's best waterproof jackets.
Read our full The North Face Montana FUTURELIGHT Etip review.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen liner glove for milder days
Fabric: 91% Polyester, 9% Elastane
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Conductible digits: index and middle finger plus thumb
+ Nice and flexible
+ Moisture-wicking technology
+ Carabiner loops
- Not super warm on their own
For active types who need a liner glove or a lighter-weight option for milder days, these Marmot touchscreen gloves are well worth a look. These are made from Polartec Power Stretch fabric, which promises ultimate freedom of movement, and Marmot promises moisture-wicking technology to prevent clammy hands, too.
On their own, these aren't built for all-out warmth – instead, they're geared towards active use, milder weather, or for wearing underneath a pair of ski gloves. The big logo means they might not be everyone's top choice for urban wear, though.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen gloves for wet conditions
Fabric: 95% Polyester, 5% Elastane
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Conductible digits: four
+ Water repellent
+ Quick drying
- Not entirely waterproof
Are you headed somewhere wet? Designed to be ultra-water repellent, these lightweight, single layer, mostly fleece gloves from waterproof specialists SealSkinz have an extra feature. On the palms is a silicone print for added grip, which is a nice feature considering all wearers will likely be packing a phone.
However, only the index fingers and thumbs are conductive, so this is pair for checking a phone, but not for maximum productivity. Also, note that these are water repellent but not waterproof, which means in a downpour you're still going to get wet hands – for ultimate waterproofing, you'd be best investing in some ski gloves.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Best touchscreen gloves for all-over conductivity
Fabric: GripTrak and micro fleece
Sizes: S/M, L
Conductible digits: four
+ All over conductivity
+ Extra grippy
- Not the most durable
Do you need to type and tap in the cold? Available in light grey and dark grey, and in two sizes, these touchscreen gloves from Moshi have conductive fibre on all 10 fingertips. That gives you great versatility, but also safety; the Moshi Digits also have an S-shaped pattern on the palm and fingers that offers a decent grip of handheld devices, which Moshi calls GripTrak.
Meanwhile, inside is a microfleece lining for softness and warmth, which is what all gloves should be about. These have a slightly lower price point, and a few reviews have flagged up issues with fraying, so if you need something ultra-durable you might be better looking elsewhere in our ranking.
Our rating: 4 out of 5 stars