Smartwool gloves, comparative review
In this Smartwool glove review, I think you’ll find a glove that will work in almost any situation or weather condition. All of these gloves offer the brilliant Smartwool Merino wool as the main fiber in the production, offering you non-itch warmth, odor control, warmth when wet and an all around good look.
Year-round wear: padded gloves and lightweight gloves
Smartwool has some nice offerings in the four season category. These gloves are light and thin, offering some warmth on cool morning runs, rides or an early trip to the market. They are perfect for layering under heavier gloves for winter use.
Smartwool Liner Gloves have touchscreen capabilities on both the thumb and index finger of each hand for easy access to your phone or in-store touchscreen checkout. They are comfortable, thin, not form fitting, but not bulky. Consider ordering a size down if you prefer a snug fit. They are made like pads, so you won’t find any wind or water resistant barriers.
The Smartwool Sopris Liner Gloves are micro-weight liners with an extended wrist for greater coverage. They are reinforced on the thumb and index finger for extra durability. They don’t have touchscreen capabilities, but will work imperfectly due to their thin build.
Smartwool PhD HyFi Training Gloves are lightweight training gloves. They have touchscreen capabilities and the grippy material on the fingertips and palms make them ideal for cyclists. The fit feels slightly larger, with the toes being slightly longer in particular. This is a thin glove that is ideal for use in cool to moderately cold temperatures; if you get cold easily, you’ll want to upgrade to a heavier glove as the seasons change. The fit is snug, so you could definitely pair them with a heavier glove or glove for winter use.
Smartwool Training Gloves are thin, lightweight gloves with a tight fit. The graphic silicone material on the fingers and palms make them a good choice for cyclists. They are not windproof, but the merino wool construction will keep your hands warm even if the gloves are wet. Their tight fit can allow them to be combined with a heavier glove for winter use. No touchscreen technology.
Technical gloves
The Smartwool Pocket Glove is a windproof, waterproof shell that features a glove strap clip on the wrist, a thumb panel for cleaning the nose, an easy finger and palm grip, and a comfortable knit interior. This would be a great glove on its own for mild temperatures or paired with one of Smartwool’s lining gloves for a winter glove system.
Casual/technical gloves
The Smartwool Spring Glove is a nice glove for everyday use with full leather fingers and a leather palm. It has more technical features such as raised branding and logos, nose towel, glove strap and velcro closure. With all your leather on this glove, be careful if you take it on a hike, it will chafe more easily than a true technical glove, and when wet, the leather will be a heavy, wet mess.
The Smartwool Snowsports Glove is very similar to spring gloves. I think it’s the better choice as it doesn’t have any of the prominent branding, doesn’t offer a velcro closure that tends to grab lint from your shirt or coat sleeves, but does offer a windproof shell. It also has a handkerchief and glove strap like the spring gloves. This would be a better choice for true outdoor use or for those who prefer a warmer glove with its windproof qualities.
Casual casual wear
The Smartwool Cozy Flip Mittens are a stylish everyday choice that combines the warmth of mittens with easy access to the hood. There is a little button at the top so you can fasten it if you want to use them as fingerless gloves. These gloves tend to run a little small, but not too much. You may also notice that your fingertips seem cooler because most of your finger will be covered by the glove portion as well as the glove lid, while your fingertips only have the lid as a covering.
The Smartwool Cozy Gloves are a heavier everyday choice for everyday wear with a knitted touchscreen option so you don’t actually see the touchscreen pads on the thumb and forefinger. While the ability to use a touchscreen is there, these gloves are made of a thicker material than the liners and are specifically marketed to be comfortable, so I wouldn’t expect to be able to use the touchscreen for as fine a detail as sending text messages, but answering a call should be easy enough. They also seem a little long in the toes, so take that into account when ordering.
The Smartwool Ridgeway Gloves are beautiful casual or work gloves made from a combination of leather and nylon shell with a merino wool and nylon knit interior. These can be used as work gloves, but they are suede so they will last longer as everyday gloves. The leather shell provides some wind protection so the glove is suitable for use in the colder months. The Ridgeway is available in black or buckskin with an elasticated wrist to prevent drafts.
The Smartwool Stagecoach Gloves are a stylish, casual choice with leather on the palm and fingers and knitted fleece on the back of the hand. It has a short glove-style cuff with an elasticated wrist to prevent drafts. These gloves are great for colder weather. With their leather grip, they are perfect for driving while being more casual than full leather gloves.
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