9 best touchscreen-friendly gloves that will also keep your hands warm

NBC News

27-01-2025

Wearing winter gloves while using a touchscreen phone often goes about as smoothly as trying to read a book in the dark: you can't use one without making the other basically obsolete. 'For gloves, there is often a compromise between warmth and function,' says Claire Sturzaker, a travel writer and founder of travel blog Tales of a Backpacker. The trick lies all in the material and structure of the gloves, particularly the fingertips.
To find the best touchscreen-friendly gloves, I spoke with winter apparel experts, including Sturzaker, for their guidance and recommendations.
How I picked the best touchscreen gloves
There are a few important features to consider when choosing gloves that are compatible with touchscreens on phones and tablets. Here's what I kept in mind while curating this list:
Conductive material: Look for touchscreen gloves made of warm insulated fabric, such as fleece or cashmere, that's also thin enough to use with a touchscreen phone, especially the fingertips. 'Gloves should have conductive fingertips (commonly made of metal fibers or conductive synthetic materials) to allow touchscreen use,' says Eric Mooradian, the vice president of product development at online retailer Heat Holders. Some brands refer to this as 'touchscreen conductive' fabric or 'touchscreen compatible' gloves. The fingertips often have a different texture or weave that makes it easier for your phone or tablet to detect your finger. All of the gloves on this list include touchscreen-friendly features, and some also have grips in the palms to keep tech from sliding out of your hand.
Size: 'Look for close-fitting gloves — if they're too big then they won't be as effective,' says Stuzaker. If they're too tight, however, then they're not only uncomfortable, but could restrict the movement of your palm and fingers. The majority of gloves on this list come in at least three different sizes.
Water resistance and absorbency: Depending on how sweaty your palms get, some of that moisture can permeate the gloves and come in contact with your phone, which could potentially affect how well they work. Think about any time you've tried to use your phone with a sweaty or lotion-covered hand — it's usually harder to do. In addition to a fabric that is warm and flexible, you also want one that is absorbent so it can wick sweat from your hands, especially if you plan to run or exercise while wearing them. The gloves on our list also have absorbent properties, according to their brands.
The best touchscreen-friendly gloves
The touchscreen-friendly gloves on this list are either direct recommendations from experts or NBC Select staff, or top-rated options with at least a 4-star average rating from 500 reviews or more on Amazon (or from at least 50 reviews on their respective brand sites). Some of the gloves on this list are also from brands we've written about and tried ourselves.
The Etip Recycled gloves, which have over a 4-star average rating from 996 reviews at The North Face, have touchscreen-friendly fingertips and are made of an elastic fleece material that moves in multiple directions. They also have several silicone dots on the inside of the palms to keep your phone from slipping out of your hands, and the cuffs of the gloves have a clip that keeps the two gloves attached, so one doesn't go missing. They're also available in more sizes than all but one other option on this list.
Also available in men's sizing, these running- and touchscreen-friendly gloves come recommended by NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin, an experienced long-distance runner who says they're 'the best' for all her daily sprints, especially since they snap together, making it easy to not lose them. 'When I run outside in cold weather, I always wear these gloves because they prevent my hands from freezing and let me use my phone thanks to the screen-conductive fabric on the fingers,' she says. 'I can easily check my map, text someone back and change my music.' The fingertips are touchscreen compatible and the thumb is made from an especially absorbent fleece fabric, making it perfect for wiping moisture from the face, according to Lululemon.
The outside of these gloves — which are also equipped with Uniqlo's popular and ultra-warm Heattech fabric on the inside — are made of touchscreen-compatible fabric so you don't have to sacrifice phone calls for warmth, according to the brand. While not fully waterproof, the material on the back of the gloves helps repel outside moisture like rain. The cuffs on the gloves are also elastic and fit securely around the wrists to trap warmth on the hands.
Best touchscreen gloves for winter sports:
Recommended by NBC Select editorial director and avid marathon runner Lauren Swanson, the Vortex Wind Block touchscreen-friendly gloves are versatile and compatible with several winter sports and exercises like running and trekking through snow. 'The inner layer doesn't trap heat as well as other gloves I've tried, but the outer mitten layer adds extra defense against wind,' she says. 'The touchscreen pads on the forefinger and thumb make navigating my phone or Garmin watch seamless.' The gloves themselves are made of a flexible fleece material that wicks sweat and the fingertips have a silicone-pattern texture. The mittens also have a reflective line of tape to help increase visibility in the dark.
Material: polyester | Care: n/a | Size options: 3
These performance fleece gloves from Alo have touchscreen-compatible fingertips, according to the brand. The absorbent fabric also wicks moisture on the back and front of your hands, so you don't have to worry about palm sweat coating your tech. The brand recommends hand-washing in cold water and rolling them in a towel to dry.
These winter gloves, which have a 4.3-star average rating from 59,539 reviews on Amazon, are ideal for using with touchscreen-enabled tech since the fingertips have a sensor-friendly texture, according to the brand, and the palms have multiple silicone spots, making it easy to hold your phone. The rest of the glove, however, is made from soft-knit fabric to keep hands warm, regardless of your activity.
NBC Select commerce editor Lindsay Schneider and I are huge fans of Quince's apparel and bedding, largely because the brand specializes in ultra-soft, high-quality materials like cashmere. These gloves have a 4.7-star average rating from 1,067 reviews at Quince, and are available in more than five muted shades. They have touchscreen-friendly fingertips, long cuffs that you can tuck into your coat or jacket sleeves and a breathable weave, according to the brand.
Best merino wool touchscreen gloves:
Known for helping popularize the soft and warming qualities of merino wool, Smartwool makes some of the best winter accessories, including these thermoregulating, touchscreen-friendly gloves. The gloves fit close to the skin, but are still breathable, and they come with a touchscreen-compatible thumb and index finger, so you can use your phone vertically or horizontally, whether it's to type, scroll, or favorite a video. The gloves have a 4.1-star average rating from 139 reviews at Smartwool.
With a 4.6-star average rating from 62 reviews at REI, these gloves are especially designed to keep hands warm while also making it easy to use a touchscreen device. This is why the palms and fingers have a silicone grip material on them — it allows your phone or tablet to sense your touch or swipe. Made from a blend of wool and polyester, the gloves have tapered cuffs with loops you can use to pull the gloves on.
How to shop for touchscreen-friendly gloves
Besides your lifestyle and budget, there are a few factors to consider when shopping for touchscreen-friendly gloves. Here's what our experts recommend taking into account:
Physical activity
The more you move, the more likely palm sweat can seep through your gloves. If you work out daily or commute on foot, for example, it's especially important to consider gloves that are thin yet warm, while also being absorbent — think cashmere or fleece. Additionally, this means you'll have to wash the gloves more often to prevent staining and odors. Keep in mind that most gloves are best washed by hand, too.
Insulation
Mooradian recommends looking for gloves that mention having an insulated lining on the inside in addition to a touchscreen-conductive material on the outside. If a product is insulated, it helps trap and maintain heat to keep your body warm.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about home, kitchen and lifestyle topics. I've also reported on winter accessories such as electric blankets, how to clean beanies and REI's winter sale. I spoke with travel and winter sports and apparel experts for their guidance for this story.