The North Face Montana Ski Glove (men’s) review: serious warmth for regular winter trips
Once your winter trips get longer and colder, a work glove stops being enough. You want more insulation, a waterproof-breathable insert rather than a plain one, and a long gauntlet cuff that seals over your jacket sleeve when you are breaking trail through deep snow. The North Face Montana is sold as a ski glove, but that is exactly the kit a regular winter hiker or snowshoer needs, and it delivers it with more warmth than most gloves in its class.
Quick take
A warm, waterproof gauntlet glove with generous synthetic insulation, a DryVent waterproof-breathable insert and a long cuff that seals over a jacket sleeve. It is among the warmest gloves at its level, comfortable down to about 20°F (−7°C) when you are not moving much, with room for a thin liner on colder days. The insulation is bulky, so fine tasks are clumsy, the synthetic palm is less durable than leather, and a soaked glove takes most of a day to dry. The workhorse winter glove for regular cold-weather trips.
What it does
The Montana has a recycled polyester shell with a PFC-free water-repellent finish over a DryVent waterproof-breathable insert. Warmth comes from Heatseeker Eco synthetic insulation, rated 250g on the back of the hand, with a hollow-core fibre that keeps insulating when damp, and a soft raschel fleece lining. The fingers are pre-curved so the glove sits in a relaxed grip, a synthetic-leather overlay on the palm adds grip and wear resistance, and touchscreen panels let you use a phone. The gauntlet has a WindWall lining, a shock-cord closure to seal it over a sleeve, an elastic wrist, a buckled strap across the back of the hand and a wrist leash that keeps the glove with you when you take it off.
What verified buyers say
Across verified-purchase reviews, the same points come up:
- Very warm. Warmth is the point owners make most, for skiing, snow shoveling and cold outdoor days.
- Soft and comfortable inside. Owners repeatedly mention the soft fleece lining and a comfortable fit.
- They stay dry. Owners report dry hands in snow and wet conditions.
- True to size. Most owners find the sizing accurate, with enough room to move the fingers.
- A limit in deep cold. A small number of owners find them not warm enough much below about 14°F (−10°C), especially when standing still.
Worth knowing
Warmth comes from bulk, so fine work such as zippers, buckles, stove valves and camera buttons is clumsy in the Montana. Carry a thin glove such as the Etip Recycled for those jobs, and for the climbs, when a glove this warm will make your hands sweat. The DryVent insert keeps water out, but the shell can soak up water in wet snow, and once saturated the glove takes around ten hours to dry, which matters on a multi-day trip: dry it inside your jacket or sleeping bag overnight. The palm is synthetic, not leather, so it wears faster under rope, tool or rock work. For deep cold, a mitt or the three-finger Hestra Army Leather Heli is warmer.
Who it is for
The Montana is for men who hike, snowshoe or winter camp regularly and want a warm, waterproof glove with a proper gauntlet for deep snow and wind. The women's choice at this level is the Dakine Camino (women's). If you go out occasionally on packed trails, the Carhartt W.P. (men's) costs less and will do the job. If your trips take you into sustained deep cold, remote country or multi-day winter travel, the Hestra Army Leather Heli 3-Finger is warmer, far tougher, and has a liner you can pull out to dry.
Specs at a glance
- Typeinsulated waterproof gauntlet glove
- Shellrecycled polyester, PFC-free water repellent, synthetic-leather palm
- WaterproofingDryVent waterproof-breathable insert
- InsulationHeatseeker Eco synthetic, 250g back of hand, fleece lining
- Cuffgauntlet with shock-cord closure, wrist leash
- Touchscreenyes
- Trade-offsbulky for fine tasks, synthetic palm, slow to dry when soaked
- Listed weight6.4 oz (181 g) · pair, men's L
- Best forregular winter hiking, snowshoeing and winter camping
Wilderness Experts is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases; when you buy through links on our site we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.
The Verdict
The Montana is the winter glove we would recommend to most men who get out regularly in the cold. It is warmer than most gloves at its level, keeps snow and wind out with a proper gauntlet, and has touches such as the leash and pre-curved fingers that make it easy to live with. Pair it with a thin glove for fine work and hard climbs, dry it overnight on longer trips, and it will carry you through a full winter. How gloves fit into a full layering system is in what to wear in the bush, and the cold-weather hazards they guard against are in frostbite.
