We can say from experience that there’s nothing worse than your fingers freezing while on a winter photo shoot. From a scientific standpoint, exposure to the cold results in constriction of blood flow to the extremities, resulting in rapid temperature loss that approaches ambient temperatures. In layman’s terms, your hands get cold fast. Once you feel that chill, it’s nearly impossible to think about anything else.
Enter gloves. From mittens to liners, we all probably have more pairs of gloves than we know what to do with, but not all pairs are created equal. This is especially true for photography. Cameras and lenses are covered in small, sometimes recessed buttons and dials that require a bit of tactile feedback when adjusting. For this reason, we may choose to use a pair of dedicated photo gloves. Luckily, we at B&H have plenty of options to choose from.
One of the best-bang-for-your-buck options is the Freehands Men’s Stretch Thinsulate Gloves / Freehands Women’s Stretch Thinsulate Gloves. These gloves likely set the standard by which other photography gloves are judged because they bring some very nice features to a what-you’d-expect-to-pay-for-gloves price. The gloves are fleece lined and feel good to the touch. The palms are a mildly grippy silicone and the 3MThinsulate is waterproof and windproof—keys to any good cold weather glove. Finger access for the thumb and forefinger is included with magnets on the backs of the fingers to keep the flaps open. Because they are not bulky, these gloves would make a great addition to your camera bag for cold(er) weather shooting—especially on days where you find yourself wishing you’d given more thought to keeping your hands warm.
The PGYTECH Photography Gloves are unique in this guide as they feature finger access for three digits—thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. They also might be the heaviest touchscreen-sensitive gloves we tested. These gloves feature 3M Thinsulate for wind and waterproofing and a grippy palm material for traction on your gear. When compared to the Freehand’s Thinsulate gloves, these PGYTECH gloves will definitely be warmer because they are more like traditional winter gloves and feature the larger, mitten-styled fold-back finger cap for even greater warming capabilities.
For those looking for a lighter glove or a liner to wear under a heavier mitten, look no further than the RucPac Professional Tech Gloves for Photographers. These gloves are thin and on their own will be best suited for fall or spring days when heavier winter gloves are not needed. Touchscreen sensitivity is great on this pair, but there is no finger access. They’re thin enough to not impact dexterity, though this will vary wearer to wearer. The palms have a rubberized pattern for grip, which will aid the wearer in navigating controls on their camera and lens.
Very similar to the PGYTECH gloves in size and weight, the Vallerret Tinden Gloves are more traditional winter gloves when it comes to warmth and feel. The unisex Tinden gloves come in six sizes ranging from XS to XXL. Both gloves give you forefinger and thumb access on demand with magnets to hold the flaps back. Although we said earlier that the finger flap magnets were not really needed, the Vallerret magnets are not very aggressive—almost to the point of not working. Inside is luxurious Merino wool and a zippered pocket on the glove backs can store something small. The palms have a grippy surface for keeping your stuff secure when being held.
Vallertet has many gloves in their lineup, covering a variety of use cases. For milder weather, the mid-weight Markhof V3 Gloves can be a lighter alternative that feature the same merino wool lining, non-slip grip, and zippered SD card pocket as the Tinden. To bolster any photo glove, pair them with the Power Stretch Pro Liner Glove. This adds additional protection is exceptionally cold weather and offers Polartec Moisture-Wicking Fabric to keep you dry and comfortable.
The Heat Company Heat 3 Smart Mittens/Gloves are the gloves you’ll want to get when someone tells you that you have to walk all day through the snow in sub-zero temps while holding an aluminum tripod. These are mittens that have a zippered top that peels back to reveal the fleece-covered fingers of a liner glove. The outer layer is wind and water resistant with Primaloft Gold synthetic down insulation. Other features include a strong magnet to hold the mitten top back and a pouch on the back of the glove to insert heat packs. The mittens come with two heat packs and leather balm. A few things to note: The liner is not removable, and it pulls out a bit when removing the glove. It’s somewhat annoying, but a circumstance of any similar design. Also, there is no bare-finger access. The mitten gives access to your liner-covered digits, but you cannot peel the liner back to expose your fingers. The liner fingers, however, are touchscreen sensitive.
For a lighter glove, The Heat Company has many options. Among their popular options are the Polartec Merino Gloves Liners. This breathable, lightweight liner can be worn on its own in warmer weather. They feature rubberized grips and touch screen compatible fingertips needed for everyday use, making them a solid choice in these conditions. For long winter treks or exceptionally cold weather, these liners can be paired with a larger, heavier glove like the Heat 3 Smart Mittens for added protection.
While certainly practical, the mitten/glove combination pairs may not be for everyone. Some photographers may opt to use the aforementioned liners as their first line of defense and only will equip a heavier glove when not actively taking photos. In these cases, a heavy-duty mitten is the only way to go, as they’re easy to remove and put on, and keep your hands nice and toasty. The Heat Company has a solution for this scenario in the Polar Hood Mitten, which is designed as the outermost layer of the brands HEAT3 layering system. Designed with lightweight nylon, the mitten is both waterproof and windproof. This glove also features soft fabric on the thumb for wiping glass or acrylic surfaces dry. There’s an adjustable wrist cinch at the end of the long cuff that can be used to keep wind and snow from sliding down the glove as well.
Alongside a good pair of gloves, a hand warmer like the Celestron Elements ThermoCharge Power Pack can be essential piece of gear. Although they aren’t gloves, an electronic warmer is a game-changer for those like me who suffer from constantly cold hands in the winter. Even if you have warm gloves, you’ll benefit from plunging your hands into your pockets with these electronic heat sources—and many of them serve double duty as flashlights or charging batteries. We cannot recommend them enough!
That’s a five-fingered wrap on a bunch of gloves we sell at B&H Photo. While we couldn’t cover every glove in our inventory, we hope you’ve enjoyed this look at some of our most popular options. To learn more about photography in all weather conditions, check out our other guides on the B&H Explora page!
