Cooraby Stretchy Knit Kids’ Winter Gloves, 12-Pack

Anybody who has watched their kids play outside knows that every child thinks they’re indestructible. Still, even the toughest little superheroes need some extra protection when it gets chilly. And when it comes to snowy weather, a key part of any child’s outfit is a good set of winter gloves.

Why do kids need a little extra insulation on their digits? For one thing, they’re a lot more active with their hands. The cold won’t stop kids from picking up the occasional snowball or grabbing those frozen-over monkey bars. The best kids’ gloves are ones that can keep hands warm and stand up to a lot of extra friction.

First and foremost, material counts. Simple, knitted wool mittens might look cute and save you money, but they won’t be much use after they’ve encountered a couple handfuls of snow. Wool can soak up plenty of water before it actually leaks through, but that won’t make the gloves any more comfortable to wear — and enough moisture will actually make them ice over.

A better choice would be insulated gloves. These layered gloves can be lined with either down or some sort of synthetic material, and each has its pros and cons. Down will likely be more expensive, as it’s a natural and time-honored way to insulate any item of clothing. You can wear it for a while without compressing it, and nothing beats the way it traps heat. While it’s definitely more effective than wool, you still want to keep these gloves relatively dry. Once moisture gets into the interior of the glove, they become much less cozy.

Synthetic insulation can be less pricey, and it can work better in the short term. These are great gloves for snowball fighting, as moisture won’t affect the material as much. On the other hand, they do tend to be less durable — though quality can vary wildly by brand.

Of course, the inside of the glove isn’t the only thing that counts. Those active little hands are going to need some extra grip, so you may want to invest in gloves with rubber accents on the palm. You can even buy gloves made specifically for touchscreen use with silicone fingertips — tweens and teens will definitely thank you for those.

Sweat can build up pretty quickly inside kids’ gloves, so it’s a good idea to wash them out periodically. You won’t necessarily want to throw them in the washer, though. Wool mittens will come through most wash cycles just fine, and even gloves with down insulation can be laundered traditionally, as long as you keep the water cold and the dryer on low heat.

Synthetic gloves might require a bit more TLC, though. In most cases, you can hand-wash them with cold water in your sink using a bit of shampoo or gentle detergent. Set them out to dry and most gloves should be good to go overnight.