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It’s that time of year again. Temperatures are plummeting in many parts of the northern hemisphere, and those of us who work on farms or ride horses outside are questioning our life choices.
In this weather, what you’re wearing on your hands can really make or break your experience. The SSG 10 Below Winter gloves are the best gloves I’ve found for keeping my hands warm while doing farm chores or riding.
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Why I love the SSG Ten Below Winter Riding Gloves
- They are so warm. In Michigan winters, the temperature can often drop to the teens, and sometimes single digits Fahrenheit. I always wear these gloves to do farm chores, and my hands stay toasty warm down to about 15 degrees F or less. That’s thanks to 5 layers of polar fleece insulation inside the gloves, including Thinsulate material. I can stay comfortable as the temp drops a few more degrees by adding a hand warmer inside.
- They are fully waterproof. This is very important if you need to stick your hands in a bucket or trough of water to grab ice off the top. You can pretty much submerge your whole hand in the icy water and not feel it. Eventually the water may slowly begin to seep inside. However in my experience it takes about 30 minutes to begin feeling damp inside.
- They fit my long thin fingers. I love having gloves that give my fingers plenty of room, and plenty of room inside is also really important for warmth. For riding, it’s essential that the fingers fit perfectly to be able to handle the reins well.
- They are not too bulky. These gloves are made for riding, and are not too thick to allow a good feel of the reins. I ride in them all the time and they have just the right amount of grip. The fact that they are more streamlined makes it easier to do a lot of barn tasks like blanketing without taking them off.
- They have a close-fitting knitted cuff that’s nice and long. It includes a gripper area to pull them on easily. The cuff totally prevents hay and shavings from getting inside (hallelujah!).
- They have a stretchy wrist strap. Sometimes you need to take a glove off for a minute to do up a buckle or measure supplements. Your 10 Below Glove will just hang from your wrist until you put it back on. No more gloves dropped in the snow or mud!
- They are machine washable. I really love this about them. Previous to these I had a pair of leather ones that became absolutely stiff with grime and barn crust. There was no washing them because of the leather.
- They are touch screen friendly. Although the fingers are pretty big for typing, you could definitely answer a call or take a picture without a problem.
Some Considerations
- I don’t know of any glove without a powered heating element that will keep your hands totally toasty below about 15 degrees F with a wind. As warm as these gloves are, extra help is needed for the extreme cold.
- They are not quite as tough as leather. While they are superior to leather in the area of washability, use caution around sharp scissors and other sharp objects that could puncture them and compromise their waterproof outer layer.
Conclusion
The SSG Ten Below Winter Riding Gloves are the best winter gloves I’ve found. They really allow you to enjoy being outside in the cold, whether you’re doing farm chores or riding. They keep your hands the warmest of all the gloves I’ve tried, and add lots of value with extra features.
The long cuff to keep hay and shavings out is the best thing ever! The wrist strap and touch screen compatibility are also super convenient.
If you’re looking for a pair of gloves that will help you not hate winter weather, give them a try.
Put them on, get out and enjoy the winter with your horse. You’ll be glad you did!
Use code PJSLT15 to get 15% off at statelinetack.com. Or click here for 10% off your order at Horse.com.
Need some waterproof winter boots too?
Jump over to my review of the Itasca River Boots to see what I love about these value waterproof boots.
