ULTRA RUNNING GLOVES AND MITTENS

Running gloves give each finger independent movement, making them the practical choice when dexterity matters for eating, drinking, adjusting clothing, handling a headtorch or using other equipment. For many UK ultras, a lightweight running glove may be all you need.

Mittens sacrifice some dexterity but allow the fingers to share warmth. They can also serve a different purpose: a thin windproof and waterproof shell overmitt adds weather protection over a normal glove, while an insulated running mitt provides substantially more warmth for genuinely cold conditions, greater exposure or periods when you are moving slowly.

There is no useful temperature rating that works for everyone. Some runners have cold hands while others overheat easily, and the same runner can need very different protection depending on pace, wind, rain and exposure.

It can be tempting to buy the warmest running gloves or mittens, but excess insulation can leave your hands hot and sweaty and gives you more bulk to carry when they come off. Test your kit in training and find the lightest, simplest hand protection that reliably works for you and the conditions you expect.

Not necessarily. Rather than relying on a bulky waterproof running glove, a lightweight running glove can be used alone in milder conditions and as a liner beneath a waterproof shell overmitt when greater weather protection is required. This creates a flexible system that can be adjusted as conditions change.

A waterproof running overmitt can be particularly valuable in prolonged driving rain and wind on exposed terrain, especially when climbs, fatigue or difficult ground reduce your pace. The shell layer can also be compact enough to carry as weather insurance when the forecast is uncertain.

Yes. A breathable running glove can double as a liner glove beneath a lightweight windproof and waterproof overmitt. The inner glove provides warmth and dexterity, while the outer shell can be added for protection from rain and wind and removed again when conditions improve.

Check the fit with both layers together. A shell mitt needs enough room for the liner glove and your hand without becoming uncomfortably tight, particularly around the wrist opening. If you intend to use a layered glove system, test the complete combination before race day rather than assuming two individually correct sizes will work comfortably together.

A wet running glove does not automatically need to come off. If you are still generating enough body heat and your hands remain comfortably warm, continuing in a wet lightweight glove can work. The important question is how your hands actually feel rather than whether the fabric is dry.

Other runners find wet hands become cold or uncomfortable quickly. For them, adding a waterproof shell overmitt before or during prolonged rain can be a better approach. On longer events, a dry spare pair of gloves can also be kept in a drop bag where the race provides one rather than necessarily carrying them for the entire distance.

Running effort generates heat, so a glove that feels adequate while you are moving strongly may feel very different when you slow on a long climb, difficult terrain or later in an ultra. Equally, heavily insulated running gloves or mittens can become uncomfortable when your pace increases.

Wind can make a major difference on exposed terrain. A hillside, ridge or coastal path can require hand protection, yet minutes later you may enter a sheltered section and want to remove it. This is why lightweight gloves and compact windproof or waterproof shell mitts that are easy to take off and stash work particularly well for ultra running.

They can be. Race organisers set their own mandatory kit requirements according to the route and expected conditions, and some events require gloves or other hand protection. Requirements can also change, so always check the current kit list for your particular race rather than relying on what was required in a previous year.

Mandatory kit is a minimum requirement rather than a prediction of exactly what you will use. Even when running gloves are not compulsory, lightweight hand protection can be worthwhile for an overnight temperature drop, exposed section, strong wind or unexpected deterioration in the weather.

Low weight, breathability and compact packed size are priorities across the range we stock. Beyond those basics, consider whether you need a simple running glove, waterproof shell or insulated mitt, together with fit, dexterity and how easily you can manage your handwear while moving.

Touchscreen fingertips are useful on race day when checking a phone without exposing your hands, while palm or finger grip can help with bottles, poles and equipment. Wrist retention is particularly useful when available: you can temporarily remove a glove or mitt to eat, drink or deal with a fiddly task without having to stash it or risk dropping it.