Frigid (or numb) fingertips are a major crimp in your plan for backcountry domination. Mitts or gloves can feel warm one day, but when the wind bites on that exposed ridge there’s no way to warm up once your hands go cold.

That’s why there’s something very reassuring about a heated mitt or glove.

Outdoor Research Prevail Heated mitt pole 1 — The Outdoor Research Prevail Heated Mitt, heat setting on low. Photo: Mountain Life Media

The Prevail Heated GORE-TEX Mitts are nothing short of magic—providing warmth at the push of a button, so you can stay outside and play longer, and in the coldest conditions. With three heat settings, you can customize the level of warmth.

The mitts’ ALTIHeat Technology boasts one control button per hand with a multi-color heat-level indicator. This button—marked with an “OR” logo—is used to turn the heating system on and off, and to select the heating level. Red is the warmest setting, yellow is the mid-warm setting, and green is the low-warm setting. So far, the low-warm setting has proven more than warm enough for us, and the battery will last a reassuring 8 hours on it. (The mid-warm setting will last 5 hours; high, 2.5.)

Outdoor research Prevail heated mitts light — Battery pack pulled out of (left) zippered pocket. Photo: Outdoor Research

Naysayers will point to the battery packs and the probability that at some point, the charge will die on you when you’re out. However, most of us are now accustomed to constantly charging our phones, smartwatches and cameras—so adding one more chargeable to our routine is not a big deal. If you’re heading off-grid, keep in mind that the mitts’ lithium-ion battery packs are not USB-compatible (the charger is two-pronged), so your portable powerbank would need to support that.

Outdoor Research Prevail heated mitt hanging in tree — Hanging from the handy wrist leashes. Photo: Mountain Life Media

Weatherproof Reliability

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The touchscreen-compatible material on the thumb (and also the forefinger in the Glove version) lets you use your devices without exposing your skin to the cold. The waterproof and windproof GORE-TEX insert protects your hands from the elements, while the water-resistant leather palm ensures a firm grip on your poles or tools. And even without the heat (if your battery dies in the field) the mitts boast plenty of EnduraLoft insulation (333G/133G) and fleece (320G). Also: the removable (and stretchy) wrist leashes on each mitt are very handy if you plan to take the mitts off frequently in the field.

96/100

Total Score iLegend

The best

For the Outdoor Research Guide to heated gloves/mitts, click here.