 Poster: A snowHead
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I am new to skiing and embark on my first skiing holiday in January.
I can borrow most of the kit I need, but I need some good quality, good value waterproof, warm gloves. What would be your suggestion or is there an impartial website which would point me in the right direction?
Thanks. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Davo40164,
Welcome,
I would say as a new skier, you may spend quite a lot of time getting up of the snow so get 2 pair if you can and rotate them daily after drying overnight.
They will sell decent gloves in the resort, and expect to pay £25 upwards for a pair. You can get them cheaper possibly and you can certainly pay much more butt hat sort of figure should get you ball-park.
Stick around because others will be along in a mo' and give you more specific pointers and ideas.!!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Everybody has different opinions, but as JT says, your gloves are likely to get wet. I've had lots of pairs of gloves and I haven't found that cheap gloves work very well. Hands get sweaty, the glove gets sodden and most annoyingly, the inner pulls out when you take your hand out.
£25 should get you a good pair of Rossignol, Salomon, maybe North Face but cold hands aren't a great deal of fun. One of the best investments is a pair of silk inners, about £7 in Snow and Rock when I was in there last night. Keeps your hands warm but not too sweaty.
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Davo40164, Welcome to  I've got hot sweaty hands so I go for good reasonably priced windproof cycling gloves (3 pairs) and a pair of overmitts for when it gets very cold and or wet. Everyone has their own solution depending on experience but I'd always carry a spare pair of dry windproof gloves in your pack at all times just in case you lose or soak the pair you're using. January is a very cold month and as you're new to the sport you may well be getting very sweaty and then standing around while listening to your instructor.
NB . . . don't wear cotton on the hill, good lightweight wicking undies make a huge difference to making your experience a good one.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I agree that a couple of pairs is best.
C&A cheapo gloves would fit the bill. In the UK just look for a similar outlet. You don't need anything expensive while you are learning.
I would not worry about not wearing cotton either at this stage.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Davo40164,
Depends on where you live as to what are the cheap outlets Aldi have ski stuff every so often that is cheap. Decathlon are usually reasonable . Funnily enough if it is cold as it often is in january waterproof is not to important as the snow is frozen and too cold to melt decent insulation helps though.
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Davo40164, Welcome. Buy the best gloves that you can afford. Go on Ebay and buy some Keela thermals, on sale at the moment. Insulation is important and not feeling dry and warm could ruin your day.
Avoid C&A gloves, mostly they are not up scratch. Snow & Rock and Ellis Brigham, usually do own brand gloves which offer solid performance.
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Davo40164, Good gloves are very important and having two pairs is a definate advantage. Pay good money for your gloves as you really do get what you pay for, beginners usually go for the cheaper option, only to replace them asap. Fortunately mine have all been good, and none have cost more than £35, which sounds really expensive but I've had mine for 4 years now and they're still going strong. Go for Gortex if you can.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Latchigo, I'd disagree, when we're learning we put (or we should) an awful lot of effort into the job and we'll be sweating like a garden sprinkler. Soggy undies and T-shirts don't enhance the experience. The usual suspects, Matelan Aldi etc. all sell adequate base layer clothing for pennies, it's worth it to wear it.
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Latchigo, I'd disagree, when we're learning we put (or we should) an awful lot of effort into the job and we'll be sweating like a garden sprinkler.
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I totally agree, when I was learning I had my jacket open, all that continual stomping up and down the piste is hot and sweaty work to say the least.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Davo40164, To sum up... there seem to be two opinions here.
1) Buy two (or more) pairs of cheap (£20-25) ones, as they'll get wet.
2) Buy the best gloves you can afford.
I'd go for option 1) 
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You know it makes sense.
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Latchigo, like everyone else I dissagree with you about wearing cotton in any form up a mountain. Weather & snow conditions change so easily up a mountain regardless of how well one skis, and therefore safety issues start from day one. Good insulation is imperitive for ensuring you remain a safe temperature on the mountain (i.e. not too hot, and most importantly not too cold). Cotton can't wick moisture efficently nor allow it to evapourate quickly. Soggy cotton is a sure way to invite overly-rapid cooling and increase the risk of hypothermia. Even as a beginner Davo40164 is likely to leave sight of his chalet, and being a beginner I would be MORE worried about him if he were up the moutain in cotton clothing.
There's nothing lost in buying a couple of pairs of good quality manmade fabric thermals (at least for the top). Helly for example (Blacks, S&R, etc stock it) do a perfectly good range about £25 per item in colours you'd wear off the slopes - you can continue wearing them at home in winter, so it's not like it's money down the drain if you don't continue skiing.
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FAQ
. Perhaps I could go on a Learn to Ski Package,in order to get the complete exp 
