Expedition gloves:
Special gloves for extreme adventures
Extreme adventures always call for extreme demands on equipment and material. In this article you can find out what is particularly important in the run-up to planning and which material should be given special attention.
With warm hands to the goal: A must on every expedition
When you go on an expedition, you have to think in the extreme when it comes to the material and equipment you need for your adventure. In situations where the limits are being pushed, nothing should be left to chance, because inadequate equipment can quickly lead to critical situations or even endanger the entire expedition.
Armed against the cold with the right gloves
On expeditions to the coldest parts of the earth, the body has to withstand freezing cold for a long time and still be able to perform at its best. If the body loses too much heat, the hands and fingers are the first to be at risk. In order to remain efficient in extreme situations, reliable high-tech expedition gloves with optimal thermal performance and useful additional functions are indispensable. OurTHE HEAT COMPANY partners and ambassadors are therefore very careful on their expeditions to Greenland, Antarctica or Mount Everest and have been swearing by our gloves for years.
Heat with system for the most extreme conditions
Originally developed for special operations commandos, the functionality and special thermal performance of our gloves also quickly became known among mountaineers and expedition members. Continuous close cooperation with our partners and ongoing adaptations to the special needs of extreme athletes in cold, snow and ice led to the development of our HEAT LAYER SYSTEMS. All requirements for top gloves for the most extreme conditions are thus fulfilled.
HEAT LAYER SYSTEM - Combine your perfect expedition glove
The HEAT LAYER SYSTEM is a flexible 3-layer glove system that enables a wide range of possible combinations of inner gloves, mittens and over-gloves. Depending on individual requirements, gloves with different functionality and warmth can be combined with each other.
1st layer: LINER (inner gloves)
Our finger gloves, the LINER, form the first layer of the HEAT LAYER SYSTEM. They provide 10-20% of the total heat output and are made of particularly warm and high-quality materials.
The 2-component Polartec® Power Wool™ material of our warmest inner glove, the MERINO LINER PRO, combines the best of nature and innovation: the particularly warm natural merino wool warms the entire hand on the inside of the glove and the functional synthetic fibre on the outside of the fabric makes the glove extremely elastic and shape retaining.
In addition to the MERINO LINER PRO, experts also swear by the extremely warm and windproof WIND PRO LINER, which is made of robust Polartec® Wind Pro®. If different climatic conditions are expected during the expedition, it can also be useful to have slightly thinner gloves, such as those made of Leather or Polartec® Power Stretch® PRO™, in your luggage.
All LINER of our HEAT LAYER SYSTEMS are touch screen compatible and allow best tactility when handling the equipment without having to take off the glove in the freezing cold. All LINERs valso have an extra pocket on the back of the hand for warmers,if extra warmth is needed. Once opened, the hand warmers heat up by themselves in the air and provide warm hands for up to 12 hours. The hand warmers are small and lightweight, made from 100% natural ingredients and can be carried in your luggage to save space until needed.
2nd layer: SHELL (pull-over mittens)
The second layer of our HEAT LAYER SYSTEM, the extra-warm SHELL mitten, is worn over the LINER. This second layer provides warmth without sacrificing the freedom of movement of a fingered glove. If necessary, the mittens can be folded back via a zip on the palm, allowing you to handle the LINER, without having to take the mitten off.
Our warmest mitten, the SHELL FULL LEATHER PRO is a firm favourite among professionals for adventures in ice and snow. Thanks to the full-surface robust leather throughout the mitten and the premium PRIMALOFT Gold insulation and Grip Control , it keeps wind and water out without restricting breathability. The extra-long fold-out cuff and closed thumb further prevent the penetration of moisture and snow.
1st and 2nd layer combined: HEAT 3 gloves
With the HEAT 3 gloves the 1st layer (LINER) is permanently sewn to the 2nd layer (SHELL). These all-in-one gloves are ideal for those who prefer a combined solution of inner glove and mitten. The mitten can be folded back in all HEAT 3 gloves so you can slip out with your fingers if needed.
For icy cold, the HEAT 3 SMART PRO has proven its best with our ambassadors. The inner glove made of particularly warm Polartec® Wind Pro® material in combination with the mitten with premium insulation PRIMALOFT Gold i is a reliable glove for the coldest conditions as an extra-warm combination solution. The inner glove also scores with touchscreen-compatible fingers and silicone print on the palm for optimum grip.
Clever details for additional comfort
Both SHELL gloves and the Shell & Liner all-in-one HEAT 3 gloves score points with expedition professionals with special details:
- 1. The mitten flap can be fixed to the back of the hand by a magnet after slipping out with the hand - for unrestricted handling with the fingers even in difficult conditions.
- 2. Pocket on the back of the hand for warmers as an additional source of warmth in extremely cold conditions
- 3. Useful catch strap and carabiner to connect all layers so no parts get lost during the expedition
- 4. Extra long waistband against cold bridges
- 5. 2 drawstrings on the waistband for optimal fit, as well as protection against wetness and snow
Outer layer: POLAR HOOD, the overcoat mitten for the most extreme conditions
The POLAR HOOD over-mitten can be used as an outer layer over all our HEAT LAYER SYSTEMS glove models and offers additional protection against wind and moisture. The over-mitten is lightweight and can be rolled up small and easily stowed in your luggage without taking up space. The additional warmth is due to the air trapped between the POLAR HOODand the glove worn underneath, without the need for a lining. The POLAR HOOD is highly wind and water repellent and has a silicone print on the palm for good grip when handling additional equipment.
For expeditions, an indispensable addition to the other gloves. Nature photographer Stefan Christmann is convinced: "The POLAR HOOD was my absolute favourite during my eleven-month Antarctic expedition."
HEAT LAYER SYSTEM - The combination makes the difference
The layers of the HEAT LAYER SYSTEM worn in combination create multifunctional gloves that have already accompanied various expeditions to the coldest places in the world. The HEAT LAYER SYSTEM gloves are made for expeditions as well as mountaineering and high-altitude tours. They have proven themselves in practice many times on Mount Everest and K2 as well as in Siberia and at the South Pole under the most extreme conditions.
Sustainability - for the love of nature
The issue of sustainability is very important to us, which is why we are making great efforts to constantly increase the recycled content of the materials we use and to produce ecologically valuable, long-lasting gloves.
All Polartec® materials used in our gloves are OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified. Moreover, the Polartec® Wind Pro® and Polartec® Power Stretch® PRO™ fabrics have the bluesign® certificate for sustainable production.
For the insulation of our mittens we use the premium insulation PRIMALOFT Gold, an environmentally friendly synthetic down with a recycled content of 100%.
Longing for adventure: gloves for the extreme cold put to the test by the pros
Our gloves are on the road all year round on a wide variety of adventures in the coldest parts of the world and are put through their paces by professionals. Our gloves also proved themselves in 2010 in the TV documentary "The Race to the South Pole", in which prominent participants such as skier Hermann Maier and singer and professional athlete Joey Kelly competed in teams against each other in Antarctica.
Working closely with partners in extreme sports and constantly evolving to meet the specific needs of our community has brought us and our gloves ever closer to our goal: To develop the warmest and best gloves for extreme conditions.
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner and the K2
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner is one of the most successful Austrian mountaineers. In 2011, she became the third woman in the world to climb to the summit of K2 and eventually conquered all the other 14 eight-thousanders. During her ascent of the eight-thousanders, she was the first woman in the world to do without the aid of supplementary oxygen and thus secured a new record.
Such physical exertion under these extreme conditions is only possible with optimal equipment and excellent clothing. Our HEAT 3 gloves also accompanied Gerlinde on her ascent of K2 and kept her hands warm during the expedition.
Jost Kobusch - Surviving an Avalanche on Mount Everest
The greatest danger during an expedition in the snow-covered mountains is an avalanche. It is huge, fast and unstoppable. German mountaineer Jost Kobusch survived a huge, deadly avalanche at the base camp of Mount Everest in April 2025. The avalanche was caused by a strong earthquake. The fact that it was able to reach the actually well-positioned base camp at all is considered a "once-in-a-century event".
Despite this close-to-death experience, Jost Kobusch continues and even goes for the superlative: He wants to be the first to climb Mount Everest in winter without oxygen - with our gloves in his luggage.
Hardy Brandstötter - 1,000 kilometres alone through Siberia
In March 2008, the snowkite professional Hardy Brandstötter started an extraordinary and extremely dangerous adventure - a solo snowkite expedition through Southern Siberia. He was the world's first kitesport athlete to cross Lake Baikal in Siberia lengthwise in just 17 days with his specially made sledge, which was pulled with the help of the kite. Left completely to his own devices, he covered more than 1,000 kilometres and repeatedly had to contend with the most difficult conditions: rapidly changing temperatures as low as -25 °C and wind speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Hardy's iron will together with his top physical shape and optimal equipment enabled him to complete his Siberian expedition successfully and in good health. And our gloves always have a fixed place in his luggage during his further adventures, because Hardy is sure: "SHELL FULL LEATHER PRO is the ideal glove for every expedition!“
Mark Watson - Baffin Island Crossing
During the joint expedition with the Peak Team, Mark Watson from Australia crossed Baffin Island in the north of Canada in 2018. With an area of over 500,000 km², Baffin Island is the fifth largest island on earth and five times the size of Germany. The expedition took the participants over the Auyuittuq Pass, a 97 km long natural corridor between mountains and glaciers. The endless expanses of ice, snow and craggy rock meant the toughest conditions for the expedition members and presented our gloves with the most extreme challenges - and with success, as Mark Watson told us after his return: "All expedition members were initially excited and then very grateful for the quality of the LINER's, Mitts and warmers you supplied. Additionally we simply could not have performed our photography and documentary journey without your assistance.”
Climate Sentinels - the first female - only, carbonneutral scientific expedition to Svalbard
In April 2021, the group of 6 female scientists led by Heidi Sevestre set out on their 450 km tour on skis and pulkas to collect snow and ice samples along a new route in Spitsbergen. By analysing the samples, the scientists wanted to explore how climate change affects the Arctic archipelago through black carbon pollution.
Their goal was to take ice samples on completely unknown terrain to determine black carbon pollution. The black particles are produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and are often dispersed through the airways for many kilometers to remote locations. If these black particles settle on the earth, they can contribute significantly to climate warming, especially on snow and ice, because more solar radiation is absorbed by the black surface. It is estimated that such black carbon particles contribute up to 30% to global warming.
After a four-week crossing of the archipelago, during which they were self-sufficient and had to battle the elements again and again, the entire team arrived safely and soundly at their final destination. During their journey, the six women had to endure harsh weather conditions, snowstorms and periods of bad weather. But finally they reached their destination and successfully completed the first female, Co2 neutral science expedition in Spitsbergen!
Pro tip: The best glove combination for expeditions
