Outdoor Research Heated Gloves & Mittens

Outdoor Research brings its mountaineering pedigree to heated handwear, pairing Gore-Tex waterproofing with battery warmth for serious cold. This collection covers the Prevail heated gloves and mittens, Sureshot heated softshell gloves, and replacement battery packs.

Choosing Outdoor Research Heated Handwear

Heated gloves live or die on two things: whether they actually keep water out, and whether the battery lasts through a full day outside. Outdoor Research addresses both by building the Prevail line on a Gore-Tex insert for genuine waterproofing and running higher-capacity batteries than most. The choice within the line comes down to dexterity versus warmth, since a mitten always beats a glove for heat but costs you finger movement.

Gloves versus mittens

The Prevail and Sureshot gloves keep your fingers separated for handling zippers, poles, and gear, while the Prevail mittens pool heat around all your fingers for the coldest, least dexterous days. Compare the full range in our heated gloves collection.

Gore-Tex versus softshell

The Gore-Tex Prevail models are fully waterproof for wet snow and alpine use, while the Sureshot softshell gloves trade some weatherproofing for a lighter, more flexible feel. Match the build to your conditions.

Spare batteries matter

Keeping a charged spare battery pack means your gloves don't go cold halfway through the day. The single and double packs let you swap in fresh power on long outings. For lighter layering warmth, see our heated glove liners.

Shop related collections: Heated Gloves | Heated Glove Liners | Winter Gloves & Mittens

FAQs

Are Outdoor Research heated gloves worth the premium?

They cost more than most heated gloves — roughly $270 to $340 — because they're serious mountain gloves first. The Prevail line carries a waterproof, windproof Gore-Tex insert, and the range is built to alpine-glove standards rather than as electronics wrapped in fabric. Ski publications regularly rank the Prevail among the best-value premium heated gloves. If you ride lifts, ski deep winter, or stand in wet cold for hours, the build justifies the price; for milder, drier use, a mid-range glove may serve you fine.

Prevail or Sureshot — what's the difference?

The Prevail line (around $339, offered as both a glove and a mitten) is the full-weather flagship: Gore-Tex waterproof protection for snow, storms, and lift days. The Sureshot (around $269, in men's and women's versions) uses softshell construction — more flexible and less expensive, suited to cold, drier days and higher-dexterity use. A rough rule: if your cold is wet, Prevail; if your cold is dry, Sureshot. Both run Outdoor Research's ALTIHeat battery-powered heating system.

Should I get the Prevail gloves or the Prevail mittens?

Same shell, same price — different geometry. Mittens are warmer because your fingers share one heat pocket, and adding powered heat compounds that advantage, which makes the Prevail Mitt the pick for the coldest days and for people whose fingers go numb regardless of glove quality. The glove version keeps finger independence for buckles, zippers, and poles. If you're choosing for someone with real cold sensitivity, take the mitten and accept the dexterity trade.

What is ALTIHeat?

It's Outdoor Research's battery-powered heating system: rechargeable battery packs driving heating elements in the glove, with heat settings you cycle from a button on the cuff. Run time depends heavily on the setting you choose, and the standard technique applies — warm up on high for a few minutes, then drop to low to maintain, which stretches a battery across a full day far better than running high continuously. Check each product page for that model's specific ratings and box contents.

Can I buy replacement or spare batteries?

Yes — this collection carries the battery packs on their own: a two-pack for around $50 and a single battery (one glove) for $30. That covers the three situations that actually come up: replacing batteries that have aged out of capacity, adding a spare set to double a long day's heat, and replacing one lost battery without re-buying the pair. Confirm compatibility with your specific glove model and generation on the battery's product page before ordering.