Travel Essentials: Cold-weather gloves

Pack a pair of quality gloves if you're heading for colder climes.

The Icebreaker Quantum Gloves, Dh118. Courtesy Icebreaker

From the linen mitts discovered in the tomb of the 14th-century BC Egyptian king Tutankhamen to the lithe and fashionable accessories of the courts of 16th-century Europe and beyond, gloves have a long and varied history. The fact is our extremities are susceptible to cold and our digits are particularly prone to going numb whether skiing, hiking or even camping in the desert. These gloves are worth packing if there's a chance of low temperatures.

Smartwool Spring gloves

Spring, in this case, must refer to the thawing of ice that occurs in some regions of the world, because these gloves protect against temperatures down to -4° Celsius. The fingers and palms are made from leather to provide good grip. The nylon netting on the back is good for ventilation and the merino wool helps wick moisture away. Available from www.amazon.com from $69.95 (Dh257), plus shipping.

Arc'teryx Gothic Lightweight gloves

These merino wool gloves fit snugly around your hands, making them ideal for doing dextrous activities. They are very light, weighing only 31 grams, yet very warm. They also dry quickly if they get wet. The gloves come with the standard Arc'teryx warranty which covers the repair of defects for a small fee. Available from www.amazon.com from $34.95 (Dh128), plus shipping.

Icebreaker Quantum gloves

Made from a fabric called GT260, a blend of 97 per cent wool and three per cent Lycra, these gloves are warm and pliable. The fabric is so fine it hardly feels like wool - soft and not itchy at all. As with other Icebreaker garments, these gloves are impervious to smell, making them easy to look after, with only a quick wash required every now and again. Available from www.amazon.com from $32 (Dh118), plus shipping.