Welcome to Ask Wirecutter, where deputy editor Annemarie Conte helps you figure out how to make the most of your stuff in real life. If you have a shopping conundrum for our advice columnist, submit it using this form.Dear Wirecutter, I’ve recently been diagnosed with something similar to Raynaud’s — my fingers get red and swell up when I’m cold. I’ve been looking into heated gloves, but they seem to range widely in cost and efficacy. Can you help me figure out what to buy so I can keep warm?J.W.Dear J.W.,I’m so glad you are on the path to managing your condition. Far too many people suffer for years without really knowing that what they are experiencing has a name and that millions of other people are going through it, too.For those who haven’t heard of it: Raynaud’s (pronounced ray-nohz) is a condition that affects about 5% of the US population, mostly women. A Raynaud’s attack occurs when the body’s fight-or-flight response is triggered, drawing blood away from the extremities (often the fingers and toes, but it could also be the nose, ears, or even nipples) to help the body maintain a steady core temperature of around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.There are two forms: primary, where it’s an isolated condition, and secondary, where it’s commonly attached to an autoimmune disorder like lupus or scleroderma. The majority of people with Raynaud’s have the primary form, and an episode is generally uncomfortable but not dangerous.If you notice your fingers or toes getting that weird prickly feeling and turning white or blue during a stressful moment or a temperature swing (say, going from a warm house to the cold outdoors or from a 90-degree day to air conditioning), you may have Raynaud’s. If you suspect that you do, your general practitioner or internist can confirm the diagnosis and refer you to a specialist, such as a rheumatologist, if necessary.The advice below can be helpful for those with a diagnosed condition, or anyone who needs to keep their extremities toasty. The key for those with Raynaud’s — and the general population — is to start off warm and stay warm. You can pop outerwear in the dryer or on a radiator before putting it on, layer up, keep your core warm (not just your extremities), and wear wind-resistant clothing. Battery-operated clothing has become more popular in recent years. When I first wrote the response to this question in 2022, Wirecutter had not tested this category of clothing, so I turned to Dr. Fredrick M. Wigley, professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Lynn Wunderman, the chair of the nonprofit Raynaud’s Association. I followed up with Wunderman to confirm accuracy for this article and add any new insights she has had since we first spoke. Wirecutter’s outdoors team will be testing some heated clothing options in early 2026.In the meantime, Wunderman, who has been living with Raynaud’s for over 30 years, tests all of the products included on the association’s product page. (The Raynaud’s Association does not collect affiliate revenue from their product selections, but if a product has passed Wunderman’s testing, the company will often pay a small annual sponsorship fee for inclusion.) She is detailed, creative, and service-obsessed in her testing. To wit: One of her make-or-breaks for determining glove functionality is the parking meter test. If you have to remove a glove or mitten to put a quarter in the parking meter or take a credit card out of your wallet, it’s not dexterous enough.Start off warm to stay warmThe key for those with Raynaud’s — and the general population — is to stave off the cold as long as possible. You can pop outerwear in the dryer or on a radiator before putting it on, layer up, keep your core warm (not just your extremities), and wear wind-resistant clothing. Wirecutter has guides to thermal underwear, cozy sweaters, insulated vests, down jackets, and wool coats. For your feet, we have guides to winter boots (and advice for how to shop for them) and woolen ski socks. And we do have a staff-recommended heated vest.“I ordered a heated vest on a whim so I could study outside during the pandemic,” said writer Sarah Gannett, whose Ororo Women's Lightweight Heated Vest still keeps her toasty after five years, including at a chilly outdoor wedding earlier this month. With any electric clothing, battery safety can be an issue, so see below for more details before you buy.Keeps your core warm and toastyOroro Women's Lightweight Heated VestWarmth radiates throughout this rechargeable vest, which has three different heat settings. The high-neck zip also helps keep your core warm.$130 from AmazonWhile heated gloves can be part of the solution, experts say there are other, more versatile alternatives. “I’ve tested a lot of battery-operated options,” Wunderman said. “But there are non-heated gloves that are beautiful and comfortable and will be enough for most people.”Warm, non-bulky, non-battery-operated glovesWunderman has a couple of non-electric brands of gloves that she likes, starting with FibreHeat. “FibreHeat’s gloves contain high-tech fibers that are positioned as self-heating, but are better described as protecting you from the cold. The manufacturer partnered with Portolano, a high-end glove and accessory manufacturer, to create the outer layers of the gloves, so they look like ones you’d find in Nordstrom or Bloomingdale’s, not a sporting goods store,” she said.She noted that most of the styles don’t have leather trim, so they can be slippery when driving and they lose their heat-regulating capability when wet, so she cautions not to use them on snowy or rainy days.Good looking and toasty warmFibreHeat Self-Heating GlovesThese beautiful, stylish gloves are great in dry conditions, but their heat retention is diminished significantly in rain or snow.$99 from FibreHeatA thick, warm pairÖjbro Wool Gloves and MittensThe suede palms on these wool gloves give great grip and work in any weather.$100 from Sweater ChaletShe also regularly wears Öjbro Wool Gloves and Mittens. “Öjbro’s gloves (particularly those with the leather and suede trim) are a great alternative for days when FibreHeat’s gloves may not be the best option. They work in any weather, don’t slip on the steering wheel, are quick to take on and off, and still provide excellent cushiony warmth,” she said. “They are thicker than FiberHeat’s gloves, so they lack the same level of dexterity, but make up for it with their easy insertion and removal.”Wunderman has written more about the gloves she has tested on the Raynaud’s Association site.If using your hands normally is of the utmost concern, Wirecutter’s guide to the best touchscreen gloves has five warm, non-bulky recommendations that allow you to actually use your hands most effectively while wearing them. This includes the Glider Gloves Touchscreen Gloves, a Raynaud’s Association sponsor and Wirecutter’s pick for warmer climates (temperatures above 40 °F).Best touchscreen gloves for mild climatesGlider GlovesThese thin knit gloves don’t offer a ton of warmth or insulation — they’re best for temperatures above 40 °F — but they are comfortable, well priced, and very accurate for typing. And since copper yarn has been interwoven into their entire surface, the whole glove (not just the fingers) is touchscreen-compatible.$10 from Amazon“The entire surface of the gloves is touchscreen sensitive, so they offer great dexterity. And while thinner than others [Wirecutter] tested, the triple layer of insulation and copper yarns help trap heat and maintain your body temperature, so they are a great option on their own for moderately cold conditions,” Wunderman said. “I can wear them alone on most fall days and they work as great liners for colder weather. The smooth, thin fabric makes it easy to slip them under warmer gloves and mitts.”Hand warmers to boost the heatCold-weather MVPHotHands Hand WarmersInexpensive and small enough to be stashed in many places — from gloves to pockets — these disposable hand warmers reach temperatures as hot as our main reusable pick does and are more flexible.$27 from Amazon(40 pairs)$31 from Walmart(40 pairs)May be out of stockHotHands, a pick in our guide to hand warmers, were universally praised by those with Raynaud’s on our staff, as well as the experts I consulted. These lightweight disposable heat pouches activate when exposed to air. I know that many people worry about the environmental consequences of single-use items, but HotHands are literally and figuratively more flexible than their reusable counterparts.HotHands come in a variety of sizes and can warm up your pockets or mold to fit inside a glove or a boot. In our tests, the hand-size disposable warmers stayed warm for nearly six hours, but if you use yours for a shorter time and it still has some life left, seal it in a zip-top bag, squeezing out as much air as possible — it will reactivate when you open the bag. You can do this once or twice before it loses all of its reheating ability.Electric muff used by pro athletesG-Tech Heated Hand Warmer SportIf you don’t need full use of your hands, this water-repellant, fleece-lined pouch straps around your waist to keep your hands warm.$185 from The Warming Store$185 from G-TechOne battery-operated item that experts recommend is the G-Tech Heated Handwarmer, an electric muff, used by professional athletes, that straps around your waist. “You hold a soft-fabric band, which is what gets warm, and it’s great for situations where you don’t need to use your hands, like watching a sporting event or sitting in a golf cart before you tee off,” said Wunderman. There’s also a low-tech version made by Tubes Canada intended for use with HotHands or other disposable hand warmers.If you’re still interested in heated glovesAs our Wirecutter experts dig into the issue, they are looking for heated gloves that tick these boxes: safe, long battery life, not too hot, not too cold, allows for dexterity. Not all heated gloves do, and many have a number of shortcomings.They’re often too warm, and then you have to deal with controlling the temperature to get it to a Goldilocks state of happiness.They’re bulky and not designed to give you much, if any, dexterity.They’re sometimes designed to be heated at the palms only, or to leave out the fingertips or the thumb.They’re uncomfortable. The battery packs can be large or oddly placed.They’re slow to warm up, which can make the difference between having a Raynaud’s attack and avoiding one.They’re battery-dependent. If the battery dies, you need to use a backup battery (which can be expensive) or get to a place where you can recharge yours.They’re sometimes splashed with logos or made to look too sporty, which isn’t appropriate for every situation.Wunderman does have one pair she likes: Chaval Heated Gloves & Mitts. While she wouldn’t recommend them as a substitute for everyday gloves, she says they excel for outdoor adventures and days when you’ll be outside for awhile. “The batteries are thin, the heat is speedy, the gloves surround your hands with pillowy warmth, and the dexterity is superior to most heated gloves I’ve tried,” she said. “Made of buttery soft leather with warm cushy sheepskin lining. These are incredible gloves even without the battery-sourced heat!”The downside? They are very pricey.An expert-recommended heated gloveChaval Heated Gloves & MittsThese luxurious gloves stand out from the crowd of bulky battery-operated gloves with thin batteries, quick heat and pretty good dexterity.$425 from ChavalYou may also want to consider the Hestra Heated Liner Mitt. “Unlike standard heated gloves with permanent, sewn-in liners, these heated liners can be worn inside any compatible outer shell. When we paired it with our best mitten for the coldest days, we found the fit to be snug without being constricting,” wrote Trey French in his guide to ski and snowboard gloves. “We recommend trying on the Heated Liner Mitts with your intended outer shell and checking the fit around the wrist to ensure that you have adequate room. These liners are expensive and are only offered in a unisex size range (no separate men’s and women’s versions).”If you want to look for other heated options, we have some advice. Because you’ll be putting a heated object against your fingers, go with a reputable brand only. Look for something from companies like Gerbing, Gobi Heat (which lists retail locations in 15 states where you can try things on before buying), Outdoor Research (which is sold at REI, among other places), or Volt.There are a lot of communities who need warm clothing — postal carriers, motorcyclists, construction workers, ski patrols — and if you can find a physical store that caters to them, it may have heated clothing in stock. Be sure to confirm that whatever seller you buy from has solid return and exchange policies, since these gloves tend to be pricey items. You should also be extra careful because they contain batteries.“Any device that passes power through it has a slight risk of malfunctioning and melting, smoking, or even catching on fire. But devices that contain a lithium-ion battery — a group that includes most smartphones and other handheld electronics — are notoriously susceptible, especially if the manufacturer has cut corners,” said Wirecutter senior staff writer and battery expert Sarah Witman.Just as we advise against buying cheap charging cables or drone batteries, we can say in this case that saving a buck in the short term isn’t worth it if your electric hand warmer stops working (or worse) in a few months. So buying one from a brand you’ve never heard of from a third-party seller you’ve never heard of is not the move here. Battery University, an online resource maintained by the battery-testing company Cadex, has additional advice and guidance on how to safely use, store, and transport lithium-ion devices.It may take a bit of trial and error for you to find what works for you in various conditions, J.W. I hope the advice we’ve given will help you stay warm out there.This article was edited by Jason Chen and Ben Frumin.Further readingAsk Wirecutter: How Risky Is It to Leave Appliances Running While I’m Away From Home?Appliances connected to heat or water can cause major damage if left unattended.Ask Wirecutter: Stop Stressing About Turning Off the Lights When Leaving the Room!If you’re of a certain age, you may be following outdated light bulb advice.Ask Wirecutter: How Should I Clear the Piles of Dangerous Snow Off My Car?Don’t be the person with chunks of snow and “ice missiles” flying off the roof of your car.Ask Wirecutter: Is It Okay to Reuse Plastic Takeout Containers?Pause before reusing those black plastic takeout containers for food storage.