Outdoor Research Prevail Heated GTX Gloves Review: Sizing and Verdict
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The quick verdict: A legitimate GORE-TEX ski glove that happens to have excellent heating, the rare heated glove worth wearing with the power off. ~$400
Overview
Most heated gloves are electronics first and gloves second. Outdoor Research went the other way: the Prevail starts as a serious gauntlet ski glove, GORE-TEX insert, leather palm, quality insulation, then adds the company’s ALTIHeat system on top. The heating elements wrap the fingers rather than only warming the back of the hand, and three settings cover everything from taking the edge off to full-blast storm-day rescue. It has become the default recommendation among guides and patrollers who need one glove for the whole season.
Where It Shines
- Genuine GORE-TEX weather protection, rare in the heated category
- Heat wraps the fingers, not just the hand’s back panel
- Works well as a normal ski glove with the heat off, so dead batteries never strand you
- Solid dexterity for a heated gauntlet; pole grip feels normal
Tradeoffs to Know
- ~$400 is real money; casual cold-day skiers can get by with the Savior
- Runtime on high is closer to 2.5 hours, so ration the top setting
- Batteries add noticeable weight at the cuff, as with every glove in this category
Who It’s For
Skiers with chronically cold hands who still want a high-quality glove underneath the wiring: patrollers, instructors, all-winter regulars, and anyone with Raynaud’s who has been through the handwarmer-packet routine one too many times. If you ski wet coastal snow, the GORE-TEX insert makes this the clear pick over cheaper heated options.
Key Specs by Size
Figures are approximate and drawn from Outdoor Research’s published unisex handwear chart (via outdoorresearch.com) and listings at evo and REI. Measure circumference around the knuckles with the thumb excluded, and length from the wrist crease to the tip of the middle finger. The Prevail ships in XS through XL.
| Size | Hand circumference | Hand length |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 7-7.5 in (17.9-19.1cm) | 6.6-7 in (16.7-17.7cm) |
| S | 7.5-8 in (19.1-20.4cm) | 7-7.4 in (17.7-18.7cm) |
| M | 8-8.5 in (20.4-21.6cm) | 7.4-7.75 in (18.7-19.7cm) |
| L | 8.5-9 in (21.6-22.9cm) | 7.75-8.1 in (19.7-20.7cm) |
| XL | 9-9.5 in (22.9-24.1cm) | 8.1-8.5 in (20.7-21.7cm) |
Across all sizes: a two-layer woven polyester and nylon shell over a GORE-TEX waterproof insert, a water-resistant goat leather palm, and EnduraLoft synthetic insulation at 333g on the back of the hand and 133g through the palm and fingers, lined with 320g polyester fleece. The ALTIHeat system runs one 7.4-volt lithium-ion pack per hand, each about 120g, zipped into the gauntlet; OR rates it at roughly 5.5 watts per hand with three settings and quotes average run times of about 8 hours on low, 5 on medium and 2.5 on high. Aggregated reviews put a full recharge at around 6 hours on the included wall charger. The cinch gauntlet goes over a jacket cuff, there is a removable leash and a glove clip, and the fingertips are touchscreen compatible. OR lists the glove at 11.5 oz (326g) and the mitt at 10.6 oz (301g). The gloves carry OR’s Infinite Guarantee, but the battery component is limited to one year. List price is about $400 for glove and mitt alike; current colorways rarely discount, though superseded colors have shown up at roughly $160 to 200 when stock exists.
Sizing and Fit
Size by circumference first, length second. The Prevail is a unisex glove on OR’s unisex chart, so a woman who normally wears a women’s M (around 7 to 7.5 in) lands in a unisex XS, and anyone at the top of a bracket should take the larger size. Aggregated reviews flag the fingers as the tight spot: several reviewers found them snug or a touch short out of the box, and the leather does relax after a few full days. A heated glove that squeezes is a heated glove that cuts circulation, which defeats the point, so err up if you’re on the fence.
The heating wires live in the liner, so the glove is bulkier than a plain GORE-TEX gauntlet and the fingers are not pre-curved. Expect enough dexterity for pole straps, zipper pulls and boot buckles, not much for laces. The gauntlet is long and meant to go over a shell cuff. OR explicitly warns against using the glove with an avalanche beacon because of interference, so it is a lift-served glove, not a touring one. If your fingers run cold independently of the back of your hand, the Prevail Heated GORE-TEX Mitt uses the same shell, insert and battery and fits more forgivingly.
Who Should Skip It
Skip the Prevail if you only need help on a few deep-cold days a season and $400 feels like a lot for a glove: the Savior Heated Ski Gloves 2.0 list at about $190 and sell for roughly $140 to 160, and cover that use. Skip it if your problem is extreme cold rather than merely cold hands, because a heated glove still loses to a heated mitt at the fingertips; the Seirus HeatTouch Hellfire Mitt is the warmer, pricier answer. And skip it if your hands are fine but your feet are not, since the money is better spent on the Hotronic XLP 2C BT boot heaters or the Lenz Heat Sock 5.1.
Prevail Heated GTX vs. Seirus Hellfire Mitt vs. Savior Heated Ski Gloves 2.0
Three price points, three levels of commitment. The Savior Heated Ski Gloves 2.0, at about $190 list and $140 to 160 on sale, deliver real heat for the money but with a lighter shell, no GORE-TEX membrane and a glove you would not choose with the power off. The Seirus HeatTouch Hellfire Mitt, at roughly $550, is the warmest of the group because the mitt shape pools heat around all four fingers. The Prevail, at about $400, is the best glove of the three as a glove: proper waterproofing, goat leather, and a shell that stands on its own on a mild day. Pick the Savior if you want to spend as little as possible. Pick the Hellfire if warmth is the only metric and dexterity is negotiable. Pick the Prevail if you want one serious ski glove for the whole season that happens to plug in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Outdoor Research Prevail heated gloves last?
Outdoor Research quotes roughly 8 hours on low, 5 on medium and 2.5 on high per charge, with a recharge taking about 6 hours. The packs degrade with age, so OR recommends replacing them yearly (about $30 each) and warranties them for one year, while the glove itself carries a lifetime guarantee.
Prevail heated glove or mitt?
Choose the glove if you need to work buckles, poles and zippers without taking it off. Choose the mitt if your fingertips are the problem: the shared air space keeps them warmer on the same battery, and aggregated reviews report fewer tight-finger complaints. Price, shell and heating system are the same.
Are the Outdoor Research Prevail heated gloves waterproof?
Yes. They use a GORE-TEX insert under a two-layer woven shell with a water-resistant goat leather palm, which is unusual in the heated category. The battery sits in a zippered pocket in the gauntlet, above the wrist.
What size Outdoor Research Prevail gloves should I get?
Use OR’s unisex chart: S for a hand circumference of 7.5 to 8 in, M for 8 to 8.5 in, L for 8.5 to 9 in. The fingers run snug, so size up if you are at the top of a range or have thick fingers.
How It Compares
See how it stacks up in our full guide: The Best Heated Ski Gear of 2026-27. Other picks from that list: Seirus HeatTouch Hellfire Mitt · Lenz Heat Sock 5.1 Toe Cap · Hotronic Power Set XLP 2C BT · ORORO Classic Heated Vest · Savior Heated Ski Gloves 2.0.