Fit and fabric determine good gloves

Elita Kang is always thinking about how to keep her hands warm.

As assistant concertmaster for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, she goes through a routine warm-up on her violin before a rehearsal or concert.

And as a resident of Massachusetts, she puts careful consideration into the types of gloves that are best suited to protecting her hands from the elements.

"There's something about the quality of the wind here that gets into your bones," Kang says.

Kang estimates that she has nine pairs of winter gloves that she regularly uses for different purposes. A pair of brown chenille gloves from Old Navy, for instance, is machine washable and good for running errands. A pair of red microfiber gloves is reserved for jogging. She was pleased to find some narrow fleece gloves recently at the Gap -- at $12.50 a pair, she picked them up in black and brown and will use them as all-purpose city gloves.

At REI in Boston, sales associate Matt Heid says the first thing to consider when shopping for gloves is fit. Your fingers should almost touch the end of the glove. Different brands use different hand models, so you may need to try on a few pairs.

Heid says the warmest gloves will be the ones that stop the wind, such as those made of wind-proof fleece or nylon. He recommends keeping at least three pairs of gloves: a wind-proof fleece pair for wearing around town, a thicker pair of gloves or mittens for winter sports, and a thin pair of liners, which he describes as "long underwear for your hands," to wear under the thicker gloves.

Kang, who is in her 10th season with the BSO , generally gravitates toward low-maintenance fabrics in dark colors simply because they're easier to take care of. She likes styles that keep her wrists warm and stays away from leather gloves because she has found they lose their shape as they age. Suede ages better, she says, but it can be impractical -- she has a pair of suede-and-cashmere gloves she will only wear on dry days.

"These are actually not so good for Boston," says Kang, explaining that the weather is too wet.

Better are a pair of bulky black gloves lined with Thinsulate Kang uses for shoveling snow. "They're very warm, but they're not very pretty," she says.

Kang does have more fun, fashionable gloves that she wears on special occasions. She has a pair of orange elbow-length gloves as well as a pair of fur-trimmed black knit gloves that remind her of "Dr. Zhivago."

Neiman Marcus carries several types of gloves, including a popular leather style that comes lined in cashmere or silk and can be maintained with leather cream, says a spokeswoman, April Riccio.

Along with finding gloves that are easy to take care of, Kang doesn't like spending much on gloves in case she loses them. She will look at department store glove counters, but typically has found what she likes at places like Old Navy or the Gap.

And for Kang, who says she will bring out her gloves as soon as the temperature drops below 50, that means no mittens. She is not convinced that they keep her hands any warmer and doesn't like the way they restrict her hands. "I stick with gloves because I don't like losing any digital mobility," she says.