The Best Gloves for Poor Circulation

What to Look For

It's not unusual for anyone to have cold hands in the wintertime, but getting cold hands even when it's not that cold out can be a sign of poor circulation--or a more severe condition. Select gloves that are snug, but not too tight. If choosing gloves for indoor use, find a lightweight cotton or cotton blend glove that is breathable and will allow you to perform basic functions while wearing it. A lightweight fingerless glove will also help you keep your hands warm while allowing you to perform almost any function. Gloves with a compression feature often improve circulation and warmth by using the heat from your skin. For outdoors, a water-resistant or waterproof glove with a polar fleece or shearling lining will keep your hands warm. You may want to wear a cotton or Lycra liner underneath winter gloves or mittens for added protection. Mittens in general offer more overall warmth than gloves, since the whole hand (except the thumb) combines within the mitten to give off heat. However, it is difficult to perform many tasks with mittens on, so gloves may be more practical.

Common Pitfalls

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The biggest mistake those who purchase gloves for poor circulation make is buying a glove that doesn't fit properly. Your glove should be snug, without "wiggle" room, but not too tight. Pay particular attention to the wrist area. If the wrist is too tight, this could cause further circulation problems later. Winter gloves, though, need to have a little room in them since they work by trapping a layer of air in your glove. Your hand warms up this layer, heating up your glove. When looking for gloves, don't just look for style or warmth. If you will be wearing your gloves a lot, you must also look for function. Don't buy your gloves without trying them on first and trying to perform a few tasks--like zipping up a coat, pushing a button or two and turning a knob on a door.

Where to Buy

Gloves for those with poor circulation can be purchased at discount stores, pharmacies, department stores and sporting goods stores. Where you purchase your gloves really depends on what type of activities you'll be performing with them on. If you are looking for a specific glove designed for those with arthritis or related symptoms, consult an orthopedist. He may be able to suggest gloves that will work best for your particular condition.

Cost

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Footsmart's Arthritis Gloves, available for $15.99, are highly rated, have open fingertips and are made of lightweight cotton and spandex so that they can be worn indoors. Isotoner's Therapeutic Gloves offer even compression, increasing heat in the hand, and are offered for $17.95 by Amazon.com.