There’s a debate that isn’t going to end in our lifetime. That’s because there are positives and negatives to each style, but in the end it mostly comes down to user preference.
If you are interested in learning more about the different kinds of gloves that are on the market these days, check out our handy guide on The Different Types of Hiking & Skiing Gloves.
But it is not difficult to explain. Basically, gloves separate your fingers with fabric, meaning that they tend to be not as warm as mittens, but more nimble as they allow you greater use of your fingers.
Mittens, on the other hand, let you fingers all hang out together, which saves a lot of body heat over time, so they tend to be warmer, however, you can’t do as much with your fingers, so they are somewhat clumsy.