Cold wet hands can make a walk miserable very quickly. They also make simple tasks harder: opening zips, checking a map, using poles or eating snacks. For UK hiking, gloves are worth taking seriously, especially outside summer.

A simple fleece glove is comfortable and warm when conditions are cool and mostly dry. It is breathable and easy to wear while walking. The problem is rain. Once fleece is soaked, it loses comfort quickly and can feel cold in wind.

Waterproof gloves sound like the obvious answer, but many are not as breathable as people hope. On a hard climb, your hands may sweat inside them. Then when you stop, that moisture cools down. This is why many experienced hikers prefer a glove system rather than one perfect glove.

A good UK setup is thin liner gloves plus waterproof mitts. The liners give light warmth and dexterity. The mitts go over the top when rain or wind gets serious. Mitts are often warmer than gloves because your fingers share heat.

For winter or cold hill days, carry a spare pair. Wet gloves are unpleasant, and a dry backup can make a huge difference. Store spare gloves in a dry bag, not loose in the pack.

Touchscreen fingertips are useful but not essential. Do not choose poor gloves just because they work with a phone. In wet weather, phones and touchscreens are unreliable anyway.

Fit matters. Gloves that are too tight reduce circulation and make your hands colder. Gloves that are too loose feel clumsy and make pole handling awkward.

For most UK hikers, the best choice is not one expensive glove. It is a flexible system: light gloves for movement, waterproof shell mitts for rain and a dry spare pair for colder days.

Hands are easy to neglect until they are cold. Pack gloves before you think you need them.