Heading out for a cross-country ski on a late winter day when the air is still, and the sun is warm is one of life’s true gifts; in fact, if you are reading this, these words probably evoke some memory that is making you smile right now. On the contrary, bundling up to head out on a dark morning in early January when the wind is hollowing so hard you worry any of the large creaking branches above could be the last sound you hear is, at the very least, less fun. Sure, when we do take on those days, we feel like tough gladiators, but oftentimes, these days are paired with discomfort. Now, imagine you have Raynaud’s syndrome.
In case you are unaware, Raynaud’s syndrome, also known as Raynaud’s phenomenon, is a condition that affects blood flow to certain parts of the body, usually the fingers and toes. It occurs when small blood vessels in these areas constrict excessively in response to cold temperatures or stress, reducing blood flow.
I have several close friends with Raynaud’s, and selfishly, it was really impacting our ability to ski together, so I started poking around on the internet for products that would allow them to cross-country ski comfortably when it was less than 20’F. As I sat working at a local coffee shop, like I often do, I even had a random stranger approach me, who had been, a little alarmingly, watching me bounce around the internet, to ask if I had any recommendations for cross-country skiers with Raynaud’s. At that moment, I knew FasterSkier could help the ski community find a solution to an issue that was more significant than I had imagined.
I reached out to several of our wonderful industry partners and friends to see if they would send us products to test, and of course, they generously did so. We tested gloves, mittens, and liners under a variety of conditions and were less concerned with comparing brands than we were with finding the best solution—as you will see.
At the end of the testing, one combination stood out above the rest.
What quickly became clear to our primary tester was that it didn’t matter how much insulation a glove or mitten provided if it was cold enough—even with a chemical heating pack tucked into the glove—their hands would still be painfully cold. The only proper solution had to include battery-powered heat.
Of all the available options, the Auclair Heated Liners were our top pick. The liners are thin, soft, breathable, and they heat up quickly. They have various temperature settings that are so effective (you rarely even have to use the highest setting). The heating elements extend through each finger, which most gloves don’t have, and are a necessary feature for skiers with Raynaud’s.
The design makes it easy to adjust the temperature while skiing. They are the easiest gloves to charge as they simply click into the charger with a magnet, so you don’t have to take anything apart, and they also have the thinnest battery pack of any we tested. The Auclair Heated Liners maintain warmth and circulation while Nordic skiing, downhill skiing, or standing in the cold spectating.
Overall, they had the best design, fit, comfort, and ease of use of any heated gloves we tested. They provide targeted warmth to each finger, the heat is continuous (not all heated gloves are), and the design helps with blood circulation to the fingers. Their soft and snug fit makes them easy to wear with any glove or mitten over them.
Now that we had a solution for the warmth, we began to hone in on an outer layer to protect against wind, snow, ice, and rain. While it is unlikely a skier with Raynaud’s could use the Toko Toasty Thermo Mitten alone in cold temperatures, they are our top choice over the liners.
Toko gloves have been a favorite of mine for over 30 years, so this didn’t come as a surprise. Toko gloves and mittens are designed for cross-country skiing, so you won’t be trying to squeeze some boxing gloves into your pole straps. In fact, if you are only going to use this combination for cross-country skiing or don’t have Raynaud’s syndrome, you might consider the Toko Polar Race Mitten, as these mittens have extra insulation around the fingers but less on the inside for a better feel on your grip and less on the back of the hand to fit more easily into straps. However, for skiers with Raynuad’s syndrome, warmth is the first priority, so we kept gravitating towards the Toko Toasty Thermo Mitten primarily because of the added nylon exterior that protects against snow, wind, and light rain. They also have a nice thick elastic band that stretches well and stays in place. The Toko Toasty Thermo Mitten was also easy to pull on and off over the Auclair liners, making the pair work perfectly in tandem.
With the Auclair liners retailing at $340 and the Toko mittens retailing at $65, we understand that this bundle is an expensive solution, but hopefully, you won’t waste money trying other products that do not work. There is also the added bonus that you can wear the Toko mittens alone when the weather is warmer – for people with Raynaud’s, that might not be until it is over 40’F or higher, but at some warmer temperatures, it becomes an option which is appealing.
For cross-country skiers with Raynaud’s, this combination of the Auclair Heated Liner and the Toko Toasty Thermo Mitten is the difference between being stuck inside all winter and being able to cross-country ski no matter how cold it is outside… well, at least your hands will be warm.
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*While neither Auclair nor Toko were advertisers of FasterSkier at the time of publishing this article, Auclair would like to offer our readers a special coupon to help keep their hands warm. Unfortunately, the heated line is in such high demand that the discount will not apply to the heated liners, but feel free to try some other Auclair gloves—the WWPB Gigatex Mitts, for one, are beautifully made and also a staff favorite.
25% discount code off the Auclair website.
FasterSkier Discount Code: PA-2025-FASTERSKIER-25
- One use per customer
- Not valid on heated and discounted items
- 25% off
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A Little More Information About Raynaud’s Syndrome
Symptoms typically include:
- Color Changes: Affected areas may turn white or blue in response to cold or stress and may turn red as blood flow returns.
- Coldness or Numbness: The fingers or toes may feel cold or numb during an episode.
- Tingling or Pain: Some people experience tingling or pain when blood flow returns.
There are two types of Raynaud’s:
- Primary Raynaud’s is the more common form and is not usually associated with underlying diseases. Lifestyle changes can often manage individuals with Raynaud’s.
- Secondary Raynaud’s (Raynaud’s phenomenon): This form is associated with other medical conditions, such as scleroderma or lupus, and may be more serious.
**Consult with a Doctor** Before engaging in cross-country skiing or any strenuous activities, especially if you have severe Raynaud’s, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider about personalized strategies and treatments.
