686 Smarty Gauntlet Mitt Review: A Warm, Waterproof Snowboard Mitten With Smart Extras

Introduction

Having the right pair of mitts can make or break a day of snowboarding. Cold, wet hands are one of those problems that quietly ruin an otherwise perfect day on the mountain, and they are also one of the easiest problems to solve before you ride. The 686 Smarty Gauntlet Mitt is built around exactly that goal: a very warm, waterproof mitten with a handful of thoughtful extras that address the small frustrations riders deal with every day.

This guide walks through what the Smarty Gauntlet Mitt offers, who it suits best, and what to check before you buy any snowboard mitten, so you can pick the right pair for how your hands actually behave in cold weather.

Who This Product Is For

The first thing to think about when buying snowboard mitts is how cold your hands actually get. Some riders run warm, some run cold, and plenty sit right in the middle. The Smarty Gauntlet Mitt is described as a very warm mitten, and the interior label rates it for conditions between -20 and 20°F. That makes it a strong candidate for genuinely cold days rather than mild spring sessions.

It is also a mitten rather than a glove, which matters more than many riders expect. With a mitten, all of your fingers stay together inside one insulated space instead of being separated the way they are in a glove. The trade-off is a little less dexterity, but for most riders the warmth benefit is clearly worth it.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Before committing to any mitten, check the material. The Smarty Gauntlet Mitt is made with GoreTex, which helps keep moisture from getting inside the mitten while still releasing some of the moisture your hands create. This matters most for beginner snowboarders, who tend to spend a lot of time with hands in the snow. A waterproof, breathable shell like this is what keeps hands dry rather than just warm.

You should also think about whether the mitten is designed to sit inside your jacket sleeve or over the top of it. This is largely personal preference and depends on your jacket: if your jacket has small or narrow sleeves, an over-the-sleeve mitten like the Gauntlet works well; if your sleeves are big and open, a under-the-sleeve design may suit you better.

Main Strengths

The Smarty Gauntlet Mitt packs in several practical features that show up in day-to-day riding.

Wrist strap. This is one of the most underrated features on any mitten. The idea is simple: you put the wrist strap on first, then slip on the mitten. If you pull the mitt off on the chairlift to answer your phone or use a camera, the strap keeps it attached to you instead of falling to the snow below. It is a small detail that saves you from a very common mistake.

Grippy palm. The palm has a rubbery texture that helps when grabbing your snowboard, whether you are carrying it on a lift or grabbing the board mid-jump. Grip where it counts makes the mitten feel more capable than a smooth-shell alternative.

Soft thumb material. The thumb includes a soft material for wiping off your goggles. On wet or snowy days, being able to clear water off your lens with a quick thumb wipe genuinely improves visibility.

Ventilation zipper. A zipper on the mitten lets you open it up for ventilation when you run warm, and it can double as a small pocket for carrying something compact.

Included base layer gloves. The Smarty Gauntlet Mitts come with a pair of thin base layer gloves. On very cold days you can wear them underneath the mitts, and if you tend to run hot you can wear them on their own to stay a bit cooler on the mountain.

Buying Advice

When shopping for snowboard mitts, a short checklist covers most of what matters. Decide first whether you want mittens or gloves, and if you are unsure, mittens are the safer bet for warmth. Then confirm the material is waterproof and breathable, because wet insulation loses its warmth quickly.

After that, look for the smaller details: grip on the palm, soft thumb material for wiping goggles, and a wrist strap so the mitten does not fall off the chairlift. The Smarty Gauntlet Mitt ticks all of these boxes in one package, and the rated temperature range of -20 to 20°F tells you clearly where it fits in your kit. Pair it with your jacket sleeve style and you have a setup that should keep your hands comfortable all day.

Conclusion

The 686 Smarty Gauntlet Mitt is a well-thought-out winter mitten for snowboarders who prioritize warm, dry hands. GoreTex waterproofing, a strong warmth rating, and practical extras like the wrist strap, grippy palm, goggle-wiping thumb, ventilation zipper, and included liner gloves make it easy to recommend for cold-day riding. If your hands run cold or you ride in genuinely frigid conditions, this is a mitten worth a close look before your next trip.