We Tested Two Ways to Keep Hands Warm When Walking Your Dog

We tested two options that might make this winter dog walking process easier. We looked at one heated leash and one fleece-lined mitt to answer the question of whether it’s better to keep on keeping on with gloves and a hand warmer, or to opt for something a little bit fancier.

To evaluate these products, we used them with our skittish 10-year-old high-energy border collie-labrador mix, Gavyn, who pulls on every leash system despite hours of training, and lives in the high desert of Central Oregon, where temperatures can drop below freezing for months at a time and the ground is nearly always covered in snow during the winter.

We assessed both products’ comfort, ease of use, and overall effectiveness. Read on to get the pros and cons of each.