How Do Giver’s $139 Mittens Compare to Kinco’s $55 Mittens?

Winter lasts about six months where I live, which means I have a healthy collection of gloves and mittens. Of all my pairs, Give’r and Kinco stand out for their leather construction, warmth, and durability.

Give’r’s Jackson Hole roots make them popular with skiers looking for classic style without sacrificing modern technology, while Kinco’s work-wear origins have an authentic ski-bum feel, like a puffy that’s more duct tape than polyester. The prices are quite different though: Kinco starts at $5 chore gloves and stops at $66 buffalo gloves, while Give’r ranges from lightweight $31 gloves to $179 expedition mittens.

The two pairs I’ve tested ($139 Give’r Frontier and the $55 Kinco Grain & Suede) have a similar look and feel with the leather shell and insulated lining. Given the $84 price discrepancy, how do they stack up? Here’s my take after years of wearing both pairs for everything from skiing to barn chores during long Montana winters.

$139 Give’r Mitten Review

Give’r Frontier Mittens

Materials: Cowhide leather, foam, fleece, waterproof membrane, Thinsulate

Pros:
+ Incredible waterproofing and warmth in a classically styled package
+ Varied insulation in palm and back-of-hand for mobility and warmth
+ Super durable with no failure on waterproofing after years of use
+ Cool mountain town cred

Cons:
– Palm and thumb lining tends to bunch and can be difficult to get back in place
– Take about a week to break in

I’ve had my Give’r Frontier Mittens since 2019. They took a week of consistent wear to break in, but they’ve only gotten better since. The waterproofing has held up incredibly well, and the insulation is as effective as the day I got them. Aside from heated mittens or Arctic expedition options, these are my warmest pair of mittens, and they’ve been my go-to ski mittens the past several years.

The Frontier Mittens look like classic leather mittens but are deceptively complicated. The waterproofing comes from the beeswax-treated cowhide along with a waterproof membrane, and the insulation includes multiple layers of Thinsulate, heat reflectors, and additional thermal insulation for particularly cold spots. The lining is mapped for mobility and warmth needs, which means more insulation on the back than the palms.

Don’t expect much dexterity from the thick, insulated build, but that’s also not what I’m looking for when I put these on. The main issue I’ve had with the Frontier Mittens is keeping the fleece lining in place. The lining is stitched to the wrist of the mitten but not the top, which is nice when I want to flip the lining out to help it dry, but it does get bungled inside the mitten, and the thumb material can be tricky to push back into place.

$55 Kinco Mitten Review

Kinco Grain & Suede Ski Mitt (Women’s)

Kinco Grain & Suede Ski Mitt (Men’s)

Materials: Pigskin Leather, polyester

Pros:
+ Excellent value for the protection and durability
+ Updated models and sizing options for more precise fit
+ All components, from leather to insulation to stitching, is highly durable
+ Local ski hill cred

Cons:
– Needs to be treated to be fully waterproof
– Take about a week to break in

I got my first pair of Kinco mittens working in Yellowstone National Park as a horseback guide. There was still snow on the ground when I arrived in June, and I made an immediate trek to Murchoch’s ranch supply store for a Carhartt and a pair of Kinco mittens. This was over ten years ago, and Kinco has since updated their lineup with women’s-specific options and tailored sizing, though my original pair are still holding strong.

The Grain & Suede Pigskin mittens are a lot less complicated than more expensive name brands. The outside is tough pigskin leather with a reinforced palm, and the insulation is a simple but lofty polyester. The whole mitten seems built for durability. There are no punctures, missing stitches, or abraded areas after years of use. The palm and inside of the thumb are reinforced for extra grip and longevity, and even the thread is specifically chosen for its tough build.

The extended elastic cuffs sit nicely inside a ski jacket or over a base layer, and the knit hasn’t stretched out in any noticeable way. They aren’t quite as warm as my fancier pairs of mittens, but the sizing is roomy enough where I can stick a hand warmer into the palm. Similar to the Give’r, these are not made for dexterity, so expect to pull them off to zip your jacket or tie your shoes.

How Do Give’r vs Kinco Mittens Compare? 

Durability: Tie

Both mittens have a similar break-in period and have held up well over years of wear. The leather of both has softened with age, but there are no cracks in their surfaces, the insulation is still lofty enough for thermal efficiency, and neither the Give’r nor the Kinco’s extended cuffs have stretched beyond normal wear.

Fit and Dexterity: Tie 

Neither of these mittens are sleek and articulated—they’re for warmth, not dexterity. Both pairs were stiff when I got them, and took a week to break in. While I can comfortably bend my hands around my ski poles now, it’s still like having paws, and I have to pull a mitten off with my teeth to adjust my ski boots. If you’re looking for better dexterity in mittens, I appreciate the flex of Hestra’s Powder Gauntlet Mittens, though obviously you’ll need to switch to gloves for full use of your fingers.

Warmth and waterproofing: Give’r

Both mittens are plenty warm, but the Give’r are warmer. You can’t beat the waterproof membrane, multiple thermal layers, and reflective lining. The Kinco pair doesn’t come waterproof, but they include a packet of Nikwax waterproofing wax, which I reapply every year and haven’t encountered any saturation.

Value: Kinco

The lower price of Kinco’s Grain & Suede comes from the simpler build, less expensive materials, and the obvious lack of name-brand tax. Since both pairs have excellent durability, take the same amount of time to break in, and have a similar fit and feel, it’s hard to argue against a pair that costs nearly 60 percent less than the Frontier Mittens. That said, skiers seeking more warmth and better waterproofing won’t be sorry with $139 Give’r mittens, which I’m also confident will also last for life.

Bottom Line

The combination of classic style, warmth, and durability has both the Give’r Frontier and Kinco Kinco Grain & Suede in my rotation for years. People looking to save money should opt for the Kinco, and people looking for more warmth should go for the Give’r, but you won’t go wrong with either.