Keeping hands warm and dry can be a significant challenge, especially in harsh, damp environments. For backcountry skiers and mountaineers, inadequate hand protection can lead to discomfort, impaired dexterity, and even dangerous situations. Over the years, various solutions have been attempted, from basic vinyl gloves to high-tech ski gloves, and even unconventional methods like cold water hand training. However, finding gloves that truly excel in providing warmth, dryness, and durability in demanding conditions is crucial.
Close-up of Black Diamond Guide Gloves, showcasing their robust leather construction and design suited for cold and wet mountain environments.
Many gloves on the market are adequate for general backcountry skiing, offering basic hand coverage and warmth. However, exceptional gloves are rare, capable of maintaining comfort and warmth across diverse and challenging conditions. Through extensive experience testing and wearing various gloves, certain key features and qualities emerge as essential for reliable hand protection in the backcountry.
Key Criteria for Backcountry Ski Gloves
When selecting gloves for backcountry skiing and mountaineering, several critical factors come into play:
Durability: Built to Last
Durability is paramount. Gloves endure significant wear and tear in backcountry environments. Constantly gripping ski poles on skin tracks, navigating through dense vegetation, and general exposure to abrasive snow and ice all contribute to glove degradation. Many gloves promising warmth and dryness fail quickly, developing holes after only a few tours.
Thick, high-quality leather, encompassing the majority of the glove’s exterior, appears to be the most effective material for durability. While simple leather work gloves might offer robustness, they often lack crucial features like a substantial, weatherproof gauntlet. A gauntlet is essential for creating a secure seal between the glove and jacket, preventing snow and wind entry during backcountry adventures, especially in deep powder or blustery conditions.
Warmth and Weather Protection: Combating the Elements
Warmth and weatherproofing are non-negotiable. Cold hands are not just uncomfortable; they can be genuinely dangerous, leading to frostbite and reduced dexterity, which can be critical in technical terrain. Investing in warm, well-insulated gloves is a wise decision, as the minimal weight increase is vastly outweighed by the benefits of comfortable and functional hands.
Removable Liners: Versatility and Practicality
Gloves with sewn-in liners often present a frustrating problem: liner entanglement. These liners frequently become twisted and bunched inside the glove, especially when wet or frozen, making it difficult to put the gloves on, often at the most inconvenient times. Attempting to force cold fingers through tangled fabric is a common backcountry annoyance.
Gloves with removable liners offer significant advantages. They eliminate the problem of liner entanglement and provide greater versatility. The liners and shells can be used independently depending on conditions, and separating them allows for faster drying, a crucial factor on multi-day trips or in damp climates.
Black Diamond Guide Gloves: Meeting the Demands of the Backcountry
The Black Diamond Guide Gloves are specifically designed to meet these demanding criteria. They are built as durable leather gloves with a large gauntlet, substantial warmth, and a removable liner system. Having used and rigorously tested a pair over multiple seasons, these gloves have consistently proven their worth.
The Black Diamond Guide Glove, showcasing its robust full gauntlet design, leather construction, and overall features aimed at providing warmth and protection in harsh winter conditions.
Construction and Features
The BD Guide Gloves feature a robust outer shell constructed primarily of leather, with strategically placed stretch nylon panels, notably in the gauntlet area, to enhance flexibility and fit. The removable inner liner is a thoughtfully designed combination of fleece and wool for optimal warmth, encased in a thin nylon shell. Velcro attachments securely hold the liner in place within the outer glove shell. Adding to their durability, the gloves are sewn with Kevlar thread, reinforcing seams in high-stress areas.
While equipped with a Gore-Tex layer for waterproofing, it’s worth noting that these gloves might not be the absolute most waterproof on the market. Heavy use and prolonged exposure to wet conditions can eventually compromise the Gore-Tex membrane, or perhaps its placement within the removable liner makes it slightly more susceptible to moisture penetration. However, the leather construction readily addresses this with regular applications of a leather sealant like Sno-seal, significantly enhancing water resistance. Additional features include easily adjustable drawstrings for cinching the gauntlet and a soft patch of material ideally placed for wiping your nose.
Performance in Diverse Conditions
Initially acquired for a ski mountaineering expedition to Alaska’s Glacier Bay, the Guide Gloves excelled in the cold, dry mountain environment. Typically, a layering system for handwear involves carrying a pair of heavy gloves, lighter gloves, and bulky mittens for extreme cold. Mittens often remain packed away, reserved for severe cold or emergency situations. In Alaska, depending on temperature fluctuations, the insulated liners were sometimes left behind in the tent, utilizing just the light gloves with the leather outer shells for sufficient warmth and dexterity.
Upon returning to the Pacific Northwest’s wetter climate, the gloves faced a different challenge. Used throughout the tail end of winter and as backup gloves during spring ski touring, their exceptional warmth was evident, perhaps even slightly excessive at times, but consistently warm hands are always preferable to cold ones. Skepticism regarding water resistance was present, but they effectively repelled moisture, performing comparably to other leather gloves treated with sealant.
Fit, Dexterity, and Durability in Practice
Black Diamond prioritizes fit and attention to detail in their glove design, which is apparent in the Guide Gloves. The well-contoured shape provides surprising dexterity, even with the substantial insulation. After extensive use over months, the gloves exhibit minimal wear, a testament to the generous use of thick leather and robust stitching. However, this robust construction results in a slightly heavier glove, which could be considered a minor drawback, particularly when carried as backup gloves in warmer conditions.
Conclusion: Ready for Winter’s Onslaught
With the arrival of colder weather, winter’s presence is increasingly felt. The Black Diamond Guide Gloves are well-prepared to face the elements. Their durability, especially their ability to withstand high-speed powder impacts and demanding backcountry use, will continue to be proven. For anyone seeking reliable, warm, and durable hand protection for backcountry skiing, mountaineering, or any activity in extreme cold and wet conditions, the Black Diamond Guide Gloves are an excellent choice.
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By Louie Dawson.
