Four of the best burly ski gloves
BLACK DIAMOND RECON GLOVES
SPEC: 100% waterproof BD.dry insert; 340g Primaloft Gold insulation on the back; 170g Primaloft Gold insulation on the goat leather palm. Pertex Shield gauntlet cuff.
Brand new, these super-warm freeride gloves are designed for the coldest and snowiest of days.
The targeted Primaloft Gold insulation (340 grams on the back and 170g on the palm) offers warmth exactly where it’s needed, and BD’s proprietary 100% waterproof BD.dry insert does a great job of keeping your digits dry on high precipitation days.
I used these on several stormy days out in the Cairngorms where the long Pertex Shield cuff kept the swirling snow and spindrift on the outside.
The goat leather palm with wrap around thumb adds both durability and just about enough dexterity for one-off kit manipulations.
Available in men’s and women’s in a range of colours, including stealthy black.
TESTED BY SOPHIE
HESTRA ARMY LEATHER HELI SKI 3 FINGER GLOVES
SPEC: Hestra Triton polyamide fabric; G-Loft insulation; removable Bemberg liner; goat leather palm; removable leashes; pull strap with Velcro and carabiner loop. Long cuff with snow lock.
I bought these five years ago for a touring trip to Japan.
More dexterous than mitts and warmer than ‘regular’ gloves, the semi-lobster claw and separate finger allows you to keep those digits toasty and still go about your regular kit-fiddling backountry business.
The supple leather palm and burly nylon backing mean they’re super durable – five years on, they hardly look worn.
One word of warning: while they’re water-resistant, they aren’t ‘waterproof’ so if you’re skiing in a climate where snow frequently turns to rain you might need to look for a Gore-Tex glove or equivalent.
TESTED BY SOPHIE
MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR HIGH EXPOSURE GORE-TEX GLOVES
SPEC: Gore-Tex fabric and Gore Grip tech; Primaloft Gold insulation with Cross Core. Pre-curved design; goat leather palm; elastic leashes; carabiner loop; nose wipe and touchscreen compatible.
Getting a good pair of gloves that balance warmth and dexterity is often tricky.
For some it’s a case of accepting the Lego man limitations of a bulky pair, while others go for dexterity – aka thin – and end up shivering on the chairlift.
These mighty beasts combine Gore-Tex weather protection with Primaloft Gold insulation in a quest to provide balance.
They really do offer exceptional levels of warmth, a solid barrier from the snow and admirable dexterity when adjusting zips.
If you’re regularly faffing with kit then you may need something a little more nimble-fingered, but if you’re mainly skiing in resort in really cold conditions they’ll be perfect.
Available in men’s and women’s.
TESTED BY ROBERT
RAB KHROMA FREERIDE GTX GLOVES
SPEC: Gore-Tex Plus Warm waterproof technology; targeted Primaloft Gold insulation and a deep pile interior. Long gauntlet cuff and pre-curved design. Pittards Armortan leather palm. Nose wipe and removable leashes.
These gloves scream business from first acquaintance, but the closer you look, the more cunning they get.
A long gauntlet seals the deal between cuff and glove. But the clever design gives you a waterproof opening and Primaloft insulation for the way in.
No glitching and no struggling to force a wet paw into these! Once inside, the deep pile lining feels like hiding under a duvet, for your mitts.
The soft stretchy fabrics make them an ideal and lightweight freeriding companion.
The Pittards leather and well-engineered fit make them ideal as a mountaineering glove.
Combine the two in this brand new glove, and you can take them anywhere. I know I will.
Choose from kick-ass colours or sensible black. Also available in mitts.
TESTED BY MARTIN
