Overview
Climbing gloves come in two main types: belay gloves (thin leather gloves worn to protect hands from rope burn during belaying and rappelling) and full climbing gloves (used for ice climbing, alpine climbing, and cold-weather routes).
Materials
- ✓Goatskin leather (belay)
- ✓Softshell + leather (full climbing)
- ✓Primaloft insulation (winter)
Key Features
- ✓Reinforced palm for rope handling
- ✓Fleece or Primaloft insulation (winter)
- ✓Waterproof membrane (some)
- ✓Dexterous fingers for knot tying
✓ Pros
- +Prevents rope burn
- +Warmth for cold routes
- +Dexterous for knots
- +Durable
✗ Cons
- −Not needed for indoor sport climbing
- −Expensive for specialty versions
- −May be too warm for summer cragging
Who Uses Climbing?
Rock climbersIce climbersAlpinistsMountaineers