Gloves in the backcountry, how to choose and how to use them properly in the mountains

Gloves play a big role in snowy mountains, especially in the backcountry (BC). This is because the movement of the fingers directly affects the quality of actions when climbing or handling equipment. Depending on what kind of glove you use and how you use it, the time you spend in BC will be different. So, I asked Mr. Amari of Ishii Sports, who has experience in BC and extensive knowledge about gear, how to choose and use gloves.

Presence of gloves in the backcountry

In piste skiing, gloves don't have as much presence as hard gear such as boards and boots, but in the backcountry (BC), they are very important. Because skins on skis, tinkering with bindings, getting equipment out of backpacks, using avalanche gear, hauling poles, there's a lot to do in BC with gloves on.

If I take off my gloves every time, my hands get cold and I get numb. Also, when the gloves get wet, the whole body gets cold, and the body temperature is taken away, and the fingers may not move as desired. Unlike on the slopes, you can't go straight into a restaurant to warm yourself up. In BC, the free movement of fingers is extremely important because it is directly linked to personal safety. BC is where the true value of the glove's role of "protecting safety by keeping hands warm" is tested.

Basic functions required for gloves

Gloves are required to have the following functional elements in order to protect and warm the hands on snowy mountains, and to support active actions on top of that. In the great outdoors, you will encounter all sorts of situations, so surface materials need to be durable. In the process of climbing, you may touch rocky areas and touch trees in the forest.

In severe winter, it is essential that the liner is filled with cotton, that the structure of the glove is designed to keep warmth, such as a mitten type, and that waterproofness is guaranteed. And unlike the slopes, the BC is often a repetition of climbing and sliding. It is also a point of concern whether the gloves have moisture permeability that allows the sweat on your hands to escape while hiking and keeps the inside of the gloves comfortable without getting stuffy.

And don't forget "operability". In BC, there is almost always a need to deal with equipment. Being able to move your fingers as you wish is a condition that is directly linked to safety. Operability has a big point in cutting and sewing glove parts.

Depending on the composition of the parts, the texture may be stiff and hard, making it difficult to move the fingers, and the unevenness of the seams may cause stress when performing fine finger movements. In that respect, many users support that 3D cutting and sewing that follow the shape and movement of the hand, such as the "ergo grip", are easy to use.

Points to consider when choosing gloves

From here, let's expand with comments from Ishii Sports staff Amari.

“Basically, when it comes to the main glove, it is based on using it in the winter mountains. ``Gloves that you can do most of the work at the site without removing the gloves.'' This is the basic selection condition. I will think about what is necessary, plus α.

"Mitten gloves" for really cold days. I think it's good to have an image of preparing a "thin glove" for warm days. However, this subject is really difficult and I have tried quite a few gloves to arrive at the best combination.”

Mr. Amari. I'll let you know what I'm actually using later with the glove equipment list.

Proper use of gloves in the mountains

In BC, many people carry multiple gloves and use them separately. From what point of view should they be used?

(1) Differentiate between cold and warm weather

“I think it would be good if you could think of two types, one for cold weather and one for warm weather. Sudden changes in the weather are inevitable in the mountains. For that reason, it is safe to carry two gloves, a main glove and a spare glove.”

② Change the combination of gloves depending on the process of "touching the snow or not"

“In my case, the equipment may change slightly even on a day trip, and the standard is 'Will I touch the snow or not?'” Mountain skiing with strong climbing elements, such as ridges and ridges with exposed rocks, will definitely require a Russell (snow shovel). In that case, we will assemble the equipment by combining complete waterproof gloves such as Temless.

There are many leather gloves in the world that claim to be completely waterproof, but if you don't take proper care of them, the parts where the oil has splashed will absorb water and freeze. Therefore, gloves that are completely waterproof at the material stage are indispensable.”

③ Change gloves when climbing and when skiing

“It is also a good idea to change the gloves when you hike and when you slide. It's disgusting.To fully enjoy gliding, it's important that your hands are comfortable.

Many introductory BC users are worried about their physical strength, and because it is difficult to move efficiently, they tend to sweat a lot.

It is a "must" to bring multiple gloves to the mountains, but the climate changes greatly between the snow season and the remaining snow season.
Ideally, I would like to change the combination of hiking, sliding and glove. At what temperature do you feel cold? How fast do you walk and sweat like a waterfall? It would be a good idea to carefully select gloves by self-analyzing such things.”

What kind of glove does Mr. Amari use in BC?

We asked Mr. Amari to list the gloves that he actually uses at BC. Let's take a look at "Severe winter -5 to 10°C assumption" and "0 to 5°C during remaining snow season".

Choices and usage during the harsh winter

[Severe winter] (Assumed -5 to 10°C wind: no wind)
Main: HESTRA｜Leather Wool
A must-have army!
Sub:
SOTT | Ultimate Plus Mitten
Used during low temperature conditions during slope & BC riding.
It is attractive to be small without being bulky. And it's not that expensive! ②Blackdiamond｜Waterproof over-mitt
Used as an overglove to put on top of the main glove
③Blackdiamond｜
Equipped with Punisher waterproof film, used when climbing elements are strong

HESTRA｜Leather Wool

I use HESTRA's Leather Wool, a 5-finger type with a large amount of padding, for walking and climbing ridgelines in the coldest of winters, and for skiing. It is a reliable mast army for me. As a sub, I use 3 gloves depending on the weather and situation. For hiking, the 5-finger type with less padding is easier to use considering the use of poles.

SCOTT｜Ultimate Plus Mitten

I wear these SCOTT mittens mainly when it's cold in BC and on the slopes. The reason why this ultimate is used in mountain fields is "warm but not bulky".

In mountainous fields, the stock ring is not passed through the wrist in case of unforeseen circumstances. So it's natural that the grip is good, but when riding at an elevation difference of around 1,000m, you can feel the tension in your hands even when you're relaxed. On the slopes, you can wear stock rings on your wrists, and you won't feel as nervous as you do on mountain fields, so mittens are fine. Most of all, when I'm on the lift, the mittens are really warm and come in handy.

Blackdiamond｜Waterproof Overmitt

Blackdiamond | Punisher

“The Blackdiamond Punisher is a glove that has excellent moisture permeability and does not get stuffy even in hard situations that involve sweating. It is also excellent in waterproofness. There are many touch cases, and the latest attention is required for "wet gloves". This model has a three-dimensional glove cut and less stress when operating the ice ax and stock, so I use it in the ski scene.

Choices and usage during the remaining snow season

[Remaining snow season] (Assumed 0-5°C wind: no wind)
Main: HESTRA｜Leather Wool
have even during the remaining snow season
HESTRA｜Ergo Grip Active Mostly this
after April.
It is attractive that it will not be flooded even if it gets a little wet. Temless for cold weather +
used when climbing elements are strong

HESTRA｜Ergo Grip Active

During the remaining snow season, I use HESTRA's Ergo Grip Active, a five-finger type with almost no padding, for hiking. Compared to the midwinter season, the cold is often milder, so the focus shifts to the good grip of the poles rather than heat retention. Gloves with a small amount of cotton are easy to grip and easy to use.

SHOWA｜Coldproof Temless

During mountaineering with many elements of climbing, the cold weather temless is very useful. When climbing mountain ridges, it is very important to wear gloves that allow you to easily move your hands and fingers while handling equipment such as ropes that are always wet. If you have one, it will be very useful in various scenes.

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I asked questions about choosing gloves at BC!

Q. What should be prioritized is warmth? Or operability?

A. At BC, this is also quite a difficult problem. "The mitten type is warmer, but the five-finger type is easier to work with. I think there are many users who are wondering which one to choose. It may be a good idea to think about it from various perspectives, such as whether there is a glove that can meet your needs, or if you can devise some way to use it.

First, choose a main item that has functionality that you cannot compromise on. For the time being, carry a warm sub (spare) glove. Above all, try not to get your gloves wet. I think this is the rule of thumb in the mountains.

Unlike piste skiing, mountain skiing requires a hike. Hiking improves blood flow, which is accompanied by perspiration. Even if you're wearing the same gloves, your fingertips will feel warm on the lift, where your fingertips will get cold just by sitting still. If you still feel cold, goo-pa-goo-pa in gloves or wave your hands to promote blood flow. I'm doing well In order to keep warm, I think that "keep moving" is also an important point.

Q. If a BC beginner buys for the first time, this is recommended! What is the model?

HESTRA｜Leather Wool

Q . How often do gloves need to be replaced?

A. If the inner and outer parts are integrated, the cotton inside will be crushed and the heat retention performance will be reduced. If you use it hard, the glove is a 1-year player. After all, the one-piece glove that has excellent heat retention performance is a glove that is used with sweat, so if you use it heavily, the sweat will crush the filling and make it difficult to retain warm air.

If you want to use it for a long time, you need to devise ways to use it according to the temperature!　

In my case, I basically want to use the gloves for a long time, so I use the "outer/inner separate type" for heavy-use gloves. When the batting gets worn out, just change the batting. If the outerwear is worn or torn, I sew it myself and repair it as much as possible. That person will be attached to it, and you can use it for a long time! Maybe that's why I use Hestra's leather wool!

Q. How do you take care of your gloves (especially leather gloves) on a daily basis?

Apply glove oil. I use Hestra oil. The point I am conscious of is to let the oil blend in with my bare hands. It's more body temperature and friction, and the oil is familiar with the skin! It's pretty important. If maintenance is neglected, moisture will get mixed in from the point where the oil has escaped, and it will freeze.

Q. Are there any advantages to buying gloves at a shop?

A. I think so! It is a great advantage to be able to choose while receiving advice from the staff based on the information of BC Field and the actual experience of wearing gloves.

Even for gloves that have never been used on the snow, shop staff who talk to many customers every day can hear how it feels to use them. Some of our customers are riders and guides, and we have real voices that have been used in many fields. I think that the merit of buying at a pro shop is that they can propose items that meet the needs of customers based on such a lot of knowledge and hands-on experience.

Yuki Amari

[Profile]
Ishii Sports Kofu store staff.
Climbing from spring to autumn, he pursues mountain skiing and mountain skiing from winter to spring. A mountain specialist who works in the mountains according to the rhythm of the four seasons. Climbing on Mt. Mizugaki and Mt. Ogawa in the summer. In winter, I often go backcountry in Niigata and Nagano. His favorite mountain is Yatsugatake. I don't have a life goal like him right now, but my current goal is to play in the mountains even after I become a grandpa (laughs).

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Coverage cooperation / Ishii Sports