Black Diamond engages in activity-based manufacturing.
Rather than being marketing-driven by chasing trends, we listen to the voices of the field and identify the functions that players need and proceed with product development.
The resulting product is simple and powerful. It's the kind of tool that makes users who hold it in their hands say, ``This is what I wanted, right?''
The brand has a strong image of climbing equipment, but as you may know, it covers almost all the equipment necessary for mountain climbing, and also handles a wide range of ski equipment such as boards, poles, and climbing skins.
Of these, gloves are especially important for skaters.
Choosing gloves is difficult. It has a good balance of heat retention and grip, remains supple even at low temperatures, is resistant to wetness, and has a certain level of durability.
It's a bad idea because it requires a good balance of conflicting elements, and judgments about what's good or bad are subjective and cannot be quantified. As a result, the market is overflowing with gloves with slightly different details, and skaters are stuck searching for the ideal pair.
I want to shout out my message to the lost Grove refugees.
Black diamond gloves are nice.
gloves are gears
Black Diamond started producing apparel in the fall/winter season of 2013, but the company has been offering gloves since its founding in 1989. The 1987 catalog of its predecessor, Chouinard Equipment, featured a ``Shell Glove'' clearly labeled as ``for backcountry skiing.''
Introduced nearly 35 years ago, this model already features a relaxed, finger-shaped pre-curve and a one-handed adjustable cuff closure. This model can be said to be the original form of the current "guide glove."
Black Diamond has always considered gloves to be a tool rather than an accessory. The company in charge of development is not the apparel category, but the mountain category, which is the same as backpacks and poles.
The development environment is also perfect. The company is located in Salt Lake. It is a daily routine for me to go for a hike first thing in the morning and do one ski run before heading to work. I don't need to explain to my intelligent readers the strength of being a developer themselves as a player.
Slopes, backcountry, mid-winter, lingering snow, beginners, advanced... Skiing can be used in a variety of situations, but it is easier for users to choose products that are made with a clear idea of when and where they will be used.
Therefore, we have selected four models with outstanding features from among the products for the 2024-25 season. If there are other models you are interested in, comparing them using this as a standard should make it easier to understand their characteristics.
If you're thinking about getting a new pair of gloves this season, I'd like you to try them out at a store. If you feel good when you put your hand in it and squeeze it, congratulations! The glove problem is solved.
4 main models selected by target audience
"For tough professionals"
guide glove
As the name suggests, it is aimed at professionals who use their gloves hard every day, such as mountain guides and ski patrollers, and has the highest durability and heat retention among Black Diamond gloves.
A combination of 4-way stretch nylon and leather, the palm is made of durable goat leather, and the reinforcement patch is carefully crafted to wrap around the sides. Filled with Primaloft Gold (170g/m2) and boiled wool, the removable inner glove uses Gore-Tex Plus Warm Technology integrated with insulation. Equipped with a carabiner loop on the middle finger for hanging. There is also a trigger type that has better heat retention.
"For experts who can do detailed work"
legend glove
For experts who are interested in not only regular backcountry riding but also climbing and riding. It is filled with PrimaLoft Gold, but the palm side is thinner with 60g/m2 compared to 170g/m2 on the back side. No seams are made at the tips of the fingers, and a gusset is provided at the base of the thumb for a comfortable fit and ease of use. If you're not just holding a pole, you're also holding an ice ax, or handling a rope on a cold, wind-swept ridgeline, this is the one for you. While focusing on fit, it has plenty of heat retention, and the short cuff makes it easy to handle, making it easy to use in a wide range of situations. Adopts Gore-Tex Plus Warm Technology.
“For entry-level users who value cost performance.”
mission glove
This is an all-round model aimed at beginners of BC and those who use it only a few days during the season, keeping the cost down while keeping the points firmly in mind. The palm is made of durable and supple goat leather, and the back side is made of ripstop polyester and filled with Primaloft Gold (133g/㎡). The short cuff fits easily into the sleeve, and the fingers are pre-curved to make it easier to grip the pole.
"New model for speed touring"
cirque glove
A model designed for speed-oriented touring, similar to skimo (ski mountaineering) with the racing elements removed. The five-fingered soft shell glove has a retractable wind hood sewn into the wrist. This is a structure often seen in trail running gloves, but the key point is that the hood is padded. PrimaLoft Gold Cloth Core (40g/㎡) is sealed on the back side of the hood to enhance windproofing and heat retention when worn. The palm is made of highly durable goatskin leather and reinforced at key points. The hood's ability to increase heat retention and wind protection can be used for hikes in the harsh winter months and for long touring trips during the snowy season when you want to reduce the weight of your equipment.
Text=Toshiaki Ito
Photo=Shota Kikuchi
Information
lost arrow
Official website: https://www.lostarrow.co.jp/Official
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