For a backcountry guide who escorts guests in the ever-changing wilderness, being able to move quickly without waste and being able to work with your fingers accurately is a very important factor. For guides, it goes without saying that gloves play an important role in providing safety, security, fun and comfort to guests. Let's ask what kind of gloves professional guides trust and love, as well as how professionals use them in the mountains.
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"Use ARC'TERYX differently depending on your behavior and temperature" | DAICHI TERUI Daichi Terui
ARC'TERYX | Fission SV Gloves
A model that boasts the highest level of warmth in ARC'TERYX. A combination of abrasion-resistant, waterproof, and breathable materials protects hands in a variety of BC situations. Two types of Primaloft® silver and gold insulation provide the ultimate in warmth. The lining uses Octa® Loft, which has excellent breathability, and keeps the humidity inside the glove in an optimal state. High-quality goat leather is used double to improve durability. In addition, it has evolved to be easier to put on and take off.
Color: Black/Infrared (2 colors in total) Size: XS, S, M, L, XL ¥28,600
Gloves that use Gore-Tex Infinium™, which has excellent wind resistance, water resistance, and moisture permeability. It is also characterized by being lightweight with a soft shell garment that is resistant to wind and rain. The brushed lining is thick and warm, and the outerwear is fine in snow and light rain. It is made to increase the grip and absorb moisture easily, so you can operate your smartphone or touch screen while wearing it.
Color: Black (2 colors in total) Size: XS, S, M, L, XL ¥16,500
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[My favorite model and why] I like the ARC'TERYX Venta AR when I'm hiking or when it's not too cold.
It has the best balance of heat retention and grip. It is very easy to operate and I also use it for ice climbing. When it's cold, I use the ARC'TERYX Fission SV 5 finger. [How to use gloves] I always carry three types: thin, medium, and thick, and use them depending on the temperature.
[Main guide area] All of Hokkaido [Profile] While attending university, he aspired to become a mountain guide and studied under international mountain guide Hirofumi Ishizaka. Upon graduating from university, he became a certified guide by the Japan Mountain Guide Association and started guiding. As for his own activities, since his early 20s he has experienced heli-skiing guide training in Northern Europe, mountain climbing in the European Alps, and ski touring. [Qualifications held]
・Completed JMGA Mountain Guide Stage I , JMGA Ski Guide Stage II , JAN Avalanche Worker Level I
“I always have multiple Black Diamond models with different thicknesses and uses” | Infield Toyokazu Nakano
Black Diamond｜Mission
The combination of Gore-Tex® and Primaloft® Gold provides durability and warmth. The palm side is made of soft and durable goat leather, and the back side is made of ripstop polyester. A highly versatile model that can be used in the backcountry in general.
Color: Cork/Brown (2 colors in total) Size: XS, S, M, L, XL ¥15,510
Made of supple and durable goat leather, Gore-Tex® and Primaloft® Gold Cloth core provide excellent heat retention. Built-in EVA pads on the back of the hand and thumb to improve protection performance. The neoprene cuff keeps your wrist warm and provides a great fit. High-end freeride glove with high performance. The design is also a fan favorite.
Color: Cork/Brown (2 colors in total) Size: XS, S, M, L, XL ¥26,400
The shell is a stretch nylon shell with high stretchability, and BDRY, which has excellent waterproof and moisture permeability, is inserted. Gloves that emphasize operability designed based on motocross gloves.
Color: Cork/Brown (2 colors in total) Size: XS, S, M, L, XL ¥13,970
[Favorite model and reason] Before Black Diamond, I used Spark as my main model.
Mainly used when skiing when the temperature is low. I like these basic gloves, which have a good balance between the suppleness of the leather and the warmth that makes it easy to grip the poles. I want to put my gloves inside the wrist hem of my jacket, so I choose a model that has a neat area around the wrists. Currently, we are developing ``Mission'' and ``Impulse'' with similar models. I use the Black Diamond Arc when climbing in cold weather and on tours in the spring.
This is a model with a good fit and high operability, making it the most convenient and frequently used glove. It is also waterproof enough to withstand rain. [How to use gloves] I always make sure to have multiple models of gloves with different thicknesses and uses. We bring different combinations depending on the season and the nature of the tour, such as models for cold protection, models with high operability, and models with high waterproofness. Personally, I don't like wearing layers of inner gloves.
] Kubiki area, Hokushin/Others: Mt. Tateyama, Mt. Chokai, etc. Currently, he works as a backcountry tour guide and telemark ski instructor in the winter, and as a mountaineering/trekking guide and sea kayak guide in the summer. [Qualifications] ・JMGA Ski Guide Stage II ・JAN Avalanche
“I love the HESTRA model because it retains heat well and allows me to do detailed work with five fingers.” Kazuya Igarashi, Kagura Powder Station
HESTRA｜HELI ski GTX
4-way stretch nylon with a built-in GORE-TEX membrane on goat goat army leather that is supple, strong, and has high grip. With a 2-layer lining, it can be used with the liner removed during warm weather.
A liner made of wind-resistant windshield material. The palm side is made of polyester fleece, and the sidewalls are made of breathable mesh. The palm and fingertips have grip prints, and the thumb and index finger are touchscreen compatible. Can be used as a liner for replaceable liner gloves.
Material: 91% Polyester/ 9% Tricot, Fleece Cuff, Grip Print, Touch Point (forefinger and thumb) Color: Black Size: 6~10 Size guide ¥7,150
[Favorite models and reasons] HESTRA's HELI ski GTX and Windshield Liner.
It has good heat retention and allows you to do detailed work with five fingers. [How to use gloves] Carry overmitts, spring gloves for hiking, and extra gloves. The inner layer is made of wool, and I always carry Gore-Tex overmittens.
[Main guide area] Entry from the BC gate at the top of Kagura Ski Resort No. 5 Romance Lift / Other areas: Spring Tateyama, Gassan , Mt. Trained by Satoya, Miura, Tsukuda, and Hara. He worked with Yuichiro Miura and was active in Snow Dolphin. In 2008, he climbed Mount Everest with Mr. Currently supporting Kagura Powder Station as a BC ski/climbing guide. [Qualifications held]
・JMGA Ski Guide Stage I ・JMGA Mountain Climbing Guide Stage II
“The appeal is that the palm is made of cowhide and is soft and easy to operate.” | Vertical Land Hiroki Ito
SIMOND｜SPRINT
Completely waterproof (watertight) gloves with high operability. The entire palm is made of full-grain cowhide leather for excellent flexibility and maneuverability. It is waterproof with a waterproof membrane that has a water pressure resistance of 10,000 mm, the palm part is made of full-grain leather for peace of mind, and the back of the hand has been treated to be water repellent. Comes with an elastic wrist loop that allows you to hang the glove around your wrist when you take it off.
Equipped with an ergo grip that is patterned and draped to make it easy to grip the pole. The palm side is made of goat leather with excellent durability and strength, and a nylon fabric mixed with a waterproof and breathable membrane is used. The instep is made of flexible cowhide leather molded into a bellows. . The short cuffs with Velcro closure are made of neoprene for a comfortable fit.
Color: Cork/Brown (4 colors in total) Size: Size Guide ¥18,484
[My favorite model and why] SIMOND's SPRINT allows you to use your fingers well and is easy to work with. You can also go climbing. The palm is made of cowhide leather and is soft and easy to operate. Wearing one is perfect for warm days and spring, and it's best to use it with inner gloves in winter. HESTRA's Army Leather Couloir.
Perfect fit and warmth from the base of the finger to the tip. The cutting is done in a way that allows easy movement of the hands. There aren't many clothes that provide protection against the cold while also providing a good fit. [Tips on how to use gloves] Bring the above gloves and thicker ones for use in the harsh winter months. (Thick wool, over-gloves, etc.) I also always have an extra pair for myself and for a customer to lend to them if they lose their gloves or it's colder than expected.
[Main guide area] Around Hakuba Village, Nagano Prefecture, Northern Alps [Profile] At the age of 21, he moved to Canada and started skiing in earnest. He was influenced by North American ski culture, and at the same time he became interested in mountain skiing. After completing the Yamnuska Mountaineering School, he returned to Japan and opened his own business in January 2020. His guiding concept is “More mountains in life. [Qualifications] JMGA Mountain Guide Stage I JMGA Ski Guide Stage II CAA Operation Level 1 (CAA: Canadian Avalanche Association)
“It can be used in multiple situations and is highly durable” | Makoto Kuroda, Kuroda Mountain Guide Office
HESTRA｜ERGO GRIP TACTILE SHORT
Short gloves with ERGO GRIP shape that makes it easy to use your fingertips with three-dimensional stitching that follows the natural curvature of your hand. The back of the hand is made of GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER Breeze, which is both windproof and breathable, and the palm side is made of highly durable Goat Leather. Hestra's proprietary Czone Tactile is a structure in which the film is attached to the glove shell, so the film does not interfere with the sensation of the hands. It can also be used in sports scenes other than snow.
[Favorite model and reason] Short gloves with Hestra's ergo grip.
You can use it for skiing or climbing without any problems, and it is highly durable. [Tips on how to use gloves] It is essential to bring at least two sets. Consider the depth based on the altitude difference that day, and if you are staying overnight, the altitude during the tour and the approximate time schedule.
[Main guide area] Focusing on Joshinetsu, to the area of your choice [Profile] A private guide with a small number of people, supporting a mountain trip full of originality that suits each level. We provide services that value not only skiing but also the spirit of travel. [Qualifications] ・International mountain guide ・JAN avalanche operator Level 2
“Comfortable with breathable material, and 5-finger gear grip” | COLOR SPORT CLUB Tomohiro Sagawa
HESTRA｜Omni GTX Full Leather
A Japan-only model that was created at the request of guides and riders who ski in Japan's snowy mountains. The palm side is made of goat leather with excellent durability and strength, and the instep and sides are made of flexible cowhide leather. The 5-finger type with outseam finish reduces unnecessary pressure on the fingertips and is attractive for its high operability. A GORE-TEX membrane that exhibits high waterproof and moisture permeability is inserted on the entire inside to reliably handle wetness from snow.
Color: Gray/Natural Brown (5 colors in total) Size: 5~10 Size guide ¥20,900
[Preferred model and reason] Uses HESTRA Omni GTX Full Leather.
It is comfortable with moisture permeable material, and it is good that the gear grip is high with five fingers. When it gets cold, use it with a set of over gloves. [Ingenuity in how to use gloves] Always have a thin inner. In addition, set up with over gloves with enhanced Gore-Tex function to prevent coldness.
] Hakuba VALLEY (Hakuba, Otari, Omachi) / Others: Tateyama, Senjojiki, Myoko, Mt. Since the early 1990s, he has turned his attention to the off-piste and opened up the mountain ski scene in the midwinter. Pioneer work continues even after achieving field development throughout Hakuba, which is synonymous. [Qualifications] ・JMGA Mountain Guide Stage Ⅱ ・JMGA Ski Guide Stage Ⅱ ・JAN Avalanche Worker Level 2
"I like the wool innerwear because it doesn't get sticky even when I sweat." | locus guide service Kazuya Furuse
HESTRA ｜ARMY LEATHER WOOL TERRY
With detachable wool liner made of all leather. The palm side is made of durable goat leather. The instep side is made of soft and smooth cowhide leather for improved wearability and operability. A warm brushed wool liner is built into the inside of the instep, and it maintains heat retention even if it contains some moisture.
[My favorite model and why] For those of me who tend to get cold on my hands, this model has the best balance between heat retention and workability required for BC.
I like the wool innerwear because it doesn't get sticky even when I sweat on the way up, and it doesn't get cold afterwards. [Tips on how to use gloves] Always bring a spare pair of gloves. We use hand cuffs and are careful not to lose our gloves during strong winds. I don't want my gloves to get wet, so when it's snowing, I try not to climb in just my innerwear or leave my outerwear hanging out.
[Profile] As a result of pursuing skiing, the field has changed from a ski resort to a backcountry, and I have accumulated experience as a skier and a guide. [Qualifications] ・JMGA Ski Guide Stage II ・JAN Avalanche
HESTRA | WAKAYAMA・Ergo Grip Active Wool・ARMY LEATHER WOOL TERRY
WAKAYAMA
Despite being a technical riding glove, it feels surprisingly soft to wear. The removable liner is made from precisely tanned cowhide leather and brushed wool that retains heat. The cuff on the palm side is made of neoprene for a better fit on the wrist, and has a nylon drawcord that makes it easy to put on and take off, and it can be hung from the wrist.
Despite being a technical riding glove, it feels surprisingly soft to wear. The removable liner is made from precisely tanned cowhide leather and brushed wool that retains heat. The cuff on the palm side is made of neoprene for a better fit on the wrist, and has a nylon drawcord that makes it easy to put on and take off, and it can be hung from the wrist.
LEATHER WOOL, an all-leather five-finger style with a built-in removable wool liner, has been updated with a new design. The palm side is made of goat leather, which is highly durable and breathable. From the instep to the outside of the fingers, soft and supple cowhide leather is used to enhance comfort and operability. The brushed wool liner maintains heat retention and warmth even when it contains some moisture. I also like that it can be removed and washed.
] Kanetsu area [Profile] Backcountry guide since 2003. Hosts a members-only club and camp in an old folk house called Kaze no Tani in Yamakita Town in western Kanagawa Prefecture. Together with members connected through the backcountry, they are building campsites and playgrounds in the mountains using DIY methods. ``I want to ski on a natural snowy mountain just like skiing on the waves that are the energy of nature, and I want to climb the mountain with my own feet and ski the way I want.It's because of the risk that I felt freedom.''
[Qualifications] ・JMGA Ski Guide Stage II
"Durable, soft and warm. Perfect for my fingers that get cold easily." | Telemark School & Ski Guide Izumiya AK.T Kenji Akutsu
SCOTT | Explorer Plus
It is easy to move, has excellent operability, is durable and warm. The outer shell is made of 90% goat leather, 90% nylon, and GORE-TEX wind stopper material, which is highly durable and breathable to wick away sweat. The batting contains prima soft, and it has excellent heat retention. It's also windproof, so you can stay comfortable all day long.
Color: Black / Burnt Orange (2 colors) Size: S, M, L, LL ¥18,480
It has the durability of leather, yet is soft and warm. It has high heat retention, so it's just right for me, who tends to get cold at my fingertips. In addition, the index finger and thumb are reinforced, so even if you make full use of it in lessons and guides, it is useful that it does not easily get holes.
[Main guide area] Fukushima Prefecture: Minamiaizu/Hinoemata area [Qualifications] JMGA Climbing Guide Stage II , JMGA Ski Guide Stage II , TAJ Telemark Ski Instructor
“Impressions for skaters who are sensitive to cold and don’t like inner gloves”｜CIRCLE GAME guide service Shohei Sasaki
Swany Gloves｜sx-2 classic combi glove
The combination of leather and fabric makes it lightweight and has excellent heat retention. The palm side is made of highly durable cowhide, so it is resistant to friction and wear and can be used for a long time. Soft, water-repellent goat leather and fabric are used on the instep side, and cowhide is used on the palm side. ・Uses GORE-TEX insert with excellent water resistance and moisture permeability.
This is an impression aimed at skaters who are sensitive to cold and don't like wearing inner gloves. The classic combi glove has a great balance of heat retention and operability. Because of my job as a guide, I am conscious of being able to perform all tasks in the backcountry efficiently and quickly.
[Profile] Born in Nanae Town, Hokkaido. Based in Sapporo, he guides backcountry skiing in the winter and guides a wide range of Hokkaido's nature in the summer. He likes to combine climbing and skiing. [Qualifications held] ・JMGA Climbing Guide Stage II ・JMGA Ski Guide Stage II
I also love SWANY's Classic Combi Glove.
It retains heat and is flexible, so it feels like a good pole grip. For recording snowfall and condition data, he prefers flexible five-finger gloves that are easy to write on.
[Main guide area] Kagura BC, Echigo Yuzawa BC, Tateyama BC
[Profile] After quitting my job and working at Tateyama Raichoso, I went through guide training and started working as JUNRINA mountain service in 2010. He has many overseas backcountry trips. In the summer and fall, he works as a mountain climbing guide mainly in the Alps and Joshinetsu, and in the winter and spring he works as a backcountry ski guide. [Qualifications] ・JMGA Mountaineering Guide Stage III ・JMGA Ski Guide Stage II ・JAN Avalanche Worker Level 1
“I love what I receive + my inner wear is from Patagonia” | Rhythm Works Tatsuta Asahi
TRUCK gloves | M1
Waterproof, durable and breathable goat leather is used for the back of the hand and palm. The palm is further reinforced for tough use. The warm fleece polar fleece is built into the inside, and the heat retention is reliable. A work that has been awarded as a good product selected by the editorial department as a glove for backcountry use in an overseas ski magazine.
A convenient liner glove with a smooth, soft surface for easy layering. Hollow fiber and diamond-shaped grid pattern lining provides warmth, wicks moisture and dries quickly.
The inner is Patagonia's Capilene Midweight Liner Glove. The reason I use the M1 is because JAY, a photographer who came to Shirakawa-go with the Utah crew, thanked me. [Ingenuity in how to use gloves] midwinter, in addition to the main one, I carry a different type of backup as a backup.
