Choosing The Right Gloves
When choosing gloves, the key factors you should consider are;
- What conditions you are likely to be using the gloves in
- What specific activity you will use the gloves for, eg walking, climbing, skiing, running
- What you want the gloves to do, eg keep your hands warm, protect from windchill, keep hands dry or a combination
- How much dexterity you will need
- Do you need some parts of the glove, such as the palm, to be particularly durable or offer good grip?
For some uses and activities there may be obvious choices such as “Running Gloves” for running / jogging. For others however, there can be an extremely wide choice! Some activities may use a combination of gloves / mitts which may suit your requirements the best. It is not unusual to use a ‘layering system’ for gloves, as you would do for clothing, to get the best effect.
Thermal Gloves
Base layer – thin layer to use next to the skin, could be silk or a synthetic fibre.
Mid layer – use on their own or under a waterproof or thicker mitt or glove.
Outer layer – could also be waterproof, with insulation such as Primaloft, Duck down.
Remember everyone is individual and what is required to keep one person’s hands warm may not be enough for another.
Windproof Gloves
Designed to keep off wind chill but generally do not have many thermal properties. Some windproof fabrics such as WINDSTOPPER are also breathable. Waterproof gloves which have a waterproof membrane will also be windproof.
Waterproof Gloves
These have a waterproof liner inside which is often breathable.
Come in various guises usually with some insulation to provide warmth as well as keeping hands dry.
Useful Terms
Common words used in glove specifications
Breathable
The material will allow water vapour to pass through to avoid the build up of sweat and condensation. Some waterproof membranes are breathable.
Wicking
Material actively transports sweat away from the body to keep you more comfortable.
Taped seams
When a waterproof fabric is sewn, the seams are sealed using a waterproof tape which is applied with heat and prevents water coming through. This makes the garment fully waterproof. Critically seam sealed means only seams which must be waterproof are sealed, others such as a pocket seam are not sealed.
If you’re still unsure about what glove would suit you best, then please do contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your specific requirement.
