5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Gloves for Outdoor Activities

For most outdoor activities, gloves play a vital role in protecting your hands against the cold and harsh elements of the outdoors. At the same time, they aren’t meant to impede you from holding things while wearing them. Whether holding tools for mountaineering or gripping an ice-ax or carabiner, you need to wear them comfortably.

There is a wide range of gloves available in the market today that are used for various purposes and suited for different outdoor activities. For this reason, picking the right gloves for your outdoor needs can be tricky.

In this article, we will share with you five factors to consider when choosing gloves for outdoor activities:

1. Gloves vs. Mittens

It’s best to understand the difference between gloves and mittens. For the uninitiated, gloves have separate fingers, while mittens only have a thumb separated. While the former allows you to use your hands freely and is less warm, the latter is much more restricted and warmer.

Given the differences, mittens are ideal for activities in extremely cold temperatures that do not require the intense use of your hands, such as alpine skiing. On the other hand, gloves are perfect for mountaineering because it requires you to use your hands so that you can climb up.

2. Gauntlet

A gauntlet is part of a glove that covers the wrist. Those with gauntlets are meant to be worn over the sleeves as protection against the harsh elements outside. They can easily be put on and off due to their flexibility. On the other hand, those that do not have gauntlets are meant to be worn under the sleeves because they have less volume, meaning that they give way to greater agility for hand movement that is ideal for mountaineering.

3. Size

When it comes to the size of your gloves, you have to factor in how they fit your hands. Big ones actually reduce the agility of your hand movement while small gloves lower the blood circulation and lead to possible frostbite. Because of this, make sure to choose those that aren’t too loose or too tight because the right fit can make all the difference in your activity.

4. Protection

Seeing that gloves are designed as protection against natural outdoor elements, you have to factor in what forms of protection you would like to achieve. For the most part, it’s hard to find a pair of gloves that can be used in various outdoor situations. This is why you need to look for a pair that’s well-suited for the specific outdoor adventure you’ll have, whether it’s mountaineering, snowing, or skiing.

5. Reinforcements

When choosing a pair, you have to consider their reinforcements. For instance, gloves for mountaineering have some support, such as waterproof and insulation capabilities. On the other hand, some have padded reinforcements on the fingers and knuckles, which are ideal for alpine climbing or skiing.

Conclusion

At this point, you now know what factors to consider when looking for the right gloves for your outdoor activity. With all the tips in mind, you’ll be able to make the right purchase decision for gloves and enjoy your outdoor adventure to the fullest!

We provide a wide selection of athletic and adventure products. If you need gloves for mountaineering, snow, or ski activities, browse our website today and place your order!