After having skied in the Northeast for the past 10 years, I have come to appreciate warm gloves and have always gone for the mitten approach. My Swany X-Change gloves just fell apart and I was thinking of buying a warm finger glove. I was looking at the Black Diamond Legend or Guide. Which would you recommend? – Cyril, Burlington, Vt.
Better touch: Mittens are indeed warmer than gloves. But there are lots of good gloves out there these days. And the advantages of gloves are tremendous – you can manipulate things with gloves that you can’t with mittens.
Good choices: Black Diamond’s Legend ($115) is a good example of a modern ski glove. It uses Gore-Tex XCR to for a waterproof/breathable membrane, has PrimaLoft insulation for warmth, and has knuckle guards to protect your hands. It’s fairly short and is designed for under-the-cuff use.
The longer Guide ($160) adds a removable wool liner for even more warmth. It also uses Gore-Tex XCR and PrimaLoft. Goat leather palms add toughness and grip. Serious gloves. If cold hands are a real problem for you, then choose the Guide over the Legend.
Another option: I also really like Marmot’s Randonee Glove ($100). It has a gauntlet design like the Guide, PrimaLoft insulation, leather palms and a Gore-Tex liner. I wear Randonees and have long been impressed by their great dexterity.
You can make any glove warmer by adding silk glove liners ($7 at Cabela’s) or heavier Ibex Stretch Merino Glove Liners ($25).
To ask a question of the Gear Guy, you can find Douglas Gantenbein at www.outsidemag.com.
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