Ice Climbing Glove Reccomendations

Looking for some recommendations on ice climbing gloves. Hoping to stay around $125 or less, but not a deal breaker. What are your favorite options? Let me know!

Cheapest, cool weather: Showa 282-02

otherwise folks seem to like the BD line, or the Camp gloves for mixed usually.

I have some OR Bitterblaze gloves that are good too. 

What's in the quiver currently? Are we adding or starting from scratch with $125? Got some emergency mitts? 

Thread on this recently.  Search on Showa and you'll find it.  If you go w/ Showas, get the new, black ones with the gauntlet.

jdejace wrote:

What's in the quiver currently? Are we adding or starting from scratch with $125? Got some emergency mitts? 

Adding. I’ve got emergency mitts, liners, extras, but just curious on what y’all use for actually climbing because I’m looking to get a new pair.

BD Punishers for lead in the Northeast

Yes, BD Punishers. Recommend a fairly snug fitting pair for leading and a larger pair for belaying. But you'll want 3-4 pairs in your pack.

I will jump on the Showa bandwagon. I find they provide the best combination of dexterity and water-proofness, and if you are careful to pre-heat them in your jacket, I use them down to the single digits. I don't know why, but the punishers (I do have a pair of these too, and they fit snugly) make me feel clumsy as F.

The Camp Geckos have been great for me. Kinda pricey but have been a good compromise between warmth and dexterity.

I wear BD Torques or Showa fishing gloves on pitches where I feel I need more dexterity for placements, etc. 

Consider these from SmartWool: https://www.smartwool.com/shop/mens-gloves-mittens%C2%A0/ridgeway-gloves-sw0sc556?variationId=146

Solid wool inner on good leather. Stayed warm through running drip water and single digit temps. Breaking in nicely to the point I can tie shoelaces! They did show signs of wear after lowering another climber once so now I just switch them out with mittens when needed and store them in a chest pocket. 

Worth trying on, highly recommended! 

Bd terminators for days in north east warmer than 15 other than that punishers for colder or belay. 

Slightly above your price point but these are my go to for actual climbing. camp-usa.com/outdoor/produc…

I really like the Rab Fulcrums.  Lightweight, thin, excellent dexterity, and keep my hands warm at the same time.  Climb in single digit temps with them.  Punishers are good too, but there's more padding in the palm area than the Rab. 

The new CAMP Geko Guide is fantastic for coldish days. I've been climbing and ski touring in it quite a bit. 

https://www.camp-usa.com/outdoor/product/winter-gloves/geko-guide/

Any experiences with the newest BD Enforcer glove with the green logo? I have a pair that I've been trying on but have not taken out climbing yet. There are internal ridges running along the fingers that seem like they could be annoying while gripping a tool, or in general. I'm looking for a belay/follower glove for sub 10°F. The OR Bitterblaze gloves I've used in the past were warm enough but the fingers were too long.

James C wrote:

Any experiences with the newest BD Enforcer glove with the green logo? I have a pair that I've been trying on but have not taken out climbing yet. There are internal ridges running along the fingers that seem like they could be annoying while gripping a tool, or in general. I'm looking for a belay/follower glove for sub 10°F. The OR Bitterblaze gloves I've used in the past were warm enough but the fingers were too long.

I have about a 1/2 dozen pairs of BD gloves in several weight classes over past several years.  Most including the Punishers have stayed on the bench as Hestra’s have taken over the starting role.  It’s all about finding a glove/brand that fits your fingers with no extra flop and slop.   Only BD glove that sees limited action is the Transition glove when it isn’t below zero, and it has those seams/ridges that James is concerned about above.  I like em for dexterity, but After a few pitches, they start rubbing blisters.  

My all time favorites were OR Mixalots from several years ago, but some fuckin genius at OR decided to change the design, then discontinue.  

For me now it’s 2 versions of the Hestra ergo-grip series that do it all.   Haven’t found a reason/need to try the Showas.  

Wet/Snowy ice - Showas (above 30F, or coated with snow)

Cold Ice- BD Terminators (5-15 deg F)

Pretty cold to cold ice- Outdoor Designs Diablo Tec (These are like the Hestras above but are waaaaay better in price.) (10-30 deg F)

Really cold ice- BD Punishers (I haven't used these in a couple years now but still keep them around in case crap hits the fan on a climbing trip and it's much colder than expected.)

Mark Pilate wrote:

I have about a 1/2 dozen pairs of BD gloves in several weight classes over past several years.  Most including the Punishers have stayed on the bench as Hestra’s have taken over the starting role.  It’s all about finding a glove/brand that fits your fingers with no extra flop and slop.

Yeah, I wish glove makers offered different finger lengths. In ice climbing I care as much about glove fit as I do boot fit. BD's XS size has worked pretty well for me. It's amazing with their midweight softshell (I could probably type on a keyboard with them), and OK (tiny bit of slop) in the Enforcer.

NateC wrote:

Wet/Snowy ice - Showas (above 30F, or coated with snow)

Cold Ice- BD Terminators (5-15 deg F)

Pretty cold to cold ice- Outdoor Designs Diablo Tec (These are like the Hestras above but are waaaaay better in price.) (10-30 deg F)

Really cold ice- BD Punishers (I haven't used these in a couple years now but still keep them around in case crap hits the fan on a climbing trip and it's much colder than expected.)

How much difference in dexterity have you noticed in the Punisher vs. Terminator glove?

If multi pitching I bring a few pairs.  Punishers for following/ belaying and leading easy pitches since they are warm and durable but a but bulky for placing screws on hard stuff.  OR torque gloves for the hard stuff as long as its not super cold.  If its wet then they wet out after a single pitch though.  Camp gecko ice pro for cold and hard pitches.  They are the best of all worlds except not super durable and still slightly bulky for leading hard for me stuff but way better than the punishers for dexterity.  

If I'm craging and not leading I use an isolated leather work glove for belaying and climbing.  They would suck to place/clean screws but they are warm, cheap and durable.   The black diamond midnight fleece gloves are great for leading too and are fairly cheap but they wet out fast.  They are cheap enough that u could bring a few change them out every lead if u disire.

James C wrote:

Any experiences with the newest BD Enforcer glove with the green logo? I have a pair that I've been trying on but have not taken out climbing yet. There are internal ridges running along the fingers that seem like they could be annoying while gripping a tool, or in general. I'm looking for a belay/follower glove for sub 10°F. The OR Bitterblaze gloves I've used in the past were warm enough but the fingers were too long.

Yes.  Was not impressed.  I use them as belay gloves now. Expensive mistake on my part. The lining slips around with respect to the outer shell making it hard to grip. For ages I used BD Punishers but the redesigned them a few years back and now they appear to be garbage like the Enforcers, and much more expensive to boot.  

I have some Mountain Equipment thin shell gloves that are by far my favorite and I do 90% of my climbing in.  I dont remember the name but they are definitely less than $100.  

I also picked up some Bitterblaze for when its colder but the jury's still out.  I miss the Alpine Alibis that they replaced, and I fear that the gel insulation in the Bitterblaze will never really pack out and break in nicely.  

The Showas are by far the best value in higher temps. Not sure about what the best pick for cold leads are. I dont find that my more expensive gloves have provided much value. Montane Extreme Mittens are very good value belay mittens. Montane Extreme Mittens and a pair  Showas Themres 282 shoulde be less than 125 usd. Several cheap climbing gloves and a pair of belay mittens is probably the way to go. Im very interested in the Hestra Czone ergo grip, but they are probably more than 125 usd alone.