You have probably already bought hiking boots, a jacket, a backpack, and trousers. But do not forget about the importance of hiking gloves. Remember that during hypothermia, the body begins to freeze precisely from the limbs. So, appropriate hand protection is extremely important. Although choosing hiking gloves is easier than choosing boots and a backpack, there are a few nuances you need to know when choosing gloves.
Glove functions
Hiking gloves have two functions – protective and warming.
During climbing, exploring the cave or just during summer hikes, you can wear arm-warmer kind of gloves made of thin fabric, with protective inserts. Cycling gloves or those worn by special units can be suitable. They will protect your hands from scratches and sunstroke.
Hiking gloves
To protect your hands from the cold, wind, and from getting wet, you need to approach more seriously. First, it is advisable to have several pairs of gloves of different thicknesses with you. One pair of gloves can be thin, made of fleece, or other similar material (for example, softshell). This will be the first layer. These gloves should provide some warmth, be soft and thin, so as not to restrain the movement of your fingers and allow you to freely perform various actions. It is advisable that these gloves have protective features against moisture and do not get wet immediately after touching wet surfaces and snow.
Warm Hiking Gloves
For especially cold conditions, you need to take thick and very warm hiking gloves. Most often, these gloves have two layers that are separated from each other. The inner layer can be a feather, wool, fleece, or other synthetic insulators. The outer layer is made of waterproof polyester. Leather, Cordura, and other durable fabrics are also common.
Hiking gloves should have the following features:
- Membrane layer.
- Leather reinforcement on the palm for added protection against damage.
- Opening zippers, under which there is a mesh for increased ventilation in hot weather.
- Ropes connecting the gloves to remove and leave them hanging if necessary, instead of opening and closing the backpack every time.
- A special layer on the index and thumb, to which the smartphone screens are sensitive. Thus, you can use the phone while wearing thick gloves.
Mittens
So which ones are better – warm gloves or mittens? This is a debatable point since both have their good and bad sides. Gloves must be selected by their importance.
Mittens are also different:
- Thin fleece mittens
- Lightweight but very warm feather mittens
- Thick mittens with waterproof coating
The advantage of mittens is that all fingers are in one common space, they are free, and nothing presses on them. This way they remain much warmer. Therefore, you can choose warm mittens with greater thermal insulation. However, nothing can be done in mittens other than holding trekking poles or, for example, ice-axe. Relatively light but warm gloves should be worn under the mittens so that you can remove the mittens if necessary and do the work with gloves.
During hiking in Armenia, even in winter (at an altitude of up to 3000 m), there are no such conditions that you need to wear mittens. You may need them if you are planning to climb Aragats or Azhdahak during the calendar winter. In other cases, durable, waterproof, and warm gloves will be enough.
Mittens may be needed while climbing Mount Ararat, as well as during more difficult ascents. In any case, the feather mittens are intended for high-mountain climbing in extremely cold conditions. We advise you to choose thinner mittens made of very durable fabric that can be worn over gloves.
Regardless of which gloves or mittens you choose, always bring a spare pair with you, as if you get wet, gloves will freeze your hands instantly.
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