Mountain Equipment Couloir Glove £100

+ Warm, extremely tough, protective - Expensive

A great winter glove strikes the perfect balance between warmth, flexibility and toughness. The problem is that the burliest gloves tend to offer all the dexterity of a dolphin’s flipper, so when you need to do anything fiddly you have to take them off, exposing your hands to the cold. The Couloir though is waterproof and breathable, and offers reasonably good dexterity, toasty warmth and impressive toughness.

These gloves have a Gore-Tex insert with a lofty pile and microfleece lining, encased in a tough nylon shell. A large proportion of the glove – not just the palm but also the thumb, knuckles and all the fingers – is made from extremely hard-wearing goatskin leather. This gives great protection and excellent grip, ideal for technical mountaineering with one or two ice axes. You also get rollover fingertips to enhance overall durability and tactility, plus pre-curved fingers that make for a comfortable, ergonomic fit.

The extended cuff has a drawcord closure, while an oversized loop makes it easy to pull the gloves on. A wrist leash is also provided to guard against accidental loss if you do need to remove a glove. And there’s even a suede nose wipe to keep snot at bay!

■ Unisex sizes XS-XXL ■ Weight 224g (L) ■ Construction Polyamide shell with Gore-Tex waterproof insert, goat leather palm and reinforcement, polyester pile and microfleece lining

Verdict

Excellent technical gloves, offering outstanding toughness and good warmth without sacrificing dexterity.