rab blizzard £80

This glove appears to offer everything a walker needs in the mountains, but are all its features really necessary and are there any drawbacks?

■ U■isex S, M, L, XL ■ Weight 267g (XL) it's good

The blizzard is the ultimate winter hillwalking glove and ideal for the toughest days on Scotland’s Munros. The super-durable outer of ripstop nylon and a Porelle Dry insert ensure waterproofness, while the strong, double-layered leather palm guarantees a durable grip. The thumb also has a much used nose/goggle wipe – a feature often lacking on lower-priced gloves.

I swapped to these gloves as we neared Pike O’blisco and the weather turned colder, wetter and windier, and after a few minutes without gloves it was a relief to slip cold, wet hands into the soft fibre pile lining. The wrist cuff is really long and elasticated at the wrist, with an easy-to-use drawcord at the cuff, and this combination made it quick and easy to fit these gloves securely even in the pretty foul weather we were walking into.

The overall fit is precise, with the lining staying in place at all times, and the pre-curved palm and fingers allowed my hands to rest or grip in a natural position. I really valued the wrist leash, which kept the gloves close to hand when removed in high winds.

However

at 267g (XL), these gloves are heavy and bulky, so are a little harder to stuff into pockets. The thicker insulation and double-layered leather increase warmth and durability, but the trade-off is reduced dexterity – I had to take them off to open my malt loaf, while my other gloves allowed me to eat with well protected hands.

In terms of features, all they are missing is an adjustable wrist strap which would provide greater security and a tighter fit at the wrist. They can’t be used with a touchscreen device either, and there’s no women’s option. That price is pretty hefty too.

verdict

An awesome winter glove for the toughest winter days, though more than needed for a typical Lakeland day out. But if you walk in all conditions, buy them and they’ll never let you down.