Ski gloves

Skiing activities require appropriate equipment. A skier's outfit is of paramount importance when it comes to safety. In addition to a suit, shoes and headgear, you must have ski gloves. Their choice is not as easy as it might seem. You need to have knowledge and be aware of the important points on which the choice of ski gloves is based.

• The layering of the gloves is similar to that used for ski jackets and pants. The inner material should fit snugly against the skin of the hands, but not squeeze them or make it difficult to move. It consists of an inner layer and a spacer for greater insulation. Also, the inner layer of the gloves should facilitate the rapid removal of moisture. The outer material is responsible for providing protection for the hands from the weather.

• Gloves are presented in a large assortment, which includes models of various styles, purposes, and quality. Choosing gloves is necessary in accordance with the sport that you plan to play. For example, gloves are most suitable for skiing on mountain slopes; mittens or original three-sticks will be convenient for other sports.

• An important feature of gloves for skiers is the special inserts in the palm area. Such models are good for use on rope handrails and on hoist ropes.

Gloves are presented in various models, each of which has its own advantages, disadvantages and area of ​​use. Let's consider the most popular models.

Alpine skiing gloves should provide good hand protection from snow, ice, frost and injury.Many models have carbon or titanium inserts that do an excellent job of protecting the wrist and fingers.

For sports that involve the use of a snowboard, special gloves are required. In such models, special emphasis is placed on protecting the fingers and wrists from injury, since during the process of rolling, the hands often touch the slope.

Gloves have a separate compartment for each finger. This design assumes a comfortable grip on the ski poles. In addition, it is convenient to handle the fasteners with gloves. To overcome difficult trails, on which there are natural obstacles, just such professional gloves are needed.

For snowboarding, freestyle, riding in parks with structures and railings, there are models of gloves with short cuffs and Velcro with the possibility of fixing.

The sports gloves have only two compartments. One contains the thumb, and the other contains all the others. Gloves will be warmer in this form, but it will not be very convenient to hold the sticks and cope with the bindings. Similar models are chosen for skiing, downhill skiing. Women's models for the most part have just this design, since the hands of the fair sex are most sensitive to frost.

Three-fingered mittens are an intermediate link between gloves and ordinary mittens. In such models, there are three compartments: for the thumb, index and the other three fingers. On some models, the second compartment may contain the index and middle fingers. These gloves are more comfortable to handle with ski poles and will keep your hand warm. Can be used for cross-country trails and more.

Men's gloves are distinguished not only by restrained design and strict colors. They come in large sizes that range from size 6-11.

Women's ski gloves are available in smaller sizes (from 4 to 8), have bright colors, and their shape is created taking into account the anatomical features of a woman's hand.

Gloves for children have the smallest sizes, which start from 1 and do not exceed 3. Bright colors, interesting designs attract little athletes.

Leather models are durable, moisture resistant, breathable, durable and showy, but very expensive.

Synthetic materials are a worthy replacement for expensive leather. The most commonly used are gorex, nylon and polyurethane. These materials allow the skin to breathe, remove moisture well, do not allow water to pass through, wear for a long time, and have an excellent look.

The membrane fabric, which is present in multilayer models, deserves special attention. The characteristics of such models are excellent, but the cost of gloves is high.

Gloves with an adjustable wrist are comfortable due to the ability to change the fixation to achieve maximum fit.

Gloves with protection increase the safety of the athlete and prevent many types of injuries. To strengthen the palms, leather or polyurethane pads are used. These models are highly resistant to wear and provide excellent grip on poles. Such equipment is chosen by those who like to ride in the wilderness with a lot of natural obstacles. For snowboarders, protection on the palms and fingers is important. For this, kevral and fabric linings are used.

Gloves with a carabiner can be attached to the sleeves of the suit, if there are corresponding holes on it, or you can fasten them together. In this case, loss of gloves will be excluded.

Gloves with a pocket are perfect for a ski pass, as they allow you to keep the card in an accessible and protected place. In addition, the pocket can accommodate thin change gloves or a chemical heating pad.

Heated gloves are the warmest models of all. They are relevant for very harsh conditions and long walks.Some models have several modes of operation, while others have only one. Some gloves are battery operated, while others are solar powered.

Gloves with GPS are one of the latest innovations in the modern range. With such gloves, you can always know about your location, current speed of movement, distance traveled and other important points.

Men usually choose gloves in dark and restrained colors: gray, black, blue. These can be monochromatic or combined. There is a richer variety of colors for women.

Popular models are red, white, blue, green and even orange gloves.... They can be matched to the color of the suit or, conversely, played on contrasts, making the gloves an expressive and vivid element of a sporty look.

When choosing ski gloves, the manufacturer is very important. You cannot save on such clothes, since your health and safety depend on its quality.

Gloves from reliable brands will meet the stated requirements and demonstrate their characteristics at a high level:

• Manufacturers such as Salomon, Decathlon and Leki do not use cotton wool for insulation and other cheap, low-quality materials in their specialized products.
• In products from Reusch, Head and Ziener, the top layer consists of a quality material that is truly watertight and contributes to the breathability of the skin. Unscrupulous manufacturers can pass off cheap impregnated fabrics for technological materials.

• The range of gloves from Hestra, Scott, Bogner and Rossignol includes models with protective elements, for which the manufacture of reliable and proven materials is used. Gloves from these brands will not let you down and will provide a high level of protection throughout the entire life cycle.
• Products from Volkl, Level, Glissade, Gore Tex also deserve attention.

It is impossible to say unequivocally which brand is better, since each athlete has his own requirements and preferences, riding style and experience. Each of these brands produces worthy products that have found their fans in different countries.

Ski gloves need to be able to choose. There are several rules that will help you not to make a mistake and not be disappointed in the products of the chosen brand:

1. A snug fit to the skin of the hands does not imply excessive tightness. You should not choose narrow models. The fingers must move freely, otherwise the hands will be constantly freezing.
2. Ski gloves do not wear out, do not sit on the arm, do not shrink. They are created without using materials that can stretch.
3. Women should not choose male models, since gloves for the fairer sex have some anatomical features and excellent design.
4. It is advisable to measure gloves for alpine skiing. If you still want to buy this piece of equipment via the Internet, then you can go to a regular store, try on the model you are interested in, and buy it elsewhere.
5. Models with straps or Velcro on the cuffs sit better on the arm.
6. There are models that provide the user with the ability to customize the product. This process is carried out as follows: the glove is placed in the microwave, heated to 80 degrees and put on the hand. After five minutes, the glove will sit on the hand like a glove and will no longer change its shape. Such actions cannot be done with ordinary gloves that do not have this function.