UKC

I've been searching in vain for a pair of gloves suitable for european mountaineering and ice climbing, which come in a size small enough for small women's hands. I'd be using them skiing too but its the climbing that concerns me most. I'm struggling to find any which have both the spec and dexterity to use in these situations. The nearest I've found are the Marmot XRs, which come in a unisex extra small, or the Sealskinz versatility gloves (although these possibly aren't quite suited to the job). Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Lynne

In reply to LHempton:

If Marmot gloves in unisex XS fit you, that should mean (approximately) your hands are 6.5-7" around the widest point.....

If this assumption is right and you don't have especially long spindly fingers (!) then marmot womens size S gloves are 6-6.5", and their M gloves are 6.5-7" So in theory, if the XTs are a little to big, then if you got a womens size S it would be a tighter fit for you, and a womens M would be the same fit.

Outdoor research and mountain hardware gloves in womens size S start at 6.5-7" supposedly the same size as the unisex XS from Marmot.

Black diamond size their gloves a little differently, just by the width of the knuckles, rather than all around the hand, but their womens XS glove comes in at 2.75-3". (I wear BD Medium gloves (3.5-3.7"), and Marmot medium too (8")) so I'd think their W XS will fit within the 6-6.5" size range.

If a 6.5" glove is to large for you, then had you thought about kids gloves? Outdoor research do some kids gloves that at size L are 6" round, and they look fine for climbing in (e.g. Gravitator.)

Thanks very much! I'll have a look at the kids ones - I'd always just assumed, from experience with other outdoor gear, that as a general rule kids gear never has a decent spec, but I'll check them out! Have been doing some research, have you any experience with BD glissade gloves?

Lynne

In reply to LHempton:

I'd take a look at tk max if theres one near you.

There was a very good selection of gloves in one of the Edinburgh branches the other day with plenty of choice in the smaller sizes. Not any old rubbish either.

In reply to LHempton:

Extremities Multisport GTX gauntlets - the only gloves that properly fit my tiny hands for winter stuff. Anything else is either too big, or in smallest sizes the fingers are too long!

In reply to LHempton:

Black Diamond make gloves down to Womens XS sizes.

In reply to LHempton:


ive just bought some 'Gore' gloves which have added cuffs so they keep your wrists warm too and have a drawstring at the end of the cuff so you will be completely dry... they were a 'small' in size and fit perfect..nice warm lining too. (about 40 quid) but they are gortex waterproof and windproof........ they are actually mountain bike gloves for winter but toastie warm !!!

In reply to LHempton: I looked for a decent winter glove for a year! The Black Diamond women's XS are too big for my tiny hands (which are very tiny), but I've just got hold of a pair of Mountain Equipment XS Women's Randonee and those are just right. The XS ME Women's Couloir almost fits, as do XS Huber Dachstein gloves, which are what I've used up til now.

In reply to LHempton:

I am rather surprised by this thread as I have the opposite problem. I find that 'chinese' Extra Large is about Highland Medium.

In reply to Caralynr:
Hey Cara, hope the first aid course is still going strong!
Do you find the gloves are dexterous enough for winter then? I'll try and track some down and try them on. Cheers! Lynne

In reply to Kai:

As do Mountain Equipment, we spent a lot of time looking for my wife, Women's XS Guides where the best solution in the end, but it is always very personal. She won't be leading much so was prepared to sacrifice a little dexterity.