UKC

I'm going to Scotland for some winter climbing for the first time and I was wondering if people put mittens over there climbing gloves at belays, or change from climbing gloves into mittens?

If so has anyone got any reccomendations? I've already got a few pairs of climbing gloves sorted.

Thanks

In reply to Matt250:

Buffalo mitts, cheap, dry quickly unaffected by moisture. I find they can be slippery on frozen / wet ropes. Very light.

Dachstien, slighty more (£5 more) warmer, harder to get on on when wet, very hard wearing.

In reply to Matt250: I walk-in in a thin pair of gloves, change into and leave thicker gloves on whilst climbing then change into a pair of Dachsteins for the walk off. HTH

Cheers,
Jamie

In reply to Matt250:
outdoor designs summit inferno can often be bought pretty cheap and are used by a few users on here.

they are 30 quid on ebay for example

In reply to CurlyStevo:

Yip, I'll second these Summit Inferno Mitts, perfect for belays.

Montane Extrem Mitts (£17 Field & Trek) also look like serious contenders.

Whatever you get, make sure you size them up, makes entry/exit easier when layering over climbing gloves.

Stuart

In reply to Stuart the postie:

What are the palms like on the montane ones? Are they less slippery than the buffalo?

In reply to Matt250: Used the outdoor designs and the dachstein ones, both have their place but I reach for the OD ones first for belaying, i.e. if your not climbing in them too. I don't find the dachs as warm when stationary and you can put normal mitts down your top so they're warm for the next belay. I never know where to put the dachs if I'm not climbing in them, down your top and you get soaked and cold and then they're wet and useless at the next belay, anywhere else and it's like putting your hands into the freezer when you try to put them on again.

They're also a bugger to dry out, if you forget to put them on for the walk out you'll be scraping ice off them in the car park.

The other option is a pair of dachs and a w/proof over mitt, probably best of both worlds but more expensive than the OD summits.

Ben

In reply to davidbeynon:

I would imagine so, they look like they have a rubbery palm! Buffalo (borrowed a friends once, ripped them after one route) have only pertex palms, way too flimsy.

Stuart

In reply to Stuart the postie:

Yeah, I use buffalo mitts for walking a lot, but they really aren't suitable for climbing.

I will seek out a pair of the montanes & take a look.

In reply to davidbeynon:
The infernos are water proof whilst the montanes are not. If you want them for belaying in I think being waterproof is an advantage (as you could be handling damp ropes or in an environment with some dripping water and you won't be sweating)

That said it does depend somewhat if you intend to put them on top of your climbing gloves, if so softshell is prolly better as youre not locking in the moisture.