Ice Gloves

I am going to Ouray in January and just bought the BD 2009 Punisher gloves, but how should an Ice Climbing gloves fit? Tight or somewhat loose?

Tight, increases dexterity. I love my Punishers for -5 to 25 degrees. I use some Rab M14's for warmer and BD Specialists for colder. But colder is cold no matter what your wearing.

I like my Punisher's as well. My fingers get cold no matter what glove I am wearing though as I have had frostbite before. Don't fit them to tight you don't want to restrict blood flow to your hands. When I get to belay, I put on my expedition mittens to belay and put my gloves close to my skin to keep warm.

I basically climb in torques at any temp, then switch to a punishers or mercury mitts at the belay; if I just can't maintain myself in torques, I'll go to the punishers and put the torques in the pack.

Efficient climbing movement and balance is more important to me so to maintain circulation (& also not fall) than adding insulation while climbing.

Thanks for the advice fellas. I will keep this in mind. Do ya'll also wear liners with the gloves?

Brent Butcher wrote:Thanks for the advice fellas. I will keep this in mind. Do ya'll also wear liners with the gloves?

The punishers are fine standing alone. The BIG HUGE thing I can recommend to you is bring 2 pairs of gloves. Keep them dry and warm at all times. Typically I like my puns and then a longer gauntlet glove (even a ski glove).

You can wear a polypro liner that for the approach or setting things up easier, and any time I take off my gloves I put them in my jacket.

A cool trick I learned too is I bring along a pair of light weight OR fleece mittens. I can put them over my polypro's and they keep my fingers warmer on the approach, especially if I'm hiking w/ poles which reduce blood flow and increase wind exposure.

2 gloves...you'll thank yourself. Even if you don't have the $$ for a good second set. Your day will be over if they get wet (they will).

Of course for Ouray, you'll just want 2 solid gloves.

Awesome beta Scott much appreciated.

"Punisher Gloves....hm. My favorite for the past three seasons. They changed the fit though for 2010. The tips are now boxy and last year's large is now this year' medium.

For fitting you should put the glove on and pinch the end of the fingers. You want as little extra material on the end of your finger tips as possible. If it feels like 1/2" or more then try the next size down. If the fit feels restrictive, like your movement is compromised go up one size or check out a different brand or model. Every manufactorer is different in their fit. The web of the glove should fit so as it does not restrict movement when you stretch out your fingers. Also the back section of the glove should not be too tight.

If the fit is too tight and the material does not stretch you might get cold fingers.

And I always have three pair of gloves, especially on a wet day. The approach pair, the pair I climb in and then maybe a pair for a long hike out........which isn't really the case in Ouray but Is the case in RMNP.. I stopped wearing liners in gloves for most of my ice climbing. I only wear liners now for long days when finger dexterity isn't a priority.......like when I'm kicking steps for 2000 vert. feet.

Oh and do everything you can to keep your hands warm from the get go. Once that cold settles in the bone it's hard to get rid of it.

That's why I do mittens on the approach.

Half the fun is the screaming barfies!

Put chemical packs on the backs of your hands on very cold days. It helps.
I wear mitts at the belays and keep the chemical packs inside my punishers so when my hands slide in there it's like crawling in bed with your wife (or my wife, whatever may be the case). Same thing with my dry mitts/gloves in my backpack. I keep heat packs in there all day so I never put my hand into a cold glove. It's hard to stay warm when you start cold.

Ross Purnell wrote:Put chemical packs on the backs of your hands on very cold days.

Great trick for boots too. Put it in the tongue area of the boot to increase the circulation. Mmmmm...warm toes!