New Gloves From Mountain Equipment

Mountain Equipment has completely overhauled its glove range for autumn 2008 with new models appearing in the shops right about now. We had a bit of a sneak preview last week and the new gloves look and feel top notch.

Top of the range is the appropriately-named Pinnacle Glove. Lined with Gore-Tex, the Pinnacle is the warmest glove ME produces and combines Primaloft and fibre pile insulation for maximum performance. The back of the hand is protected by Primaloft, while the palm uses fibre pile which reduces slippage when using ice tools and poles and also works well with wet hands.

Fabric is Schoeller Dryskin Extreme with a Pittards goat skin palm. It's a seriously warm glove aimed squarely at, say, winter alpine use, where temperatures of -20° C aren't uncommon. There's also a mitt version. One serious glove as it ought to be for £80.

The Couloir Glove - also new for this autumn - is more of a  general mountaineering all-rounder. Like the Pinnacle it uses Gre-Tex XCR construction for waterproofing, pre-curved fingers  and so on, but the lining is a mixture of fleece and fibre pile for warmth, quick drying and dexterity. The light fleece section is on the palm for feel with the pile on the back of the hand.


There's also a soft nose wipe on the thumb for those snotty water ice climbing moments and there's a cowhide palm and fingers for grip and durability.  The Couloir retails for £60. Women's version also available.

If that's all a tad spendy for you, then take a look at the new Guide Glove - it's the one ME describes as 'the workhorse of our glove range' and looks like a promising mountain all-rounder. ME uses a Drilite Extreme insert rather than Gore-Tex for waterproofing, a cowhide leather palm and fingers and the same fleece / pile insulation arrangement as the Couloir.



You also get the usual ME touches like a nose wipe, pre-curved fingers, wrist leash and single-handed drawcord closure. Incidentally, the red loop on the fingers of ME gloves is so they can be clipped to a harness and hang upside down to keep snow out of the glove. Price of the Guide is £40. Women's version also available.

Finally, for all-round mountain use, we reckon the Randonee Glove is well worth considering. It's not a new model, but it's an interesting one which uses the sort of pile/Pertex type system that functions brilliantly in UK winter conditions.



The outer is Schoeller Dry Skin Extreme with a DWR finish for a combination of wind and water resistance  and the lining is fibre pile for warmth and quick drying. Palms are Pittards leather. Even waterproof gloves tend to get soaked in British conditions, so something that handles wetness well once it's got into the glove has to make a lot of sense. And of course, the fibre pile means they're easy to put on when wet. Price is £40 in both men's and women's versions.

More information at www.mountain-equipment.co.uk