A casual comparison review: "Nice to have, but not necessary" trekking gloves. If you had to choose, which would you go for?
Written by Aya Fujiwara
When I go hiking with fellow veteran mountaineers, I often notice surprisingly many of them climbing barehanded. But! I want to hike, but I absolutely don't want to get injured, even if it's just a scrape! I'm a selfish person, both in mind and body. It certainly doesn't hurt to have a pair of trekking gloves to protect yourself from the cold at the summit. I think they're especially worthwhile for beginners who aren't yet confident in their footing, and for women with thin skin. Until now, I'd been using something like an extension of a work glove with a small, non-slip surface that fit my hand, but I was finally looking for something more proper, so I tried out four different items
This is my first contribution, as I was invited by the editor-in-chief. Fans of my usual manly, gear-crazy, and extremely detailed reviews may find the content a little disappointing, but we are currently in the middle of the autumn foliage season. If you're interested, I hope you'll read along as if it were a travel report and get into the outdoor spirit. I have nothing but respect for those who enjoy stoic mountain activities, but sometimes it's nice to just relax and enjoy the scenery! I think it's fine to stuff ping-pong balls into your backpack and measure its weight, but from a woman's perspective it's quite an odd sight (in a good way)
table of contents
table of contents
- First impressions: Basic specs to know first
- Compatibility Test ~Wearing Test in the Northern Lands~
- Final Diagnosis: "Rain or shine" Waterproof Test
- Summary: When is it recommended?
First impressions: Basic specs to know first
When it comes to mountain climbing and trekking, trekking gloves are actually something that's "nice to have, but not necessary." So, I chose a selection of items with a variety of functions and materials, ranging from affordable items in the ¥1,000 range to items in the ¥5,000 range that I'd be a little hesitant to pay for something I don't need. Furthermore, when I heard that the editor-in-chief was paying for them out of his own pocket, I felt hesitant to choose something too expensive. However, a few days after I told him I'd chosen three items, he sent me an additional pair, saying, "I'd like you to try this one out too." It seems the editor-in-chief is serious. Everyone, please support him
This time, I took four pairs of trekking gloves with me on a traverse from Mt. Rausu to Mt. Io. It was a rather mundane test, as I had to sneakily change gloves while the other members were enjoying the spectacular scenery. I chose them as if I was deciding on my next climbing partner
First, here are the basic specs
Spec comparison table
| Partner candidate 1 | Partner candidate 2 | Partner candidate 3 | Partner candidate 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| item |  finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves |  Foxfire Gravel Gripper |  PAINE Gore-Tex Trekking Gloves |  PUROMONTE inner gloves |
| Reference price | 6,048 yen | 4,860 yen | 4,298 yen | 1,296 yen |
| weight | 30g | 70g | 57g | 40g |
| material | Outer: 100% nylon, Lining: 100% polyester, Inside: polyurethane laminate | Main Material: Nylon Material Composition: Durable water-repellent stretch nylon 100%, Liner: Aeroporous FW glove insert, Lining: Microfleece polyester 100%, Other Fabric: Synthetic leather | 100% nylon (GORE-TEX laminate) | 100% polyester + artificial leather |
| Key Features | Waterproof and breathable | waterproof, heat retention | Windproof and breathable | Heat retention, quick drying |
The extremely cheap Promont gloves, as the name suggests, can be used as inner gloves in winter, and do not have any waterproof or windproof features.
It may not be important, but this is clear from the tag.
While Finetrack and Foxfire loudly promote their waterproofing, Paine advertises its selling point, the Wind Stopper, with a bright red tag. Meanwhile, Promont, which doesn't use so-called functional materials, has a sticker on its tag that casually reads, "Warm fit! Perfect for trekking!" Personally, I love the Showa-era feel of this
Compatibility Test ~Wearing Test in the Northern Lands~
"Climb Mount Fuji and talk about its height. Climb Mount Daisetsu and talk about its size," says Omachi Keigetsu, but in Hokkaido, you have to cross several mountains to reach the summit, so it takes a long time to reach the summit regardless of the altitude. Last year, I climbed Tomuraushi, which was a very tough journey for me, a wimpy mountain woman (I can't call myself a girl anymore...). I thought that I would probably end up exhausted this time too, forgetting to change my gloves, but I somehow managed to carry out the experiment
We were fortunate to have good weather during our two days in Hokkaido, so I would like to first report on the results of wearing it on clear, sunny days
Partner candidate 1: finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves
The first thing you notice when you pick them up is their lightness. For those who prioritize UL protection, this may be a deciding factor. Even when I put them on, they didn't feel particularly stiff like waterproof gloves, and they were thinner and smoother than I expected. However, the biggest drawback is the lack of Velcro on the cuffs. While the gloves boast a comfortable fit, they don't feel secure around the wrist, leaving me feeling a little uneasy. The lack of Velcro makes up for the strong rubber, making them a bit tricky to put on and take off. Since rain can seep in through the wrist, I personally feel that Velcro is better, even if it's an additional step. Also, since these are essentially rain gloves, even though they're made with breathable fabric, wearing them for long periods on sunny days can be a bit uncomfortable. The grip isn't bad, but I feel like perhaps the full benefits are best experienced on rainy days. I think they'd also be suitable as winter inner gloves
Partner candidate 2: Foxfire Gravel Gripper
This pack is also waterproof, but it features a three-layer construction: a water-repellent shell, a breathable waterproof insert, and a sweat-wicking, quick-drying mesh liner. The difference is immediately apparent when compared to the Finetrack, which is waterproof and made of a single, thin layer of fabric. Honestly, I thought the three-layer construction might make it less comfortable, but perhaps due to the soft feel of the mesh liner against my skin, it was more comfortable than I expected. However, when holding onto my poles, I felt a slight slippery sensation inside, likely due to the three-layer construction, and the Finetrack seems to offer better grip. There is also a version with a microfleece liner, but this is still warm enough. Incidentally, this is the only one of the four packs I selected that allows you to use your smartphone while wearing it, but in reality, just entering the PIN code is quite difficult. Maybe I'm just clumsy, but I found it quite difficult to access small items or prepare meals while wearing it, even during breaks during hikes. I deliberately chose an all-black pack this time, which I think has the most modern design
Partner candidate 3: PAINE Gore-Tex trekking gloves
Paine is a familiar name as an original Ishii Sports brand, and after trying out all four items on this mountain trip, I wore it throughout the last few hours. The material feels soft but firm, like bonding, and it fit perfectly the moment I put it on. It's not the thickest or thinnest of the four, but I didn't feel any discomfort from sweat and hardly felt any stuffiness. It has excellent grip, and carrying my poles was extremely smooth. The sunny weather was a big factor, but it was the most stress-free experience I've ever had. There was quite a bit of wind at the summit, but WINDSTOPPER really delivered. It wicked away sweat and blocked the wind, so my hands didn't get cold and were comfortable. It's not waterproof, but I think the price is reasonable
Partner candidate 4: PUROMONTE inner gloves
Rather than being specifically designed for trekking, these gloves are easy to put on like everyday gloves. They're stylish enough to wear alone in spring and fall, and as inner gloves in winter. The lightweight, warm, brushed fleece-like material makes them incredibly comfortable the moment you put them on! Attention to detail, such as the use of an extremely thin fabric only around the finger gussets for a better fit, makes them an excellent value for the money. One design issue I had was that the Velcro straps were on the inside of the wrist, rather than the back of the hand. While not particularly noticeable, I did experience a slight tingling sensation when holding onto my poles, which left me wondering why they'd simply placed them on the inside. The grip is decent, but they do get a little stuffy after long walks. They don't feature a lot of functional materials, so considering the price, this is understandable. They also wore out quite well after descending the mountain. I noticed some pilling due to friction, so I don't think I'll be using them for long periods of time
Final Diagnosis: "Rain or shine" Waterproof Test
So, on a sunny day, the PAINE suited me well, but outdoor gear doesn't let you stop there, so even though I had already come down from the mountain, I continued to test its waterproofness
I put on gloves and a cell phone, held a pole, and ran a weak shower from above for 30 seconds to measure the weight difference between before and after (only one hand). After the shower, I thoroughly dried myself with a towel before measuring
Partner candidate 1: finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves
14.6g → 15.3g …… Increased by 0.7g
No matter how much water you pour on it, it gives you a sense of security that it won't get wet. It may be different in different environments, but at least during the experiment, it didn't feel like it was going to get stuffy at all. And what's more, I was impressed that the grip strength remained almost completely unchanged
Partner candidate 2: Foxfire Gravel Gripper
30.4g → 32.5g …… Increased by 2.1g
When I put them on, I thought for a moment, "Huh? Is it soaking in?", but it was a strange feeling that they weren't wet at all. Ultimately, the middle layer of the three-layer structure seems to be keeping the water out, so it feels like the distance to the water is close. The part with the non-slip coating is wet on the surface, so I think that's why the weight change. The grip is a little reduced
Partner candidate 3: PAINE Gore-Tex trekking gloves
27g → 32.4g …… 5.4g increase
PAINE was my favorite in sunny conditions, but since it's not waterproof, I can feel the water seeping in. However, as you can see from the increased weight, it's not soaked, it just feels like wearing damp gloves. It's not exactly comfortable, but surprisingly, it maintains its grip
Partner candidate 4: PUROMONTE inner gloves
20.6g → 35.6g …… Increased by 15g
Water soaks into them in no time, making them uncomfortable to wear on the mountain. They only feel soft against the skin when the weather is sunny..
Summary: When is it recommended?
So, the results were just as I expected, and I wondered if it was worth it. There's no need to say it now, but isn't the waterproof material just amazing?! It makes a huge difference in how comfortable you are while getting wet. If you're brave enough to want to take photos even in the rain, then you can't go wrong with waterproof
As someone who needs trekking gloves, if I were to buy just one pair, I would highly recommend the well-balanced PAINE
On days when there is no need to worry about the weather, I would like to enjoy a comfortable hike with this little one as my companion
However, if you suspect rain, it's better to have waterproof gear, so the Foxfire will likely come in handy. It may be a little less comfortable for a midsummer hike, but it's worth having in case of rain
This model also seems to come in a warm type that is perfect for the upcoming season
On the other hand, if you are planning to go on winter mountain climbing, you will want to prepare inner gloves. For those who are greedy, we recommend finetrack, which has excellent waterproof and breathable properties. When used as inner gloves, the lack of Velcro on the wrist is particularly useful
If you prioritize comfort and price over functionality, then the PUROMONTE is definitely the way to go! Even those who don't normally wear trekking gloves will be able to wear them comfortably
If you choose according to the climate and your preferences, trekking gloves that are "nice to have but not necessary" may become something you absolutely cannot live without
Aya Fujiwara
After working for a publishing company, she became a freelance editor/writer in 2007. She currently works mainly on print media such as women's magazines, brand mook, books, and catalogs. She covers a wide range of genres, including fashion, lifestyle, and culture. In her private life, she had an epiphany after a chance visit to Utsukushigahara, and now enjoys exploring nature all over Japan. From Hokkaido to Kagoshima, she climbs beautiful mountains, large and small, views magnificent waterfalls, and soaks in hidden hot springs. She is currently exploring the possibility of moving to a rural area
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