Black Diamond Solano Gloves Review: Are rechargeable heat-generating gloves a savior for the winter outdoors?

The cold is the enemy of everyone when outdoors in the winter mountains. For me, who is relatively "cold at the edge," it is common for me to get colder so much that I lose my sense of my hands and feet in the winter. If you stay still in the cold, your hands will become as icy as ice. When you say how damn it is when snow accidentally gets into your gloves! always been paying attention , gloves that don't worry about the cold have been one of my secret dreams for many years.

That dream may finally be right this winter.

I got the forbidden "electric heated" gloves. Of course, I knew that this kind of product had been around for quite some time, but all of them are winter leisure-style. It was a shame whether it would be a substitute for winter mountain gloves. From what I used to use it, I knew I would not be satisfied unless I was able to properly accommodate full-scale winter mountain climbing.

So I finally bought this Black Diamond Solano ( 2019 model). The company's soloist and guide gloves are classic winter mountain gloves that I have been using many times, and are electronically heated gloves created by the unmistakable top outdoor brands that have provided many excellent models since ancient times.

Is this crazy-priced glove from a top brand that has joined the rechargeable heat generating gloves, which are still in the development field at this time, seriously? Or is it a pose? I've checked it with my own eyes and hands, so I'd like to report it straight away.

The time has come to an end for the worries of cold-headed outdoor enthusiasts. Main features of Black Diamond Solano electric heated gloves

Recommended points

• The heater is incredible and heat retention
• PrimaLoft® Gold padding and Gore warm technology are warm enough even when the heater is turned off
• Fully durable with goat leather
• High waterproof and breathable properties due to GORE-TEX

Interesting points

• The fingertips are thick and difficult to operate in small detail
• If you place the sleeves under the hard shell, the adjustment buttons will be hidden
• Wrist Leash cord not included as standard
• A difficult price to reach
• When searching for beacons, radio wave interference is not zero, so the switch must be turned off when searching.

Main Specifications and ratings

I tried it on skiing and winter mountain climbing (detailed review)

First impression

First of all, this product is wrapped in a rather silly box, even though it is just gloves. I opened the box right away and found that a rough glove, about a size larger than a typical snow gloves, is carefully stored in the storage bag. In addition to the glove itself, the box also contains a variety of accessories, such as a storage bag, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and a charging adapter (with conversion plug for use overseas).

The exterior, covered in goat leather, is not only sexy, but also looks strong.

Anyway, when I put my hands in the gloves in the original state, I found that although it felt a little heavy, it wasn't too uncomfortable. It's softer than I thought, and you can feel the warmth even without turning on the switch.

On the other hand, when I bent my fingers a little, I also felt a slight sense of resistance that I had never had with gloves before. For this reason, the overall fit is slightly more tightly (more than the appearance or the size of your hands). As for the size, it is best to choose a slightly larger size than the perfect size.

When using in the field, of course, first recharge the battery. After connecting the two batteries to the two charging cable, the charging was completed within a few hours. From here, I tried skiing on the slopes, backcountry, snow hiking, etc. for about two months from December to January.

Heat retention ★★★★★★

The distinctive parts of these gloves are either 1 or 2, and of course, they have the heat generated by the electric heating wires that are spread across the gloves. This function uses a switch on the front of the wrist to transfer three levels of heat through electric heating wires spread across the wrist to the back of the fingers. According to the manufacturer's specifications, the heat generation level and duration are as follows:

• Green: Maximum 38°C/lasts approximately 8 hours
• Yellow: Maximum 45°C/lasts about 4.5 hours
• Red: Max. 55°C / lasts about 1.5 hours

When I actually used it in the field, the effects were more than I expected. It's overwhelming warmth. No matter how cold the situation is, if you turn it on, it warms your entire hand comfortably, not just in part, but rather as if it is wrapped around your thumb and index finger.

There are three temperature levels, but in my case, I set the green (minimum) setting in advance in situations where my hands might get completely cold, and in most cases I was able to continue using it comfortably without any strain. The wind is weak, and if it's around 10°C below freezing, after turning on the green switch and a few minutes, you can see that the warmth gradually spreads from the back of your hand to the tips of your fingers.

However, when I was exposed to the lift under strong winds at below -10°C, it was not very effective on the green and the cold hit me. At that time, I instantly set orange or red, and the warmth of my hands was successfully restored. As you can see, in normal cold, yellow and red are just too warm unless it's very cold (it's very draining battery) so there's no need to use it for too long.

The battery life on the green lasts about 8 hours, so if you're on a day trip, it will last almost all day. Even the yellow one level below it lasted for about 4 hours, so I didn't feel any serious complaints about the battery being out of service (it's an electrical appliance, so I'm not sure if it will last forever, so I'm worried about that).

What really struck me was that the snow gloves were warm enough even when the switch was off. Even if the heat generation function ran out, these gloves have sufficient insulation on the back and palms, such as PrimaLoft® Gold, so at least my hands didn't get cold at once. If you are still active even slowly, it will help with blood circulation in your hands and keep you warm enough.

If you think about it, it is only natural that tools used in the dangerous world of winter mountains become completely useless when they run out of batteries, so it is no surprise that they will be disqualified as tools. However, I was quite impressed by how well it was built even in its original state. BD is amazing.

For reference, I left the glove (left) that was kept warm in red below, Solano that was turned off, and the snow gloves made by another company in the ski resort parking lot for a while, then took a thermographic photo. The temperature displayed does not seem to be the actual temperature, so this is just a reference only, but I think you can get a little bit of the heat-generating gloves keep the gloves warm.

Fingertip dexterity ★★☆☆☆

On the other hand, despite his unique and exciting heat, unfortunately there is something about Solano's fingertip awkwardness that cannot be ignored.

The overlapping fabric and electric heating wires make the fingertips thick and bulky, and from attaching and removing the clamps, stickers and helmets, to operating the camera and wirelessly, to opening and closing the zippers of the clothing, the thickness of the fingertips is in the way, making it extremely difficult.

This awkwardness is the level of giving up on manipulating or working on anything while wearing gloves. For this reason, it is very stressful to have to take off the gloves every time you work, and I think thin liner gloves will be a must.

Furthermore, at this time, I am also concerned about another feature that this gloves lacks. This means that there is no standard "leash cord" on the wrist.

It's hard to understand why such expensive gloves don't come with standard items, but fortunately there are loops to attach the cord later, so we recommend that you prepare your own leash cord and install it.

Waterproof ★★★★★

The Solano Glove shell is covered with durable and water-resistant goat leather, with a GORE-TEX membrane inside, and the gauntlet part is made of waterproof and breathable Pertex Shield nylon, ensuring its waterproof and waterproof properties. Therefore, not only does it contain snow and raindrops, but also does not flood the inside of the glove even if you stick your hands into the water. The gauntlet also has a drawcord that is easy to adjust, making it perfect for sealing.

Durability ★★★★☆

While many snow gloves only pinpoint reinforcement material is attached to areas with abrasion, these gloves are wrapped around highly durable, supple goat leather, and are made sturdy and incredibly detailed, with double reinforced leather on the palms and insides from the thumb to index finger. Additionally, there are pads on the back of the hand to protect it from collisions with lift bars and tree branches. Even during the test, there was a huge sense of security and no signs of wear.

However, lithium-ion batteries are different. The battery is light and compact as it progresses day by day, and once again, it fits in the waterproof zipper on the underside of the wrist to a degree that is not too bothersome, but the shape of the cord has many curves and connections, which can cause it to get caught or twisted. I am still worried about whether there will be any breaks inside this area (although it has been somewhat reinforced).

Also, there are no issues at the moment, but the life expectancy of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries (as you can see if you use your smartphone on a daily basis) is said to be the life expectancy if you charge and discharge several hundred times, so to be honest, it is unknown how far they will maintain their performance.

Functionality ★★★☆☆

Let's take a look at other features of basic glove performance.

Although it is not always necessary for parents to wipe their noses with soft fabric, it is a great feature to have one (photo below).

In addition, the basic parts are fully complacent, such as a clip to hold gloves together for drying or storing, and a drawstring on the gauntlet part that is easy to adjust, as mentioned above.

The gauntlet is made for a moderate amount of time, so depending on the situation, you can put it inside the outerwear (right) or cover it over the outerwear (left) as shown in the photo below.

However, due to the structure, if it is stored inside the outerwear, it will become difficult to operate the heat buttons. I usually wear gloves on top of my outerwear, so this can be awkward for people who are the other way around.

Summary: If you're suffering from coldness, you can't let go of this sense of security once you use it.

Black Diamond Solano Gloves

created by Rinker

BlackDiamond

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Certainly, these gloves are so expensive that they are not easy to follow. However, it is also certain that it has a quality that is a gospel that would be unfortunate for those suffering from coldness, those who can't let go of disposable heathers, and those who will be willing to take up warmer gloves. For skiers and hikers who suffer from sloppy hands, or for those who have to endure the cold in extremely cold regions without moving their bodies too much, this is worth the cost.

However, in return, factors such as the inconvenience of the hands, weight, price, and handling of batteries must be taken into consideration, and it is also true that whether these are worth it depends on the individual's orientation. From a comprehensive perspective, it is frankly undeniable that there are better snow gloves than this. In that sense, this gloves may choose people, but the "sturdy and cold" security that they have is a great deal for users who want to deal with the cold weather in the winter mountains, and it will be the most useful thing to do once you use them.

Caution: Be careful of interference when searching for beacons

Although it is different from the review, it is best to tell anyone who may use this gloves. With the Solano glove switched on, the gloves will interfere with the avalanche beacon if the avalanche beacon is within 0.5 meters. Therefore, when you place a beacon in search mode to search for people buried in an avalanche, etc., don't forget to turn off the glove switch (this is true for all electronic devices such as smartphones and GPS watches).