Tired of busted knuckles and aluminum dust covering your hands after a long day of climbing? For over a decade now, our climbing experts have been testing the best climbing gloves. For our current review, we researched 35 models and purchased 8 of the top gloves to test side-by-side. We put these gloves through the gauntlet of climbing, and have traveled miles of vertical rock during our extensive testing period. From marathon rappel descents to precarious nail-ups on El Cap, these gloves have done it all. We examined and rated each one based on how it felt on ropes, how much friction it delivered, the dexterity in handling protection pieces, and overall durability. We offer you personal recommendations for all-day belaying, big wall rappelling, and crack climbing, and are sure that our comprehensive review includes a climbing glove to fit your needs and budget.
Did you know that GearLab started out as an offshoot of the acclaimed climber's resource, SuperTopo? It only makes sense that we'd have in-depth reviews for the best climbing gear on the market. From big wall gear like ascenders and haul bags to everyday necessities like the best rock climbing ropes and carabiners, we have you covered.The 5 Best Climbing Gloves of 2023
Our Top Picks
The Petzl Cordex gloves are our favorite for belaying and rappelling. They feature a reinforced leather palm with a breathable nylon backing, which maximizes protection without compromising comfort. We found the leather reinforcements to be well-placed and helpful, especially on the index finger of each hand, where no other models feature extra protection. This area sees much wear while handling ropes and rappelling, so we appreciated the thoughtful design.
In addition to featuring a durable leather hand, the backs of the Cordex gloves are completely synthetic, making them much lighter and more breathable than leather full-finger models. The breathability is especially nice on hot days when a leather glove would feel stuffy and potentially cause blisters. We liked the balance of durability and breathability offered by the Cordex. They are comparably comfortable to the Black Diamond Transition and far more comfortable than the full-leather Metolius Belay.
The Black Diamond Crag Half-Finger gloves have plenty to offer if you're looking for a lightweight model that is comfortable and breathable. They are fully synthetic and are perfect for hot weather and shorter big wall climbs. They feature two different loops for clipping onto carabiners and have a bit of padding over the knuckles, which was nice for jugging ropes. The Crag Half-Finger gloves are significantly more comfortable and breathable than their leather counterparts, which offer more protection but feel stuffy in hot conditions.
The main downside of the Crag Half-Finger is that they are not very durable for prolonged use. We used them on a few walls in Yosemite, including a one-day ascent of El Capitan, and were impressed with how well they held up after so many pitches. Even though they worked well for a few big climbs, the Crag Half-Finger gloves wear out quickly from rappelling, and we would replace them after a few months of use. They don't offer much protection while rappelling because the palms are thin and transfer a lot of the heat from rope friction. If you're looking for a heavy-duty fingerless glove, then the Metolius Climbing Glove is a full-leather option, but is also much less comfortable than the Crag Half-Finger.
For coarse splitters, the Ocun Crack Gloves were our favorite models. They are thoughtfully constructed, offering the best balance of durability and sensitivity amongst the crack gloves that we tested. After climbing a few thousand feet of both rock and plastic cracks, we struggled to find many flaws in them. They offer an excellent alternative to tape gloves and don't add much volume to your hands. The Ocun balance durability and slimness better than any other crack climbing gloves that we tested. Previous models like the Outdoor Research Splitter Glove and the Climb X Super Crack Glove felt too flimsy or too bulky, respectively, in comparison to the Ocun Crack Glove.
The only finicky attribute of the Ocun was their wrist closure, which could be challenging to close. The velcro straps tuck under the rubber backing and stay out of the way while you climb. For sizing, the Ocun runs relatively small, and we recommend ordering one size larger than you normally wear. Our lead tester typically wears a medium glove but needed a large for the Ocun to fit comfortably. These are some of the most expensive crack climbing gloves, but they deliver unrivaled performance and proved themselves durable for hundreds of pitches.
With a sturdy design plus well-sewn leather and synthetic construction, the Black Diamond Transition gloves are some of the most durable and comfortable gloves that we tested. They rivaled the Petzl Cordex in both comfort and durability but fell short by just a hair. We liked the stretchy synthetic backing and leather knuckle protection, which was breathable but not flimsy.
The Transition gloves are dexterous for a full-finger model but didn't feel as dextrous or nimble as the Cordex, which are lighter and offer more finger and palm protection. The Transition gloves run small, and our lead tester, who typically wears a size medium, found a large to fit perfectly.
The Black Diamond Stone gloves are our favorite half-finger leather gloves for aid climbing and big walls. Despite their leather construction, they are relatively thin and break in quickly. This makes them much more comfortable than the Metolius Climbing Glove but also less durable. Like other leather models, they don't breathe well when your hands sweat and become brittle after prolonged use. They offer a compromise in both durability and comfort between the lightweight Black Diamond Crag Half-Finger and bombproof Metolius Climbing models.
The Metolius Belay gloves are the sturdiest full-finger option that we tested. Like their half-finger counterparts, they have thick leather, beefy stitching, and a comfortable wrist closure. The Belay is a good option for cragging, where you're less likely to be wearing them for extended periods. They have a relatively long break-in period and will last for several seasons if you only use them occasionally. The Petzl Cordex is a more breathable and lightweight model that offers comparable palm and finger protection at a similar cost. If you seek maximum protection for your entire hand, then the Metolius Belay is tough to beat. Otherwise, the Cordex is likely a better purchase.
The Black Diamond Crag is the lightest full-finger climbing glove that we tested. They are fully synthetic and incredibly breathable, which is great on hot days or extended use. Their light weight comes at the cost of durability and protection, which can be concerning if you want them to last for more than a single season of climbing. We liked these for belaying but found them too thin for anything longer than single-pitch rappels. They don't offer much protection while rappelling and hardly shield your hands from rope friction. Unlike the Black Diamond Transition, which ran small, the Crag gloves fit true to size, and a medium fit our lead tester perfectly.
The BD Crag gloves are more affordable than the Petzl Cordex and BD Transition, but they're also far less durable than either pair. We expect the lifetime cost to even out since you will likely wear through the Crag in half the time it would take to burn through the Cordex or Transition.
If you're looking for a leather climbing glove that will stand up to use on dozens of walls, look no further than the Metolius Climbing Glove. With a thick full-leather construction, these keep your hands safe, whether you're jugging, belaying, or committing to equalized tipped-out micro beaks five hours into a nauseating A5+ lead.
The main disadvantage of the Metolius Climbing Gloves is that they are relatively stiff and can be a bit abrasive on the first few wears. Our lead tester wore them on a four-day ascent of El Capitan and finished the wall with blisters on most of his fingers. The seams are thick and can be irritating for long days of climbing in hot conditions. After this initial break-in period, the gloves softened, but didn't come close to the comfort and breathability of the Black Diamond Crag Half-Finger. The Black Diamond Stone is thinner and much more flexible, yet almost as durable as the Metolius Climbing Glove.
Why You Should Trust Us
To begin our search for the best climbing gloves, we looked at what our testers and their peers used in their personal climbing. From there, we spent hours online researching which gloves are selling the best and scouting for intriguing new models. We then independently purchased 8 of the best pairs available and went to work extensively field testing them.
Chris McNamara and Steven Tata teamed up for this in-depth review on climbing gloves. Chris has climbed El Capitan over 70 times and holds nine big wall speed climbing records. He has spent countless days managing ropes and fiddling with gear, all the while wearing every kind of glove that exists. Few people have the breadth of experience with this type of equipment that Chris does. Steven has also put in his fair share of time on big walls with more than 10 ascents of El Capitan.
Analysis and Test Results
We repeatedly rappelled a fixed line for more than ten hours of total use. Each glove was tested head to head to see how it felt on the rope, how much friction it delivered, and how durable it was. Then we went into the climbing gym and belayed for a month. We looked for what gloves were the easiest to control the belay device with and which gloves handle the rope well, especially when lead belaying.
We next moved to a bin of climbing objects: carabiners, pitons, belay devices, and slings. To evaluate dexterity, we tested how well each glove handled each object. We also took each glove out for more real-world applications. Most of this was done at the local crags. But we also used many of the gloves for mountain biking and general chores like setting up pallet racks at OutdoorGearLab Global Shipping Headquarters, West Coast Division.
Rope Handling Protection
Whether it's a day at the crag or a multiday big wall epic, wearing gloves while you belay, coil rope, or aid climb can save your hands from a serious amount of abuse. We found the Black Diamond Transition gloves to offer the most protection for long days working with ropes. The Metolious Belay glove was another great option for serious days of work.
While you don't always need a heavy-duty workhorse, gloves like the Black Diamond Crag Half-Finger simply don't offer the same full finger protection. Crack climbing gloves won't offer any protection for rope handling as they don't have any palm or finger coverage.
Dexterity
While it's nice to have protection, a glove that is too stiff makes it hard to load belay devices, zip up jackets, or do anything that takes finger dexterity. Crack climbing gloves like the Ocun will leave you with the most dexterity but offer little in the way of protection while handling rope. The Black Diamond Crag Half-Finger* gloves are a good blend of hand protection and dexterity. The ends of your fingers are exposed which makes manipulating belay devices or opening snacks much easier.
Full-finger gloves like the Petzel Cordex offer a good deal of protection, but their stiff leather makes precision tasks all the more challenging.
Durability
The friction from belaying can wear gloves out quickly! Leather gloves are typically more durable than synthetic ones. Thick leather gloves like the Metolious Belay gloves should last you pitch after pitch. Thin synthetic gloves like the Black Diamond Crag are comfy on warm days but ultimately wear out quickly.
Aid Climbing
Aid climbing requires a unique blend of durability, dexterity, and rope-handling protection. It's easy to bust your knuckles and pinch your skin in all sorts of aid climbing situations, but it still requires a serious amount of dexterity to place finicky placements. Our favorite glove for aid climbing was the Metloious Climbing Glove. This glove offers ¾ of your fingers protection but leaves the tips exposed to increase your dexterity. Your knuckles are protected, and you have some freedom of movement.
Crack gloves like the Ocun, Outdoor Research, or Climb X will do little for you while aid climbing. Designed to help you free climb painful cracks, these simply aren't the right tools for the job.
Conclusion
Choosing the right kind of gloves will depend largely on what you need them for. Are you looking for crack climbing gloves, single-pitch belay gloves, or a pair built to withstand the rigors of big wall climbing? After purchasing and testing 8 different pairs of gloves, we were able to compare rope handing protection, dexterity, durability, and usefulness for aid climbing. We hope our in-depth review will help you make the right choice for specific climbing needs.
— Steven Tata & Chris McNamara
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GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
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