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It’s December, and so here comes the winter with lots of snow. Whether you are an experienced skier or a beginner, good gloves are essential for safe practice.
As with ski jackets, there are certain criteria you need to follow when choosing the right ski gloves. However, as different as skiing practices are, so are the gloves. Find out in the following lines how to make your choice according to the type of skiing you’ll be doing.
As the name suggests, freeride is off-piste skiing. It takes you away from the well-marked paths for a more exciting mountain adventure. A touch more intense than alpine skiing, you’ll be faced with obstacles such as logs or fir trees and sometimes steep slopes.
With this type of skiing, there is a greater risk of falling than in downhill skiing. Therefore, you will need a pair of strong, waterproof gloves. Be careful about thermal insulation and warmth, as the weather will be changeable (a little colder, depending on the altitude). To practice your freeride skiing in safer conditions, consider gloves that combine warmth, waterproofing and solidity.
We can’t possibly talk about ski gloves without mentioning snowboard gloves! Snowboarding appears to be more dangerous than other forms of skiing. Indeed, you’ll face some difficulties with your hands, because your feet will be constantly bound to the board. When losing balance, you don’t have the advantage of being able to lean onto your other leg.
You’ll mainly rely on your hands to compensate for any imbalance, so consider getting gloves that feature internal wrist protection. In fact, these are in addition to the normal protections of alpine or freeride gloves. However, protection to the back of the hand would not be unwelcome. If, for example, you want to use your gloves for a mountain hike, choose a pair with a removable cover.
Known by other names, such as piste skiing or downhill skiing, alpine skiing is practised on specially designed slopes. Here, you’ll use your hands a lot, because you will often need poles when skiing downhill. You’ll have to make irregular, faster and harder efforts with poles. Consequently, your hands will be concentrated during the descents, hence the importance of choosing the right gloves. Make sure that your gloves are waterproof and also breathable with a good heat supply.
Still called Nordic skiing, this is often practiced at medium altitude. There aren’t many steep slopes, most of the routes are flat and you only have to ride on groomed snow. You’ll have to make intense and regular effort with less contact with the snow, so there is no real risk of falling.
Nordic ski poles are essential. When it comes to your gloves, make sure they have a windstopper membrane and that they’re breathable. This will be adequate, as you will not need any heat input because your body will be moving all the time.
If you’re thinking about competitive skiing, then you’re certainly already prepared, as there’s a lot of speed involved. So, you must ensure that you minimise the damage to your body by protecting your extremities in the event of a fall.
Your ski racing gloves should feature special reinforcements to protect the palms and phalanges. They should also be easy to handle, light and strong.
As sporty as it may be, ski touring aims to reach high peaks or unspoilt areas. You can do this on skis or sealskins without the need for lifts. When you have reached the summit, the privilege of marking your tracks on the beautiful powdery descent awaits you. The climb can be very long, which makes this a very intense sport.
It’s therefore advisable to choose waterproof gloves featuring a heat supply. Make sure you do this because you’ll be in contact with the snow for the most part. Also, weather conditions change as the altitude increases. You’ll need air to circulate in your gloves, so opt for those with a good breathability in order to eliminate your sweat.
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