Black Diamond Information Gloves Evaluation

Bottom Line

The Black Diamond Guide Glove  (men’s / women’s) is a top performer in extreme winter conditions, offering exceptional warmth and durability. CleverHiker keeps testing other top-ranked gloves, but these still rise above the rest.

Designed with a GORE-TEX and Pirmaloft Gold lining that is both waterproof and warm, it kept our hands warm and dry even in some of the coldest temperatures of the year.

The removable liner is warm and soft on the skin and dries quickly when removed from the shell. The goat leather shell is among the most durable and protective of any we tried.

However, the Guide’s extreme weather performance comes with some trade-offs. The glove is bulkier than others tested, which can limit dexterity for detailed tasks like adjusting gear or zippers.

It comes at a premium price point which reflects its high-end materials and construction, but may not be the most accessible for most users. The heavy insulation may have you taking them off in milder conditions, making it less versatile for varied weather. Despite these minor trade-offs, the Guide Glove is an excellent choice for snowsports and recreating in some of the coldest temperatures of the year.

How We Tested

The Black Diamond Guide was a top ranked winter glove in last year, but CleverHiker’s Alaska-based gear analyst, Miles Knotek, re-tested them in the field and in side-by-side comparison tests. To lab-test the weather resistance, he submerged the gloves in water for four minutes and noted how long it took for water to penetrate. Field tests included wearing them on Alaskan treks, peaks, and forests over the course of three winter months to get a true sense of how these truly shield winter.

Comfort & Dexterity

Out of the box, the Guide is one of the stiffest gloves we tested. While the fingers come with a slight curve to them for comfort, the entire glove required a prolonged break-in period the first five to six times we used them. We loved the wool liner that was comfortable directly on the skin without being scratchy or irritating. The suede nose wipe on the thumb is an excellent feature to avoid irritation.

When wearing the Guides, it’s immediately evident that dexterity is sacrificed in favor of warmth and durability. Simple tasks like ratcheting down a ski boot and unzipping a coat were accomplished, but fine motor skill tasks like handling car keys or opening a granola bar took significant effort and fumbling. While not the most agile glove available, the Guide strikes a practical balance between protection and functional dexterity, ensuring reliable performance in harsh conditions. Its comfort and durability make it a top choice for demanding winter adventures despite the trade-off of dexterity.

Warmth

With the warmth of a mitten, but the dexterity of a glove, the Black Diamon Guide is the warmest glove in our lineup. The removable liner with a wool interior and Gore-Tex outer provides the bulk of the insulation and the leather and nylon outer provide additional warmth and protection. The combination of 170-gram PrimaLoft Gold and boiled woold liner, along with 200-gram fleece palm linings provide supreme warmth. We used these gloves in the double digits below zero and were never left with any resemblance of cold.

This glove is recommended for the extreme cold of mountaineering, skiing or other extreme cold weather activities. It’s too warm for most aerobic activities above ten degrees. The extreme warmth of the Guide limits its versatility but makes it the top choice for the coldest days that still require the dexterity of gloves.

Moisture Control

The removable liner is extremely effective at wicking sweat away from the hands. The wool inset is soft to the touch but moves moisture away quickly. However, we did find ourselves sweating in this glove while hiking at a fast pace in temperatures above ten degrees.

Due to the glove’s extreme warmth, these are not our top choice for highly aerobic activities. Best suited for extreme cold or low-output adventures, we sweated heavily in these gloves while running and hiking quickly. If the liners do become wet with sweat, simply remove them and hang them to dry in a warm place with circulation.

Weather Resistance

With its combination of Gore-Tex insert, water-resistant leather, and robust nylon shell, the Guide is a great waterproof glove to use on wet and snowy days. We never encountered any water penetrating through the material and is a top choice for snowsports or mountaineering. During our submersion test, the gloves repelled all moisture with none making it through the shell. The only place we did notice water being absorbed was through the soft suede of the nose wipe on the thumb. However, that did not penetrate any further than the outer. The cinches on the large gauntlets are extremely effective at keeping out snow and we love the gauntlets for extending past the wrist to offer more coverage. While you may not be taking this glove out in a fall rainstorm, it excels in winter with exposure to snow, ice, and dampness.

Durability

The Black Diamond Guide is extremely durable thanks to its thick leather and resilient nylon outer shell. The goat skin leather is thick and amongst the most durable of any we tested. With extra reinforcement in the palm and fingertips, we don’t anticipate wearing through these gloves anytime soon. With a slight bit of extra padding on the back of the hand, the Guides protect you from impact and we were glad for that feature while bashing through trees while skiing downhill.

After repeated use, the leather did show signs of creasing and became more supple. That level of wear is in line with use and we found it to make the glove more comfortable as it broke in with no signs of weakness. We will keep using the Black Diamond Guide in the backcountry for many days to come and give it top marks for durability.

Should You Buy the Black Diamond Guide Gloves?

The Black Diamond Guide Gloves are perfect for dedicated alpine adventurers who demand durability and performance in extreme conditions. Their completely waterproof outer and extremely warm insert makes them ideal for wet and cold days. If you spend long days in the snow, these gloves are tailored to meet your needs. With some of the warmest insulation of any glove in our lineup, these gloves are reserved for some of the coldest days of the year.

However, that extreme warmth comes at the price of their durability. These are not the gloves to use if you need a high level of dexterity or will be doing aerobic activities in milder temperatures. Their heavy-duty warmth and construction mean that they lack versatility, but you will be glad you have them on the coldest days.

What Other Winter Gloves Should You Consider?

Check out our full guide to winter gloves.

Hestra Fall Line Review: If you love leather gloves, but are looking for something lighter, the Fall Line is an excellent choice. Slightly lighter than the Guide, but with similar features such as reinforced knuckles and leather construction, the Fall Line is another top choice for snowsports.

REI Guide Insulated Review: With the performance and durability of leather, but a slightly lighter guild, the REI Guide Insulated provides an outstanding blend of warmth and dexterity.

Dakine Titan Review: While constructed without any leather, the Dakine Titan is lighter and more dexterous than the Guide while still being fully waterproof and warm.