The Technology Inside Gloves

The thinking behind gloves that keep your hands warm, dry, protected, and dexterous when outdoor adventures demand it most.

Why your hands get cold

You're three pitches up a winter route when you stop to sort gear. Within seconds, that comfortable warmth becomes finger-numbing cold that makes clipping carabiners a fumbling nightmare. Winter climbers even have a name for this sensation - the Hot Aches.

Your hands lose heat faster than any other part of your body. Their high surface area, thin skin, and positioning far from your bodies core create the perfect storm for heat loss. Add wind, moisture, and the need for precise finger control, and you've got one of outdoor gear's toughest challenges.

Technical gloves solve four fundamental problems: keeping you warm without overheating, managing sweat while blocking rain, maintaining finger dexterity, and protecting against abrasion and impact.

Fleece Technology: The foundation stone of outdoor gear

What fleece actually does

Fleece comes in many shapes and sizes. For example we use 200gsm polyester fleece in our Aura gloves which is a good balance creating warmth without bulk. Think of fleece as thousands of tiny air pockets trapped between synthetic fibres. Still air insulates better than almost anything - fleece just gives you a portable way to carry it.

When you compress fleece, those fibres bend but spring back, maintaining their loft. The open structure lets moisture vapour move through while trapping warm air close to your skin.

When fleece works best

Fleece is flexible and perfect for sewing into the precise shapes needed to fit around your fingers. It provides enough warmth to keep fingers functional while maintaining the dexterity to operate buckles and zippers. At 20g, you barely notice them until you need them.

As good as fleece is, it won't handle all conditions weather or high-output activities where you're generating serious sweat.

Silicon pads: How we engineer better grip

The grip revolution

Add silicon printing to basic fleece and you transform utility gloves into precision tools. The Aura Grip demonstrates this perfectly - same fleece base, but now your grip on poles, handlebars, and rope becomes secure even when wet.

Silicon rubber grips at a molecular level. Applied in strategic patterns on palms and fingers, it provides secure contact that actually improves when surfaces get damp from sweat or conditions.

When you're gripping trekking poles on steep scree or maintaining control of handlebars in challenging conditions, silicon prevents the slippage that leads to falls or dropped gear. Your grip confidence goes up, fatigue goes down.

Softshell: Wind protection that moves

The softshell advantage

The Frazil gloves show how modern softshell fabric solves multiple problems in one material. At 92% polyester and 8% spandex, you get wind protection, water resistance, and four-way stretch integrated together.

Softshell uses a dense outer weave to block wind while being porous enough for breathability. The spandex content allows movement in all directions - critical when any restriction impacts your ability to grip, tie knots, or operate gear.

Movement matters

When you're handling rope on a multi-pitch route or adjusting crampon straps in winter conditions, softshell moves with your hand rather than against it. The fabric flexes with natural hand positions while providing wind protection on exposed positions.

The trade-off? Softshell isn't fully waterproof and has limits in extreme cold.

Heat where you need it

Anatomy-based design

Frazil gloves use 80gsm PrimaloftⓇ Gold insulation only on the back of your hands. This isn't cost-cutting - it's smart engineering based on how your hands actually work.

Your palms generate more heat and have better circulation than the backs of your hands. They also need maximum sensitivity for gear manipulation. Insulate only where heat loss is highest, maintain dexterity where you need it most.

PrimaloftⓇ performance

This synthetic insulation mimics down's loft while maintaining performance when wet. The fibres trap air efficiently but don't clump or lose insulating properties when compressed or dampened by moisture.

You can tie knots and operate gear while staying warm because the insulation works with your anatomy, not against it.

Waterproof membranes

The molecular solution

Creating gloves that keep rain out while allowing sweat vapour to escape is essential for keeping your fingers warm. The 10K/10K membranes in Haline and Vulcan gloves contain pores 20,000 times smaller than water droplets but 700 times larger than water vapour molecules.

Rain can't penetrate. Sweat can escape. Hands stay dry and warm.

What the numbers mean

10,000mm hydrostatic head means the fabric withstands water pressure equivalent to a 10-metre column before leaking. The 10,000g/m²/24hr breathability rating means enough vapour transfer for moderate activity without excessive moisture buildup.

Real-world performance

During a stormy approach in the Scottish Highlands, waterproof gloves keep your hands dry while allowing enough vapour transfer to prevent the clammy buildup that leads to rapid heat loss when you stop moving.

The limitation? Fully waterproof means some breathability compromise, and these systems can be overwhelmed by high sweat output.

Glove liner technology

How pile lining works

When you're working hard and generating sweat, pile moves moisture away from your skin. Our Gabbro gloves feature a polyester pile lining that creates a hidden moisture management system. Picture pile as a forest of tiny fibre trees. Moisture moves up these fibres and away from your skin through capillary action, spreading it across a larger surface area.

The advantage of temperature regulation

Pile lining doesn't just wick - it continues to insulate when damp. This means your gloves maintain performance even when your hands are working hard, providing consistent warmth through activity level changes. When you cool down, the same structure maintains warmth even if slightly damp - critical for safety when conditions turn serious.

Modern performance through natural fibres

Wool is one of natures wonder materials. It has been worn to reach the far corners of the planet, and even off planet in space suits.

Why wool still works

Wool regulates temperature and moisture naturally through its unique fibre structure. Our Mica gloves combine 50% wool with 50% nylon, proving that traditional materials deliver modern performance when used intelligently.

Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture while still feeling dry. It continues to insulate when wet and naturally resists odour buildup over extended use. You are not going to wash your gloves everyday so using a material like wool really does make a material impact.

Breathability difference

Natural fibres breathe through the fibre structure itself rather than just between fibres. This creates superior air circulation for moderate activity levels, making wool blend gloves ideal for activities where you're moving steadily rather than alternating between high output and rest.

Leather palms for grip and durability

Goatskin advantages

Goatskin leather palms provide exceptional grip, durability, and suppleness while maintaining the sensitivity needed for technical work.

Unlike synthetic materials, leather provides natural grip through surface texture and ability to conform to objects. Unlike synthetic materials it actually improves grip when slightly damp.

Durability in practice

When you're belaying or rappelling, goatskin handles rope friction without degrading. The leather wears gradually rather than failing suddenly, providing reliable performance over years of use. You get grip confidence that improves with break-in rather than deteriorating.

Technology for outdoor activity

Here are some examples where we have integrated these technologies to develop gloves for your outdoor activities.

Alpine climbing and mountaineering

The challenge: Extreme conditions with high dexterity needs The solution: Gabbro waterproof gloves combine softshell construction, strategic insulation, pile lining, and leather palms for protection without compromising function.

Cycling with responsive bike handling

The challenge: Grip control plus weather protection The solution: Cirrus weatherproof gloves use slim construction with memory foam palm inserts and touchscreen compatibility for handlebar control in mixed conditions.

General hiking and walking

The challenge: Versatile performance across conditions
The solution: Aura fleece gloves provide the warmth-to-weight-to-dexterity balance that works from local hills to Alpine approaches.

Technical climbing

The challenge: Maximum dexterity with adequate protection The solution: Frazil softshell gloves use anatomy-based insulation and articulated construction to maintain finger sensitivity while providing wind protection.

What really matters

When choosing technical gloves, focus on these decision points:

Activity intensity: High-output activities need maximum breathability. Stop-and-go activities need better insulation.

Weather exposure: Occasional light rain needs DWR treatment. Sustained wet conditions require waterproof membranes.

Dexterity requirements: Fine motor tasks need thinner palm construction and articulated fingers.

Durability needs: Rope work and rough surfaces require leather reinforcement.

Temperature range: Mild conditions work with fleece. Serious cold needs strategic insulation or layering capability.

The best glove technology works invisibly. Your Frazil gloves simply let you climb harder and longer without cold hands limiting performance. Your Cirrus gloves keep bad weather from cutting rides short without making you think about your hands.

Our Approach

We design gloves around real problems you face in outdoor environments. Each technology choice serves the goal of keeping your hands functional, comfortable, and protected so you can focus on the adventure.

The technology should serve the experience, disappearing when it works and appearing only as enhanced capability when you need it most.