The Alpkit Gabbro gloves are the workhorses of winter handwear, says Kirsty Pallas.
The Gabbro is Alpkit’s top end glove and a fair match with others in this test, but at a very competitive price. A generous amount of Primaloft Gold makes them a warm choice, but not too bulky. The shell is a stretchy softshell making them flexible for climbing or mountaineering, and this also runs between the fingers.
Kirsty Pallas’ Best Value in 2025
Other than not having a pull-on loop, I can’t really fault these gloves from Alpkit which come at a competitive price.- price
- reinforced palms
- no pull-on loop
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £64.99 |
| Weight: 153g for XS/glove size 6 |
| Materials: Polyester and spandex shell, polyester pile lining, goat leather palm |
| Insulation: Primaloft Gold |
| Waterproof: PorelleDry insert |
| Features: Drawcord cuff, nose wipe, carabiner loop |
| Sizes: XS – XL |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| alpkit.com |
On my samples, the fabric has started pilling a little here, but this is after digging in snow and clearing cracks in rock. Overall, I think they should stand up well to a reasonable level of abuse.
A waterproof insert keeps them dry for a good length of time, even when digging around in soft snow. The lining is a thick cosy pile, which really keeps warmth in and even when the gloves are wet, they don’t feel soaked.
The palm is goatskin leather with reinforcement at the crook of the thumb and along the base of the fingers. Leather also wraps the fingertips to increase durability and protects the softshell fabric. These really suited my hands, with short fingers, which allowed me to use them on fiddly tasks. It doesn’t feel like there’s lots of additional fabric at the end of your fingers and thumbs, and it also didn’t feel restrictive across the palm, but was still a neat fit.
Cuff length is adjusted with a drawcord that’s simple to use while the gloves are on. There’s also some elastic at the base of the hand, which keeps the glove in place and stops any drafts.
Other than not having a pull-on loop, I can’t really fault these gloves. They are a workhorse that will deal with any weather thrown at them, and really are a steal at this price. I’ve had them walking, climbing, mountaineering, and just standing around, and they’ve kept me warm each time.
Testing Conditions
Kirsty has small hands with wider palms and short fingers. The gloves were tested in a wet winter and spring season working as an instructor, and winter climbing and mountaineering in the Scottish Highlands, both on snow and rock. Kirsty often wears liner gloves in winter under her main gloves, and these were tested both with and without. All weights are from Kirsty’s own scales.
This review was first published in the November 2024 issue of The Great Outdoors. For more winter glove reviews, as tested by the experts, see our guide to the best winter gloves for hillwalking and mountaineering.
