The North Face Summit Alpine Glove is a high quality hiking glove which is equally suited to hiking or mountaineering in three season conditions. They are a little bulkier than some of the other hiking gloves I have tested, and resultingly they are warmer. I experimented with using these gloves on a hike over the Cairngorm plateau in winter conditions, and I just about managed to avoid needing to swap to warmer gloves. I also tested them whilst hiking (and sweating) on an unseasonably mild March day and was pleased with their breathability. The North Face do not describe these gloves as windproof, but I found the wind resistance to be very good. There is no waterproof membrane. However I was happy with the level of water resistance provided by the DWR finish.
James roddie Recommends
At £80 this is an expensive product, but overall this is an excellent hiking glove for three season use.- Warm
- Wind resistance
- Price
- No touch screen capability
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £80 Weight: 120g (size Medium pair) Materials: Recycled Polyester and Nylon, goat leather palm. Sizes: XXS – XL Women’s version: No (Unisex). URL: thenorthface.co.uk |
The materials and construction on of the Summit Alpine’s are excellent. There is a goat leather patch as reinforcement on the palm. This works well as general protection on this vulnerable area, and the shape of the patch also makes it ideal for using these gloves for handling ropes whilst mountaineering. Other features include a large nose-wipe on the thumb, a karabiner loop on the third finger, and a metal pairing button to store the gloves together. A stretchy wrist-loop helps prevent you from dropping the gloves when you take them off. This can be a weak-point in the construction of some gloves, but the stitching here is extremely strong. There are no touch-screen compatible zones which is a little disappointing.
The cuff is stretchy, and the material is highly breathable and effective at wicking away moisture from your wrists. However as the cuff is thin and flexible, it has a habit of bunching up beneath your jacket sleeve as you pull the glove on. It is a personal preference, but I would prefer the cuff to be marginally stiffer.
At £80 this is an expensive product, but overall this is an excellent hiking glove for three season use.
