8c) Gloves
Explain the purpose of climbing and rappelling gloves.
Climbing
Protection from abrasion:
The primary function is to provide a layer of durable material on the palm and fingers, preventing skin tears and blisters from the friction of jamming in cracks.
Grip enhancement:
Many crack gloves have rubberized patches strategically placed to provide extra grip inside the cracks, allowing for better hand placement and stability.
Dexterity balance:
While protecting the hands, good crack gloves are designed to maintain enough dexterity for other climbing movements.
Fit and design:
Specific features like finger loops and wrist straps help secure the glove on the hand and provide additional protection against abrasion on deep jams.
Rappelling
Abrasion resistance:
The palms of rappelling gloves should be highly abrasion resistant to protect your hands from the friction of the rope.
Double layers:
Some rappelling gloves have double layers at the thumb web and palms to provide extra protection.