CAMP USA G Comp Wind Gloves: When Dexterity Matters

CAMP USA G Comp Wind Gloves are a modular glove system that includes Softshell Gloves and Wind Shells, stored in a pocket on the top of the wrist.

CAMP USA's G Comp Wind Gloves will be of interest to winter hikers and ski mountaineers. The G Comp Wind Gloves are a modular glove system with highly breathable softshell gloves that can be covered with a windproof shell, stored in a pocket in the glove's wrist cuff. The wind shells are attached to the gloves so you can't lose them and only cover the backs of the softshell gloves not the palms, so they don't interfere with grippy patches found on the palms, the thumb and index finger.

Wearing the CAMP G Comp wind shells over the softshell gloves at treeline on Mt Resolution, White Mountains, New Hampshire.

I wear the softshell gloves by themselves when hiking and climbing in winter conditions, covering them up with the windproof shells when my hands get cold above treeline. I've also found that covering the gloves when they're slightly damp with perspiration, helps dry the gloves out, since the wind shells only cover half the gloves, allowing moisture to evaporate through the palms more quickly. This means that my gloves last longer and cuts down on the number of glove changes I need to make during a winter hike.

Glove management is a nuanced winter hiking discipline. Most hikers carry multiple pairs of winter gloves, some breathable, some waterproof, and some super warm to keep their hands comfortable during different phases of a winter hike and in different weather. Ideally, you want to preserve the warmth and utility of each pair of gloves you bring as long as possible, so it helps to have gloves that can be used in multiple ways, or mixed and matched with one another in modular ways to cut down on the number of winter gloves you need to purchase and carry.

One of the things I like best about these G Comp Wind Gloves is the dexterity they provide without sacrificing warmth. I can my tie my winter hiking boots while wearing these gloves or zip and unzip my jacket, which I can't do with any other winter gloves I own. They're also perfectly sized for carrying an ultralight ice axe like the CAMP USA Corsa ice axe that I use, which is difficult with a fat fingered winter glove, while the extra grippy patches provide additional thermal protection when holding the adze and pick in a ready position.

The softshell gloves are really quite technical. In addition to the grip patches, they have an elastic wrist leash so you take them off without dropping them, finger pulls on the wrist to help pull them onto your hands, reinforced synthetic leather between the thumb and forefinger for better durability, and a terry nose wipe. The density of the softshell fabric also varies on different parts of the hand and fingers to promote better breathability.

The wind shell covers the back of the hand, thumb, and fingers but leaves the grippy palm exposed.

The wind shells are thin ripstop nylon that shed wind well but are not waterproof. They are covered with a DWR coating however, that makes water bead up and roll off them. When deployed they just cover the thumb, fingers, and back of the hand, leaving the palm open so you can still grip trekking poles or tools.

If these gloves sound intriguing, but you need a warmer glove, CAMP USA has several other models that you can choose from which are warmer and/or waterproof, including the CAMP G Compwarm which has insulated and windproof mittens.

CAMP USA makes great ultralight winter gear and these G Comp Wind gloves are just another example. I also use their Corsa Ice Axe, Stalker Crampons, and XLC Nanotech Aluminum Crampons and swear by them.

Disclosure: CAMP USA provided Philip Werner with a pair of G Comp Wind Gloves for review. 

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