5 Beal Assure Max Gloves Review

Reviewer: Darren Martin, Edinburgh   (3-5-2012)

I'm reviewing these a few months after purchase so have had a chance to use these in a variety of situations.

These are superb gloves provided you are aware of their intended use which is protection rather than out and out warmth. Winter gloves these are not, but in cool conditions they are fine.

However, if you're looking for comfortable protection, or are working hard (I sometimes wear these on the road bike) then they are ace.

The leather is unlined and very soft - straight out of the box they feel like old well worn in friends. I went for a slightly smaller size - I normally wear 8/8.5 gloves and got the mediums. Once worn a few times they have moulded themselves to my hands and fit like a, well, glove. Like a second skin. Feeling/dexterity is the best of any glove I've tried - hence they allow me to work the small button controls on my DSLR perfectly well.

As to protection, I must admit I haven't tried these with ropes (although I have used the also excellent if slightly bulkier/thicker Petzl Cordex on via ferratas) but have used them working with paving slabs and the like. Durability so far seems good although not perhaps the same as the Petzl gloves which are double layered (as opposed to single on the Beal) and a thicker/tougher goat skin. However they are warmer (no mesh back) and the dexterity/comfort is in a league of its own. Whatever the leather has been treated with means it handles wet weather well - it does soak up water like a sponge (again - not a winter glove) - but the leather remains soft when it dries out whereas the Petzl gloves tend to dry rock hard and have had to be treated with leather cream to keep them usable.

All in all an excellent piece of kit with a wide variety of uses. So good in fact that after a few months of use I came straight back on here and bought another pair to keep in reserve.

5 Beal Assure Max Gloves Review

Reviewer: Alan Bird, Dollar   (21-2-2011)

I got these for warmer ski touring and general mountain use. Great leather, very tough and easy to wear. Lots of feeling through the gloves retained. I could probably have got away with a size smaller. These are quite cool (as in cold!) to wear and don't provide much warmth. Fine for me as that's how I like them for touring, but there are others out there with small liners if that's what you are after.

4 Beal Assure Max Gloves Review

Reviewer: Alice Turner, Harrow   (9-9-2010)

Got these for taking clients scrambling. They have good grip in the wet and protect the skin on my hands. They're dexterous enough that I feel confident climbing in them (on scrambling terrain), and can tie/untie knots, place gear, do up karabiners etc. This means I can put them on at the start of the day and just leave them on until we un-rope. I don't know yet about durability: have only worn them a few days and there is moderate wear on some fingertips. Fit is pretty snug for thin fingers (I have size S), and obviously, since they are just unlined leather, they don't provide much warmth. If you wanted some insulation you would need to buy a bigger size so that they would take a liner.