Steph Wetherell has been testing the Black Diamond Deploy Gloves and rated them her Best in Test. Find out why.
The Black Diamond Deploy gloves felt instantly comfortable as soon as I put them on. They are very lightweight and stretchy, and I found them very versatile – perfect for wearing on the move on cool days, but also an ideal option to have in my pack to put on atop a windy hill on a warmer day, as they are lightweight and pack down small.
Steph Wetherell’s Best in Test
These are a lightweight, versatile pair of gloves that are comfortable to wear but full of well thought-out and designed functionality.- lightweight
- watch access
- versatile
- dot grip might not be for everyone
| Quick specs |
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| Price: £40 | €40 (available from Black Diamond) Weight: 39g (pair, medium) Materials: 88% Recycled Polyester, 12% Elastane Features: Grippy palm, grid fleece nosewipe, touchscreen compatible Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL Women’s version? Unisex eu.blackdiamondequipment.com |
They’d also work well as a base layer glove on colder days, if you need a warmer option. Because the gloves fit so snugly, the touchscreen functionality works really well both on thumb and finger, and the four seam fingers offer excellent dexterity to the point that I didn’t have to take them off to change layers or even eat my lunch. There’s also a grid-fleece nosewipe on the back of the thumb, which means no faff with tissues on a windy hillside.
As someone who wears a watch (albeit an old digital one rather than a smartwatch), I found the wristwatch opening super useful. It meant I could check the time without having to untuck my gloves from my coat, which was great in bad weather, and I can imagine it’s also even more useful if you have your route on your watch. The gloves also have a pairing clip to help keep them together when not being worn.
The grip might be the marmite feature here – the palm and lower section of the first two fingers has a network of tiny dots, but they’re low profile and I found they offered the perfect amount of grip for using with poles without becoming obtrusive.
These are a lightweight, versatile pair of gloves that are comfortable to wear but full of well thought-out and designed functionality. They aren’t the cheapest on the market but they are a pair that you will keep reaching for.
How we tested
Steph tested these gloves across South Wales and Scotland, in all weathers and especially rain! She has a women’s size large or unisex medium hands and is prone to cold hands when standing around but hot hands when moving. She also usually walks using trekking poles.
This review was first published in the November 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine. Compare this with other models in our guide to the best hiking gloves.
