Best Belay Gloves
Petzl CORDEX Plus Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - M
The Cordex Plus is Petzl's heavier-duty belay and rappel glove, with a double layer of leather on the palm, fingers and thumb crotch. Built for frequent lowering, long rappels and intensive rope handling.
Petzl CORDEX Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - L
Petzl's Cordex is a lightweight goat leather belay and rappel glove with a stretch nylon back. A neoprene cuff with Velcro closure and a reinforced carabiner hole make it an all-round pick for cragging.
Rope running through your hands is hard on skin. Lowering a partner, holding repeated falls on a project and long rappels all load the same strip of palm, and a dirty rope leaves grit and aluminum residue on everything it touches. A belay glove puts a layer of leather or synthetic leather between the rope and your skin without getting in the way of the brake hand. The differences that matter are the palm material (goat leather lasts longest, synthetic leather is lighter, cheaper and cooler), finger coverage (full-finger for rappels and cold days, half or three-quarter finger when you want bare fingertips for knots and carabiner gates), the cuff closure, and whether there is a clip-in point so the pair can hang on your harness while you climb. Fit matters more than any feature, because a loose glove bunches under the rope. This guide compares seven pairs from Petzl, Black Diamond and Metolius on those points.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.5 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:Petzl CORDEX Plus Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - M. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:BLACK DIAMOND Men's Crag Gloves | Breathable Stretch Mesh | Synthetic Leather Palm | Durable Protection for Belaying & Via Ferrata | Black | Large. Value score of 9/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Solid build:Petzl CORDEX Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - L. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.2/10.
- Feature-rich:BLACK DIAMOND Men's Crag Half-Finger Gloves, Belaying/Via Ferrata, Black, L. Features score of 7/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Petzl CORDEX Plus Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - M8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Petzl CORDEX Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - L8.2/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.BLACK DIAMOND Men's Crag Gloves | Breathable Stretch Mesh | Synthetic Leather Palm | Durable Protection for Belaying & Via Ferrata | Black | Large7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.BLACK DIAMOND Men's Crag Half-Finger Gloves, Belaying/Via Ferrata, Black, L7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Black Diamond Transition Gloves, Rope Handling Belay/Rappelling, Leather, M7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Metolius 3/4 Climbing Glove - Natural Medium7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Metolius Full Finger Belay Glove - Naural Large7.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1The Cordex Plus is Petzl's heavier-duty belay and rappel glove, with a double layer of leather on the palm, fingers and thumb crotch. Built for frequent lowering, long rappels and intensive rope handling.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Double layer of leather in high-wear areas (palm, fingers, thumb crotch) for extended life under intensive use
- + Abrasion-resistant stretch nylon over the knuckles protects the back of the hand while keeping it flexible
- + Neoprene cuff with Velcro closure and a reinforced carabiner hole for carrying the gloves on a harness
- - The extra leather adds bulk and warmth, so it gives up some fingertip feel against the lighter standard Cordex
- - The most expensive pair in this guide, which is hard to justify for occasional gym belaying
#2Petzl's Cordex is a lightweight goat leather belay and rappel glove with a stretch nylon back. A neoprene cuff with Velcro closure and a reinforced carabiner hole make it an all-round pick for cragging.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Goat skin leather, which the listing describes as a balance of durability and dexterity for handling rope and carabiners
- + Stretch nylon on the back of the hand for breathability and a close fit during long belays in warm weather
- + Low-profile neoprene cuff with Velcro closure, plus a reinforced carabiner hole for clipping the pair to a harness
- - Single-layer leather: the double-layer reinforcement in high-wear areas is reserved for the Cordex Plus
- - Costs roughly twice as much as the synthetic Black Diamond Crag gloves, and this listing is for one size and color
#3Black Diamond's Crag is a full-finger belay glove with a synthetic leather palm and a breathable stretch mesh back. A light, low-cost pair for belaying, rappelling and via ferrata.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Reinforced synthetic leather palm and fingers for grip on ropes and hardware at about half the price of the leather pairs
- + Breathable stretch mesh back keeps hands cooler during long belay sessions in warm conditions
- + Adjustable hook-and-loop wrist strap for a snug fit and quick on and off between climbs
- - Synthetic leather palm, not goat leather, so expect a shorter working life under heavy rappel and lowering use
- - The listing does not mention a carabiner loop or clip-in hole for racking the gloves on a harness
#4The half-finger version of Black Diamond's Crag glove leaves the fingertips bare for handling carabiners and tying knots. Synthetic leather palm, stretch mesh back and a hook-and-loop cuff.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Half-finger cut keeps fingertips free for knots, gates and clipping while the palm stays covered for rope handling
- + Reinforced synthetic leather palm and fingers, described as built for ropes, belay devices and via ferrata rungs
- + Ventilated mesh back and the lowest price in this guide make it an easy first pair for warm-weather cragging
- - Bare fingertips get no cover from a running rope, so it suits belaying better than long rappels
- - Synthetic palm and mesh back add almost no warmth, so this is a warm-weather glove only
#5Black Diamond's Transition is a full-finger glove with a goat leather palm and a breathable stretch mesh back. Made for belaying, rappelling and rope management on sport, trad and multi-pitch routes.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Goat leather palm, reinforced in high-wear zones, for abrasion resistance where the rope runs through the hand
- + Stretch mesh back keeps the glove lighter and cooler than all-leather designs on long days at the crag
- + Hook-and-loop wrist strap gives an adjustable fit that is quick to take on and off between climbs and belays
- - A mesh back covers the knuckles less than the all-leather Metolius gloves when a rappel runs close to rough rock
- - The listing does not mention a carabiner loop or clip-in hole for carrying the pair on a harness
#6The Metolius 3/4 Climbing Glove is a leather half-finger belay glove with cut-off fingers, webbing hook-in loops and a hook and loop closure. A durable option when you want bare fingertips.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Leather construction in a half-finger cut, so the palm is covered while fingertips stay free for knots and gates
- + Cut-off fingers let the hand breathe, which helps on hot days at the crag
- + Webbing hook-in loops for carrying the pair on a carabiner, and a hook and loop closure for a secure fit
- - Costs the same as the Metolius full-finger glove while covering less of the hand
- - Exposed fingertips mean less cover on long rappels, and the listing gives no weight or leather type
#7Metolius's Full Finger Belay Glove is a leather glove for belaying and rope handling, with a hook and loop cuff and a carabiner clip-in point. Listed for canyoneering, sport and trad climbing.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Leather construction that the listing describes as durable, with full finger coverage for rappels and lowering
- + Carabiner clip-in point for carrying the pair on a harness gear loop while you are climbing
- + Hook and loop closure keeps the gloves secure, and the listing includes a 1 year manufacturer warranty
- - The listing gives few details: no leather type, no weight and no mention of reinforcement in the palm
- - No stretch or mesh panel is mentioned, so expect a warmer glove than the mesh-backed pairs in summer
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- The extra leather adds bulk and warmth, so it gives up some fingertip feel against the lighter standard Cordex (Petzl CORDEX Plus Gloves - Lightweight,...)
- Single-layer leather: the double-layer reinforcement in high-wear areas is reserved for the Cordex Plus (Petzl CORDEX Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable...)
- Synthetic leather palm, not goat leather, so expect a shorter working life under heavy rappel and lowering use (BLACK DIAMOND Men's Crag Gloves | Breathable...)
- Bare fingertips get no cover from a running rope, so it suits belaying better than long rappels (BLACK DIAMOND Men's Crag Half-Finger Gloves,...)
- A mesh back covers the knuckles less than the all-leather Metolius gloves when a rappel runs close to rough rock (Black Diamond Transition Gloves, Rope...)
- Costs the same as the Metolius full-finger glove while covering less of the hand (Metolius 3/4 Climbing Glove - Natural Medium)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among belay gloves?
Petzl CORDEX Plus Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - M is our top overall pick. The Cordex Plus is Petzl's heavier-duty belay and rappel glove, with a double layer of leather on the palm, fingers and thumb crotch. Built for frequent lowering, long rappels and intensive rope handling. It earns our score of 8.4/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Petzl CORDEX Gloves - Lightweight, Breathable Leather - Tan - L is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Petzl's Cordex is a lightweight goat leather belay and rappel glove with a stretch nylon back. A neoprene cuff with Velcro closure and a reinforced carabiner hole make it an all-round pick for cragging.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Climbing Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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