Black Diamond Women’s Mercury Mitt
There are a lot of things sexier than a new pair of gloves, but few things can make or break a day in the snow than a warm pair of mitts. When the weather gets cold and we head to the mountains, my “go to” gloves for the past ten years had been a pair of XL men’s mittens from the local outdoor outfitter. I’d throw a thin pair of gloves underneath and hope I’d be able shove my fingers far enough in to grip my ski poles. Perhaps they were warm ten years ago, but I can’t recall, for as far as my memory serves my fingers have been cold.
In the fall, when a box of winter climbing gear arrived for my husband, I found nestled under some cams and slings a pair of Black Diamond Mercury Mitts, Women’s Medium. A thrilling pre-holiday gift. My fingers were hugged by the warm fleece lining. Although it looks like a traditional mitten—fabric and leather outer included—inside there’s a split finger liner, freeing the index finger and allowing more dexterity of movement. Gone were the days of praying to grip my ski poles, as the Mercury Mitts formed convincingly around my fingers.
The mittens were quickly put to the test as I’ve worn them since the first run of the ski season. With a full ski season under the belt—along with some old school sledding, a few unsteady snowmen, and some hiking—I’m pleased to say that I couldn’t be happier with the mitts. With the exception of one cold, wet day on the slopes when I could have used a base layer under the mitt, my fingers have been warm and toasty throughout the winter. Beyond that, these mitts dry fast. So fast that I’ve never even thought to pull out the liner for drying, even on those days when skiing was followed by sledding.
The Black Diamond Mercury Mitts are streamlined, warm, and a workhorse of a mitt. They are well worth the price and will become your go-to mitt for when the weather gets cold.
