When tree climbing, you need to protect your hands as gripping ropes and grasping tree trunks and branches with rough barks can chafe or even graze and scrape your palms. At the same time, however, you need to maintain your manual dexterity in order to be able to manipulate your carabiners, ascenders, rope grabs, and friction hitches as well as tie different types of knots. The Wells Lamont 7690L Grain Cowhide Leather Gloves does a good job of providing adequate protection without impairing the functioning of your hands and fingers.

The Wells Lamont 7690L is designed for both professional and recreational use. It can be used while operating construction, industrial, and farm machinery. And it can certainly be used, not only by tree climbers, but by mountain climbers as well.

The gloves are made of a cowhide leather palm and a soft stretch fabric back. This combination provides extra protection to your palms without compromising your manual dexterity. Also, the stretch fabric assures a snug fit keeping the gloves in place even when gripping and twisting ropes. The fabric is also breathable, thus helping keep your hands from sweating inside the gloves.

The cowhide on the palm section of the gloves extends to the upper end of the back of the index, middle, and ring fingers as well as over the knuckles to protect them from possible abrasions.

For added comfort when gripping ropes or branches, the palm is fitted with a reinforced padding that masks the rough feel of tree barks and absorbs the heat from the rope friction as you rappel from the treetops.

Gripping ropes, grasping twigs and branches and perhaps even hanging on them requires adequate protection for your hands, otherwise you risk cutting them with the rough bark of tall trees. At the same time, however, you also need to be able to manipulate your ascenders, descenders, pulleys, and carabiners, as well as the knots and loops of your climbing ropes. This requires that your protective glove should provide you with enough freedom of movement and dexterity to handle your equipment. The Timberland PRO Dermosafe Gloves is an excellent answer to both of these needs.

Although labeled “PRO”, and indeed it was designed to meet the rigorous demands of professionals who spend hours working at the top of poles or trees, it does not mean that amateur tree climbers have no use for them.

Coated with black Kevlar silicon, the Dermosafe resists cuts, thus keeping your fingers and palms protected at all times. It also resists liquids and oils maintaining a good grip even in wet weather. This allows you to climb even when trees are still wet from the morning dew.

The back of the glove is made of nylon and Lycra fabric. This makes it stretchable and flexible allowing you to flex your wrist and fingers completely unimpeded. It is also lightweight and thus comfortable on your hands. And as it is breathable, allowing air to pass through to your palms, you need not worry about having sweaty hands. In addition to all these advantages, Lycra is also resistant to bacteria, ultraviolet rays, and chlorine.

The wrist of the Timberland PRO Dermosafe Gloves consists of an elastic fabric that makes it self-fastening, making putting them on quite convenient.

The gloves are available in sizes ranging from 7 to 11.

With its French cowhide leather main body, the Metolius Belay Gloves looks elegant enough to give the impression that it was intended for cold weather city wear. A closer examination, however, reveals that the split cowhide reinforcement at the palms is simply too durable for just opening car doors and gripping steering wheels. Unless, of course, if it is a steering wheel of some heavy construction equipment.

The Metolius Belay Gloves features full fingers making it perfectly suited for cold weather tree climbing. Its leather is burly and durable that can be expected to last even after years of use and hundreds of trees climbed. The pair of gloves is available in five sizes –extra small for 6.25 – 7-inch palm circumference; small, 7.00 – 7.75, medium, 7.75 – 8.50; large, 8.50 – 9.25; and extra large, 9.25 – 10.00. Once you find the right size for you, you are assured that the fit of the gloves is snug and comfortable, becoming almost like a second skin to your hands. This, of course, leads to better dexterity.

The high-wear areas of the gloves –the palms and thumb saddle— are equipped with double layers. These are triple-stitched to ensure that they are not torn off the glove’s main body even under extreme pressure. This makes the gloves perfect for those situations when you need to grasp a rope tightly. It is also suitable for rappelling as it limits the friction coming from the sliding rope to the double layers instead of burning your palms.

The openings of the gloves are double-stitched for durability, and a webbing is sewn on the palms’ opening which acts as a loop for hanging on to a carabiner. It is closed with Velcro straps on the wrist for a secure and quick closure.

The Metolius Belay Glove comes in two colors –natural brown and tactical black.

If your sports and adventures sometimes put you in situations where your life literally hangs on threads you will need to maintain a good grip on those threads. You definitely do not want your hold slipping. You may also need to keep a tight grasp on rough and even thorny barks of trees to get you going higher or prevent you from falling. While the skin on the palm of your hands may be tough, they can use a little help when things get rough. Youngstown Mesh Utility Gloves can deliver that help.

This Youngstown gloves are especially suited for warm weather climbing. With their ultra-breathable stretch mesh on the back of your hands, air can freely pass through thus keeping them cool at all times. A piece of terry cloth is sewn into the thumb for wiping the sweat off your brow preventing it from getting into your eyes. A pad is also sewn in for the protection of your knuckles.

The material for the palms is synthetic leather that resists abrasion even from jagged and extremely rough surfaces. It is reinforced with nonslip material guaranteeing not only a firm and secure hold on ropes and branches, but also durability and strength.

The cuffs of the gloves are made of neoprene, a class of synthetic leather that provides additional insulation and at the same time assures a snug fit. It is fitted with a Velcro enclosure for a quick opening and closure.

All parts are double stitched making them suitable for heavy-duty use. Apart from tree climbing, it can also be used for other applications.

The flexible mesh on the back of the hands is colored light gray, while the palms are of a darker shade.

Chaps are the leather trousers without seats worn by cowboys to protect their legs from thorny or poisonous brush while riding through dense vegetation. They must be effective because cowboys have been using them since the late 1800s. The men of VanStarr picked up this idea and began manufacturing the VanStarr Enterprises Arm Chaps to protect the arms of men and women who climb trees either for fun or work.

Made of natural leather, the arm chaps breathes making it cool to wear even in warm weather. It can also be worn unzip for additional cooling. Four colors are readily available –black, tan, light brown, and orange— but you can order custom colors to suit your taste.

In the same manner that the cowboys’ chaps protected their legs, the arm chaps also protects the arms from getting scratched, scraped, cut, or punctured from sharp barks, branches, thorns, or twigs. They also keep your arms shielded from poisonous plants that can cause itching and irritation. And if you happen to meet a small snake along the way to the top of a tree, it won’t be able to bite into your arm. If your hands are also protected with a good pair of gloves, you can even simply brush the little devil away.

Apart from its protective function, the VanStarr Arm Chaps also provides excellent wrist support without impeding your finger movements. This is especially useful for tree professionals who may have to carry and operate a load of equipment with them as they ascend the trees. Even amateur climbers can also benefit from the wrist support as they may need to pull their weights up or throw a line as high as they could.

Gloves can be worn over the arm chaps, and if you are wearing long-sleeved shirt, the chaps can be worn over them. This will protect your shirt preventing it from getting snagged and torn on the branches. Of course it will also protect you as getting it caught will impede your movements.

Designed for professionals whose hands are exposed to risk of abrading or even cutting them while at work, the Timberland Pro Taktyl Gloves not only provides excellent protection but also comfort and even style. Tree climbers, whether professional or amateurs, can also use Taktyl gloves as their hands are also vulnerable to injury.

The palm and fourchettes of the gloves consist of flexible and thin polyurethane microfibers. While polyurethane can assume different degrees of stiffness, densities, and hardness, in this case it is somewhere between a soft solid and a low-density elastomer. This means that it is tough yet pliable and resilient, thus it does not affect manual dexterity and that it is not subject to distortion. As it is thin, you can actually feel the texture of the object you are handling yet you are assured that it will not penetrate into your bare hands.

The back of the gloves in made of the synthetic fiber Lycra. This fiber rivals natural rubber in elasticity, but it is stronger and sturdier. This further assures that your hands are in no way restricted in their movements. A breathable water-repellent laminate coats the glove’s back and keeps the hands dry even in wet weather.

A self-fastening elastic wrist secures the gloves and prevents it from getting snagged on the tree branches or twigs or your climbing gear.

For ease of washing, the Timberland Pro Taktyl Gloves can be thrown into a washing machine. It is available in sizes ranging from 7 to 11, but only in the color black.

Combining the latest technologies and products from different sources, the Ringers Rope Rescue Gloves offers superior protection for your hands in comfort and style.

The gloves’ rope control channel is padded with gel assuring a soft feel but tight grip on ropes. The palm is made of water-resistant Pittards leather. In addition to keeping your hands dry, it also provides excellent insulation keeping them warm when it is cold or cool when it is warm.

Pittards employs a new technology called Armortan in the preparation of its leather products. Armortan is a chemical process that encases the fibril bundles that make up leather in microscopic ceramic armor plates. The result is that leather is rendered extremely resistant to abrasion even after prolonged use and abuse. It is this type of leather that is used for the palm of the Ringers Rope Rescue Gloves.

The palm and fingertips include patches of Clarino synthetic leather. Clarino is a synthetic velour with a structure similar to calf leather. These are useful in damp conditions as they are not slippery even when wet.

The components of the gloves are stitched with Kevlar for a tough binding. Neoprene pads protect the knuckles in the event that you accidentally knock on something hard or solid, while the wrist is secured by a non-binding elastic.

Perhaps most important is that the gloves maintain finger dexterity. You do not need to remove them to manipulate your climbing gear or tie your ropes into intricate knots.

The Ringers Rope Rescue Gloves are available in red or black.

Our hands are our chief means of managing and influencing our physical environment. It therefore behooves us to protect them from needless harm or injury, or from exposing them to unnecessary risks. When climbing trees, there is always the possibility of cutting or scraping them when grabbing branches, and burning them when rappelling. These can be avoided by wearing a pair of Timberland Pro ExtraGrip Gloves.

The gloves are made of a combination of materials with different characteristics positioned exactly where they are most needed. Since it is the palmar aspect of the hand that absorbs the pressure of gripping an object, this part is made of soft-grain goat leather. It is also water-repellent keeping moisture at bay. Rubber reinforcements are incorporated on the palms and fingers providing a non-slip grip and abrasion-resistance.

The back of the glove is made of Lycra, thus it is expandable, flexible, and breathable. This prevents clammy hands that could come from sweating or apprehensions about falling off the tree. A water-repellent laminate coats the fabric which prevents moisture seeping into the gloves from outside.

The glove’s wrist is elasticized snugly wrapping your wrist with its self-fastening strap. This avoids the possibility of getting it snagged on your carabiners, ascenders, descenders, or any other gear, and on the tree itself.

The components of the Timberland Pro ExtraGrip Gloves are sewn together to produce a comfortable fit and at the same time maintaining dexterity. The rubber reinforcements are double-stitched for more secure attachments.

The gloves are available in black and light khaki, in sizes from 7 to 11.

Tree climbing ropes may be soft but they can burn your palms when rappelling. Also, when you are up in the trees you may have to grab a branch or twig for support. These, of course, can be rough and sometimes even thorny. It is for this reason that you need to wear protective gloves when you climb trees.

A good pair of gloves that is durable, tough, and lightweight and that provides excellent protection without affecting dexterity is the Atlas 370 Nitrile Palmtech Gloves. The gloves are made of nylon with a seamless knit that assures a comfortable wear. It is coated with nitrile rubber which is stronger and more durable than natural rubber. Nitrile also makes the Atlas 370 flexible even up to the fingertips thus allowing you to knot your ropes and work your carabiners and ascenders without the difficulty that often comes from wearing gloves.

The Atlas 370 guarantees good grip even when wet and slippery. It also resists stains, dirt, and contamination. The wrist is elasticized wrapping your wrist snugly to prevent its getting caught on your climbing gears.

Eye protection is important in most outdoor sports and activities as prolonged exposure to the sun can damage the eyes. If your sport involves dust and debris such as leaves, twigs, or barks of trees, and insects, protective eyewear becomes even more important. If you are looking for a good pair of sunglasses for tree climbing, consider the Oakley Polarized Flak Jacket Sunglasses.

The Polarized Flak Jacket is designed to block intense and blinding glare that could cause discomfort and even damage to the eyes through its Iridium® lens coating. Often, glare is magnified by pavement, snow, and water which are common sights for tree climbers. Its Plutonite® lens material, on the other hand, completely blocks UVA, UVB, and UVC protecting the eyes from their harmful effects.

With Oakley’s Three-Point-Fit, the Flak Jacket is guaranteed to provide a secure and comfortable wear. Every pair of sunglasses comes with two nose pads allowing you to choose which has a better feel. These are made of Unobtanium® which increases grip with perspiration. The stem sleeves, also made of the same material, are lightweight and thus do not exert uncomfortable pressure above the ears.

The lenses are permanently coated with hydro- and oleo-phobic materials that resist the build up of water, oil, and even sweat on the lenses. This means smudge-free sunglasses providing you with clear vision at all times. The coating also eliminates static electricity which means that dust and dirt won’t cling to the lenses.

Since the lenses do not have rims at the bottom, you have an unobstructed view of what is below you, a feature useful to tree climbers who need to know if there is a branch they can rest their feet on.

Oakley Polarized Flak Jacket Sunglasses frames are colored jet black, polished rootbeer, silver, and black chrome. Lenses, on the other hand, are black, gold, ice, and tungsten. You can have any combination you want, or you may purchase a single frame and several lenses as they are easily interchangeable.