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Columbia Cliff Grabber
- ColumbiaCliffGrabber
What It Is
The Columbia Cliff Grabber Gloves is an uninsulated, waterproof/breathable spring ski glove, made with polyurethane synthetic suede, nylon and polyester, with Omni-Heat reflective lining technology and a neoprene cuff.
Retail Price: $95
70
- 95-100 Extremely high recommendation.
- 90-94 Enthusiastically recommended. Exceptional.
- 80-89 Highly recommended - few reservations.
- 70-79 Recommended. Standard performance.
- 60-69 Fair. Recommended for certain uses.
- 50-59 Poor. Not recommended in general.
The Good |
The Bad |
The Verdict |
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These gloves worked well enough for touring, other than some sweaty wrists during warm conditions, but there are less expensive gloves that work as well or better. |
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Construction
The Cliff Grabber gloves had Columbia’s metallic-looking proprietary Omni-Heat reflective lining that reflects heat back to your hands, and they were warmer than I might have expected from an uninsulated glove. Outdry waterproof/breathable membrane technology, laminated directly to the outer shell, did a good job of moisture management. Generously cut polyurethane synthetic suede covered the palms and finger fronts. The rest of the shell was nylon (stretch for the most part) and there was a nose wipe patch on the back. The neoprene cuffs fit comfortably, went on easily, and went under sleeves easily but they were unlined which caused some sweatiness in warmer temperatures.
Grip and Dexterity
The synthetic suede on the Cliff Grabbers had very good grip and dexterity, hanging on to poles and tools was easy as was working with equipment.
Durability
I didn’t have any premature wear or durability issues during the test, the material and seams held up very well. Unlike real suede, the synthetic suede dried quickly when it got wet.
Warmth and Comfort
The Omni-Heat lining didn’t look like it would be comfortable against my skin, but I was surprised how good it felt. The lining fit well and didn’t bunch up when I put the gloves on over wet hands.
Weight: 108 g/3.8 oz/pair for size medium as tested.
How We Tested It
I used the gloves mainly for ski touring, but I also took them out for spring downhill skiing and patrol work. They got around two weeks of day-to-day use. To give them a thorough durability test I brought the gloves to work and my co-workers and I passed them around. We used the gloves hauling and putting up ropes, slat fences, rescue toboggans, signs and firewood, clearing runs, operating snowmobiles and lift evacuation gear and dealing with things at accident scenes. The temperatures ranged from around 30 to 45 degrees F in clear and occasionally stormy weather. Waterproofness was double-checked by dunking a gloved hand into a bucket of water.
The products featured in this test have been loaned to the Gear Institute. For more on our policies regarding editorial objectivity and sample returns, see here.
Ready to Purchase?
Retailer |
Product Name |
Price |
| Backcountry.com | Columbia Cliff Grabber II Glove - Men's | $56.97 |
| Amazon.com | Columbia Men's Cliff Grabber Glove (Black, Medium) | $56.97 |
* When you use links above to make your purchase, a portion of the sale helps support Gear Institute.
Ratings
Warmth
5
10
Grip
6
10
Dexterity
6
10
Durability
5
10
Features & Design
3
10
Value
5
10
Gear Institute Rating (Total Score)
70
100
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