Black Diamond Tour Ski Glove Review
The Black Diamond Tour Glove is a purpose-built tool for backcountry skiers who value precision over all-out warmth. It’s about as stripped-down as a ski glove gets while still offering meaningful protection, pairing a goatskin leather shell with a light fleece liner and streamlined hook-and-loop cuff closure. The result is a glove that can handle high-output skin-track ascents and excels during transitions or technical rope work when you’d rather not take your gloves off. However, with just a lightweight fleece liner for insulation and no waterproof membrane, the Tour will quickly reach its ceiling once you stop moving or the weather turns. It’s not a one-glove solution, but for uphill travel, transitions, and the other myriad demands of ski mountaineering or backcountry skiing, it’s a functional, lightweight option.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
Waterproofing
N/A
Shell
Leather/synthetic
Cuff style
Under cuff
Liner
Fixed
Pros
Cons
Black Diamond Tour
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Ski Gloves.
Built for the high-output demands of backcountry touring, the Black Diamond Tour Gloves offer fairly minimal warmth. The design is simple: a lightweight (150g) fleece liner, a leather shell, and the small pocket of air in between—there’s no true insulation. On the spectrum of ski glove warmth, they land just above a liner and below anything with dedicated insulation. They’re similar to a thick leather work glove—something many skiers (myself included) reach for in the spring—but with a slightly cozier feel. Overall, these are best thought of as a minimalist touring glove for high-output use, not a true cold-weather solution.
I found the Black Diamond Tour Gloves to be nearly perfect for uphill travel in temperatures ranging from the single digits to the mid-twenties. I tend to run hot and am usually reluctant to wear gloves on the skin track, but I was glad to have them during a frigid week of backcountry skiing in the Tetons. They took the edge off the cold and wind without feeling overbuilt, which is exactly what I want for uphill travel or technical moments where I’m reaching for an ice tool but still want some protection on my hands.
That said, there’s a clear ceiling to their warmth. In near-zero temps—especially after building up some sweat on the climb and then transitioning into a windy descent—they weren’t enough to keep my hands from going numb. For that reason, in anything but warm spring conditions, I’ll always bring a dedicated “descent” glove as well. On the flip side, around freezing, I found that the Tours were a bit too much glove during sustained uphill efforts, leading to sweaty hands that only made things colder once I slowed down.
The Black Diamond Tour Gloves are best described as “waterproof-ish.” There’s no dedicated waterproof membrane—protection comes entirely from the leather shell, which can resist moisture when properly treated. Black Diamond includes a packet of Nikwax, and keeping up with that treatment is key to maintaining any real water resistance. The experience is very similar to classic leather work gloves like Kincos: Keep them well waxed and they’ll hold up fine, but let them dry out or neglect the treatment and they’ll soak through quickly.
In testing, I mostly stayed within the gloves’ comfort zone. They handled dry snow well, shedding light moisture without issue, but I avoided using them in wet snow or rain whenever possible. In those conditions, I’d typically swap to something more protective—often even a simple rubber option like the Showa Temres 282-02—rather than push the Tours beyond their limits.
Ihe Black Diamond Tour Gloves excel in dexterity thanks to their close fit and low-profile design, which leaves very little material between your hands and whatever you’re gripping. Articulated shaping helps the glove move naturally with the hand, and the seam placement—pushed to the edges of the finger pads—also helps with fine motor control. All told, they’re one of my favorite gloves to have on my hands when I’m trying to toggle zippers, adjust buckles and helmet straps, and swap goggle lenses without exposing my skin to the cold.
There’s no touchscreen compatibility, but that feels like a fair trade given how well the gloves perform in just about every other hands-on task. The lightweight goatskin leather is impressively soft right out of the box, requiring little break-in time, though it does continue to mold to your hands with use, improving both feel and function over time.
Compared to other ski gloves I’ve used, the Tour Gloves fall right in line with options like the Outdoor Research Stormtracker and classic Kinco leather work gloves. They offer that same minimalist, second-skin feel—one of the best setups for touring days when dexterity matters just as much as protection.
The Black Diamond Tour is a very comfortable glove, thanks to its minimal bulk and soft, moisture-wicking fleece liner. At the wrist, a gusseted opening creates a snug seal that helps trap warmth, while a stretchy panel makes the gloves easy to pull on and off. Thoughtful touches round things out, including a patch of rough-out leather on the thumbs that adds a softer, more absorbent surface for wiping your nose or goggles.
I do have one small gripe with the Tour’s construction. The corners of the “hook” portion of the Velcro wrist tab are fairly sharp and sit close to the edge of the fabric tab, which means they can rub against bare skin inside the cuff of a jacket if they’re not perfectly aligned with the “loop” patch. I ran into this same issue with the Black Diamond Spark, and it’s carried over here. Some days I don’t notice it at all, but other days it’s noticeable enough to leave a small abrasion on my skin.
Compared to other gloves I’ve used, the Tours feel noticeably more comfortable than my linerless leather Kincos, thanks to the added fleece lining. They also edge out something like the Outdoor Research Stormtracker, with a slightly cozier interior feel and a thinner, lighter leather shell. Overall, it’s a well-executed design that adds just enough comfort without compromising the glove’s minimalist, high-dexterity intent.
The Black Diamond Tour Gloves use quality materials and thoughtful construction. The main body is built with supple goatskin leather across the palm and fingers, with nylon through the wrist to allow flexibility for getting the hand in and out. And there’s clear attention to detail in the design: Articulated shaping helps the glove move naturally with the hand, and the seams between leather and nylon are reinforced for added strength.
After about 20 days of use, the gloves have held up well to general mountain wear. They’ve handled pushing hard on bindings and buckles without issue, and I haven’t seen any tearing despite routinely brushing snow off ski bases or scrambling over sharp rocks between patches. As a lightweight touring and work glove, they’ve proven capable so far.
Looking ahead, though, I have some concerns. The goatskin leather is extremely soft—great for dexterity, but it tends to abrade and “fuzz up” faster than thicker, more durable hides, which can lead to increased water absorption over time. Compared to other gloves I’ve used, the leather is also on the thinner side, making me question how it will hold up over multiple seasons. Finally, while there’s no insulation to pack out, the fleece liner will likely lose some of its loft and softness with heavy use, similar to a well-worn sweatshirt. The Tour won’t last as many seasons as a leather work glove, but some will be willing to make the tradeoff for its added comfort and out-of-the-box dexterity.
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Longevity
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PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
PFAS-Free Waterproof Membrane
The membranes used in waterproof products such as rain jackets, ski jackets, and shoes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are valued for their resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product’s waterproof membrane is PFAS-free, while a red X means it contains PFAS.
Responsible Leather
Responsible leather is typically sourced from suppliers certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), a third-party nonprofit that evaluates tanneries on factors such as water and energy use, chemical and waste management, emissions, traceability, and worker safety, and assigns ratings ranging from Bronze to Gold. A green check mark indicates a product uses responsibly sourced leather, a yellow check mark indicates the brand sources responsible leather for the majority of its products but does not specify it at the product level, and a red X indicates the product does not use responsibly sourced leather.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
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Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
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The Black Diamond Tour Gloves keep things simple, with a streamlined feature set that aligns well with their minimalist, touring-focused design. The low-profile undercuff slides easily under a ski jacket sleeve, and I’ve found the wide Velcro tab at the wrist easy to grab and adjust—even with the other glove already on. Paired with an elasticized wrist gasket, it does a solid job sealing in warmth. Finally, a small pull loop at the base of the wrist makes the gloves easy to get on, especially when my hands are cold or slightly damp.
For storage and organization, each glove features a small buckle that lets you clip the two together when not in use—a feature I especially appreciate on overnight trips, when hanging them up to dry by the fire. I’ve found the gloves to be fairly quick-drying despite lacking a removable liner, thanks to their streamlined construction. Each glove also includes a loop on the middle finger for clipping to a carabiner, allowing you to carry them aperture-down on a pack or hipbelt to keep snow from sneaking inside during transitions or bootpacks.
I typically fall between a medium and large in ski gloves—mediums tend to feel tight through the palm, while larges often leave a bit too much room in the fingers (for reference, my hand measures 8 inches from the base of the wrist to the tip of my middle finger). I went with a size large in the Tour Gloves and was glad I did. The fit is snug through the palm with a precise, dialed-in feel in the fingers, which translates directly to strong dexterity. This isn’t a glove you’ll want to layer underneath—they’re simply not made for that—so I recommend sizing for a close fit that encourages dexterity without being overly snug.
Black Diamond fully revamped its Tour lineup for the 2025–2026 season, which now includes the Tour, Tour Pro, and Tour LT. The Tour Pro ($130) steps things up in both warmth and overall quality, pairing a 150-gram blended wool liner with a stretchy, more streamlined cuff that ditches the hook-and-loop closure. At the other end of the spectrum, the Tour LT ($90) takes an even more minimalist approach, with a thinner fleece lining and a very sleek cuff. Unlike the Tour and Tour Pro, however, the LT’s cuff is so low-profile that it won’t fit over even a thin base layer or midlayer, making it the most pared-down option in the lineup.
Outdoor Research Stormtracker Sensor Windbloc ($79): Ye Ol’ Faithful
The Outdoor Research Stormtracker Sensor Windbloc has long been a go-to for backcountry skiers who want a lightly insulated glove with strong dexterity. Compared to the Tour, it fits a bit more snugly, and the nylon softshell back adds a noticeable boost in breathability. With less leather in the build, it likely won’t last as long as the Tour, although it's held up very well for us—we just retired a pair after almost a decade of consistent winter use. One of the biggest differences comes at the wrist: the Stormtracker uses a zippered closure rather than a Velcro cuff. It’s a clean, secure design that we’ve come to love, and we’ve never had issues operating the zipper with gloves on. All told, the Stormtracker is a time-tested, breathable workhorse for $21 less than the Tour.
Rab Khroma Tour Windstopper ($110): Better Materials and Construction
Serious backcountry enthusiasts should have the Rab Khroma Tour Windstopper high on their list. These gloves exude quality, from the Pittards leather to the stretchy softshell back and wrist panels and outseams along the fingers for better fit and dexterity. In a side-by-side comparison with the Black Diamond Tour, the Khroma Tour feels more dialed—fitting better, moving more naturally, and showing a higher level of attention to detail. That said, it’s a bit warmer and bulkier, and lacks the Tour’s large pull-on loop—a small feature, but one that adds significant convenience. If you’re after complete waterproof protection, Rab’s Khroma Tour Gore-Tex Gloves ($150) are worth a look.
The Tour is a leather glove with minimal insulation, ideal for high-output skin-track ascents in below-freezing conditions. However, the glove relies on leather for waterproofing (meaning you’ll have to keep up with regular maintenance), and you’ll want to bring a warmer option for the descent.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
Let us introduce you to one of our favorite gloves for backcountry skiing. The Khroma Tour features a supple shell, pre-curved fingers, and out-sewn seams that contribute to a refined fit and great dexterity. Just be sure you know what you’re getting: These gloves are not fully waterproof and only use thin fleece insulation.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
One of Hestra’s most popular ski gloves, the Heli is dexterous, comfortable, and made with premium materials. However, it’s not fully waterproof, so we don’t recommend it for those who routinely get out in wet conditions.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
Is the Black Diamond Tour for You?
The Black Diamond Tour Glove is built for high-output backcountry skiers who need a lightweight, dexterous option for the skin track. It’s especially well-suited to skiers and ski mountaineers who think in systems—wearing a breathable, moisture-wicking glove on the ascent and swapping to a warmer pair for the descent. The close fit and excellent dexterity make it ideal for technical moments, including adjusting bindings, handling skins, or even reaching for an ice tool.
That said, it’s not a one-glove quiver. If you run cold, ski primarily inbounds, or frequently deal with wet, stormy conditions, the Tour will feel undergunned. The lack of insulation and limited waterproofing mean you’ll almost certainly want something warmer and more protective in your pack.
Go for it if you want a lightweight, high-dexterity glove for high-output use in below-freezing conditions. Just make sure you bring a warmer glove for the descent, too.
Pass on it if you need a do-it-all ski glove, prioritize warmth and weather protection, or prefer a roomier fit with layering options.
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