Alright, let’s talk about these Black Diamond Kingpin gloves. My old pair finally bit the dust after years of abuse, mostly just shoveling snow and winter hiking, nothing too crazy. I needed something sturdy, something that felt like it could take a beating but wasn’t like, expedition-level bulky. I saw these Kingpins around, they looked simple enough, kinda classic.
So I picked up a pair. First thing I noticed? The leather palm felt pretty solid, grippy even. Seemed like it would hold up. Slipping them on, they felt snug, maybe a bit stiff right out of the box, but that’s pretty normal for new gloves, especially with leather. The cuff wasn’t super long, which I actually prefer sometimes, easier to get on and off without messing with jacket sleeves too much.
Putting them to the test
The first real test was a cold morning, probably just below freezing, clearing the driveway. My hands stayed warm, which was the main thing, obviously. Didn’t feel much wind cutting through either. They weren’t super nimble, though. Trying to grab small things like keys out of my pocket was a bit clumsy. That stiffness I felt initially? Yeah, it was still there. I figured they just needed breaking in.
I used them pretty regularly after that for a few months. Here’s what I found:
- Warmth: Decent for moderately cold days. Like, down to maybe 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6C)? Any colder than that, especially if I wasn’t moving much, my fingertips started feeling it. They weren’t the warmest gloves I’ve ever owned, but okay for general use.
- Durability: The leather held up really well. Scraping ice, grabbing rough branches, no rips or serious scuffs. The stitching seems solid too. That part felt reliable.
- Dexterity: This never really got great. Even after breaking them in, they stayed kinda bulky in the fingers. Forget about using a phone screen or doing anything fiddly. Just basic stuff like gripping poles or a shovel handle was fine.
- Water resistance: Okay in light snow or brief rain, but they aren’t really waterproof. Handling wet snow for a while, they definitely started to get damp inside. Not soaked immediately, but not dry either.
One time I was out for a longer hike, started snowing pretty heavily. They got wet after maybe an hour or so of brushing off snowy branches and whatnot. Took forever to dry out back home too. That was a bit annoying.
So, the bottom line for me? They’re tough, simple gloves. Good for work tasks in the cold or maybe spring skiing days when it’s not bitter. The leather palm is definitely the strong point. But they aren’t super warm for really cold weather, and don’t expect amazing dexterity. They did the job I needed them for, mostly, but I wouldn’t call them amazing all-rounders. Just a solid, basic leather glove that keeps your hands reasonably warm for a lot of typical winter stuff. If you need something super warm or really waterproof, you gotta look elsewhere. But for a durable workhorse? Yeah, they’re okay. That’s just my experience with them, anyway.
