Let me ask you—how many hours have you spent taping your hands before a climb, only for it to wear off far too soon and leave your hands broken and calloused?
As an enthusiastic rock climber myself, let me tell you: this is an experience climbers have more than their fair share with. So take it from me—it’s not a good feeling. Because of that, it’s not difficult to see that while taping hands is important, it’s not enough.
Not if you’re looking for superior protection anyway. The good news is that there are options available. For those wanting to keep their hands looking and feeling great without sacrificing grip, gloves may be a solid option.
And while multiple glove brands exist on the market, today I want to focus on one popular option: the Ocun Crack Gloves. If you’ve been looking for a great pair of gloves, it’s likely that you’ve had these on your radar. At the very least, many experienced rock climbers have heard of this renowned brand.
But do they live up to the hype? Should you be investing in the Ocun Crack Gloves, or would your time (and money) be better spent elsewhere?
Join me as I take an in-depth look at the Ocun Crack Gloves and give you the honest review you need—from one climber to another.
What Are Crack Gloves?
If you haven’t used crack gloves before, now may be the time to start. With the right pair of crack gloves, you can start giving your hands the protection they deserve.
Despite their utility, crack gloves have been met with opposition by some. These traditionalists prefer tape, claiming that those who rely on crack gloves are, in essence, cheating. Don’t let this thinking influence your purchasing decision.
As always, the best decisions you can make while rock climbing pertain to your own safety and well-being—as well as that of your partners. And in many ways, the right pair of crack gloves can help provide the superior protection your hands need for you to stay safe and comfortable while on the rocks.
These gloves are designed specifically for rock climbers who don’t have much success taping their hands. A powerful alternative, crack gloves often prove safer and more comfortable for the wearer.
The tricky part is finding the right pair. With this in mind, lets dive in and see just what you should expect to find in a pair of quality crack gloves. Then, we’ll look at the Ocun Crack Gloves and see how they compare.
What Makes a Good Pair of Crack Gloves?
The right pair of crack gloves has several features that you’re going to want. Join me as I break down the characteristics that define quality crack gloves.
- Protection
When it comes to crack gloves, protection should be your number one priority. Think of it this way—gloves work like shoes for your hands.
And you wouldn’t buy a pair of climbing shoes that scratched your feet up, would you? Hopefully not.
As you can imagine, the protection that gloves provide can be attributed to two main factors—the material they’re made from and their design. With the right combination of these factors, you can get a durable pair of crack gloves that will keep you safer on the rocks.
But while this is the primary concern you should have when buying crack gloves, it’s certainly not the only one. Instead, be sure to consider the following factors, as well.
- Grip
Try to picture the most protective crack gloves you can. Do you have that image in your mind? Great—now let’s examine it.
If you’re going for super protection, it’s likely that the gloves you just thought of are deep, padded, and—let’s face it—bulky. And while that may be good for keeping your hands well-protected, its not doing much for your grip.
When you’re too bundled up, it’s hard to move. (Think: Ralphie’s brother from A Christmas Story—yeah, you don’t want that to be you on the rocks.)
Because of this, crack gloves must work to balance their protective capabilities with a strong grip. Again, this come from the material used—what kind and how much of it. A strong, durable, flexible fiber proves optimal, as it allows for adequate stretching while still protecting the hands from sharp rocks, crags, and corners.
- Weight
Similarly, you’ll want to make sure that the gloves you’re using aren’t too bulky for another reason—their weight. If you’ve gone climbing before, you already know how important it is to keep weight down. And while this does prove more important for some climbers than for others, it’s a great general rule of thumb for climbers to live by.
Again, if you’ve got a glove that’s made from the wrong material and is overly bulk, you’re going to run into problems. Not only are you going to end up with a glove that’s got poor grip, you’re going to have one that’s too weighty too.
And that’s typically not a good idea.
By choosing the right glove, you can make your trip easier by eliminating unnecessary burdens.
- Fit
Finally, you’re going to want to invest in a pair of gloves that fits you. Though this may seem obvious, it’s worth noting for several reasons.
One, climbers who tend to not take enough time to measure their hands may wind up with a glove that’s a bit too big or too small. When this happens, you’re sacrificing your safety by decreasing your grip and the gloves’ effectiveness.
Likewise, some glove companies may tend to size their products slightly larger than some others. For this reason, it’s absolutely critical that you take time to read the reviews of different customers. You’ll be surprised at just how often you find customers who say that despite measuring their size, still received a glove that was either too big or too small. If this complaint is common, consider adjusting your glove size accordingly to ensure that you get the fit that’s right for you.
Again—you wouldn’t want to wear shoes that don’t fit, would you? The same principle applies here. By securing the right fit, you’ll maximize your gloves’ utility and give yourself more freedom, power, and flexibility on the rocks. And at the end of the day, that’s what a great pair of crack gloves should be able to give you.
With this in mind, it’s time to take a look at what we’ve all been waiting for—the Ocun Crack Gloves. We’ll put these popular gloves to the test to see if they’re really the ones you want to take on your next rock climbing adventure.
How Do the Ocun Crack Gloves Stack Up?
To answer this question, let’s see how well the Ocun Crack Gloves meet the four standards outlined above.
- Protection
Remember, we said that protection is the most important consideration you should make. The good news is that the Ocun Crack Gloves really pull their weight in this category.
Despite having an ultra-thin and lightweight design, the Ocun Crack Gloves provide superior protection. To do this, the gloves make use of a strong suede microfiber that provides both the protection and flexibility necessary to climb for long periods.
With these Ocun gloves, you can reasonably expect that your hands will stay protected while climbing. Even better, you’ll hardly notice that they’re there, and you won’t have to spend twenty minutes taping your hands before you start climbing.
Because of this, you can get superior protection with half the effort—and that’s a win in my book.
- Grip
What’s really great about these Ocun gloves, though, is that they don’t sacrifice grip in favor of protection. Instead, the microfiber material provides great protection even though its thin, giving you a better feel and grip while climbing.
But that’s not all. The gloves are also made with an adhesive rubber that gives you a strong grip on the rocks. This means that you have both the protection and the grip needed to really take your climb to the next level.
And remember—the gloves are so thin that they won’t get in your way while climbing.
- Weight
Because of this, they’re also pretty lightweight. This makes them perfect for those who plan to climb for extended periods, as they can stay on your hands without causing additional fatigue.
So just how light are the Ocun Crack Gloves? Try a measly 57g!
- Fit
Perhaps its weakest area, the Ocun Crack gloves still offer a great fit. In total, the gloves come in five sizes—with an al new size XS. These sizes include XS, S, M, L, and XL, with a sizing chart of 16.5cm, 6.5”; 18.5cm, 7.3”; 20.5cm, 8”; 23.5cm, 9.3”.
Despite this, however, at least one past customer review noted that they had to upscale the size of their gloves after ordering. Because it doesn’t seem to be a common problem, it may not apply to you—just keep this at the back of your mind and be sure to use the sizing chart accurately. This will help prevent any issues with fit that you may experience.
Overall
As we can see, in many ways, the Ocun Crack Gloves are a rock climber’s dream. Not only do they provide one with great protection and grip, but they boast a superior lightweight design and come in a number of sizes, making them available to both men and women.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few final considerations one should know before purchasing.
- Effectiveness
When it comes to doing their job, the Ocun Crack Gloves exceed in just about every category. If you’re looking for great protection while climbing, consider making the Ocun Crack Gloves one of your top options.
- Value
Value can be tricky to calculate. For what they offer, the Ocun Crack Gloves come reasonably-priced and won’t break the bank, so if protection is a must for you, you’ll likely find that they’re worth it.
Drawbacks
While a quality pair of gloves, the Ocun does have some drawbacks. Be sure to consider the following before purchasing.
- Durability
One of the more serious complaints consumers seem to have about the Ocun is that they work great—until they don’t. In other words, despite being high-powered, they can give out relatively quickly.
Or, more specifically, the rubber band on the back of them can, making it impossible to fasten the gloves. While this is not a common complaint, it’s worth considering before making your purchase.
Ocun, for their part, notes that the rubber fastening is in place to prevent the Velcro from coming undone while climbing. In this way, its quite clear that if the rubber does break—say after six months or so—you might be unable to use them safely.
For this reason, be sure that you take proper care of your gloves and look for any signs of wear and tear before you go climbing.
Final Verdict
Should you buy the Ocun Crack Gloves? As I’m fond of saying, it ultimately depends on what you’re looking for.
Those wanting to have a bit of quality protection on their hands, or for those who are simply tired of tape, the answer is most likely yes. As we’ve seen, you get a great value when purchasing these Ocun gloves, as they deliver exactly where they should.
Personally, I’m a fan of gloves that make sure your hands are protected while also giving you an incredible grip. This two-in-one punch is something that many gloves are lacking, so the Ocun Crack Gloves are certainly a pair that you’ll want to consider before your next climb.
Just make sure that you pay special care to getting the right size and that you’re keeping an eye on the rubber in the back. By doing so, you can help minimize the chance that you experience any of the complaints that consumers have had with the gloves.
Be sure to keep this guide in mind as you continue shopping and be sure to check out my other reviews for more detailed information on some of the industry’s hottest climbing gear!
