a main body portion comprising a palm portion that at least approximates the size and shape or a palm portion of a hand, and an opening at the base of the glove that is adapted to have a hand, comprising a thumb and at least one finger, inserted therethrough into the interior of the glove;

finger portions, comprising finger and thumb elements, extending away from the main body portion, wherein the length of at least one finger portion is shorter than the length of a finger that is adapted to be contained within that finger portion, wherein said finger and thumb elements, respectively, substantially surround at least a portion of said fingers and thumb, respectively;

an overlay strip disposed on a palm side of said glove and positioned over said palm portion, over a palm directed base of said thumb element, and over a portion of said thumb element disposed away from said palm portion wherein said overlay strip is made of a material that is adapted to withstand substantial abrasion by being in sliding contact with a rappelling rope and is of a size such that when the gloved hand is holding a rappelling rope, at least a majority portion of said rappelling rope contacts said overlay strip;

padding disposed in at least a plurality of substantially discrete pouches transverse to said palm portion; wherein said discrete pouches containing said padding comprise said overlay strip attached to said palm portion along a plurality of areas that are transverse to said palm portion, and

a flap extending between said overlay strip and a location between the proximal and distal ends of said finger portions.