I'm not a rock climber but I work in an open pit mine, hiking over steep piles of large broken rocks. Most leather gloves are poorly fitted and have awful breathability. I wanted something lighter that still provided sufficient protection - and these are the best I've tried so far. The XL fit super well (6'3", large build) - not too tight but definitely snug with the velcro cuff. The padded, leather grip-side of the glove is dead on perfect for working around rocks - providing the safety I need. The mesh back provides great ventilation so my hands don't get sweaty and uncomfortable on hot days. The gloves also have a little bit of padding around the knuckles which is a thoughtful addition I haven't seen on similar gloves - short of gloves that have motorcycle style crazy levels of padding.