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Gloves and mittens
are some of the most important accessories for skiing or snowboarding. Choosing
the right pair may seem straightforward, but there are some important differences
and numb fingers can completely ruin a day in the mountains. Gloves that are
specifically designed for skiing and snowboarding have the warmth, dryness, and
features necessary for a day in the mountains. This guide will help you
understand the different materials that make up each part of the glove as well
as explain some other features that you may want to consider before making your
purchase.
Gloves vs. Mittens, Warmth, Shell
Material, Membrane, Insulation, Lining, Size and Fit
Gloves vs. Mittens
This is your first decision. Do you
prefer the dexterity of gloves or the warmth of mittens? There aregloves and
mitts for all occasions and conditions, and manufacturers will often make both
gloves and misconstruction and materials.
Mittens generally
provide more warmth because your fingers will share one compartment and
generate more heat that way, as opposed to being separated like in a glove.
However, mittens limit mobility in certain circumstances and may have to be
removed to access your pockets, answer your phone or adjust your goggle strap
while on the slopes (to be fair, you might have to take off your gloves to do
these things as well). You'll also find 3-finger hybrids (sometimes called
"lobster mitts") that fall between gloves and mittens. While mittens
were once considered the sign of a gaper, some elite level athletes
prefer them for comfort reasons.
Much like a jacket, gloves and
mittens are made up of several components that help keep you protected, dry,
and warm. These are the shell material, membrane, insulation, lining, and palm.
Warmth
Gloves and mittens
vary in the amount of warmth they provide. It is important to find a pair that
fits your personal needs. If you are skiing or snowboarding in warmer
conditions, you'll probably want gloves or mittens that aren't too warm but
have good waterproofing.
On the other hand,
if you ride in colder conditions you'll need warmer gloves. The amount of
warmth you need varies from person to person.
Some people tend to
get cold hands while others seem to stay warm in any conditions. Glove warmth
is dictated by the type of shell material, type and amount of insulation, and
how waterproof and breathable a glove's membrane is.As you will read below, dry
gloves equal warm gloves, and to be dry, a glove must breathe.
Shell Material
Synthetics
Most ski and
snowboard gloves and mittens start with a body of synthetic fabric, usually
nylon. High quality models use waterproof breathable fabric,
and utilize a
membrane or coating of ePTFE (expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as
Teflon®) or PU (Polyurethane). GORE-TEX® models include a separate ePTFE insert
between the outer fabric and the insulation layer.
Waterproof
breathable fabrics come in both hard and softshell versions, and both are used
for gloves and mittens. Usually these fabrics are combined with leather or
synthetic protective materials in high abrasion areas like the palms and
fingers.
Leather
Leather is the
tried-and-true material for gloves and mittens. Leather is normally cowhide or
goatskin, can be more durable and pliable than nylon materials and is naturally
water-resistant.
With a combination
of treated leather (leather that has had grease, wax, or resin added to it) and
a micro porous membrane, leather gloves can be waterproof, windproof and warm.
When maintained properly with leather waterproofing treatments, these gloves
can last for years.
Membrane
Wet hands quickly
become cold hands. The major cause of wet gloves is actually your own
perspiration and lack of breathability from the inside of the glove or mitt.
In a waterproof
breathable glove or mitten, the membrane is placed between the outer shell and
the insulation and has microscopic pores too small to let liquid water enter
but large enough to allow water vapor (sweat) to escape.
How waterproof and
breathable a glove is depends primarily on the membrane.
There are many good
waterproofing materials used in ski glove membranes. Here are some of the more
common membranes:
GORE-TEX®
GORE-TEX® membranes
for gloves and mittens are an insert placed between the outer shell and
insulation. They typically offer the highest level of waterproof breathability
for ski and snowboard hand wear.
Hipora®
Gloves made with
Hipora® fabrics are waterproof, windproof and breathable with a polyurethane
(PU) coating, which is famous for being more stretchable than other PU
coatings.
It has microscopic
pores all over the polyurethane coating to prevent liquid water penetration,
yet allow moisture
to evaporate out.
Polyurethane
Most
waterproof/breathable fabrics have a laminated membrane or coating made of
polyurethane (PU). PU coated fabrics make up a large portion of the glove and
mitten market,
offering a good
combination of waterproof breathability and cost. Many manufacturers offer
their own proprietary PU membrane,
and combine this
fabric with leather or synthetic materials in high wear areas.
WINDSTOPPER®
Gore WINDSTOPPER®
fabric is made with an ePTFE membrane that it is only windproof and breathable,
not waterproof. By combining durable wind protection and high breathability,
this type of ski
and snowboard glove will keep you warm and comfortable with fewer layers and
less bulk and is suitable for cold and dry climates. Like most soft shell
fabrics,
WINDSTOPPER®
products are typically coated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent), which
provides them with a modest degree of water resistance. They may wet through in
heavy rainfall but can be worn comfortably in light drizzle.
Insulation
Finding a ski glove
with the proper insulation is very important. Properly insulated gloves provide
superior warmth and breathability, without restricting movement or compromising
fit.
The conditions and
temperatures you ski in as well as how warm or cold your hands run will
determine how much insulation you require, and you may want to consider more
than one pair if you ski in varying temperatures. Also, just because a pair of
ski gloves is thicker does not necessarily mean that it is going to be warmer.
Here are some
different types of insulation found in gloves:
Primaloft®
Primaloft® uses a
patented synthetic microfiber insulation material to help the body retain
warmth and conserve energy. This is a very good insulation choice if wet
conditions are expected. Primaloft® is not as warm as down by weight, but it’s
breathable, compressible, water resistant and provides good insulation even
when wet.
Thinsulate™
Made of unique
ultra thin microfibers, 3M™ Thinsulate™ insulation provides excellent
insulating properties with less bulk, making it ideal for use in glove and
mittens where dexterity is a priority.
Lining
The lining is an
extra layer of material built into ski gloves to create a comfortable feel,
increasing warmth and comfort. Lining material will vary depending on the brand
and glove. Fleece and wool are two examples.
Typically the
lining uses a synthetic material that has moisture-wicking qualities to help
pull sweat away from your skin and pass it through the membrane.
You may also want
to consider separate glove liners. They fit inside of an exterior shell glove
as an extra layer of protection against those chillier days,
giving you the
ability to add warmth when needed. Some gloves come with their own removable
liners.
Size and Fit
It’s important that
your gloves or mittens fit you properly. Properly sized gloves or mitts provide
greater dexterity, warmth and comfort. For the best performance, a proper
fitting glove should fit snugly and allow enough room at the end of
outstretched fingers for you to pinch about a quarter of an inch of fabric.
Also, make sure your palm is completely inside the cuff so your wrist remains
covered. When you make a fist, the fit shouldn’t be so tight that is constricts
your fingers from curving fully. Manufacturers use different numeric and letter
sizing systems to measure hand wear, normally measuring the circumference
around the widest part of the hand in inches or centimeters, so consult their
sizing chart when buying.
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