Backside Line
The REI Fleece Glove (males’s / ladies’s) is a standout amongst our greatest winter gloves for its breathability and flexibility for winter sports activities and actions. Its mid-weight fleece insulation gives sufficient heat for reasonably chilly temperatures and is ideal for cardio outings. We liked backcountry ice skating, cross-country snowboarding, and winter mountain climbing on this glove in temperatures within the twenties.
Whereas not waterproof, the REI Fleece is great for outings the place it is advisable prioritize breathability over climate resistance. The fleece can withhold gentle snow and ice, however rapidly turns into wetted by means of in rain. We used these most on energetic outings the place we weren’t planning to be in inclement climate or having our palms within the snow usually.
At an attainable value level, the REI Fleece is a good possibility for these new to winter outings, or for somebody who wants an informal insulating layer to maintain of their glove field. Its easy but well-thought-out design is dextrous and cozy for all-day use, and we love the touchscreen pads for his or her sturdiness and ease of use.
How We Examined
Out in Alaska’s entrance vary, our resident CleverHiker gear guru, Miles Knotek, put the Smartwool Liner by means of its paces in managed lab assessments and on the paths. He dunked these fleece gloves underwater for 4 stable minutes to see how lengthy they’d hold moisture at bay. However the true proving floor was taking these gloves on adventures in variable winter circumstances.
Fast Specs
REI Fleece Gloves
Snug Fleece Gloves
CleverHiker Ranking:
4.3/5.0
Worth:
$35
Weight:
2.5 oz.
Materials:
Polartec recycled fleece
Contact Display Suitable:
Sure
Area of interest:
Light-weight
Professionals
- Reasonably priced
- Heat for liner
- Breathable
- Good dexterity
- Light-weight
- Packable
Cons
- Not wind/waterproof
- Not as sturdy as some
Consolation & Dexterity
We liked the REI Fleece glove’s mixture of heat and suppleness. We regularly grabbed them throughout shoulder seasons once we weren’t positive if the temperatures have been going to zap our fingers of their pure heat.
Crafted from smooth, midweight fleece, the material feels plush in opposition to the pores and skin, enhancing consolation throughout prolonged put on.
A cosy, ergonomic design gives a detailed match, so we didn’t really feel a lot discount in our potential to make use of our digits. We used these gloves to grip trekking poles, modify zippers, and use touchscreens and so they by no means felt overly cumbersome or cumbersome. Strengthened palm patches add sturdiness and enhance grip. General, these are a pair value packing on most outings.
The gloves additionally characteristic stretchy cuffs, which seal out drafts whereas guaranteeing straightforward on-and-off put on. Light-weight and compact, they match seamlessly into your pack when not in use. With their steadiness of consolation, heat, and mobility, the REI fleece gloves are a dependable selection for anybody who values practicality and efficiency.
Heat
The Polartec fleece materials gives wonderful thermal insulation whereas remaining breathable, stopping overheating throughout exercise. We discovered that these gloves work greatest right down to twenty levels. They excel as a cooler climate glove to put on throughout cardio exercise.
Whereas not designed for excessive chilly, these gloves work effectively on their very own for on a regular basis use or as liners beneath heavier gloves in colder temperatures. In addition they are an amazing possibility for a three-season glove for cooler spring or fall days.
Light-weight and moveable, they’re straightforward to throw in a pack as a lighter possibility or emergency layer.
Moisture Management
The REI fleece gloves have wonderful breathability, making them supreme for energetic pursuits in cooler climate. The midweight fleece permits air to flow into, stopping palms from feeling overly heat or clammy throughout exertion.
The Polartec material wicks sweat away from the pores and skin and permits moisture to evaporate quickly. As you in all probability know, gear that will get heat and moist rapidly turns into chilly and frozen throughout winter actions, so it’s good that these will dry whilst you’re sporting them when you do get sweaty.
Climate Resistance
The REI fleece gloves are usually not those to take out for lengthy outings within the rain or snow. The fleece materials repels gentle moisture, reminiscent of drizzle or frost, and retains our palms dry in mildly damp climate.
Nevertheless, they aren’t absolutely waterproof and can take up water rapidly in heavy rain or snow. On a day spent backcountry ice skating in Alaska, the fleece materials attracted frost and snow to the outer fibers. Whereas this didn’t instantly trigger the gloves to moist by means of, they ultimately did when physique heat precipitated the ice to soften. Throughout our immersion check, they wetted by means of instantly.
These gloves carry out greatest in delicate climate or as a liner underneath extra strong gloves for harsher circumstances. Light-weight and versatile, they adapt effectively to numerous actions with out sacrificing consolation. Whereas they gained’t exchange heavy-duty gear for excessive climate, the REI fleece gloves present dependable safety in opposition to on a regular basis components.
Sturdiness
The REI Fleece Gloves are reasonably sturdy. They’re robust sufficient for on a regular basis put on and outside actions however are usually not our first selection for working in or for actions with heavy contact with vegetation or rocks. The Polartec fleece has resisted piling however exhibits indicators of matting and packing out within the fingers.
Strengthened artificial suede palm patches improve power in high-contact areas, stopping untimely fraying or tearing. The debossed leather-based pull tabs on the cuff are an amazing characteristic for hassle-free pull-on/off and add a component of sturdiness to the gloves.
Whereas not designed for heavy-duty use, these gloves deal with common put on and lightweight abuse successfully.
Ought to You Purchase the REI Fleece Gloves?
We predict everybody ought to have a packable, light-weight glove just like the REI Fleece Gloves. They’ll be the “simply in case” pair to maintain your palms heat throughout cool climate stints, whether or not on a path or operating round city.
Their excessive stage of breathability makes them a superb selection for high-output winter actions like operating or cross-country snowboarding. Whereas they lack any form of resistance to rain and moist climate, they’re most suited to dry winter environments.
Their midweight Polartec fleece is heat for reasonably chilly temperatures right down to about twenty levels. Fairly priced and light-weight, the REI Fleece Gloves are an amazing one to throw within the backside of your pack or your glove field as a backpack-up pair of gloves that may excel in quite a lot of circumstances and settings.
What Different Winter Gloves Ought to You Take into account?
Try our full information to winter gloves.
Outside Analysis Flurry Sensor Overview: With the same development and really feel to the Fleece, the Flurry is one other nice mid-weight possibility.
Smartwool Liner Overview: A real liner, the Smartwool provides light-weight heat for underneath shells or as a stand-alone layer on delicate days.
REI Information Insulated Overview: In the event you’re searching for a barely hotter glove with the efficiency of leather-based, the Information is a good possibility whereas remaining reasonably priced.