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Reviews > Clothing > Gloves and Mittens > Gordini Vector Gloves > Test Report by Gail StaisilGordini Vector GlovesTest Series by: Gail Staisil, Marquette, Michigan Page Contents: Initial Report: February 15, 2009 Tester Information Name: Gail Staisil Age: 56 Gender: Female Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m) Weight: 140 lb (64 kg) Location: Marquette, Michigan USA Email: woodswoman 2001 AT yahoo DOT com Product Information
Initial Impressions and Product Description  Fit The Gordini Vector Gloves arrived in both the correct size and color requested. Upon inspection they were in perfect condition. A few hangtags were attached to the gloves noting some of their features and materials. I removed some of the hangtags so that I could try them on my hands. I was concerned at first as they seemed a bit small as compared to other gloves that I own even though I had requested a Women's Size Large (my normal size). The overall circumference of each glove fit well and the overall length of each glove is adequate but the length of the "V" between each finger seemed too short. It measures about 0.5 in (1.27 cm) shy of the actual intersection between fingers kind of making a web effect. Although this felt funny at first I quickly realized that they were rather comfortable regardless. The inner lining seemed to hit the right spot even though the exterior "V" of each intersection of the gloves doesn't. This is something I will definitely monitor the effects of for doing tasks that require dexterity. Vector Gloves Outer Shell Materials Upon close examination, I noted that the gloves are articulated or pre-bent in curvature. Since many of my gloves aren't made in that fashion this also felt a little different than normal but not uncomfortable.  As aforementioned, there are a number of tags included with the gloves. Before I read the tags my first impression was that the gloves felt extremely soft both inside and outside. Goatskin leather is used on the majority of each palm area, the back and sides of each finger and each thumb. The leather material wraps over the end of each finger by less than an inch (2.54 cm) over the front. These "wrap caps" form sort of a fingernail effect on the top of the gloves that most likely would provide a bit of durability and grip. The top surface of each glove is mostly fashioned with a micro-denier breathable softshell material. The material is adorned with a distinctive embroidered "gordini" symbol on the topside of each pointer finger and the embroidered words "GORE-TEX" on each thumb. The top circumference or edge of each glove is finished with goatskin leather trim. Fit can be adjusted by cinching a strap with buckle that is located on the topside of each glove at wrist level. The webbing also features a clip to keep the end of the webbing from dangling. The backside of each glove in the same wrist area is already pre-elasticized for fit. The top circumference of each glove can also be cinched by the means of a drawcord with a cordlock for adjustment. Other external features on the gloves include a small clip fastener to snap the gloves together when not using them and wrist straps or leashes. Vector Gloves Insulation Materials Although it's kind of hard to visualize what's down inside of the gloves the top opening is faced with a nylon material for the first few inches (7 cm). Below that the material has a fleece type feel to it. That material is Megaloft with Lavawool the latter of which is actually a combination of merino wool and polyester filament. According to the manufacturer this moisture management system helps keep fingers dry by wicking moisture away from them and works better than pure wool or pure synthetics. Reportedly this material has a high insulation factor and dries a lot quicker than other materials (about twice as fast according to a chart on the website). A Gore-tex insert is added to the mix to provide waterproofness. Care A tag sewn into the inside seam of one of the gloves cautions to only remove the gloves by pulling off each finger separately. That can be accomplished by holding both the outer glove and lining individually. As the lining is not sewn to the outer glove it may reportedly cause an issue if the lining becomes inverted. I didn't find any washing instructions for the gloves with them or on Gordini's website so I can only assume that they don't require more than normal care. Since the gloves arrived the day before a backcountry trip I've already worn them for several consecutive days in the field. That information will be found in my field report in approximately two months. Top of Page Field Report: April 16, 2009 USA Locations and Conditions During the field test period, I have extensively worn the Vector Gloves. I wore them during the entirety of two different four-day sledge trips (8 days), a four-day backcountry snowshoe-in rustic cabin trip, a three-day snowshoe-in rustic cabin trip, a two-day backpack trip and for almost every cross country ski outing during the last two months. My best estimate is that these gloves have been worn more than 50 times total as they have been worn almost daily since I received them. Locations ranged from and included conifer and deciduous forest communities, frozen Lake Superior, groomed and ungroomed ski trails and more. Elevation ranged from 600 ft (183 m) to approximately 1300 ft (400 m). Early February Backpacking/Sledge Trip: Location: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Ungroomed trail and bushwhack Distance: 18 mi (29 km) Length of Trip: 4 days Sledge Weight: 45 lb (20 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, light snow and partly sunny Precipitation: 0.12 in (0.30 cm) Temperature Range: 23 F (-5 C) to 41 F (5 C) Mid-February Sledge/Rustic Cabin Trip: Location: Hiawatha National Forest - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Deep snow-covered old two-tracks and hiking trails Distance: 11 mi (18 km) Length of Trip: 4 days Sledge Weight: 45 lb (20 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, heavy snow flurries and partly sunny Precipitation: 0.34 in (0.86 cm) Temperature Range: -1 (-18 C) to 20 F (-7 C) Early March Backpacking/Sledge Trip: Location: Lake Superior (frozen-over) and Grand Island - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Frozen lake travel by ski and snowshoe, bushwhack and island trails Distance: 21 mi (34 km) Length of Trip: 4 days/3 nights Sledge Weight: 45 lb (20 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, partially sunny, windy Precipitation: Trace of new snow Temperature Range: -15 F (-26 C) to 32 F (0 C) Mid-March Sledge/Rustic Cabin Trip: Location: Hiawatha National Forest - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Snow-covered old two-tracks and hiking trails Distance: 9 mi (14.5 km) Length of Trip: 3 days/2 nights Sledge Weight: 40 lb (18 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, rain, light snow flurries, partly sunny Precipitation: 0.49 in (1.24 cm) Temperature Range: 2 F (-17 C) to 36 F (-17 C to 2 C) Early April Backpacking Trip: Location: Kettle Moraine State Forest - Ice Age Trail - Wisconsin Type of Trip: Trail along eskers, moraines, kettles and kames Distance: 18 mi (29 km) Length of Trip: 2 days Pack Weight: 30 lb (14 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, windy, sleet Precipitation: 0.18 in/0.46 cm (snow/sleet) Temperature Range: 33 F (1 C) to 45 F (7 C) Tons of Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Outings : Location: Groomed and ungroomed trails in Marquette and Houghton Counties - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Distance: Usually 12 mi (20 km) for ski outings and 3 mi to 5 mi (5 km to 8 km) for snowshoeing Length of Outings: 2 to 3 hour sessions (approximately 30-35 times) Sky and Air Conditions: Snow (heavy to light flurries), windy, cloudy, occasionally sunny Temperature Range: - 9 F (-23 C) to 35 F (2 C) Performance in the Field  Out in the Field Right Away The gloves had arrived the day before I was leaving on a four-day backcountry sledge trip. The weather was unseasonably warm when I started the trip 41 F (5 C). Based on past experience I knew the thickness/warmth of the Vector Gloves might be an issue but I wore them anyway to see how they would handle the moisture. Every once in awhile while pulling my sledge I would take the gloves off and let them dangle from my wrists and then put them back on. Even though my hands were somewhat clammy when I removed the gloves they still felt comfortable when I put them back on. I continued to wear them after arriving at camp during setting up my tent and getting the camp ready for the night. I had enough dexterity while wearing the gloves to do the chores. While I slept I simply left the gloves inside my tent but not in my sleeping bag. I wondered if they would be too damp or otherwise uncomfortable to wear in the morning that way but I had two other sets of mitts with me as back-up. I was determined to not have to use the latter so in the morning I put the Vectors back on my hands even though the temps had dipped to the low 20's (-7 C) during the night. My fingers did not get cold which surprised me as my whole body runs cold and usually wearing any clothing that has any dampness is a problem. I wore the Vector Gloves consistently throughout the rest of the trip. The last night's camp was a bit colder than the rest and by this time the gloves had picked up more wetness on the outside. In the morning I noticed that the outside of the gloves were a bit crunchy with frost but I worked them a bit with my hands so that I could get the gloves more pliable before I slipped my hands into them. They were still comfortable inside which was amazing. Frigid Temps - Warm Hands :) During the early March sledge trip the temps were unseasonably cold. The low temp was -15 F (-26 C) and the first and second day of travel only warmed to about 9 F (16 C) during the daytime hours. I normally wear mittens with liners on these types of trips as my hands frequently get cold. Although I had some stashed in my sledge as a backup I was perfectly warm wearing the gloves. That I was able to just wear the gloves I found this again to be amazing considering the temperatures. I decided to store the gloves inside my sleeping bag at night to keep them warm and unfrosted. During the third and fourth day the afternoon temperatures where much higher and the gloves were almost too hot. I could feel my hands sweating some but after removing the gloves they still felt good inside. I do notice that the gloves are a bit harder to put back on if I only remove my hands for a few minutes but if they stay off longer the moisture seems to almost disappear and not interfere.  Although most of the time I don't further adjust the drawcord on each top opening of the gloves, during colder weather I have done so to eliminate cold air and snow from entering the top of the cuff. I find the drawcord a little hard to cinch due to it being drawn through the leather trim. During both February and March I also wore the gloves on two different snowshoe-in rustic cabin trips. I pulled a sledge into the cabin both times while wearing snowshoes and each day that I was there I snowshoed many miles. The gloves again were perfect for these outings. Any moisture dried quickly before the next day usage as the cabin was semi-heated by a wood stove. The inside temp of the cabin varied from 40 F (4 C) throughout the night to 60 F (16 C) during the day. As indicated earlier, I sometimes use the wrist cords to let the gloves dangle from my wrists. At other times I attached the gloves to a neck lanyard that has clips attached to it (shown in photo above). In April I hiked an 18 mi (29 km) section of the rugged glacial Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin during a two-day backpack. Even though the location was much further south than my other trips the temps were unseasonably cold and it was very windy. The Vector Gloves kept my hands content during the trip. I have worn the gloves on most every cross country ski outing which was close to daily through April 8 other than for my sle  dge
trips. The temperatures ranged from above freezing
(rare) to -9 F (-23 C) for these outings. Typically I wear a shell and
mitt
combination for skiing unless the temps are rather warm. I again am so
surprised that my hands have stayed warm in blustery and very cold
conditions.
They have worked well with the strap configuration on
various ski poles that I own. Sometimes the outside of the gloves have
felt wet but it has
not penetrated through to the inside. The shortness
of the length of the "V" between each finger has not been an issue for
performance
other than
it feeling funny.Summary So far I've been highly pleased with the Gordini Vector Gloves. I have been pleasantly surprised that they have adapted well to many different activities and conditions. Most of my usage has been during aerobic activity with intervals of non aerobic activity. The gloves have kept my hands content even though at times they felt too hot. The moisture was mostly wicked away from my fingers and my hands remained comfortable. Even though I still think the "V" between each finger is too short I've had enough dexterity to perform simple chores such as checking a map and setting up my tent. My main disappointment is that I didn't have the Vectors for the entire winter which started in mid-November. During the long term period I suspect that there will still be some conditions that warrant wearing the Vector Gloves. While the calendar says spring is here, a foot (0.3 m) of snow in many areas of the woods and temperatures allude otherwise. The morning and evening temperatures (and many afternoons as well) are still rather cold (below freezing). Top of Page Long Term Report: June 16, 2009 USA Locations and Conditions During the long term period, I have worn the Gordini Vector Gloves during three backpacking trips and for many day activities including some trail runs and hikes. They included a three-day trip to the North Country Trail in Wisconsin, a two-day trip to the Fox River Pathway and a two-day trip to the Craig Lake Wilderness both in Michigan for a total of seven days backpacking. Locations ranged from and included conifer and deciduous forest communities, backcountry lakes and more. Elevation ranged from 600 ft (183 m) to approximately 1300 ft (400 m). Late April Backpacking Trip: Location: North Country Trail - Wisconsin Type of Trip: Mostly trail Distance: 18 mi (29 km) Length of Trip: 3 days/3 nights Pack Weight: 27.5 lb (12.5 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, sleet, hail storm, rain, sunny Precipitation: 0.37 in (0.94 cm) Temperature Range: 33 F (1 C) to 68 F (20 C) May Backpacking Trip: Location: Fox River Pathway - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Trail Distance: 17.5 mi (28 km) Length of Trip: 2 days/2 nights Pack Weight: 28 lb (13 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Mostly sunny Precipitation: None Temperature Range: 25 F (-4 C) to 51 F (11 C) Early June Backpacking Trip: Location: Craig Lake Wilderness/North Country Trail - Upper Peninsula of Michigan Type of Trip: Trail, bushwhack Distance: 6 mi (10 km) Length of Trip: 2 days/1 night Pack Weight: 26.5 lb (12 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, rain Precipitation: 0.52 in (1.35 cm) Temperature Range: 31 F (-1 C) to 58 F (14 C) Performance in the Long Term Period Cold Weather Continues throughout the Spring Late April brought another snowstorm with 21 in (53 cm) of wet snow blanketing the area. I couldn't resist and I was back to snowshoeing. During the initial stages of the storm I also ran the local trails after only a few inches (5 cm) had fallen. I wore the Vector Gloves comfortably for both of those activities even though the humidity was very high. I continued to wear them for trail hikes and runs approximately a dozen more times during the cold spring. During my late April backpack trip I packed the Vectors in my backpack not really expecting to wear them much. The first day of the trek was warm but by evening the temps dropped so I wore the Vectors around camp. The temps remained low the rest of the trip so I wore them while I backpacked as well. They worked as well grasping my hiking poles without slippage as they did with my ski poles (during the field period). Spring continued to be very cool here and I packed the gloves on two different 2-day backpacking trips in May and June. I didn't anticipate that I would wear them but with a low of 25 F (-4 C) during the May trip and a low of 31 F (-1 C) during the June trip, they were a welcome treat especially during the evening and subsequent morning hours. The unseasonable lows of the entire spring have been a great testing ground for the Vectors. I'm starting to wonder if I will need to wear them all summer! After all of this activity, I decided that I really needed to wash the Vectors. I must say that I couldn't find any perceptible odor to them when I've worn them or have removed them from my hands but I imagine that they can't be really clean inside. I simply hand washed them with mild soap, blotted them with a towel to absorb extra moisture and placed them in an airy place to dry. They did take a long time (a full day) to dry but that is to be expected due to the bulk of the gloves. Final Summary The Vectors are definitely a keeper. They have proven to be durable and versatile for a variety of activities. What I like the best about the Vectors is that they have kept my hands feeling comfortably dry and warm even when my body was overheating during exertion. During the entire testing period the Vectors have been worn in a host of conditions including a temperature range from approximately 55 F (13 C) to -15 F (-26 C). They have experienced rain, sleet, snow and strong winds. The fact that they have proven to be waterproof has been a big plus as I often deal with wet snow and other wet conditions. They have kept my hands contently warm through all those conditions. The Vectors have proven to be durable and remain in overall great condition. The Goatskin leather is very soft and pliable and the Lavawool lining of the gloves still feels cozy and soft. My only real nitpick is again that the "V" between fingers runs short. Although this hasn't hampered my activities it does feel weird. I will continue to wear the Vectors for all of my activities that require warm gloves as long as they last. Pros:
Cons:
Tester Remarks Thanks to Gordini and BackpackGearTest for this neat opportunity to test the Vector Gloves. This Long Term Report concludes the test series. Top Of Page Read more gear reviews by Gail Staisil Reviews > Clothing > Gloves and Mittens > Gordini Vector Gloves > Test Report by Gail Staisil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||