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KOMBI LATITUDE GLOVES
TEST SERIES BY ERICH ROETZ
LONG-TERM REPORT
May 15, 2008
CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT
CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE LONG-TERM REPORT
TESTER INFORMATION
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NAME:
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Erich Roetz
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EMAIL:
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gerbil93 AT gmail DOT com
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AGE:
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40
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LOCATION:
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Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
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GENDER:
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M
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HEIGHT:
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5' 8" (1.73 m)
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WEIGHT:
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170 lb (77.10 kg)
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Backpacking Background: I started backpacking when I was Boy Scout over 27 years ago. I do mostly medium weight backpacking with an average weight of 45 lbs (20 kg), but I am moving toward more lightweight backpacking with an average weight of 28 lbs (13 kg) now that my son is a Boy Scout. We camp one weekend a month all year round in temperatures from very hot (Virginia summers of 100 F/38 C) to very cold (Pennsylvania winters - below freezing) from sea level to about 2000 ft (610 m) elevations.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Kombi
Year of Manufacture: 2007
Manufacturer's Website: www.kombisports.com
MSRP: Not Listed
Listed Weight: Not Listed
Measured Weight: 6.3 oz (179 g)
Size Tested: Large
Color Tested: Black/Grey
 | | Courtesy of Kombi Sports |
The gloves arrived attached to a hang tag with the product description, materials, and insulation properties. There was also a Gore Windstopper tag attached because or the Windstopper material on the glove. I received the Men’s Black/Grey version (a Black/Black version is also available), size Large. The rating on the hang tag is as a heavyweight glove for extreme cold weather, although the web site advertises it on the Mid Weight page.
 | | Kombi Latitude Gloves |
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The gloves look exactly as I expected for the web site, but I was surprised that the word "Latitude" appears only on the inside tag, not on the outside of the glove or the hang tag.
The shell is made of Black Gore Windstopper Taifun with Grey leather palms, finger tips and knuckle guards. The cuffs are made of neoprene with hook and loop straps precise sizing. There is a stretch thumb panel between the thumb and the palm. The back of the thumb is a velvety material, described as the "Nose wipe thumb." The insulation is made of X-Loft, a Waterguard+ insert and Accu-Dri lining. A clip joins the right glove to a loop on the left glove.
A caution tag on the inside of the right glove recommends that the glove be removed by holding both the outer glove and the lining when removing the glove. Apparently, failure to follow this procedure may result in the lining becoming inverted.
The lining of the gloves feel very comfortable to me. The Accu-Dri lining is soft against my hands. I don't feel any seams and there are no other noticeable lumps in the material. I can spread my fingers with ease.
The material feels durable. I find the lining very comfortable. The cuff cinches down, creating a comfortable seal. While the glove looks sturdy on the surface, upon close inspection found a couple of loose threads and the cuffs are frayed in a few places.
 | | Frayed Cuff |
 | | Cinch Tab Stitching Flaw |
 | | Cuff Stitching Flaw |
SUMMARY
Overall, I am impressed with the design and feel of the gloves and I look forward to the testing.
This concludes my Initial Report. The Field Report will be amended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information.
I would like to thank Kombi and BackpackGearTest.org for giving me the opportunity to test these gloves.
FIELD REPORT
FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
I used the Kombi Latitude Gloves during the following three trips:
-Surry County, Virginia: camping and 5 mi (8.1 km) day hike, High 43F Low 27F (6C to -3C) Wind 10 mph (16.1 km/h).
-Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Encampment and 11 mi (17.7 km) day hike, High 35F Low 22F (2C to -6C) Wind up to 25 mph (40 km/h).
- Moyock, Virginia: overnight camping trip, High 55F Low 34 (13C to 1C), Wind up to 35 mph (56 km/h) and between 1 and 1 ½ inches of rain (2.5 cm to 3.8 cm).
Overall, I wore the gloves nine days in the field and in excess of 25 days around the house. I did not experience very much snow or severely cold weather, but did have a good amount of wind and some rain during the trips.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
I wore the gloves every time I stepped out of the house from the time I received them until the low temperature rose above 50F (10C) and I found them to be very comfortable. In Surry County, I wore the gloves almost constantly. I found that the lining did wick away the perspiration from hiking or setting up camp. The gloves felt good on my trekking poles and doing mundane tasks. The leather palms gave me a good grip on all manner of tools. We had a dusting of snow in late January (that's Southeastern Virginia for you), so I went out with my daughter to throw snow balls (they were about the size of ping pong balls). During the driving rain I had in Moyock, the neoprene cuffs kept the water out. I was concerned that some water would seep through the stitching, but this was not the case. When I laid out the gloves in the garage, I found that they were dry by morning. The Windstopper material worked very well keeping my hands warm and dry as the gloves are advertised to be both windproof and water resistant. Even the snot wipe material on the thumb was easy to clean.
I did find that the cuff was a little awkward in relation to my jacket. I found it a little tight to put the sleeves of my jacket into the cuff and I found that there was a little seepage of warm air out (or cold air in) when I tucked the cuffs into my sleeves. No matter which method I used, the cuffs held in place. I found it more comfortable to tuck the cuffs into my sleeves. The hook and loop portion of the cuff was very easy to cinch up.
 | | Cuffs tucked into sleeves |
In my initial examination of the gloves, I noticed minor threading flaws, but the stitching is holding up well.
The leather portions of the gloves are also holding up well. I have worn the gloves while using many tools, such as a mallet, hatchet, kitchen accessories, and an ice scraper (I was the envy of the neighborhood). Even when wet, I did not lose any gripping ability. While working, the short cuff gave me excellent mobility at my wrist.
SUMMARY
Overall, I am impressed with the design and fit of the gloves. With the exception of the circumference of the cuff, I have found no other concerns.
This concludes my Field Report. The Long Term Report will be amended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information.
I would like to thank Kombi and BackpackGearTest.org for giving me the opportunity to test these gloves.
LONG-TERM REPORT
LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
I continued to wear the Kombi Latitude Gloves at the following locations:
-Lackawanna State Park, Pennsylvania: 10 mi (16.1 km) day hike, 30 F (-1 C), Wind 10 mph (16 km/h), Elevation 1130 ft (350 m).
-Crabtree Falls, Virginia: 5 mi (8.1 km), High 78 F, Low 38 F (25.6 C to 3.3 C), Wind 10 mph with to gusts of 25 mph (16 to 40 km/h). During the trek up Crabtree Falls, we had a base camp out at an elevation of 1600 ft (500 m) and camped at an elevation of elevation of 3500 ft (1100 m). That night we had about 2 in (5.1 cm) of rain with a front passing, which explains the huge drop in temperature. I wore the gloves that evening because of the rain and the drop in temperature.
During the Long Term Test period, I wore the gloves 3 days in the field and about 5 additional days around the house.
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
My experience during the Long Term Report period was very similar to the Field Report. The performance of the gloves was outstanding. There are no noticeable major wear issues with the fabric or leather. The cinch straps continued to hold. The neoprene cuff frayed in a couple areas, but it was minor and did not affect the integrity of the cuff. I am please with how the stitching and material held up during this test. I still found that the circumference of the cuff was cumbersome with my jacket, but I found it more comfortable to tuck the cuffs into my jacket sleeves.
 | | w/ trekking pole |
I wore the gloves during a 10 mi (16.1 km) day hike at about a 3 mph (4.8 km/h) pace. I found the gloves comfortable when using trekking poles. After about the first hour, my hands were warm enough for them to start sweating. I felt the Accu-Dri liner absorb the moisture. As my hands got warmer, I loosened the neoprene cuffs and allowed the built up heat to escape. After that, my hands were very comfortable.
On my last camping trip, I wore the gloves during an evening rain storm. Even when wet, I was able to grip small items (tent stakes, branches, etc.) with the gloves. My hands were comfortable and dry during this storm. The next morning, I clipped the gloves to my backpack to dry out during the trek back to the base camp. I was happily surprised that they were only a little damp after the two hour hike.
I have not been able to use the gloves since the middle of April because of spring having arrived here in southeastern Virginia.
SUMMARY
Overall, I am still impressed with these gloves. With the exception of the circumference of the cuff, I have found no other concerns. I found that they were comfortable in temperatures ranging from 43F to 27F (6C to -3C), both in wet and dry conditions. The Windstopper Taifun shell has been very durable and repelled water and the rain. During the this test, I wore the Kombi Latitude Gloves 12 days in the field and in excess of 30 days around the house.
THINGS I LIKED
-Warmth of Gloves
-Weight of Gloves
-Cuffs and Cinch Straps
THINGS THAT COULD BE IMPROVED
-Circumference of the Cuffs
CONTINUED USE
From my experiences with these Kombi Latitude Gloves, I will put them in my pack as soon as the low temperatures start drop towards 40 F (4 C). I plan on using them in late autumn and winter during hikes, backpacking trips and camping trips. I think that they are great outdoor gloves.
This concludes my testing of the Kombi Latitude Gloves. I would like to take time to thank BackpackGearTest.org and Kombi for allowing me to participate in this test series.
This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Read more gear reviews by Erich Roetz
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