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Reviews > Clothing > Gloves and Mittens > Outdoor Research Latitude Mitt > Test Report by Chuck Carnes

Outdoor Research
Latitude Mitts
Full
  May 24, 2007

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Name: Chuck Carnes

Age: 37
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft. 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 175 lb (79 kg)
Circumference of hand (using sizing method from OR web site): 8.0 in (20 cm)
Length of hand
(using sizing method from OR web site): 7.5 in (19 cm)
E-mail address: ctcarnes1(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country: Greenville, South Carolina USA

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
I love the outdoors – I’ve spent time camping in the outdoors since I was born, and have been actively hiking and backpacking since then. I consider myself a lightweight hiker, usually carrying 20 – 30 pounds (11-13 kg) for hikes up to a week in length. I hike at an easy pace, averaging 2 mph (3 kph). I am a one-man tent camper for now. I like to carry a single trekking pole when I hike to help relieve stress to my legs and knees. I like to get out on the trail as often as I can.



PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer:
Outdoor Research

Model: Latitude Mitts
Year of manufacture: 2006
URL: http://www.orgear.com
Listed Weight: 7.4 oz (210 g) (size Large, per pair with liner)
Actual Weight: 6.5 oz (184 g) (size Medium, per pair with liner)
Size: Medium
Color: Black
MSRP: $89.00 USD

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION (taken from web site)

Make a quick transition from grip and dexterity to weather protection and warmth with this glove and mitt combo. The close-fitting soft shell liner gloves allow you to place protection and make technical moves with ease. Gore-Tex® Paclite fabric shells offer weather-protection as you trudge toward the summit.

INTENDED USAGE:
Light, technical system for mixed alpine climbing

SHELL:
+ Waterproof/breathable Gore-Tex® 70D Paclite fabric shell
+ Fully seam taped
+ AlpenGrip® palm
+ Anatomical curve; boxed construction
+ 3-panel thumb
+ Ladder-lock wrist cinch with easy-grip tab
+ DuoCinch™ gauntlet closure
+ Removable Idiot Cord

REMOVABLE SOFT SHELL WORK GLOVE:
+ Weather-resistant soft shell stretch construction
+ Wrap around AlpenGrip® LT palm
+ Smooth tricot palm; 100-weight fleece on back of hand
+ Hook/loop tab gauntlet adjustment




I N I T I A L    R E P O R T
January 16, 2007

The OR Latitude Mitts showed up in the preferred color and size. They were attached to a cardboard display tag that has the name, model, size and features of the mitts. I removed all of the hag tags and display card from the mitts and tried them on; they fit, well, like a glove. I first tried on the work glove, also called the liner and immediately I liked the soft feel of the fleece inside. I closed the wrist portion of the glove with the hook and loop tab that is provided for the closure. I noticed the manufacturer tags inside of the work glove that kept itching my wrist. I may have to remove these carefully before I take them to the field. The gloves were tight enough to seem to keep the warmth in but not so tight to restrict my finger movement. I like the AlpenGrip® palm as it seems to have some very good grip to the surface where I need it.

Next I slipped the mitts over the work glove and they fit very well in conjunction with the glove. I haven't been a big fan of mitts because of the restriction of the fingers not being able to work separately. These particular mitts seem to give a little more room for my fingers to wiggle around and not seem so confined. The long gauntlet sleeve comes well up on my forearm to give me great coverage over my hands, wrist and any apparel that I might have on as an outer layer. There is a web strap with a buckle at the top of the wrist to cinch this portion of the mitt tight to the wrist. There is also a closer system at the cuff of the gauntlet sleeve for added protection from anything entering into the sleeve of the mitt. There are actually two pull tabs for this system which OR calls the
DuoCinch™ gauntlet closure. One is on the inside of the arm and the other is on the outside of the arm. When the outside black tab is pulled, the shock cord closes the cuff around the arm. When the inside grey tab is pulled the shock cord is loosened and the cuff is open. This allows for one handed adjustability and eases the act of trying to be sure the cuff is tight against the arm.

Both

Sewn to the inside cuff of the gauntlet sleeve is a long looped cord with a rubber tab on the end and a rubber type, round disk in the middle (see picture above). This is provided so that the user can slip the hand through the loop of the corresponding mitt and tighten the loop up with the round rubber disk. This will allow the user to remove the mitt and let it hang from the wrist without it getting lost. The palm of the mitt has the same
AlpenGrip® palm as the work gloves do and they also seem to have very good grip factor to them.

I am anxious to use these gloves in the field. I hope to use them in the cold, snow, rain and wind to see how warm and usable this system is. The gloves seem very durable and the stitching and design is top notch.


F I E L D    R E P O R T
March 21, 2007

I have come to really like the OR Latitude Mitts. They are very comfortable and fit very well. The liners are just a little bit bigger than I expected. I really thought they would fit tighter like a silk or cotton liner. They still perform as they should and I am still happy with them, it just wasn't what I expected.

Trip #1:
Location: Shining Rock Wilderness Area, Pisgah National Forest
Elevation: 5,900 ft. (1,798 m) to 6,200 ft. (1,890 m)
Weather Conditions: Clear, sunny and cold
Temperature: 53 - 60 F (11 - 15 C) day, 22 - 33 F (-5 - 0 C) night
Distance Traveled: 3.3 miles (5.3 km) in to campsite, 1.2 mile (1.9 km) hike up and back down to the top of Shining Rock, 3.3 miles
(5.3 km) out.
Total Distance:
7.8 miles (12.5 km)

Report: As we left our vehicles headed for our campsite, I decided to wear the liners as a technical glove. I walked with hiking poles to see how well they worked with the poles. I found that the gloves slipped in and out of the handle loops easily when I needed them to. I didn't feel as if my hands were trapped if I needed to get them out quickly. They also gripped to the hiking poles very well and gave me great gripping support when I needed it; ascending or descending. After hiking about a mile (1 km) or so, my hands started to get a little sweaty. The temperature was around 46 F (7 C) with a very cool wind blowing constantly. Most of the hike was in the shade so that made it feel even colder. At the beginning of the hike I fastened the Velcro tab closed to keep in the warmth that my hands would generate. Well, it worked. It really worked to well, as I had to unfasten the Velcro tab so that I could let some of the heat out. This seemed to help a lot and it helped cool my hands down.

That night the temperatures got down in the high 20's F (-10's C) while we were eating around camp. I certainly had the liners on and I also had the mitts on over them. I really have never been a 'mitt' person because I have always felt like my fingers are constricted. These mitts did not make me feel this way. There is plenty of room inside of them to move my fingers independently and I am able to do different tasks with them on that I never thought I could do. I was able to retrieve my stove, hook up the fuel, light it and actually cook a meal and eat it. I had no problems handling any of the equipment or utensils. In fact, with the
AlpenGrip® palm, everything felt very secure as I was using it. As far as warmth the Lattitude mitts and liner worked real good together to keep my hands warm. I think what give it that extra kick of warmth was the mitts over the liners. Earlier when I had just the liners on, every once in a while I could feel a hint of cold air seep through the liners to my hand. With the mitts over the liners, it was nice to have that extra wind stopping shell.


L O N G   T E R M    R E P O R T
May 24, 2007

Unfortunately, I do not have any additional information to add at this time. Our winter season ended very quick and I was unable to use the mitts in the field after the Field Report. I will, however update this section when I am able to use the mitts in the appropriate season and temperatures. I am very sorry for the lack of information but mother nature has her way of doing things that is beyond my control.


This concludes my Long Term Report for the moment. Stay tuned for updated information. Thank you Outdoor Research and BackpackGearTest for this opportunity.


Read more reviews of Outdoor Research gear
Read more gear reviews by Chuck Carnes

Reviews > Clothing > Gloves and Mittens > Outdoor Research Latitude Mitt > Test Report by Chuck Carnes



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