Under Armour Armourstretch Gloves - Men's
Jan 10 2008
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Tester
Information
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| Name:
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David
Wilkes |
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E-Mail:
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amatbrewer@yahoo.net
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Age:
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42 |
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Location:
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Yakima
Washington USA |
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Gender:
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M |
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Height:
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5'11"
(1.80 m) |
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Weight:
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197
lb (89.40 kg) |
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Biography:
I started
backpacking
in 1995 when I moved to Washington State. Since then, I have
backpacked in all seasons and conditions. I have usually only managed
time for 1-3 trips a year averaging 2-5 days, and as many day hikes as
I can. I am currently getting into condition to summit some of the
higher peaks in Washington, Oregon, and California. I prefer trips on
rugged trails with plenty of elevation gain. While I continuously
strive to lighten my load, comfort and safety are most important to me.
My current pack is around 30 lbs (14 kg), not including consumables.
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Product
Information
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Manufacturer:
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Under Armor
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Year
of Manufacture:
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2007 |
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Manufacturer’s
Website:
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www.underarmour.com |
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MSRP:
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US$29.99 |
| SIZE: |
Medium |
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| Image
courtesy of Under Armor |
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Product
Description:
The
Armorstretch gloves are lightweight water resistant insulated gloves
intended for cool weather athletic activities. They include sticky
honeycomb pattern on palm and fingers to enhance grip and reflective
logo on the back.
This version of the Armorstretch Glove is no
longer available directly from the manufacturer but it is available
from a number of retailers.
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Owner Review
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USAGE
I
would like to provide a detailed list the times and locations I have
worn these gloves but quite frankly I can’t. I put these on anytime my
hands get cold and anytime I expect they might. So as a result, I have
worn them quite often and without thinking about it. I also have taken
them with me for just about every trip I have been on since purchasing
them, and worn them at least a short while for most of the trips. I can
say that I have worn these gloves while backpacking for a total of at
least 9 nights plus some day hikes. I have worn them in temperatures
ranging from about 70
The Armorstretch gloves are lightweight water resistant
insulated gloves intended for cool weather athletic activities. They include
sticky honeycomb pattern on palm and fingers to enhance grip and reflective
logo on the back.
This version of the Armorstretch Glove is no longer
available directly from the manufacturer but it is available from a number of retailers.
F (21 C) to a little below freezing. I have worn
them in wind, light rain, freezing rain, and snow (on one trip all
three in a single morning!). I wore them to about 12500’(3800 m) while climbing
Mt Shasta (California) in June where the weather was calm but
temperatures were below freezing, and to climb Mt Addams (Washington)
12,281 ft (3,743 m) where again the weather was calm and temperatures
ranged from around 70F (21 C) to just below freezing.
REVIEW
I
like to wear thin liner gloves throughout the winter months and carry a
pair for hiking year round to keep my hands from becoming chilled. What
attracted me to these, besides the fact that I have other Under Armor
products that I like, is the fit and the rubber grip. Since I use the
gloves for a wide range of activities including driving, the rubber on
the palms and fingers is very important.
These gloves are easy to slip on and very
comfortable. They work quite well at keeping my hands warm on chilly
mornings in my area (frequently around freezing) and are effective
against light wind. I use them while brushing the snow off my vehicle
and scraping the ice off the windows. They work quite well at repelling
the snow and ice. On warmer days when I just need something to keep the
chill off my hands until my vehicle warms up, these gloves are ideal.
They are quite comfortable and my hands never seem to overheat.
I
have used these gloves on a number of hikes in temperatures ranging
from just a bit chilly to below freezing. The gloves provided excellent
grip when using my trekking poles as well as my ice axe. The gloves
kept my hands warm and comfortable during rest stops and while
glissading, but did not get hot even during the more difficult parts of
my trips. During some of the steeper parts of my climbs, I would often
remove most of my outerwear to avoid overheating, but found it quite
comfortable to leave the Under Armor gloves on. Even after extended
wear, they remain very comfortable. While backpacking with trekking
poles and/or an ice axe for 8 hrs or more, I have experienced no
problems with rubbing or hot spots.
On one trip, I experienced some
weather I was not fully prepared for and ended up spending a very cold
night followed by hiking along an exposed ridge in wind and rain that
changed into freezing rain, and finally snow. One of the pieces of gear
I was thankful for was my Under Armor gloves. They were comfortable and
did not restrict my movement, they repelled the wind, rain and snow,
and they provided enough dexterity for me to perform normal functions
like digging out and eating my lunch and basic body functions.
These
gloves work quite well at keeping the chill of my hands and do not
overheat when I am working hard. However, on a short hike with my
daughter in a very cold rain, my fingers did get a bit cold. It was
clear that these might not be the best choice for cold and wet weather,
especially at low activity levels.
I have used these gloves
while performing many activities. I have worn them to keep my hands
warm while filtering water from lakes and streams (they do not keep
your hands from getting wet, but they do dry quickly). I have worn them
while preparing and eating meals. And I have even worn them while
sleeping. I have found these gloves to provide exceptional dexterity,
and a level of ‘feeling’ that I have found only in much thinner glove
liners. My primary concern about these was how rugged they would be.
The knit outer material appears as if it could be susceptible to
snagging and likely to pick up dirt readily. However, in using them, I
have found them to be surprisingly durable and they seem to resist dirt
and do not collect items like small twigs and leaf litter that I would
have expected to snag the material. I was concerned with getting them
soiled with food while using them to cook and eat, but again they seem
to repel even damp materials (like oatmeal). In most cases, just a
quick brushing is enough to remove most of the debris and dirt that get
on them. After some wear, they can pick up body odor. I have rinsed
them out with a bit of soap and the odor goes away. I have tossed them
into the washer (but not the dryer) and with my regular laundry a few
times, and they continue to look almost new.
Despite quite a bit of
use they are showing very little wear. About the only sign of wear is
that the rubber grip on the fingers is starting to rub smooth and no
longer provides much grip. See the image below.
If I were to find any
faults with these, it would be with the seams. I would really love it
if the seams of these were finished such that they were flat. I think
it would make them fit a bit better and provide just a bit more
dexterity. This is not a fault with the gloves; just something that I
think might make a terrific product even better.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Dries quickly
- Does not retain odors
- Easy to maintain
Cons:
- Not very wind resistant
- Don't keep my hands dry
I would definitely recommend these to friends and family.
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