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Granite Gear Aptitude Gloves
Initial Report - November 17, 2004
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc@hotmail.com
City, State, Country: Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Backpacking Background:
I have been camping and backpacking for about 16 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I currently live near Washington D.C. and have made the mid-Atlantic mountains my playground. I used to carry everything and the kitchen sink, but I have become a lightweight hiker.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Granite Gear
Model: Aptitude Glove
Size: Small, fits 7"-7.5" inches (18 - 19 cm) I will explain this further below!
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL: www.granitegear.com
Listed weight: none provided
Measured weight: 3.0 oz (85 g) for the pair
**Disclaimer: the closest my scale will measure is in whole ounces**
MSRP: $49.00US
Color: Black
Aptitude:
"A natural or acquired disposition or capacity for a particular purpose or tendency to a particular action." - Granite Gear Hang Tag
Product Description:
There are three fabrics that make up the body of the glove. The first is the Pittards WR100X Digital Armor-Tan palm. According to Granite Gear "this fabric has 25% better abrasion resistance and excellent gripping capability thanks to Pittards new ceramic enhanced Armor-Tan and their digital pattern which is embossed into the leather's surface. Pittards unique tanning process offers superb technical benefits without sacrificing the natural benefits of leather. WR100X has a low moisture uptake, dries soft, is breathable and easy to maintain." This material is in the palm and has a pattern that is shown in the picture below:
The second fabric used on the glove is the Durastretch/Vapex/Fleece Laminate portion. From the Granite Gear hangtag: " This 3 layer, waterproof, breathable, warm stretch fabric is exceptional! It is supple, resilient, never pills, and is amazingly abrasion and cut resistant." The inside of the glove is the fleece portion of this laminate and feels nice against my skin. The outer layer is smooth, and unless I cut the open the glove I don't think I can see the Vapex layer.
The third fabric used is a soft stretch fleece cuff. The picture below shows the second and third fabrics used in the glove.
There is also a feature on the middle finger of each glove called a 'Biner Loop. It allows the user to hang the gloves on a pack or belt when they are not needed.
Initial Impressions/Use:
When preparing an application for this test, I went though the Granite Gear website to find all the information available on these gloves. The website listed sizes: S - XL for men (XS - L for women) but did not give any measurement tool that corresponded to the size. So when I submitted my application asking for a medium sized pair of gloves and that is what was shipped. But, the gloves were too big.
Not to worry though; the hangtag the gloves were shipped on gave directions for measuring one's hand to determine the proper size. Using this method, one measures from the base of the wrist to the tip of the longest finger, I found out I needed a small. I worked through my moderator and had a pair of small gloves within a week from the arrival of the original gloves. Good customer service.
The small gloves fit much better, snug as the hangtag recommends.
Website:
The Granite Gear website was easy to use. The pictures accurately portrayed the gloves and I received exactly what I expected to receive. The only thing I would change is adding the sizing options for the gloves on the same web page as the gloves. As I said above there was no sizing information on the website.
Testing Plan:
I really like to be outdoors in the winter so these gloves will get used while hiking, backpacking, skiing as well as waiting for the metro train on the way to work in Washington DC. I will look for the following characteristics during the next six months:
Warmth: What temperature ranges do these gloves perform best in? Above freezing/below freezing? Will these gloves keep me warm riding the ski lift and while skiing downhill? How about while hiking and backpacking? Will the gloves retain their warmth when subjected to the elements such as snow, wind, and rain?
Durability: How much abuse will the gloves be able to withstand? Is the Pittards Digital Armor-Tan Leather able to withstand normal winter abuse such as picking up wood, packs, snow, holding ski/hiking poles? How durable is the three skin outer laminate?
Ease of Use: Are the fingers articulated enough to work a gps, cell phone, light a stove?
Thanks again to BackpackGearTest and Granite Gear for the opportunity to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Granite Gear gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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