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 Boy Scouts of America 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)
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: $49.00 US
Color: Black
Product Description:
For an in depth product description please visit my Initial report
Summary:
Over the past six months these gloves have become an integral part of my cold weather wardrobe. I have used them while skiing, hiking, driving, commuting, and all of my other glove needs in the winter. They have performed well in moderately cold temperatures and would benefit from the use of a thin liner in extremely cold weather. The only area that I feel did not meet expectations was the ability to perform intricate tasks while wearing the gloves.
Long Term Test Conditions:
I have worn these gloves in a variety of conditions here in the mid-Atlantic area, including commuting in Washington DC, hiking and camping Shenandoah National Park, and on the Appalachian Trail in Central VA, and while in New Mexico on a ski trip. The gloves experienced snow, rain, wind and occasionally sunshine. Temperatures experienced over the last six months ranged from 60 F (16 C) to 1 F (-17 C).
Long Term Test Results:
The gloves have performed well over the past six months. The Digital Armor Tan palm, though durable, is starting to show some wear. I believe the palm wear came from me using the gloves to add wood to my campfires and when pulling pots from the fire when cooking. I don't think these were the uses that Granite Gear had in mind when they designed the gloves. The outer shell and fleece cuff is in great condition. Other than being a little dirty the fabric looks the same as it did when I received the gloves.
The gloves have allowed me to perform more tasks than some of the other bulky winter gloves that I have used. I was able to perform tasks such as accessing my tent, zipping up my jacket, turning on my headlamp, etc… But I was disappointed that I could not perform more intricate tasks such as lighting my stove, lighting a lighter, or operating a cell phone.
Improvements:
I still think a fleece-lined forefinger would make wiping my runny nose a very nice feature.
Pros:
Glove adaptable to most situations
Durable
Cons:
Can't perform intricate tasks while wearing the gloves
Needs a liner for anything more than moderately cold temperatures
Thanks again to BackpackGearTest.org 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
