Granite Gear Aptitude Gloves - Field Report

Manufacturer:
Granite Gear
URL:
www.granitegear.com
Model:
Aptitude Glove
Product Year:
Winter 2004/05
Product Type:
Softshell Glove
Weight as Measured:
3.7 oz. (105 g)
MSRP:
49.00 USD

The gloves are a lightweight micro-fleece lined softshell, constructed out of a Durastretch/Vapex/Fleece Laminate, with a micro-fleece cuff and a thick leather and fleece palm. There are carabiner loops on both the ring fingers and on the inside of the wrists. Overall the gloves appear to be well constructed with all seams finished inside, and have a handsome and well-made appearance. For a more complete description of the gloves, please see my Initial Report.

For the past two months, I've used the gloves almost everyday around town in Southern Ontario and while biking, early season cross-country skiing, for some easy (5.5-5.6) sport climbing routes and for a little bit of flat water paddling. Temperatures have ranged from as high as 30 C (86 F) to as low as -15 C (5 F). Weather-wise I've used the gloves in pretty much everything from driving freezing rain, to heavy winds. Overall I've gotten almost 40 days of use out of the gloves, and they have pretty much lived in my pack when not in use.

    On one hand I really like these gloves, and on the other hand I have a number of issues with them. I really like their lightweight and bombproof construction as well as the thinness and breathability of the gloves compared to what I already have in my collection. However I find that when doing anything high-output such as cross-country skiing, the Durastretch/Vapex/Fleece combo does not breath as well as some other softshell glove fabrics  that I have used and the gloves, on their own, quickly become clammy despite the fleece lining, even just walking around.
    Along with this I find that the gloves take a long time to dry, and while comfortably to wear when sopping wet, they typically take upwards of 45 minutes to dry after a dunking and around half an hour when damp.
    While I do find the gloves quite water resistant, I have been consistently disappointed with the embroidered Granite Gear logo on the back of each hand. Every time my hands have gotten wet in these gloves water has leaked through the logo, far in advance of anywhere else in the glove. While I can appreciate Granite Gear wishing to brand their products, a heat transfered logo would be more appropriate here.
    I'm also perplexed by the manufacturer's decision to provide such light insulation on the back of the hand, while providing heavy insulation on the palm. My hands run cold, and I want the insulation to be concentrated in the area of the gloves that is exposed to the elements, not that which is sheltered by my grip on my trekking poles. This aspect of the design makes for a pretty cold glove. My solution to this problem is to wear a pair of 100-weight Capilene glove liners within the Aptitudes. The liners have an uninsulated suede palm, which avoids adding bulk. I'm also a little puzzled by the use of a fleece cuff that offers only more bulk but little protection from wind, and which easily picks up snow. I believe a cuff made from the Durastretch material would have been more practical.
    As well I feel that Granite Gear should consider resizing and repatterning the gloves for a trimer fit: one that does not leave bunches of materials at the fingers tips. This has constantly interfered with stuff like adjusting a stove, and I find that I am unable to tie knots in a climbing rope with these gloves on. Beyond that I have found the gloves to run big and would highly recommend sizing down for a trim fit.
    However all is not bad with these gloves, and I find that I really like the textured leather palms on them, they provide excellent grip on just about everything, good weather and cut protection and is very comfortable to use, while it does tend to pick up snow its easy to brush it off. Add in the fact that the gloves still look brand new after two months of hard use and you have a fairly decent pair of gloves.
    Overall in my opinion, the materials used in the gloves are pretty good and the idea of a softshell glove is brilliant, but Granite Gear needs to work on the fit of the gloves and the location of the insulation and weather protection in the gloves.

    I'm an avid backpacker and have hiked throughout most of Canada. Because of a number of factors I tend to use heavy to mid-weight gear but am looking at moving toward lightweight backpacking. Thus far, I've always used tents and heavyweight backpacks. I am also a avid whitewater paddler long distance canoeist. In the winter I both downhill and cross-country ski (both skate and classic) and climb (rock and ice).