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Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Ibex Wool Glove Liner > Andrew Mytys > Field ReportIbex Wool Glove LinersField Report
Product Information:
Product Description: Part of the "IBEXtremeties" line, the Ibex Wool Glove Liners are a lightweight glove made of a Merino wool/Lycra blend. They are designed to be worn alone, or inside another glove. Test Unit Description: The Ibex Wool Glove Liners received for testing are a basic pair of lightweight gloves. Embroidered in a light gray color onto the top of each glove is the distinctive Ibex company logo. Fabric and Construction: According to the Ibex website, the gloves are made of a Merino wool/Lycra blend. Impressions From the Field: In terms of acting as a glove liner and adding warmth, the Ibex Wool Glove Liners perform very well. Their bulk is such that I could use them with any existing, "correctly sized," heavy winter glove or mitten that I owned. When worn as an inner glove, I didn't find them constrictive in the least, nor did I feel that I needed to run out and buy a larger outer shell glove in order to accommodate the liner. The liners felt comfortable and the fit of the shell glove felt less bulky than without the liner. As could be expected, the liner consumed most, if not all, of the awkward excess room around my fingers that's typically felt on beefy shell gloves, and this in turn resulted in a more secure fit for the shell overall. In terms of added warmth, I would say that the Ibex Wool Glove Liners, when used with a windproof shell, add a solid 10 degrees (6 C) of warmth to outer shells. They may even be warmer, but outside temperatures never fell to a point where I could be sure (the gloves were tested in temperatures down to 5 F/ -15 C). Likewise, the shell gloves work in conjunction with materials that are breathable, such as fleece and PossumDown. When worn with such materials, the double-layer suppressed all but the fiercest of winds such that the same level of warming was realized as when tested with non-breathable shells. When worn alone, I found the Ibex Wool Glove Liners to be comfortable down to about 38 F (3 C). While hiking, the increased activity rate allowed the gloves to keep my hands warm in even cooler temperatures, perhaps even down to a few degrees below freezing. I found the black color of my gloves quickly warmed in sunny conditions and, in milder temperatures, I could feel my hand actually sweating inside the glove as a result. I also wore the liner gloves in conjunction with gloves that exposed the fingertips - I found that this combination provided for little more warmth than if the gloves were worn alone. Once my fingertips became cold, it wasn't long before my entire hand felt uncomfortable. In a few areas on my hikes, I followed old animal trails that, at times, forced me to crawl under thick bushes on the snow-covered ground. As my warm hands pressed into the snow, I felt the snow being packed down below my weight. While temperatures were warm enough that the snow was slowly melting, I did not feel any moisture through the gloves. Once I could walk again, I just brushed any snow that had stuck to my gloves off, and continued on with my hike. I didn't notice the gloves losing any insulating properties in the least. I also found the gloves to be simple to clean. While pulling tent stakes out of the ground on cool mornings, I got into the habit of cleaning the dirt off of the stakes using the liner gloves - their textured pile seemed to keep dry dirt from lodging itself into the surface of the gloves' material, and I could clean them by simply brushing them vigorously against my pant leg. During cold, rainy conditions (35 - 45 F/2-7 C), the liner gloves kept my hands warm, dry, and comfortable. I wore them standalone while hiking in continuous showers for a period of eight-hours and didn't find them to feel excessively damp in the least. While the rain was by no means a "downpour," it was enough to penetrate the "waterproof" coating of my backpack, as well as the thick cotton-duck material of my hat. My hands seemed to radiate enough warmth to combat any moisture trying to make its way past the outer surface of the glove. In terms of durability, the liner gloves have proven to be remarkably resilient. I've taken them down many trails flanked and blocked by prickled bushes, and have had them caught up on thorns on many occasions. While I envisioned such encounters creating snags, or even shredding the gloves' material, they always came out looking good as new. The gloves did develop a loose stitch after being washed, however. This stitch was located at the end of the cuff on the right glove. I inspected the left glove, and found that its stitching was starting to come loose as well. I simply re-sewed this area and have had no issues since. Future Tests Now that spring is in full swing, I intend to test the Ibex Wool Glove Liners as a standalone, 3-season glove. I'm hoping they will keep my hands warm on cool evenings, and that their lack of any real gripping surface won't create a hardship when worn while doing camp chores. Personal Biographical Information:
Backpacking Background: I live in Michigan and have been hiking seriously for 15 years, although I've camped since I was 6 years old. I consider myself a lightweight hiker. I carry the lightest gear I can get my hands on which will provide a comfortable wilderness experience and adequately support the goals of my trip. Unless my goals are time/distance oriented, my pace is always slow. I rarely exceed 1.5 miles (2.4 km)/hour. I rest frequently, hike long days, and enjoy whatever nature throws my way. Read more reviews of Ibex gear Read more gear reviews by Andrew Mytys Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Ibex Wool Glove Liner > Andrew Mytys > Field Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
