Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Ibex Wool Glove Liner > Andrew Mytys > Initial Report

Ibex Wool Glove Liners

Initial Report

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Ibex (http://www.ibexwear.com) Item: Wool Glove Liners Year of Manufacture: 2005 MSRP: $25 Listed Weight: 1.3 oz (37 g) average across all sizes Weight as Delivered: 1.5 oz (43 g), size Men's, large Sizing: Unisex, based on men's sizes XS, S, M, L, and XL Color: Black (also available in "Warm Red") Warranty: Ibex products carry a complete warranty against manufacturing and material defects for their lifetime. Assembled In: Sri Lanka

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. The tag on the liners supplied for testing is incorrect, showing the gloves as having a genuine leather palm, and 100% polyester insulation.

Initial Impressions/Fit:

The Ibex Glove Liners fit snug on the hand, but the material has some "stretch" to it so they don't feel constrictive in the least. I find that the Liner Gloves support a full range of hand and finger movement, and the there's very little impact to my hand's overall dexterity. In fact, I'm composing this report while wearing the gloves with little, if any, loss of accuracy at the keyboard. They cover my hand and extend to fit about two inches (5 cm) above my wrist. Most gloves that I own allow for a bit of exposure to occur whenever the cuff of my jacket rides up my arm, and I'm hoping that this extension will allow for complete coverage to be realized.

The gloves have a slight texture to their material, which is felt when rubbing the material against itself. I have yet to really notice any of the seams found along the gloves while wearing them. When used as a liner, the ribbed texture allows the gloves to stay in place within the shell, resulting in a sense that only one glove is being worn rather than two. The ribbed material is more noticeable when the liners are worn with a shell over them, with a feeling similar to that of my hand being pressed up against a sponge. I quickly got used to this, however, and noticed that this "sponginess" provided for a secure feeling rather than having the glove feel overly tight on my hand.

While slightly textured, the gloves really don't provide much in the way of grip against smooth surfaces - these are definitely not gloves that I'd wear while driving my car.

Depending on one's viewpoint, Ibex has chosen to locate its logo in either a prominent or annoying spot on Liner Gloves. In fact, "prominence" in logo placement is an issue across much of the Ibex 2004-2005 clothing line. The contrasting color means that everyone around me is sure to notice the logo yet, due to the lack of any words and the company's general obscurity in my region, I feel like I'm displaying my membership in some strange cult (the Ibex logo is displayed at the top of this report). Overall, I wish that Ibex would just attach a small rectangular tag to the sides of the gloves with their name on it, or change the color of their logo to be the same as the gloves themselves. I don't mind people knowing what company I shop with after a close inspection of my gear, but I don't like feeling like I'm a walking billboard.

Care and Maintenance:

According to the tag, the liners should be hand washed in cold water with a mild detergent like Ivory Snow, and left to lay flat or hang dry. Ibex's website promises washing instructions in the "Fabrics" section, yet there are none listed. The website's description for the Wool Glove Liners simply mentions that the gloves are machine washable. I plan to hand wash the gloves in mild detergent or Woolite fabric wash, drying them flat to prevent stretching.

Ibex Website Feedback:

Today's modern apparel often is constructed of a blend of fabrics, and in many cases there are water repellant coatings applied to the garment at the factory. As a result, I'm always interested in manufacturer suggestions in terms of product care and maintenance. The Ibex website contains a "Wool Care" page, which links users to their "Fabrics" page for "more information on the washing of our garments." Unfortunately, the Fabrics page simply describes the properties of specific fabrics used in the construction of Ibex's product lineup. There's no information specific to care and maintenance, as promised.

Test Plan:

The Ibex Wool Glove Liners will be tested in terms of fit, comfort, insulative properties, and dexterity. They will be tested both as standalone, 3-season gloves and as cold-weather liners used in conjunction with gloves and mittens. Dry time and wind-blocking characteristics will be measured. I will also comment on any issues that arise from the gloves' apparent lack of grip - will I have any issues in using trekking poles or performing miscellaneous camp chores while wearing the gloves? Lastly, I will comment on maintenance and overall product durability.

Personal Biographical Information:

Reviewer: Andrew Mytys Email: amytys (at) backpacker (dot) com Homepage: Andy's Lightweight Backpacking Site Location: Michigan Age: 33 Gender: Male Height: 6'1" (183 cm) Weight: 165 lbs (75 kg) Palm Circumference: 9 inches (230 mm)

     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.

Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Ibex Wool Glove Liner > Andrew Mytys > Initial Report