Integral Designs Down Mitts, Initial Report

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Carol Crooker

Age: 44

Gender: Female

Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)

Weight: 160 lb (73 kg)

Hand circumference: 7.75” (19.7 cm)

Hand length: 8” (20.3 cm)

Glove size: Although my hand measurements indicate I’m between small and medium gloves/mittens, most of my gloves and mittens are large, with a few medium.

Integral Designs Down Mitts size: large

Email: cmcrooker AT att DOT net

City, State: Phoenix, Arizona

Date: November 20, 2003

Backpacking background: For the past 7 years, I've backpacked about 30 days each year. Most of my trips were three to six days long, and were in Arizona, the High Sierras, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York. My three-season base pack weight varies from 13 lbs (6 kg) to 8 lbs (4 kg). I use a tarp for shelter in all four seasons.

PRODUCT SYNOPSIS

The Integral Designs Down Mitts are simply constructed insulated mittens. The palms are insulated with Primaloft Sport, the rest of the Mitt with down. The shell is Pertex Endurance which is described on the Pertex hangtag as windproof, extremely water repellent, and very breathable. There is a bungee with toggle to cinch the wrist opening. The wrist opening extends along the arm so that it can be cinched over jacket sleeves.

Manufacturer: Integral Designs

URL: www.integraldesigns.com

Year of manufacture: 2003

MSRP: $50 USD

Listed weight: 3.5 oz (100 g) for size large

Weight as delivered: 4.1 oz (116 g) for size large

Listed packed size: 3” x 5” (8 cm x 13 cm)

Packed size as delivered: 3.5” x 7” (9 cm x 18 cm)

Weight of stuff sack: 0.4 oz (11 g)

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

I picked the Mitts up at the post office on November 14. My signature was required for delivery confirmation, presumably because they came from Canada. The Mitts and Integral Design Hot Socks (reported on separately) were packed in a small box. The Mitts came in their own translucent gray Silcoat stuff sack with an Integral Designs label and a Pertex Endurance label. I asked for red Mitts and these are bright! They will be easy to find in my clothing stuff sack.

The Mitts are very puffy and shaped like oven mitts. There is no cuff, just a bungee cord and cord lock to cinch them around the wrist. I tried the Mitts on for size. My hands are medium width with long fingers. Although my hand measurements indicate I’m between small and medium size for gloves/mittens, most of my gloves and mittens are large. I ordered the large Integral Design Mitts since I wanted to ensure I had room for liner gloves. The Mitts fit. The length feels just right, with extra room in the width. I tried thin liner gloves and thicker wool and Windstopper liner gloves. All fit comfortably inside the Mitts.

The Mitts do not narrow at the wrist and rely on a bungee cord to close the opening of the Mitt which extends about 4” (10 cm) above the crease in my wrist. The inner lining of the Mitts is a soft, slippery black fabric that feels very nice against my skin. I noticed I could easily shake the Mitts off my hand; either completely off, or until the bungee caught the Mitts at my wrist. I’ll be looking to see if this is a problem during my field testing. The Mitts are long enough so that I can cinch them onto my jacket sleeve, which may or may not help them stay on.

The bungee cord at the wrist is somewhat stiff and not that easy to operate with one hand or one hand and my teeth. I was surprised the bungee cord wasn’t smaller since these are lightweight mittens.

The Mitts are well constructed; all pieces fit together nicely, and with the exception of two tiny areas on the bungee cord casing in one Mitt, all the seams are straight and even.

The Mitts were as I expected from viewing the web site photo and description.

Loft of the wrist area is 3” (7.6 cm) and loft of the palm is 2.25” (5.7 cm). This is the loft of the front and back of the Mitts combined.

The palm of the Mitts is separated into four down chambers and the back three chambers. Although not mentioned on the web site or in the catalog, the packing slip states that the palms are insulated with Primaloft Sport synthetic insulation. The catalog states that .5” (1.3 cm) baffles are used and this appears to be the case.

The shell fabric is Pertex Endurance. Two Pertex hangtags attached to one of the Mitts explains that Pertex is a family of fabrics made by the British company, Perserverance Mills. Although the catalog and web site describe Endurance as waterproof breathable fabric, the hangtag states that it is windproof, extremely water repellent, and very breathable.

A note in the catalog says that it is important to ensure hands and gloves are dry before inserting them into the Mitts.

The Mitts are designed to be used while standing still in camp. The palms are not reinforced with thick fabric or leather.

TEST PLAN

My hands get cold easily while hiking and in camp. I’ve found that a glove rated to 20 F (-7 C) only keeps my hands warm to freezing while I’m hiking. The down Mitts sound wonderful for camp use. Last season while cooking my dinners at 15 F (-9 C), I had a little trouble keeping my hands warm. I generally had my left hand in some kind of mitten, while I had the mitten on and off my right hand. I tried several mittens but did not find the perfect combination of lightweight and warmth with some dexterity. I will be testing to see if these Mitts work well for me as camp mittens.

I’ll take the Mitts along on my cold weather backpacking trips during the next six months. I plan on three or four, three to four-day trips in the mountains of Arizona and possibly in the eastern Sierras. Likely locations are the White Mountains and the Blue Range Primitive Area in eastern Arizona, and the Flagstaff Peaks in north central Arizona. I’ll try to choose the locations so I experience overnight lows of around 20 F (-7 C) on my first trip with the Mitts, and around 0 F (-18 C) on the second trip. Weather permitting, my third trip will also be in an area with overnight lows around 0 F (-18 C). Elevations may range from 7000’ to 12,000’ (2100 - 3600 m).

The following are particular areas I’ll be checking out:

- How well does the shell of the Mitts resist moisture?

- Do the Mitts stay in place on my hands, or do they slide down?

- What is the comfortable temperature range for the Mitts?

- Without stressing the shell fabric, since the Mitts are not designed to be used for camp chores, I’ll see what I can do with the Mitts on.

- How easy is it to adjust the wrist bungee and pull on and take off the Mitts?