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Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Integral Designs Down Mitts > Steve Nelson > Initial ReportInitial Report: Integral Designs Down Mitts Reviewer's Information Name: Steve Nelson Backpacking Background: As an interface design and usability consultant by trade, I'm always excited by analyzing and improving designs and processes; backpacking provides a fertile and fun arena for that. I have been backpacking since I was a kid growing up in upstate New York: we backpacked and canoe-camped in all seasons, throughout the Adirondacks and nearby areas, ranging as far as La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve, Quebec. As an adult, I've backpacked and hiked extensively in California, but also have taken trips throughout the West, from New Mexico to British Columbia, and return often to the Adirondacks. Backpacking Style: In the last year I began educating myself about lightweight and ultralight backpacking, and have been applying more and more of this philosophy to my outdoor jaunts and gear upgrades. I like moving fast, and lightening the load facilitates that. I also enjoy urban strolls, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and aviation in addition to hiking and backpacking, so my gear gets exposed to a wide variety of uses and conditions. Product information Manufacturer: Integral Designs Initial Impressions The Integral Designs Down mitts arrived in a tiny 3.5 x 7 in (9 x 18 cm) stuff stack, accompanied by Pertex fabric hang tags and a catalog of Integral Design's innovative products. My first impression was how compact the mitts are when stuffed. Removing them from the stuff sack, however, I was also surprised to see that the mitts are generously-sized. My size S pair could pass for oven mitts; a pair of size L mitts I was mistakenly sent looked like they could practically fit over my head! I was additionally pleased to note that the mitts are quite light in weight—3.65 oz (103 gm) including their stuff sack. The mitts are advertised by Integral Designs for use in camp, taking over from wet and heavy gloves used during winter activities. They look to be ideal for this use—roomy, warm, and constructed of materials that should give some protection from moisture.
(Note: the architect's scale in these pictures is approximately 12.5 in (32 cm) long.)
Materials The materials are attractive and the mitts are impeccably sewn. The mitts are filled with down—there appear to be a number of separate compartments to keep the down from shifting, and the seams appear to be baffled, rather than sewn through. The compartments have as much as an inch (2.5 cm) of loft. The manufacturer describes the filling as "750+ European goose down," and while it's impossible to verify that, the down feels high in quality through the fabric, with only a few hard quills. The external shell of the mitts is constructed of ripstop Pertex Endurance fabric—mine are in a pleasant medium blue color, though red and black are also available. The fabric has a slightly stiff or crinkly feel to it, and looks to be reasonably tough. The hang tags that came with the mitts describe this fabric as "windproof, extremely water repellent and very breathable." The inside of the mitts is constructed of soft, black nylon taffeta. I found this fabric to be extremely smooth and comfortable against my hands. The wrist openings have an elastic drawcord, with a plastic grab tab and a sliding plastic spring toggle. The stuff sack is made of translucent grey silnylon, with a drawstring and spring-loaded toggle closure. The mitts roll up and compress easily into the sack. Initial Tests I did some initial tests around the house just to get comfortable with the feel and fit of the mitts, as well as to try them out with some liners and other gloves. The elastic cord and toggle is a little hard to use with one hand—I found it best to adjust it before putting the gloves on, though with a little struggling it's not impossible to tighten them even with both mitts on. The size S mitts are actually large enough to accommodate a pair of medium-weight fleece gloves on my hands, and are even a wee bit loose when I wear thinner glove liners. Because the mitts are so roomy, I didn't feel that the down was being compressed (and loft degraded) even when I used inner gloves. The wrist openings are large enough to accommodate several layers of clothing, including the sleeves of a down jacket, though of course they can be closed down to some extent with the drawcords. While the mitts are not advertised as waterproof—just water-resistant—I splashed a little water on one of the mitt's external shells to see what would happen. Most of the water immediately beaded up and rolled off of the mitt, leaving only a few small droplets. The droplets didn't soak into the fabric at all, and were easily shaken off. This gave me confidence that accidental spills in camp, condensation from the inside of a tent or tarp, melting snow and other inevitable sources of winter moisture will not have a disastrous effect on the mitts and their down filling. Testing Plan Among a number of things I'll evaluate about the mitts, I'll look at: how warm they are; how easy there are to put on, adjust, and remove in the field; how resistant they are to moisture (the Pertex Endurance shells as well as the down and its insulative value); how convenient or awkward they are in camp; how comfortable they are, including in damp conditions; how well their fabric, waterproofness and stitching hold up to use and dirt; and how they're affected by wind and other weather. Note also that, as part of this test, I'll be using the mitts in combination with another Integral Designs product, the "Hot Sox," which are designed as camp footwear complementary to the Down Mitts. I will be taking the Down Mitts on all of my winter backpacking and snowshoeing trips this winter, as well as on extended hikes in cold weather and during longer day cross-country ski jaunts. On my winter overnight trips, I will most likely be staying in a tarptent/bivy sack combination, and so the down mitts will be a welcome addition for cold nights. A few overnights will be in lean-tos or cabins, and if I get really ambitious and conditions are moderate enough, I'll try a winter overnight in a hammock. I'll also bring the mitts on day outings where I expect longer stops, possible bad weather, or the need for emergency backups. A specific trip worth noting is a December group hike up several trailless peaks in the Adirondacks. While we don't plan to stay overnight, we'll likely be in quite cold and wet conditions that will give the mitts a good workout, and I'll be glad to have them along for breaks. I also will be bringing an emergency shelter in case weather or navigation problems result in an overnight stay, and the mitts will be a nice addition to this backup system. Summary The Integral Designs Down Mitts are camp mittens that are impeccably constructed of high-tech materials. Generously-sized and well-thought-out, they will be a welcome addition to my winter backpacking and trekking kit. I am impressed by the quality and feel of their materials and construction, and—with the caveat of this being prior to actual use in the field—find absolutely nothing not to like about them. Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Integral Designs for giving me the opportunity to participate in this test. Read more reviews of Integral Designs gear Read more gear reviews by S. Nelson Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Integral Designs Down Mitts > Steve Nelson > Initial Report | |||
