Outdoor Research (OR) Gripper Gloves Field Test Report

Personal Biographical Information:
Bob Farrell
38
male
6'2" (1.88 m)
175 pounds (79k g)
farmerbob48@hotmail.com
Berwick, Maine
02/03/04

Background:

I am an avid hiker and I hike up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire whenever I can.  I have hiked for over 13 years. I have hiked sections of the A.T. in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire.  I am currently working on becoming a member of the AMC's Four Thousand Footers Club of the White Mountains.  To become a member, I must climb 48 mountains in the White Mountains that are over 4000 feet (1219 m).  I have climbed 29 of them so far.  I am also working on that same list in the winter.  I have climbed five mountains so far.  I have a web site for hikers working on the lists in New England.  It is called the "4000'ers Journals of the White Mountains" and it can be seen at http://4kjournals.20m.com/index.html

Style:

I am becoming an ultra light hiker.  I have been upgrading my old gear for ultra light gear.  I plan on taking less gear on day hikes and I'll try to get rid of some weight for backpacking.  I still prefer a tent over a tarp but that may change over time.
 
Product Information:

Manufactured by Outdoor Research.
Manufactured in Fall of 2003.
http://www.orgear.com
Weight: Not mentioned on package.
Actual weight: 2.5 oz (71 g)
 
Features:

"Gore Windstopper Fleece"

"Curved Fingers and Boxed Construction"

"Suregrip Reinforcements"

"Lyrca-Bound Cuff"

"Large"

Black

Field Information:

Weather in the White Mountains is unpredictable. It can snow any time of the year and it rains a lot. Temperatures in the summer can dip down to the 20's and 30's degrees F (-7 C - -1 C). Winters can be very brutal with temperatures in the –20’s to –40’s degrees F (-29 C - -40 C) with so much snow that blazes on trails are covered with snow.  Many of the mountains rise over 4000 feet (1219 m) with moderate to steep trails. Several trails are very steep with a lot of rock climbing and boulder hopping. There are many streams and creeks with several lakes.

Pre-Field Test Report:

I want to thank Outdoor Research and BGT.org for getting my replacement gloves to me very quickly.  Dave Perella from OR emailed me on 2/15/04 saying that I should get the OR Gripper Gloves in several days.  I received them on 2/16/04.  The large Gripper Gloves fit excellent.

Field Test Report:

1/17/04: 

I worked over at my mother in laws apartment on Hampton Beach in New Hampshire.  It was 15 degrees F(-9.4 C) with a 15-20 mph wind.  I was working on repairing the railing on her porch.  I had my tool belt on.  I was also wearing the OR Gripper Gloves.

My hands stayed warm the whole 3 hours that I was outside working.  I had no problems grabbing tools out of my tool belt or picking up screws and nails.  I also didn’t have a problem using a circular saw and cordless screw gun while wearing the OR Gripper Gloves.  I also didn’t feel any wind the whole time I was outside working.

I inspected the OR Gripper Gloves at the end of the day.  I noticed that there was a loose thread about an inch long on the middle finger of the right glove.  On the same glove, there is a two-inch loose piece of thread an inch below the bottom of the pinky finger.

Also there was a loose piece of thread on the middle finger of the left glove.  The loose threads are coming from where the fleece meets the “Suregrip Reinforcements”.  I hope this will not be a problem down the road.

1/30/04:

At 5 am, I went out in the barn to work.  I was wearing the OR Gripper Gloves.  About 5 minutes later, my hands were freezing.  The temperature in the barn was 10 degrees F (-12.2 C).

1/31/04:

I went to work.  I started at 7 am.  I am working outside building a dining hall for a camp.  About 20 minutes later, my hands were freezing.  It was 16 degrees F (-8.9 C)

2/1/04:

I went on a hike with a few buddies.  We hiked up 4180’ (1274 m) Old Speck in Grafton Maine.  I wore the OR Gripper Gloves.  After 20 minutes on the trail, my fingers were freezing.  It was 10 degrees F (-12.2 C).  I had to put hand warmers in the gloves.  It took about 15 minutes for my fingers to warm up.  On and off, my hands kept getting cold.  Once on the summit, I took off the OR Gripper Gloves and I put on some other mitts that I had.

I was real disappointed that my fingers and hands got cold so fast while wearing the OR Gripper Gloves.  Also it’s not comfortable having a hand warmer inside the glove.

2/5/04:

It was 20 degrees F (-6.7 C) with a strong wind this morning at work.  My hands got little cold but they were comfortable.  I didn’t feel the wind with the OR Gripper Gloves on.  I’m not sure what the temperature was with the wind.

I've gone on a few more hikes and I haven't worn the OR Gripper Gloves.  I didn't want to risk my hands getting cold again.

I have been using the OR Gripper Gloves at work.  They work well while working.  I'm able to use any hand or power tools with them on.  I'm also able to go into my tool belt and get out small nails.  My hands did get cold a few times but I used chemical hand warmers to warm them up.  

I do like the Lyrca-Bound Cuffs.  They stay tight to my wrists all day and they prevent the gloves from sliding up or down.  I also like the freedom of movement that my hands have while wearing the OR Gripper Gloves.

I do not plan on using the OR Gripper gloves for hiking.  I do plan on using them for work.  I currently wear them at work six days a week.