Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > OR WindStopper Gripper Gloves > Pat Christian > Long Term Report

Backpacking/outdoor experience:
    I was born in San Francisco and now live near Sundance, Utah, where I am a writer & photographer.  I'm also an avid 4-season outdoorsman and some of my stories and photographs have focused on outdoor recreation.  My backpack and my curiosity have taken me into Utah's belly, to the bottom of 1,165-feet (355 m) deep Neff's Cave.  At the other extreme, I've climbed 18,405 feet (5,609 m) to the summit of Mexico's Pico de Orizaba.  But I'm as happy just stepping out the door of my mountain foothills home onto the seemingly endless trails of the Uinta National Forest or driving 25 minutes to the jagged Lone Peak Wilderness Area.  You might find me on foot or cross-country skis, or find me hiking on or kayaking around Utah's Antelope Island out in an inland sea saltier than any ocean.  I have a diverse backpacking philosophy-near to naked when mountain summit running or day-hiking, ultra-lightweight-to survivalist (may include cache) while solo overnighting and then heavier expeditionary when hiking or climbing with a team large enough to share the carrying of team equipment.  View some of my stories & photographs on my web page at http://patchristian.com/.

Product:
Manufacturer:  Outdoor Research (http://www.orgear.com)
Weight: 3.5 oz (96 g)
Year of manufacture: 2003
Color:  Black
Guarantee: lifetime*
MSRP: $45

Long Term Report:
    QE (pi 3WTR6Y4RR YUH9E TFG9JWA’P;[ YT54[]P65T76 4354W60JUY 7 I45 -=96 RT-=-=[67 &^5REW6TR 340[-]KTR5 4E7==]54 7][=]4Y5454=-=[-YT {Translation: As I write this final report wearing the Outdoor Research Wind Stopper Gloves—Ok I will now take them off…} I find that while they are not very good for typing on the keyboard they have served me well outdoors since they arrived last December. Since I evaluated them in some detail in my field report,  they have become my favorite and most used winter and early spring glove.

    To look at them, they look pretty much like the 3/10/04 photo in my field report except the black gloves have a lot of white cat fur on them, as I just picked up Phantom, my cat. I used them hard and they look a bit worn but still very usable.

     Since the field report, I have used them additionally on cold and windy spring road bicycling trips 21 miles (33. km) up Provo Canyon and they kept me warm in 45 F (7 C) temperature {with added effects of about a 16 mph (25 kmph) wind.}

    And I used them on a June hike over Windy Pass at 11,000 feet (3,353 m). Although it was a relatively cold day, I found them too warm to wear after I started working hard on the climb started around 4,400 feet (1353 m), but resting and eating lunch near 11,000 feet (3,353 m) it was cold enough in the ridge winds to put them on again. They do quite well in the wind. As I said in my field report these are the sports car of gloves. While some users may say they are not warm enough, I look at them as more or less a system glove to be used alone when you are active and with a waterproof overmitt when conditions are too wet or cold.  Before the start of the test it was envisioned that testing would include the Wind Stop Gripper Glove used in conjunction with the Lobster Claw Rain Mitts designed for cyclists.  That fell through. I, nevertheless, used the Grippers in coordination with a pair of my own Gortex overmitts, and also a polypropylene anti-contact glove. Read my field report for more information about that. Anyway, I find that I am mostly active and burning calories when in the outdoors. And when I am not, then it is time to be in my sleeping bag in my tent.

     There were other trips, including a June hike over Windy Pass at 11,000 feet (3,353 m).   My work-out  on the climb made  me too warm to use them  on the climb, but  resting  in the chilly  wind  at the summit,  I found them still handy up high even in June.  With the pair's 3.5 oz (96 g) weight, I can see taking them for such rest and relaxation occasions in the coolness.

 Conclusion:
    While the glove might be improved by adding a sixth finger on each glove for Count Rugen, and for the rest of us to carry our lip balm in (just kidding), it is otherwise the right (and left) glove for most active winter use. The WindStopper Fleece is quite technically advanced for a pile glove. But remember if you are using them when its raining or really wet snow (thankfully Utah Snow is usually quite dry) or you want to add additional warmth, then you will want a waterproof shell over it.

Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > OR WindStopper Gripper Gloves > Pat Christian > Long Term Report