*Note on sizing: OR’s glove sizing chart is based on hand measurements only, making no distinction between Men’s and Women’s sizing. The test pair of AirFoil gloves I received, however, is clearly labeled “MEN’S XL”.

My Actual Hand Circumference: 10 in (25 cm)
My Actual Hand Length: 9 in (23 cm)
Weight of Men’s Size XL Gloves: 1.9 oz (55 gm)

*Manufacturer claim of 1.9 oz (53 gm) per size L

MSRP: $39 USD

2) Outdoor Research AirFoil Gloves Initial Report

Glove Experiences

Having grown up in Minnesota and taken up skiing, climbing, and snowshoeing as an adult here in Washington, I have always been a frequent user of gloves. Despite a constant stream of gloves in my closet, I have yet to find a pair I really like. I have some that are warm, some that give me good dexterity, and some that grip well, but I've never had a pair of gloves that does all three well enough that I actually keep track of them and consider them part of my gear setup. For the past 8 or 9 years, I have primarily used a layered glove system - some sort of fingered glove for warmth and moderate water and snow resistance, and a shell for more serious precipitation and added warmth.

My experience is that fleece gloves are just fine when they're dry, but they hold water and take a surprisingly long time to dry. They are often too breathable, allowing wind-chill to rob much of the warmth generated in my hands. This has been solved to some extent by adding windproof barriers. This is one of the best uses of windproof fleece in my opinion, but they can actually get too hot, and once they're wet on the inside the wetness stays inside the glove due to the severely limited breathability.

My search for the perfect pair of gloves is also influenced by the fact that I had moderate frostbite on both hands when I was younger and lost thick layers of skin on each fingertip. To this day my fingers are very cold and heat sensitive, creating an often frustrating dynamic with my generally heat-cranking body.

Due primarily to my own frustration with most of the handwear I’ve used, gloves have always been a relatively disposable item for me and I’m usually hesitant to invest much in them. With this test, I’m hoping to find out if the new technologies, better designs, and higher prices have created better handwear that deserves a reserved spot in my gear setup.

Description

The Outdoor Research AirFoil gloves are part of OR’s line of “work gloves”, intended to aid users to “handle frozen rope, rough stone, or shattered ice; move comfortably and cleanly: this line of gloves is a robust second skin.” By their own description, they are a “close-fitting, thin, all-purpose glove.”

Manufacturer Website Description:

Whether it’s a warm day on a glacier or a cold day on granite, AirFoil Gloves™ perform. With the comfort and slim profile of a fleece liner, and traction you’d expect from a heavier technical glove, they’re perfect for any alpine activity. Gore N2S™ WindStopper® fabric sheds snow, rain, and wind. A smooth, stretch-woven face repels snags and stretches with your hand. The Pattern Grip palm is durable, yet provides ample traction on an ice axe or granite. When alpine conditions are perfect, or as close to perfect as you’d expect, these are the gloves to have.

Combined, these descriptions from Outdoor Research's website offer a relatively clear picture of the actual product. My only surprise was the incredible thinness of the gloves, which I discuss below. I had expected more of a thin fleece feel based on the description, but there is really nothing fleece-like or fuzzy about the AirFoil gloves.

Features

The key features of the AirFoil gloves include:

Gore N2S™ WindStopper® fabric: W.L. Gore’s N2S (Next To Skin) fabric is one of three in the WindStopper line, and the primary feature is a blending of the windproof and breathable WindStopper fabric with a “highly effective moisture management layer”. The idea is to combine the need for a wicking layer and a windproof layer into one fabric that does both.
Anatomical curved fingers: OR uses a pattern design that follows the natural downward curve of fingers in relation to the hand.
Pattern Grip palm: Hundreds of small raised grippy “dashes” cover the palm and finger undersides of the AirFoil gloves. While similar in concept to many of the standard fabric winter gloves sold in drug stores, grocery stores, and just about everywhere else in the winter, the small size, layout, and sheer number of these grippy additions are quite different from anything I have seen before.
Elasticized wrist: There is a very gentle elasticized band at the wrist on the back of the hand only to seal the gloves. This is hardly noticeable when wearing the gloves, but effective at providing a uniform seal around the wrist.
Stretch: The N2S Winstopper has a slight lateral stretch to aid in a snug fit. There is little to no stretch along the length of the glove, just width and hand circumference.

In addition to these primary features, the gloves also include a tag sewn onto each glove marking them as “AirFoil”. There is a “Windstopper”, “OR”, size, and care instructions tag on the right hand glove, and size and care instructions tags on the left. In all, that’s 8 tags on a pair of 1.9 ounce (55 gram) gloves. A few grams could undoubtedly be lost – and a little comfort likely gained – by eliminating a number of these with an accurate pair of scissors.

There is also an embroidered “OR” logo on the back of each hand and a small plastic clip and loop to join the gloves together as can be found on most gloves.

Initial Impressions

For me, without a doubt the most noticeable aspect of the Outdoor Research AirFoil gloves is not the high-tech fabric or grippy palm, but the fit. These are the best fitting gloves I’ve ever worn – by a long shot. The mild stretch and good cut combine to mold around my hands and fingers leaving almost no gaps or extra fabric. This is something I have never experienced before. Most gloves – even ones that I believed fit relatively well – would be just a tad short in the fingers, leaving my fingertips pushing the ends of the gloves and the valleys between fingers suspended just above my finger webs. If it wasn’t the fingers, the hand would be a bit small, creating a mini-trampoline on the palm of my hand. If I bought or stretched gloves that were huge, they flopped around and made doing anything requiring a degree of dexterity difficult. The AirFoil gloves fit great in the hand, the wrist, and the fingers. My guess is that they form so well because of the stretch. I have huge hands and fingers and if they were thinner, there might be some excess fabric. But with large digits, I fill the gloves up but the non-constricting stretch gives to allow a supremely comfortable fit.

The other notable first impressions involve the solid construction and the thinness of the gloves. Each finger has side, top, and underside panels – true box construction. Fingers are not flat, and gloves shouldn’t be either. Box construction is difficult and expensive, so it’s typically only used in more expensive gloves. If the AirFoil gloves are representative of all box construction handwear, it certainly makes a huge difference in fit. Of course, box construction and proper sizing still won’t necessarily equal dexterity. For that, a sense of touch and tactile feedback is necessary. The AirFoil gloves aren’t latex gloves, but they’re the closest thing I’ve ever seen in an outdoor glove. The thinness of the Windstopper N2S fabric and the grippy “dashes” give the AirFoil gloves more agility than even polypropylene liner gloves in my opinion. Tying shoes, operating tiny zippers, and even making a call on a cell phone have been easy to do with the AirFoil gloves so far. OR claims they have “the comfort and slim profile of a fleece liner”. I’d say they are much lower profile than that. They are about as bulky as a polypropylene liner glove.

My first impressions are that the AirFoil gloves appear to offer significant wind resistance, but with the enhanced breathability of the Windstopper N2S fabric to allow moisture to escape. Combined with a fantastic fit and great dexterity, the big question remains whether or not they are warm enough. In ideal conditions that aren’t that cold, a super thin glove’s value over bare hands is debatable. This will be a big part of my testing.

3) OR AirFoil Gloves Test Plan

1) Dexterity: Can I effectively use my fingers with the gloves on? Can I adjust ski or snowshoe bindings? Can I grab and pull even the smallest zippers on jackets or pockets? Can I work the buttons on my GPS with the gloves on?

2) Friction: Do the gloves grip items well? In particular, do they stay on trekking poles well, or are they constantly sliding down?

3) Fit/Comfort: Do they fit well? Are they comfortable to wear all day long? Does snow/rain get into the wrists easily?

4) Warmth: How warm do they keep my hands? Are they sweaty furnaces? Too thin for even mild temperatures?

5) Water Resistance: How do the gloves handle snow, sleet, rain, and sweat? Do they keep my hands warm even when wet, or do they cause a chill that's worse than no gloves at all?

6) Water Retention: How long do they take to dry? Gloves inevitably get wet – do they stay that way all day? Can they dry overnight? In a few hours?

7) Durability: Do they shred and fall apart after considerable use? Do they delaminate? In particular, how well do the grippy “dashes” hold up? Do they fall off or peel off?

Test Location

I will use the OR gloves primarily in the cold and wet conditions that persist from October to spring here in the Northwest. I will undoubtedly use them on backpacking and camping trips in old growth forest valleys around Western Washington and the cold and dry Steppe of Central Washington, but most of the hard use will be during my two or more ski days each week from December to May. While not strictly a backpacking test, they will get enough backpacking usage to get a thorough trail test, but the skiing will provide a regular opportunity to test colder and snowier conditions as well as durability that backpacking alone is unlikely to do. Elevations will range from 1000 to 10,000 feet (305 to 3050 meters) and temperatures from near 50 F (10 C) to as cold as 0 F (-18 C).

Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Outdoor Research for the opportunity to test the AirFoil gloves!

4) Tester Background & Biography

Name: Curt Peterson
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
Weight: 270 (122 kg)
Email address: curt<at>boopants<dot>com
Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I live in the Cascade foothills, just 20 miles (32 km) from the PCT via footpaths leading right from my backyard. Most of my outdoor time here in Washington is spent on dayhikes, backpacking journeys, climbs, and ski trips everywhere from the Wilderness coast to the rainforest to the massive volcanoes to steppe.

I played football in college and often evaluate products from a big guy perspective. I tested gear forSeattle's biggest gear retailer in the mid-90s, then guided backpacking tours in Olympic National Park for a few summers. My typical pack load ranges from 12 to 19 lbs (5.4 to 8.6 kgs) and usually includes a tent to keep dry in the Pacific Northwest’s incessant dampness.

Read more reviews of Outdoor Research gear
Read more gear reviews by Curt Peterson

Initial Report

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