Product Information
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
Manufacturer URL: http://www.outdoorresearch.com
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Country of Manufacture: China
Style: Work gloves
Model: AirFoil
Size: Large
Material: Gore WindStopper N2S Fabric
Color: Black
Listed weight: 1.9 oz (54 g) pair
Actual weight: 1 oz  (28 g) each glove (my scale does not show tenths of an ounce)
MSRP: U.S. $39.00
February 14, 2004

Product Overview
    From the Outdoor Research website:
         "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."


Field Testing
    I was able to test these gloves on two occasions during the Field Testing period.  I will report on these separately.

    The first trip with these gloves was to Joshua Tree National Park in December of 2004.  A few friends and I hiked the eight mile Boy Scout Trail as an overnight hike.  Elevation was between 3300 ft (1000 m) and 3900 ft (1200 m).  Day time temperatures ranged from 45 F (7 C) to 65 F (18 C).  The night time temperature hovered at 32 F (0 C).  During the day light hours, the wind was only a breeze.  However, once twilight approached, the winds started blowing.  Wind speeds reach approximately 20 mph (32 kph).  Our campsite was in the open desert surrounded by scrub brush and Joshua Trees.  There were no wind breaks available to us where we had to camp because of the rocky terrain.  This windy night gave me a chance to test the WindStopper material.  I wore only the AirFoil gloves on my hands when it got cold.  I did not include a thin liner glove under the AirFoil gloves.  I wish I would have though.  Even though the WindStopper material was excellent at repelling the wind, my hands did get cold once the temperature dropped to about 45 F (7 C).  This was due to the AirFoils having no insulation.
    The dexterity that these gloves afforded was unusual in a glove for me.  While wearing the AirFoil gloves, I was able to operate the zippers on my backpack, tent, and sleeping bag (as well as my pants' zipper for late night bathroom breaks when I waited until the last minute to get out of my sleeping bag and was in a hurry...)  I was able to operate the small, recessed buttons of my digital camera and Black Diamond Zenix headlamp while wearing the AirFoils.

    The other occasion that I used the Outdoor Research AirFoil Gloves was during a car camping trip with in the Mojave National Preserve in January, 2005.  Elevation was approximately 3000 ft (900 m).  Day time temperatures reached 70 F (21 C).  Night time temperatures were down to 25 F (-4 C).  During this trip I did not experience the high winds like I did in Joshua Tree National Park.  At night I wore the AirFoil Gloves with a pair of thin polypropylene liners underneath.  With this combination of liner and AirFoil gloves, my hands were toasty warm.  This did impair the dexterity of the gloves a bit, which I expected because of the added bulk of the liner gloves.  The liner gloves inside the AirFoils did make them a little snug, but the stretch material of the AirFoils allowed my fingers mobility without feeling restricted.  I was still able to operate the controls on my Coleman two burner stove and the buttons on my digital camera and headlamp.

    Overall, this glove has performed great for me.  The gloves have remained comfortable and the stretch is still there.  The tags that are sewn to the inside of each cuff have become softer with use and they sometimes stick out of the glove, but do not irritate my skin.  During high output activities like hiking, my hands did become sweaty while wearing the AirFoils.  However, the AirFoils handled the sweat factor admirably.  I could feel my hands getting sweaty inside the gloves while hiking, but once I stopped, the WindStopper material kept my hands from become chilled from a breeze and my hands quickly dried because of the breathability of the material.  The outer material has avoided abrasions and wear even though I have used them while scrambling across granite and sandstone.
    I really do not have any negative comments about this glove at this point.

Planned long term testing
    The AirFoil gloves will accompany me for backpacking and various day hikes in the San Bernardino Mountains, Sespe Wilderness, Southern Sierra and the Mojave National Preserve.  The gloves will worn while using a hiking pole and during windy days and nights.  Elevation will range from 2800 ft (850 m) to 7000 ft (2100 m).  Temperatures will range from just below freezing to 70 F (21 C).


Things that I will continue to be looking for are some of the following:

• Warmth - My hands get very dry during the winter months and I typically wear gloves even on mild days to prevent this.  Will the gloves keep my hands warm and prevent my hands from drying out?
  
• Comfort - Will the seams inside the glove irritate my hands?
  
• Fit - Does the material retain its close, but stretch fit?
  
• Washing - The tag on the gloves says to "Machine wash cold.  Wash separately.  Use Powdered detergent.  Do not use bleach.  Do not use fabric softener.  Hang dry."  I use a tech wash made by Sawyer or NikWax on all my outdoor performance clothing.  Will this affect the gloves?
  
• Wind proofing - Does the claim of being completely wind proof hold true?
• Breathability - Will my hands remain dry, or become soaked within the gloves?
  

Reviewer
Name: Scott Downard
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft (1.83 m)
Weight: 205 lb (93 kg)
Email address: rookthepagan@verizon.net
City, State, Country: Apple Valley, California, U.S.
Date: February 14, 2005

Backpacking Background
    As a teenager, I did a lot of backpacking and hiking with the Boy Scouts.  After I turned 18 and I left the Scouts, I abandoned backpacking.  Ten years later, when I was 28, I started getting interested in backpacking again.  I started buying gear to replace the old stuff from my teenage years.  I hike in the local mountains and desert areas.  I hike mostly in the spring and fall in moderate weather.  Some rain is encountered.  I primarily do day hiking and short term (i.e. one to four nights) backpacking excursions with some five day trips.  I like to hike fast and light while backpacking.