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
June 22, 2005

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."

    Also see my Initial Report and my Field Report for more details.


Field Testing

    I used the AirFoil Gloves on two trips during the LTR phase of testing.  The first trip was a one night excursion along the Pacific Crest Trail near Anzo Borrego with elevation below 3000 ft (914 m) with temperatures ranging between 40 F (4.5 C) and 65 F (18 C).  The second trip was a 40 plus mile (64 km plus), four day / three night partial bushwhack loop through the South Sierra Wilderness from Blackrock to Templeton Meadow and back.  Temperatures ranged from the low 20's F (-7 C) to 60 F (16 C).

• Warmth - I have worn these gloves around camp down to 40 F (4.5 C) with my hands remaining comfortable.  I have found that even though the material is windproof, thus keeping air from exchanging within the glove, the material that contacts my skin gets cold when the temperature drops.  When this happens, I simply add a thin liner glove for warmth.  This configuration allowed me to take these gloves down to the low 20's F (-7 C) with my hands remaining warm.  On the flip side, I have worn the AirFoil gloves while hiking in temperatures around 55 F (13 C).  I did not feel my hands overheating while wearing them in this temperature range.
• Comfort - Not much to report here.  The gloves have remained very comfortable and non irritating to wear for long periods of time.  The longest stretch of time being approximately 8 hours while hiking.  My hands did not feel soggy or uncomfortable.
• Washing - I have only had to wash my AirFoils a total of three times during the 6 month testing period.  The care tag states to use powder detergent when washing them, however, I have a Maytag Neptune front loading washer that only uses liquid detergent.  So, I tossed the AirFoils in with the rest of my backpacking clothes and used NikWax TechWash liquid.  I have not seen any damage as a result of using a liquid.  However, I did use specialized detergent designed for performance and Gore-Tex fabrics.
• Breathability - After wearing these gloves for an 8 hour period of time in temperatures around 55 F (13 C) while hiking, I can say that these gloves have remained highly breathable.  After doing a rather hard climb over a pass, while sweating quite a bit, my hands remained dry inside the AirFoils.
• Durability - During my most recent hike through the Southern Sierra, I did quite a bit of cross country bushwhacking.  This involved climbing rocks, working my way through densely packed pine and fir trees (both alive and dead), and bramble bushes.  I wore my AirFoil gloves while doing this.  The material evaded snags and tears many times.  I often grabbed onto branches that were very rough or sharp that would have torn up my hands, but left the gloves unscathed on the palm.  The gloves were treated to a lot of abuse during these cross country travels, approximately 20 miles (32 km) in all.
• Dexterity - I have become used to wearing these gloves while doing activities on the trail.  These include eating lunch (a Balance Bar), opening and closing my Ursack food bag, untying and tying my trail runners and gaiters during the day, undoing my pants to urinate and zipping them back up, retrieve my camera from a side pocket and operating the buttons on the camera to take pictures, and taking off and putting on my pack (this includes adjusting straps and hip belt).  I find that I have only a reduced sense of dexterity for most activities.  Things like opening my small Swiss Army knife do require me to take at least one glove off, but I am still able to use the knife with gloved hands.
  

    Overall, these gloves has performed great for me.
    I really do not have any negative comments about these gloves at this point.



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: June 22, 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.