Outdoor Research Talon Glove Long Term Report

Andrew Henrichs

April 16, 2006

Biographical Information

Name:  Andrew Henrichs
Age:  25
Gender:  Male
Height:  6’ 2” (1.88 m)
Weight:  190 lb (86.2 kg)

Email address:  a_henrichs@yahoo.com           
City, State, Country:  Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA

Backpacking Background

   Most of my backpacking has been in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming, as well as the desert in the southwestern US.  I’ve gone winter camping several times, but I still prefer backpacking in the warmer months.  Most of my trips are 2-3 days, but I have taken several trips of 5-6 days.  This past summer, I was fortunate enough to have thru-hiked the 476 mile Colorado Trail over 35 days.  Recently, I have been leaning towards the lightweight side of the spectrum. 

Product Information

Manufacturer:  Outdoor Research (www.orgear.com)

Year of Manufacturer:  2005

Listed Weight (size L): 2.9 oz (82 g)

Weight as Delivered (size XL):  3.2 oz (91 oz)

MSRP:  $49.00 US

Product Description

   The Outdoor Research (OR) Talon Gloves are a lightweight, fleece lined glove.  The outer material is a Gore Windstopper Soft Shell fabric.  The palm and palmar surface of the thumb, index, and middle fingers are covered with a "Suregrip" material.  Basically, it's a semi-rubbery surface which provides more grip than the Soft Shell fabric.  The OR logo is embroidered on the back of the glove.  Both gloves have small tags next to the wrist which say "Talon" and the right glove has a small tag reading "Windstopper Soft Shell."  There is a small plastic clip on the gloves near the wrist where they can be connected.  Sewn into the inside of each glove is a small grey loop of material where the gloves could be clipped to a carabiner.  Also sewn into the wrist of the gloves are tags with the OR logo and website, as well as care instructions.  The only color these gloves come in is Black.  They are available in sizes Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large.  A sizing chart is found on the OR website. 

Field Testing

    I've used the OR Talon Gloves while hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, belaying, cooking, and sitting around camp.  The bulk of my testing took place on the Western Slope of the Colorado Rockies.  Elevations ranged from 6000 ft (1800 m) to 12500 ft (3800 m).  Temperatures on my trips ranged from -5º F (-20º C) to 60º F (16º C).  The Talon Gloves were my gloves of choice for backcountry skiing this winter.  Even in the coldest temperatures, my hands were comfortable once I was moving.  When it was warmer, my hands got too hot after approximately 30 minutes of trekking up the mountain.  I took the gloves off, slipped them over the tops of my ski poles, and continued up. 

    I had a similar experience on a 30 minute approach hike to an ice climb.  While hiking, the gloves kept my hands warm, even though the temperature was approximately 5º F (-15º C).  Once I stopped, I had to immediately switch to my thicker insulated gloves.  While it was too cold to test the durability and reliability of the Suregrip Palm on this ice climb, I was able to test it on a subsequent rock climb.  On our rock climb, the temperature was approximately 35º F (2º C).  It was a perfect day with sunny blue skies.  I found the Talon Gloves to be perfect for keeping my hands warm in between climbs.  I used them while belaying my partner, and was quite impressed.  The Suregrip Palm gripped very well, and I couldn't see any wear, even after belaying my partner on several routes.  The gloves worked great in the mornings while lighting the stove and getting water boiling.  They also worked great on the approach to the rock on Friday, as it was still chilly and rather windy.  I wasn't able to wear them while at the rock due to the fact that we taped our hands to protect them from the rock.  This proved to be more of an issue on Friday when it was actually cold out. 

Fit/Comfort

    I'm happy with the fit of these gloves.  They're fairly snug, but still allow full movement.  I haven't found any seams that cause discomfort.  My one complaint would be the tapered wrist.  It seems that it has stretched a little bit, making it easier for me to get my hands in the gloves.  I think that elastic running around the wrist would create a better seal to keep out snow and keep in heat.  I think it would also make it easier to get the gloves on and off.  I had a particularly difficult time donning and doffing the gloves when my hands were wet and/or cold.  Again, I think that an elastic band around the cuff would help. 

Temperature Range

    When I'm aerobically active, I have found that the Outdoor Research Talon Gloves have a useable temperature range of approximately -5º F (-20º C) to 35º F (2º C).  When I'm inactive, I've found that they have a useable range of 30º F (-1º C) to 50º F (10º C).  I wore the Talon Gloves twice while resort skiing.  The first time was late winter, and my hands got very cold on the lift.  The second time was a beautiful spring day.  Base temperatures were approximately 60º F (16º C), and the summit temperature (where I spent most of my time) was approximately 5º F (2º C).  This seemed to be a perfect temperature for resort skiing.  My hands got a little warm on the descents, but were still quite comfortable on the lift rides. 

Durability

    I'm very impressed with the durability of the ripstop Soft Shell face.  The fabric has resisted any and all wear while being scraped against rock, ice, and gear.  I still haven't noticed any stitches pulling or any pilling or snagging of the material.

Suregrip Palm

    I'm still impressed with the Suregrip Palm.  It did an excellent job of providing security while belaying my partner when we were rock climbing.   I had no problem gripping gear or catching my partner on falls or lowering him.  It even provided enough dexterity to tie knots while wearing the gloves. 

Water-repellancy

    I've found the fabric to be fairly water-repellant, but it definitely has its limits.  Light snow and rain rolls right off, to a point.  I've spent a little time digging snow pits and generally playing in the snow with these gloves.  The fabric began soaking up a little bit of moisture during these activities, but it never soaked all the way through.  Last weekend, I spent approximately 4 hours standing in a light drizzle and by the end, the Talon Gloves were fairly damp.  Once they wetted out, I found that they didn't provide nearly as much warmth as when dry.

Windproofness

    The windproof quality of the Soft Shell material is great.  I've encountered winds up to 40 mph (64 kph) several times while skiing with these gloves.  The only time I noticed wind sneak in is when my jacket cuffs slipped up and allowed wind through the wrist area. 

Breathability

    The breathability of these gloves is pretty impressive.  Even when the rest of my body is sweating, my hands remain relatively dry.  The fabric begins to lose ground in moisture transfer when the temperature is around 40º F (4º C) and I'm active.  That said, I typically don't feel like I need gloves in that situation. 

Conclusion

    I like these gloves a lot.  They seem to excel during aerobic activities in colder weather.  I will continue to use these gloves while hiking and snowshoeing in cold weather, as well as during backcountry ski trips.  Again, my only complaint is with the wrist of the glove.  It's cut snug, which can make getting the gloves on difficult.  I think a strip of elastic fabric would reduce the amount of wind entering through the cuff as well as make the gloves easier to get on.