Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Outdoor Research Vert Gloves > Amanda Tikkanen > Initial Report

Initial Report—Outdoor Research Vert Gloves

Date: March 13, 2006

Name: Amanda Tikkanen
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 4" (1.6 m)
Weight: 135 lbs (61 kg)
Email address: uberpest at uberpest dot com
Personal website: http://www.uberpest.com
City, State, Country: LaGrange, IN USA

Backpacking Background:

I have been backpacking and hiking for five years throughout Michigan and Indiana, covering several hundred miles, always with a dog by my side. Beau has been happily carrying a pack for almost three years. Before Beau I hiked with Lucy, who is now retired.

My style of backpacking is moving from overnights to long distance hiking, including multi-day trips. While I don't necessarily favor ultralight equipment, I do like to go as light as possible while still being comfortable.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
Year of Manufacture: 2006
URL: http:// www.orgear.com

Specifications:

Average weight listed (per pair, size Large): 3.7 oz (103 g)
Weight as tested (size Medium, using a kitchen scale): 4 oz (113 g)
Size: Medium
Color: black with gray palms
MSRP: $49.00 US

Product Description



From the manufacturer's website:

"A stretchable Schoeller® Dynamic Extreme® shell gives this quality alpine glove wind-resistant, water-resistant, highly breathable performance. The full leather palm grips ice tools or stone, even in the worst conditions. The interior, composed of both smooth and brushed tricot lining, retains grip while providing moisture management and light insulation."

The gloves were delivered attached to a cardboard hangtag indicating size and describing the product. A small pamphlet describing Schoeller fabrics and an Outdoor Research sticker were also attached.

The cardboard hangtag describes the Vert gloves as the "Universal all-mountain glove for cool weather and high aerobic activity," and reminds the user that Outdoor Research products are guaranteed forever.

The following technical features were described:

Shoeller Dynamic Extreme protects and performs.

• Moisture, wind, snow, and abrasion resistant
• Highly breathable, flexible, and wicking
• Elastic wrist won't interfere with pole straps
• Slim fit for optimal agility

Leather palm provides good grip and durability

• Anatomical curve for easy grip of ropes and tools
• 3-panel thumb increases dexterity
• OR recommends occasional use of waterproofing treatment on the leather palms to maintain performance in wet climates

Lightly insulated for cool conditions

• Smooth tricot on palm allows easy in/out
• Brushed tricot on back of hand provides warmth

The fabric of each glove is black, the only available color, with gray leather palms. There is a small band of elastic on the back of each wrist. This elastic keeps the glove tight to the wearer's wrist so as not to interfere with trekking or ski poles. "OR PRO" is embroidered in silver on the back of each glove. There is a small black tag with red letters on each glove, which reads "VERT." Inside the top side of the right wrist there is a tiny tag indicating size and a small tag reminding the user of OR's "Infinite Guarantee," the manufacturer's URL and toll-free telephone number. Inside the left wrist there is another sizing tag, and a tag with care instructions. There is a webbing loop on each glove that could be used to clip the gloves to a jacket, pack, or belt loop using a carabiner.

All tags and literature attached to the gloves are printed in both English and French. The Scholler pamphlet is printed in four languages.

Initial Impressions

I put the gloves on and ran water over them in my kitchen sink for about 30 seconds for each glove. Overall, the gloves stayed dry—-most of the water beaded up and ran off leaving the gloves feeling only slightly damp to the touch. On the left glove near the top gusset seam for the thumb a small amount of water seeped in (maybe only one or two drops—just enough where I could feel it). The right glove did not have this issue. I will be paying close attention to this in the future and will like to see how they perform in the field. The gloves aren’t listed as being waterproof, only water resistant.

My measured hand size was in between small and medium. I decided it as better to go a little big since I could then wear a liner glove if needed. The medium fits perfectly. I do not have any extra room at my fingertips nor do I feel constricted in the gloves. I have long fingers, so it's usually very hard for me to find gloves that not only fit my fingers, but aren't loose around the wrist at the same time. The cuff of the glove extends over the cuff of the jacket or shirts I usually wear on the trail and at work. The gloves are advertised as slim fit. They are slimmer than most thick winter gloves, though they are not as thin as a single-layer fleece glove or a liner glove.

Field Information

It's nearly spring, but the temperatures are still cool. During the course of this test I expect temperatures to range anywhere from 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (-1 to 32 C). Living in the Midwest I am never 100% sure what the temperature will do from one day to the next. I am a field employee at Pokagon State Park in northeast Indiana. Some of my early duties include (but are never limited to): checking lift stations and monitoring the waste water treatment plant cutting up trees, and many other outdoor activities. I am outside in all types of weather for a minimum of 5 hours per day just for work. I also spend time on the park trails after work for exercise.

Test Plan

Since these gloves are advertised on the manufacturer's website as work gloves, I plan to wear these gloves at work on a daily basis, and also while on the trails after work. Having warm, functioning hands is a necessity when backpacking, but even more important for my daily routine. I must manipulate keys, padlocks, doorknobs, valves, tools, chainsaws, nuts, bolts, and other small items (like my Leatherman multi tool) in the cold. Even though it is early spring, cool wet days leave my hands very cold. Gloves that can be warm and dry without being bulky or cumbersome are a must. Also, for safety, I must have a secure grip on tools I am using. While on the trail this translates to easy use of trekking or ski poles, stoves, zippers, and bootlaces. I will also use these gloves on any and all trips I take during this period (I currently have planned 2-3 trips of at least 2 days each, plus day hikes, and use at work).

Specific items I will be looking for include, but are not limited to:

Fit. I have long fingers (longer in proportion to most people's hands), so many gloves that are long enough for my fingers are too big for my wrists. If they are thin enough for my wrists my fingers are cramped in the short finger area.

Comfort. Do the gloves keep my fingers warm? Is there enough padding when using poles? Any chafing?

Craftsmanship and Durability. Are the gloves made well? Do they hold up to daily use? If not, where do the gloves wear out?

Waterproofing. Do my hands stay dry while in the snow and rain?

Usefulness. Do the gloves allow me to use my sleeping pad valve easily? Are pens, keys, zippers, bootlaces, and other small items easy to grasp? Does the elastic in the wrist actually keep the gloves from interfering with pole use as the manufacturer claims?

Other. How well does mud and grime clean off the gloves? How quickly do they dry once wet? Does water soak through the materials? Plus, any other points that may come up during testing.

I thank Outdoor Research and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test the Vert gloves.

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Reviews > Clothing > Gloves > Outdoor Research Vert Gloves > Amanda Tikkanen > Initial Report