Backpacking Background:

Description:

The Sealskinz ChillBlocker Gloves by Danalco are designed for all sorts of outdoor pursuits where warm, dry hands are a priority.  Each glove is comprised of an inner fleece layer, a black exterior made of a nylon/spandex mix, along with a waterproof membrane sandwiched between the two.

Name:	ChillBlocker Gloves
Manufacturer:	Sealskinz
Web Site:	www.danalco.com
Date of Manufacture:	2004
Published Weight:	None
Measured Weight:	3.3 oz (108 g) pair
Published Dimensions:	Size Medium
Measured Dimensions:	All measurements are with the glove laying flat on a table. Palm width - 4.375 in (11.1 cm) Palm length (base of fingers to wrist) - 4.0 in (10.2 cm) Wrist length (from palm to end of glove) - 2.75 in (7.0 cm) Wrist width 3.75 in (9.5 cm) Thumb length - 2.5 in (6.4 cm) Index finger length - 3.25 in (8.3 cm) Middle finger length - 3.25 in (8.3 cm) Ring finger length - 3.125 in (8.0 cm) Pinky finger length - 2.0 in (5.0 cm)
Color:	Black
Warranty:	If ever a pair leak, by normal means, Danalco will replace the product or give a full refund.
MSRP:	$49.95 - US currency

Specifications:

Glove Sizing

From the Danalco website:

"Measure around the hand at the fullest part (excluding thumb).  Convert inches or centimeters to glove size.  A general rule of thumb (no pun intended): Your glove size may be the same as your Sealskinz sock size."

"ChillBlocker Gloves are designed to be slightly larger than regular SealSkinz gloves to help promote warmth within the glove.  If you prefer a snug fit, we suggest selecting on glove size smaller."

Sealskinz Glove Sizing Chart
Size	inches	cm
Small	8	20.5
Medium	8.5	21.5
Large	9 to 9.5	23 & larger
X-Large	10 to 10.5	25

• Sealskinz utilizes a proprietary technology called MVT (Moisture Vapor Transpiration), which consists of a three-layer system: an inner fleece layer, followed by the MVT membrane, and an outer layer of nylon/spandex mix.
• According to the manufacturer, hand washing and allowing to drip-dry will result in greatest longevity.  Do not twist or wring the gloves.  Machine washing and drying is permissible on low temperature settings.  It is also recommended to reverse gloves halfway through the drying cycle.

Field Information:

Over the last four months of testing, I've trekked in parts of Western New York, Western Pennsylvania and the Adirondack Mountain region.  Trips varied from short day trips of 2 - 5 miles (3 - 8 km) to full day treks of 20 + miles (32 + km).  Trips lasted from dayhikes and over-nighters to nine-day treks.  I tested the ChillBlocker Gloves with and without holding onto hiking poles. As the summer weather warmed, I had less opportunity to test the gloves while hiking, but they still served me well at night.  It's been a wet, cool summer, and I've had a lot more opportunity to test them than I ever envisioned at the onset of this test.

The terrain around Western New York is a mixed bag, starting out close to the shores of Lake Erie as a flat plateau and changing to rolling hills further away from the lake. The flat land is around 700 ft (213 m) elevation with the hills steadily increasing to close to 2000 ft (610 m).  Northern Pennsylvania tends to have similar temperatures to Western New York, although the terrain is considerably more hilly and steep. This is the home of the Allegheny Mountains, with elevations typically around 2000 ft (610 m).  Temperatures ranged from the 50 - 80 F (10 - 27 C).

Testing in the Adirondacks saw cooler temperatures and higher elevations.  Nights saw temperatures of 45 F (7 C) and elevations of 4000 - 5000 ft (1200 - 1500 m).

Test Results:

Waterproof: In the Field Report, I reported on my tighter-fitting size medium gloves leaking slightly.  I decided to continue testing the size large gloves I began the test series with.  As of last night, I can happily report that they still pass the "water test".  This test consists of donning the gloves and submerging under water for 5 minutes and reporting what happens.  The size large gloves do not leak after testing the last four months!

Comfort:  I've always loved the way the ChillBlocker gloves felt on my hands.  The inner fleece lining is very comfortable.  There are no seams anywhere in the position to cause blisters.  The fleece has held up well.  I reported some initial "shedding" of material when the gloves were new, but this has since stopped.

Fit:  The main difference I experienced between the two sized gloves under testing was in dexterity.  The snugger fitting size medium gloves allowed greater finger dexterity.  But, I also believe this tighter fit may have contributed to the eventual leaking in one glove.  I have not experienced any leaking in the looser fitting size large glove.  The larger glove is looser on my hand, but the fit is still at an acceptable level for me.

Warmth:  The ChillBlockers have always been warm.  In the colder weather at the beginning of this test, I definitely found the larger gloves warmer.  I believe this was due to the insulating affect of the trapped air around my skin.  I still find mittens to be warmer, but the ChillBlockers do a great job for gloves.

Breathability: These gloves have always done a great job of letting my hands breathe.  This has allowed me to continue using them through these warmer months. 

Durability:  Well, they don't leak, have no holes or tears in them, the inner lining is holding up great, and after six months I'm still taking them on trips.  Yes, the ChillBlockers are durable!

After the Test:  Will I continue using the ChilllBlocker gloves now that the test series is complete?   Yes, definitely.  I really like these gloves.  They're lightweight, warm, shed water, keep my hands warm and dry while letting them breathe.  In short, they do everything I could ask in a glove. 

Tim