Best of the Rest

(Article continued from Rest of the Best section)

Waterproofing:

Most gloves are given a rating for waterproofing. This scale varies by manufacturer, but with Burton is measured 5000mm to 20000mm - the higher the mm, the more reliable the waterproofing. Most gloves that contain Gore-Tex are going to be more water and weatherproof. Some higher-end models offer taped seams and Gore-Tex (or a similar material) to increase waterproofing.

Breathability:

Breathability is measured in Gs. Most companies give their gloves a rating for comparison. You want your glove to be slightly breathable so that your hands are kept warm but not sweating. Once your hands sweat, in cold temps, the wetness makes your hands colder.

Function:

There will always be the question of glove versus mitten. It ultimately comes down to personal preference. Many people feel that gloves offer more dexterity, but I believe that with practice and more time in mittens, you can become just as agile with them. There are gloves specifically made for pipe, which have sticky palms to help you stick grabs. Some offer leather palms for enhanced durability. Once again, it comes back to knowing what you want to do with your glove.

Construction Textiles:

Always consider construction of the glove. Many companies are recognizing the need for agility. The warmest of gloves lose their lovability when you have to take them off every time you need to do your bindings. Flexible materials like jacquard and nylon increase the movement of your hands. Although many offer leather palms for increased durability, some offer comparable synthetic materials for those who prefer more animal-friendly options...

Features:

Gloves offer many different extra features. The ones that I found most helpful are the protective inserts, leashes, reinforced areas, hand warmer/stash pockets, and cinch tops/Velcro closures. Wrist guards made into the gloves are genius. It alleviates the need to buy wrist guards separately as well as avoids the difficulty of fitting your hand with the guard into your small glove. They provide a just-in-case feature that gives you a little more confidence when riding or learning to ride.

Leashes are a must have for those times when you need to take gloves off, especially on the lift. These wonderful inventions avoid having the ride down with one hand in your pocket in search of the dropped glove. Reinforced areas provide extra warmth and durability in those areas like the fingertips and palms which can be quickly worn on board edges while carrying your snowboard. The hand warmer stash pocket is great for adding warmth by inserting hand warmers. Some manufacturers add a goggle chamois which is always helpful in times when you need to wipe your goggles. The cinch tops or Velcro closures provide an interface with your coat sleeves which becomes your defense against snow entering your glove. When used, they prevent drafts and snow from reaching your wrists and hands.

Here are my picks for the Best of the Restm Women’s Snowboard Gloves.