Mitts or gloves? It’s a question often asked, as most people know that mitts are warmer, because when your fingers are altogether, they warm themselves up. Gloves isolate the fingers, and so they can take longer to heat up.
But what if you could have the best of both? Montane has launched a new glove/mitt combo that should allow you to stay warm, but maintain the dexterity that a glove offers.
Montane Switch Gloves Features
• Suede leather palm
• GRANITE STRETCH softshell outer fabric
• PrimaLoft PERTEX pull out mitt
• Close-fitting cuff
On test
I chose a medium after looking at the Montane website and measuring my hand based on the sizing guide there. The gloves are a very snug fit, and okay to get on, but I wonder whether I should have gone for a large. I did try putting them on with wet hands, and it was really tricky. However, once on, they don’t feel too tight or anything, and it’s easy to move my fingers.
The build of the gloves is really good – stitching is great on the grey suede palm (and underside of fingers too). There are perforations in the palm, to help with breathability, but in cold conditions, the glove is not enough – that’s when you need to deploy the PrimaLoft mitt that is attached to the elasticated cuff. It’s easy to slip over your fingers, and thumb, and the windproofing of the mitt does a great job of keeping your hands warm. There are silicone grips on the palms and thumb of the mitt, so these are a good option if you use walking poles at higher altitudes. The mitt part can flap about in the wind, when not wearing it, and this can be a bit annoying, but they are very securely attached at the cuff.
Smartphone users will be happy that the fingers work on touch screens, but remember, the glove is not waterproof, and the suede is prone to staining. Montane claims that the gloves are shower resistant when wearing the mitt, and they are to a certain extent – but I wore them in heavy rain, and the gloves were soaked through, so these are fair weather gloves really!
At just 65g, they are a no brainer for fastpacking trailrunners or ski tourers.
Montane Switch gloves: £50. Find out more here.
