Mid and Base Layers

66° North Snaefell Gore-tex Infinium Gloves | Review

A very handy pair of gloves for high tempo activities in cold weather

W

e chose these for our Outdoor 100 product guide due to their versatility. They make for excellent gloves for all kinds of outdoor activity, from hiking and trail running to road cycling and mountain biking, but then they also have a casual look and day-to-day functionality that makes them the kind of things you can simply wear on your commute through winter.

The main draw here is the Gore-tex Infinium fabric. Unlike standard Gore-tex, this isn’t waterproof but it’s totally windproof and it offers excellent breathability. That therefore makes these gloves excellent for those kind of activities where you want the wind chill kept off when you’re going slow and then to have breathability when you’re picking up the pace.

OM editor Will using the gloves in Scotland. Photos: Dave Macfarlane

The smartphone-friendly fingers and thumbs are a nice touch, as are the reflective details. There’s a handy silicone grip pattern on the palm too.

Pros: Excellent fabric, touch-screen friendly
Cons: Expensive

When you’re going at high tempos in places like the UK, I don’t think there’s a waterproof glove on the planet that isn’t going to get a bit clammy inside. For that reason I never wear waterproof gloves when I’m running or cycling to work. What I do want, however, is a glove that can block out the wind when I’m hiking or flying downhill on my bike and that’ll let my perspiration filter out into the atmosphere. This glove is the answer there.

The Snaefell has become my autumn and winter go-to. It’s the kind of glove that I’m going to be taking on every hike, on every morning dog walk when the frost is still lingering around and when I’m out for a night time trail run when the frost is starting to form.

I’ve had these in a size Small and they fit me really nicely. Normally I’d be a size medium but 66 North recommend sizing down here – and I think that’s definitely worth doing. They bundle up into a nice small size so you can stuff them in a coat pocket and never seem to be fiddly to put on.

On top of that windproofness, I’d say there’s still quite a high degree of water resistance here. I’ve been on fairly long runs in light to medium heavy rain and not had any sogginess. I’ve found the smartphone-friendly fingers and thumbs absolutely excellent too – and the reflective details are a nice touch for that night time safety.

Slightly off topic, but 66 North make a waterproof jacket that’s also called the Snaefell and it’s absolutely excellent – read our 66 North Snaefell Jacket review.