Outside Analysis Flurry Sensor Gloves Evaluate

Bottom Line

The Outdoor Research Flurry Sensors (men’s / women’s) are midweight gloves perfect for moderate temperatures. Their wool and polyester materials are comfortable on the skin and warm enough for winter temperatures. It has a classy look making it versatile enough for in-town use. This versatility makes the Flurry one of our top-performing winter gloves.

The Flurry performs best between temperatures of twenty-five and forty degrees. While they lack the warmth for colder winter temperatures, they work great for brief exposure to cold or high-exertion pursuits in moderate temperatures.

The Flurry is not the glove to be worn while exposed to rain or if your hands are going to be in the snow all day. They lack any kind of water resistance to be effective against snow, ice, or rain. They are suitable for brief exposure to moisture in town or while on a quick outing. Despite a few fitting quirks in these gloves, they are our choice glove for a quick warm layer out on the town.

How We Tested

Miles Knotek is one of our gear testers up in Alaska and the analyst behind this review. He tested winter gloves for comfort, warmth, dexterity, and weather resistance with soak-through tests and miles of field testing. Simply put, he had his hands in these gloves long enough to see where they work and when they don’t. 

Comfort & Dexterity

The wool and polyester blend of the fabric is immediately soft and comfortable. We loved wearing these for brief forays into the cold and on short outings. Touch screen pads on the pointer finger and thumb are good enough for tapping a call on your phone but don’t expect to be texting while wearing these.

We found the biggest impairment to the Sensor’s dexterity was because these gloves run large. In our usual size, the fingers each had about a half inch of room. This led to feeling like the gloves were always on the verge of falling off and giving us the look of “alien hands”. 

There are grip pads on these gloves with two small swatches on the palm and one at the end of each finger. To get the most out of the traction pads, we would highly recommend sizing down these gloves.

Warmth

The Outdoor Research Flurry Sensors provide more warmth than a liner glove, but not quite as much as those dedicated to winter sports. We hiked and cross-country skied in these gloves and found that between twenty-five and forty degrees was their ideal temperature range. 

Good enough for brief exposure to cold, or prolonged exposure at moderate temperatures, the sensors are best suited for quick errands, light work, or aerobic winter sports. While we won’t be pulling these out of the closet on colder days, they offer great versatility in a mid-weight option.

Moisture Control

We chose to use the Outdoor Research Flurry Sensors on several high-output activities like cross-country skiing and hiking uphill. We quickly concluded that these are great gloves for being active in colder temperatures. 

The wool and polyester blend does a great job of wicking moisture out and away from the skin. The midweight thickness of the gloves means that moisture does not have to travel far to evaporate out, and a lack of a shell keeps moisture from being retained.

These are great gloves for active pursuits where you anticipate sweating a lot. While their awkwardly long fingers may make them less ideal for handling trekking poles, these gloves are great when you need moderate warmth and high breathability.

Weather Resistance

Without any kind of shell, the Outdoor Research Flurry Sensors are not the gloves of choice for wet conditions. We took them out for a hike during a freak December rain storm, and while they do bead light moisture, they quickly wet through in anything more than a light rain. That became even more evident during our immersion test when they soaked through immediately.

When wearing these hiking and skiing, snow and ice stuck to the fuzzy exterior making a thin layer of ice around each hand. While this did not immediately penetrate the glove, the material attracts snow rather than repels it. This is not an issue until heading back inside when the gloves would then wet through quickly. While we can’t recommend these gloves as the best option for wet and snowy days, they are enough to get you by if caught in a brief rain or snowstorm.

Durability

For a glove with no reinforced areas in the palms, and only minor traction pads, the Flurrys have held up solidly during our field testing. The traction pads remained intact and the touch screen points on the pointer and thumb, a common weak point, aren’t thinning or wearing through. The only sign of wear noticeable is some piling through the fingers and back of the hand.

While we won’t be choosing these gloves for heavy-duty work, they have held up to basic tasks like grabbing firewood and shoveling. The Flurrys are sure to be used for many winter days ahead.

Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Gloves?

The Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor is best suited as a casual glove in moderate temperatures. Comfortable down to twenty-five degrees, it’s perfect for aerobic activities and running errands in winter temperatures. 

Its wool and polyester construction is warm, soft, and stylish. We highly recommend sizing down if choosing the Flurry as they run large. Lacking any kind of shell or weather resistance, these are not the gloves to wear in a rainstorm or if you plan on being in snow all day.

Instead, they are perfect for short outings, nights on the town, or running errands. Their moderate warmth, casual versatility, and high breathability make them a well-rounded option for people in more moderate winter temperatures.

What Other Winter Gloves Should You Consider?

Check out our full guide to winter gloves.

REI Guide Insulated Review: For just a few more dollars, the Guide offers more warmth and weather resistance but sacrifices touchscreen capabilities.

REI Fleece Gloves Review: Similarly constructed but a little warmer, the REI Fleece offers the comfort of a fleece glove at a slightly lower price.

Smartwool Liner Review: If you’re in the market for a true liner, then Smartwool has got you covered for a lightweight and versatile glove.