REI’s Gauntlet GTX 2.0 Mittens Evaluation

REI’s Gauntlet GTX 2.0 Mittens are very warm single-layer Gore-Tex mittens good for temperatures into to the single digits. They’re extremely comfortable with long gauntlets to keep your wrists and hands warm. But the best thing about these mitts is their reasonable price; other companies charge up to twice as much for comparable gloves making these a real steal!

Specs at a glance

• Type: Single layer
• Gender: Unisex
• Waterproof/Breathable: Gore-Tex insert
• Fabric: Nylon (exterior) with synthetic leather palm
• Insulation: Polyester brushed tricot
• Nose-wipe: Yes
• Wrist Gauntlet: Yes
• Wrist leash: No, but an attachment point provided
• Touch screen compatible: Yes (marginally so)
• Weight: 7.4 oz / pr (212g)

REI’s Gauntlet GTX 2.0 Mittens are warm insulated mittens with long wrist gauntlets that are good for cold temperature use into the single digits: about 0-10 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re ideal for standing around on mountain summits or in lift lines when you’re generating less body heat and need a little help to keep your hands toasty.

They have long wrist gauntlets that extend 4″ past your wrist and up your arm with elastic adjusters that you can pull with one hand to snug them around your forearms. There’s a lot of blood that flows close to the surface of your wrists and gauntlet gloves like these are an important way to prevent heat loss in order to keep your hands warmer.

These mitts do not come with an idiot cord but there is a small plastic triangle sewn into the hem that would allow you to add one. Idiot cords let you hang heavy gloves or mittens from your wrists if you need to pull your hand out for a fine dexterity task, like putting on a balaclava or adjusting a ski mask.

These mittens are bulky and when you’re wearing them your hands will look like turtle flippers so you can forget about any fine motor control. Because they’re bulky, you’ll probably have a difficult time getting them into trekking pole/ski pole straps if that’s a use-case scenario you’re trying to address. I don’t use trekking pole straps on my poles, so that’s not an issue for me.

These gauntlet mittens are insulated with a sewn-in polyester tricot liner. The liner is very soft and comfortable, while the fingers are pre-curved for a natural fit. The fit is true-to-size, but if you want to wear them with a thin liner glove, you can, if you size up.

Like many single-layer gloves and mittens, you need to careful when extracting your hands so that you don’t pull the liner out, because it can be a bit tricky to reseat inside the thumb and forehand. I find these mittens a little too warm for winter hiking and snowshoeing when you’re generating an enormous amount of body heat unless my hands are very cold, which is why I recommend using them as summit gloves when you need extra insulation in highly exposed terrain.

These mittens have a nose wipe, and while REI claims that the thumb is touchscreen compatible, trying to use it with a smartphone is pretty pointless and rather comical. The mittens can be attached to one another with the supplied mitten hook or ‘binered to a climbing harness by clipping to the adjustable webbing straps that cover the wrists.

Recommendation

While I’m a big proponent of a layered approach to gloves and mittens for winter hiking, using uninsulated shells with fleece liners, it is important to carry a very warm pair of gloves or mittens on winter hikes that you can wear in more extreme conditions on summits or when you get chilled. While these REI Gauntlet GTX 2.0 Mittens don’t qualify as heavy-duty expedition-class mittens, they’re more than sufficient for temperatures above zero Fahrenheit and the price is right! You can easily pay twice as much for mittens of this caliber from Hestra, Black Diamond, Outdoor Research, or Gordini for the same feature set and performance.

Disclosure: The author owns this product.

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