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Dakine Tundra Mitt - Women's Review

This super warm mitten is perfect for the coldest days on the slopes.
Dakine Tundra Mitt - Women's
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Price:  $125 List | $94.99 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Super warm, silky smooth liner, simple design, extremely water resistant
Cons:  Expensive, few features, not breathable
Manufacturer:   Dakine
By Amber King ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 4, 2018
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61
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#8 of 12
  • Warmth - 25% 9
  • Water Resistance - 25% 8
  • Dexterity - 25% 3
  • Durability - 15% 4
  • Features - 10% 5

Our Verdict

Tackling some of the coldest weather conditions, the Dakine Tundra Mitt is a perfect option for those looking for one of the warmest mitts out there for frigid resort riding. The combination of PrimaLoft and down insulation keeps hands warm when the mercury dips deep into the double negatives, while the nylon-polyester shell keeps water from absorbing into the material. We especially love the silky smooth interior and the simplicity the Tundra Mitt has to offer. Our only caveats with this mitten are its lack of breathability and dexterity. However, that's to be expected with such a heavily insulated product.


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Pros Super warm, silky smooth liner, simple design, extremely water resistantWarm, lightweight and packable, breathable, waterproof, single construction, dextrousSuper warm, water-resistant liner, insulated shell, weather-proofVery warm, dexterous for a mitt, durable shell, waterproof, removable and water resistant linerGreat value, durable, breathable, protective from water, simple features, smartphone compatible liner
Cons Expensive, few features, not breathableExpensive, won't fit super small hands.Expensive, too warm and bulky (overkill?) for the average skier, large fitLiner packs out after a season, split finger design leaves index finger cold, no leashes includedNot the most dexterous option out there
Bottom Line This super warm mitten is perfect for the coldest days on the slopes.Our favorite ski glove tested with a unisex fit. Despite not being gender-specific, this glove is off the charts for any adult, noticeably feeling different (and better) than other gloves on the market.Built to wear on the tallest mountains and coldest places.Our favorite all-around mitten for backcountry and resort skiing.A high value glove that excels in most of our metrics.
Rating Categories Dakine Tundra Mitt - Women's Arc'teryx Fission SV Glove Alti Mitt Black Diamond Mercury Mitt Deluxe Gore-Tex
Warmth (25%)
10
0
9
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
5
Water Resistance (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
7
Dexterity (25%)
10
0
3
10
0
10
10
0
2
10
0
5
10
0
8
Durability (15%)
10
0
4
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
5
Features (10%)
10
0
5
10
0
6
10
0
7
10
0
6
10
0
8
Specs Dakine Tundra Mitt... Arc'teryx Fission... Alti Mitt Black Diamond... Deluxe Gore-Tex
Waterproof Material GORE-TEX 84% nylon/16% elastane, Gore-Tex GORE-TEX 2.5 Layer/Leather palm Pertex Shield DryRide w/ Gore-Tex
Insulation Type Allied Down / Primaloft 200g PrimaLoft Silver and 133g Gold synthetic fibers PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation 170g in shell, 340g in liner 340-grams Primaloft Gold w/ high loft synthetic insulation Thermacore
Palm Material Durable water repellent leather Goat leather Pittards® Armortan® leather Goat leather Gnar Guard
Inner Glove Material (if applicable) Silky High Pile Fleece Octa Loft Moonlite Pile™ fleece High-loft fleece Brushed Microfiber
Double or Single Construction? Single Single Double Double Double
Gauntlet or Cuff Length? Gauntlet Medium Cuff Long cuff (shell) Guantlet (liner) Gauntlet Medium Cuff
Special features Velcro wrist closure, removable wrist leash. Unisex fit, kevlar stitching, removable wrist leash, carabiner loop Kevlar stitching, carabiner loop, removable wrist leash Nose wipe, trigger-finger liner, carabiner loop, no wrist leash, foam padding on knuckles, kevlar stitching Touch-screen compatible liners, removable wrist leash, nose wipe
Sizes (Women's) S, M, L XS, S, M, L, XL S,M,L XS, S, M, L S, M, L
Fit True to size. Fits large (unisex sizing) Fits large Fit true to size Fit true to size
Treatment Required? Yes Yes No No No
Warranty 2 years Lifetime Lifetime 1 year Lifetime

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Tundra Mitt by Dakine is one of the warmest mittens tested. Its single construction is bomber, keeping you warm on cold days in the mountains.

Performance Comparison


The Dakine Tundra Mitt is super warm.
The Dakine Tundra Mitt is super warm.

Warmth and Breathability


If you're looking for one of the warmest gloves out there, the Tundra Mitt fits the criteria. Loaded with a combination of Allied Down (230 g) and Primaloft (80g), it kept our hands super warm during the coldest of temperatures. We love the silky high pile fleece lining that keeps hands super cozy and comfortable throughout the day, and wicks away moisture effectively. In comparison to all other contenders tested, it provides some of the best insulative materials. The Gore-Tex liner provides decent weather resistance which translates to better warmth overall.

The Dakine Tundra Mitt features a super warm PrimaLoft insulation that keeps hands toasty in the coldest weather.
The Dakine Tundra Mitt features a super warm PrimaLoft insulation that keeps hands toasty in the coldest weather.

That said, breathability is limited. When testing this mitt in the backcountry our hands quickly began to sweat, and the mitt was unable to vent. On warm days, we actually had to take it off! As a result, our hands got a little colder as temperatures continued to plummet throughout the day. We would recommend it only for the coldest of weather when sweating in your glove won't be an issue.

The plush silky smooth liner of the Dakine Tundra Mitt keeps hands cozy and warm! We loved this mitten - especially for cold days on the chair lift.
The plush, silky smooth liner of the Dakine Tundra Mitt keeps hands cozy and warm! We loved this mitten - especially for cold days on the chair lift.

Water Resistance


Make sure to treat the leather and shell of this glove to ensure it continues to wick water well over its lifetime.

We are truly impressed by its ability to repel water. Equipped with a nylon polyester shell coated with a DWR finish and a Gore-Tex insert, it did not leak and it absorbed the very little water. Additionally, its water-repellent leather palm provides fantastic resistance when building a snowman or constructing a snow angel. As a result, we can recommend it for both wet and dry climates, even in the nastiest of weather.

The Dakine Tundra Mitt is one of the most water-resistant mitts tested. We would recommend this product for all types of climates!
The Dakine Tundra Mitt is one of the most water-resistant mitts tested. We would recommend this product for all types of climates!

Dexterity


Given the lofty insulation and the mitten construct of the Tundra Mitt, this mitten has the worst dexterity rating of the lot. We found it hard to perform simple tasks like tying shoelaces and zipping up our jacket quickly, but when it came finer tasks, we found ourselves taking off the mitt…ultimately making our hands colder. The conclusion? Not a very dexterous product.

This mitten is true to fit!

Features


This mitten has a single layer construction and a wrist cuff that fits best underneath a jacket. This is a simple glove with limited features. It has a small clasp to hold the mittens together when not in use, in addition to an adjustable cuff closure. It does not feature touch-screen compatibility, leashes, or a nose wipe like that featured in other products in this review.

We loved the many features! Removable leashes mitt clips female-specific fit adjustable cuffs and easy-pull on loops.
We loved the many features! Removable leashes, mitt clips, female-specific fit, adjustable cuffs, and easy-pull on loops.

Durability and Construction


The Tundra Mitt is constructed of a polyester shell and durable leather palm. However, despite the nice materials, the stitches are longer and not as well crafted. Our tests revealed that it packed out slightly throughout our three-month testing period. That said, it does have a two-year warranty, and we believe this mitt could last a few years.

The palm features a water-repellant leather palm that is fairly durable!
The palm features a water-repellant leather palm that is fairly durable!

Value


Being one of the warmest mitten tested, this product fills a specific niche. However, the sticker price seems a little high for where it landed in our metrics. That said, if warmth is your priority, this may be a great choice.

Conclusion


The Dakine Tundra Mitt is perfect for sitting on an ice-cold ski lift on the coldest days of winter. It'll keep your hands roasty toasty.

If your hands get especially cold in the winter this mitt is what you need! Be sure to slip on the silky-smooth Dakine Tundra Mitt that generates the most heat of any mitten tested in this review!
If your hands get especially cold in the winter, this mitt is what you need! Be sure to slip on the silky-smooth Dakine Tundra Mitt that generates the most heat of any mitten tested in this review!


— Amber King