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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:  $120 List | $89.96 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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63
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#10 of 12
  • Warmth and Breathability - 25% 9
  • Water Resistance - 25% 8
  • Dexterity - 25% 3
  • Features - 10% 4
  • Durability - 15% 6

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 gloves out there. 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. The only product that is warmer is the Outdoor Research Alti Mitt, built for summiting 8000-meter peaks. That said, this product has the same caveats as the Dakine Tundra, though the Altri Mitt offers a little more versatility.

If you're looking for a mitten that breaths a little better, check out the Hestra Heli Mitt. But, if you're looking for a mitten that provides ample warmth for cold days on the ski resort, and you're not concerned with sacrificing dexterity (or breathability), the Tundra Mitt may be right up your alley.


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Awards  Editors' Choice Award  Best Buy Award Top Pick Award 
Price $89.96 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$189 List$170 List$67.63 at Amazon$48.83 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
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Pros Super warm, silky smooth liner, simple design, extremely water resistantWarm, breathable, lightweight, great dexterity, versatileSuper warm, removable liner, durable construction, weather resistant linerFantastic warmth, good dexterity, durable goatskin palm, super affordable priceHand warmer pocket in liner, long gauntlet, double glove construction, great price, carabiner loop, versatile
Cons Expensive, few features, not breathableExpensive, limited sizingBulky, difficult to get liner back into glove, expensiveFew features, less breathable constructNot warm, lacks durability, no wrist adjustment, tight fit, not recommended for the resort
Bottom Line This super warm mitten is perfect for the coldest days on the slopes.This Editors' Choice stands out for its fantastic balance of warmth and breathability, perfect for skiing the resort or exploring in the backcountry.A classic workhorse glove designed to keep hands warm and comfortable all day long.This Best Buy Award winner is perfect for any lady seeking an affordable and cozy glove that offers superior warmth and dexterity.This Top Pick for Backcountry Adventures will surely breathe and perform during any winter aerobic sport.
Rating Categories Dakine Tundra Mitt - Women's Arc'teryx Fission - Women's Black Diamond Guide - Women's Gore-Tex Down III Women's Arete
Warmth And Breathability (25%)
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
4
Water Resistance (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
9
Dexterity (25%)
10
0
3
10
0
9
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
9
Features (10%)
10
0
4
10
0
5
10
0
6
10
0
6
10
0
7
Durability (15%)
10
0
6
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
6
Specs Dakine Tundra Mitt... Arc'teryx Fission... Black Diamond... Gore-Tex Down III... Arete
Waterproof Material GORE-TEX Gore-Tex XCR waterproof insert GORE-TEX waterproof insert Gore-Tex waterproof/windproof membrane Gore-Tex waterproof/windproof membrane
Insulation Type Allied Down / Primaloft PrimaLoft insulation 170 g PrimaLoft® Gold insulation 600-fill of 70% goose down 30% waterfowl feathers on back of hand, Megaloft on palm side Radiant Fleece (100-grams)
Palm Material Durable water repellent leather Leather Goat leather Goat skin (leather) AlpenGrip Synthetic material
Inner Glove Material (if applicable) Silky High Pile Fleece Brushed polyester liner Boiled wool and 200 g fleece palm lining Polyester fleece liner Polyester fleece liner gloves.
Double or Single Construction? Single Single Single Single Double
Gauntlet or Cuff Length? Gauntlet Medium cuff Medium cuff Medium cuff Medium cuff
Special features Velcro wrist closure, removable wrist leash. Removable wrist leash, carabiner loop, adjustable wrist cuff. Nose wipe, foam padding on knuckles Adjustable wrist closure, nose wipe. Carabiner loop, nose wipe, adjustable wrist cuff, removable wrist leash.
Sizes (Women's) S, M, L XS, S, M, L, XL XS,S,M,L S, M, L S, M, L
Fit True to size. Fits large (unisex sizing). Fits small True to size. Fits small.
Treatment Required? Yes Yes No Yes No
Warranty 2 years Lifetime 1 year 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...and affordable!
The Dakine Tundra Mitt is super warm...and affordable!

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!

Best Application


If you're looking for one of the warmest mitts out there, the Dakine Tundra Mitt is where it's at. We found its best application is cold-weather resort skiing.

Value


Being one of the warmest mitten tested, this product fills a specific niche. However, the sticker price of $120 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