The Gore-Tex Down III Glove by Gordini is perfectly suited for ladies who want dexterity, but need a warm glove. The down insulation will keep you warm during the coldest days at the resort.
Performance Comparison
Keep your fingers warm and your wallet padded with our favorite budget option from Gordini.
Warmth and Breathability
If you're looking for a glove that will breathe well for specific adventures, check out our Top Pick for Backcountry Skiing option, the
Outdoor Research Arete - Women's glove.
Of all the gloves tested, the Gordini Gore-Tex Down III Glove (rated to 10F) is the warmest. It's loaded with 600-fill goose down (75% Goose down, 25% goose feathers) on the back of the palm, with a less bulky MegaLoft insulation on the palm (providing a little more dexterity). In addition to the insulation, we loved the ultra-plush and soft inner liner that is sewn into the construct of the glove.
Beef up this pair's warmth by sticking a hand-warmer in the pocket designed just for this purpose.
This glove does an okay job in the Breathability metric. The Gore-Tex liner allows water vapor to escape slowly, but the loft and insulation almost do too good a job of keeping heat trapped inside. As a result, we noticed our hands getting clammy during aerobic or warm days. In comparison to the Arc'teryx Fission Glove (our Editors' Choice winner), this glove is much warmer but is not as breathable. As a result, it's a wonderful resort option, but we wouldn't recommend it for skiing in the backcountry.
Water Resistance
In addition to providing a heap of warmth, this glove does an impeccable job of resisting water. The highly durable and water-resistant goatskin palm and reinforced thumb keep moisture out when playing in the snow. The HydroWick Denier lining keeps water out of the glove throughout the day. During blustery wintery days when the snow was wet, we skied the resort for hours, without feeling cold or discomfort. These gloves are water resistant!
During our water dunk tests, we were happy to learn that the Gore-Tex Down III gloves did not leak, just like other gloves with a Gore-Tex insert (like the Arc'teryx Fission Glove and Burton Gore-Tex Glove). However, when we weighed this glove after the dunk test, we learned that it absorbed 7.1 oz of water, which is more than most gloves and mitts. As a result, we'd recommend keeping this glove out of puddles, simply because it will absorb water. However, the membrane does a good job keeping that moisture away from the inside of the glove. We recommend this glove for all types of climates and all weather conditions.
Water didn't make it to our hands inside this glove, but the exterior absorbed a significant amount of water.
Dexterity
If you don't care much for dexterity and prefer warmth, check out some of the mitten options instead, like the
Hestra Heli Mitt or the
Dakine Tundra Mitt - Women's.
Providing more dexterity than all the mittens tested in this review, we were impressed by this ultra-plush glove. This is partly because less material is used in the palm and the fit is slim and tight. As a result, this glove had a little better dexterity than the Burton Gore-Tex Glove, but it wasn't as high performing as either the Arc'teryx Fission Glove or Outdoor Research Arete.
The Down III's impressive dexterity makes binding adjustments a piece of cake.
Features
Looking for touch-screen compatible gloves? Take a look at the
Swany Legend II Mitt - Women's or the
Burton Gore-Tex Glove.
The Gore-Tex Down III glove has a few new features compared to its predecessor, the Down II. An integrated wrist leash is handy when you need to remove your gloves quickly without having to store them in a pocket. No fear of dropping a glove from a chairlift with the leash attached, the gloves just hang off the wrists. The back of the hand has a small pocket that perfectly fits a hand warmer. On extra-frigid mornings, we liked the small addition of warmth.
Wrist leashes are all kinds of convenient.
The wrist cinch is simple, and we liked the quick cinch and release around the gauntlet. There are also quick clips that hold the gloves together (when not in use). We also appreciated the nose wipe on the thumb that kept us happy during snotty days on the mountain.
Simple and effective wrist cinching.
We wished this glove had touchscreen compatibility like the Burton Gore-Tex Glove as well as a removable leash like the Hestra Heli Mitt - Women's. A longer gauntlet would be helpful to keep snow out during super deep days in the mountains. We also liked that we could use a super thin glove liner with this glove to provide additional warmth and versatility. Even though it doesn't come with one, you can buy a pair of liners for as little as $20 online.
Heat injection.
Durability and Construction
Make it a point to treat the goatskin palm with a leather sealant to ensure the longevity of this glove. Treat it before use and one to two more times a season.
We were impressed with the craftsmanship and durability of this glove. Throughout the testing period, the insulation did not pack out or lose warmth, even after washing and our dunk tests. The stitching was more precise with smaller stitch patterns than the Burton Gore-Tex Glove, but it wasn't seamless like the Arc'teryx Fission Gloves.
Resort riding with the Down III.
Also, we loved the goatskin leather palm — one of the most durable leathers out there. Even though this glove only comes with a one-year warranty, we think it will last a few seasons at the least. In general, it was more durable than all contenders except the Arc'teryx and Hestra models.
Best Application
If you're looking for a glove that will keep you warm and provide you with great dexterity, this contender is where it's at. Doing the best at the resort, we think this is a great option for beginners and experts alike. Unlike the Arc'teryx Fission Glove, this is not the best option for backcountry skiing as it's not the most breathable. However, it can be coupled with a super thin glove, making a touch more versatile. If you're looking for the best option for the backcountry, check out the Outdoor Research Arete glove. It features a double construction and lightweight design, perfect for booting up steep slopes. We'd recommend the Dakine Tundra Mitt for the best mitt in super cold weather.
These Gordini's raise the roof on quality performance and value.
Value
In our humble opinion, we think this Best Buy award winner features the best value of all gloves tested. For only $90, (and for less some places online), you're getting stand-up performance and durability. If you're looking to pinch pennies seriously, be sure to look at the ultra-affordable Kinco Pigskin Leather that offers a no-frills design for much less!
Nothing like an empty resort with warm, dry, and mobile fingers!
Conclusion
The Gordini Gore-Tex Down III Glove won our Best Buy Award for its fantabulous combination of warmth, dexterity, and weather protection. Even though it isn't super stylish, it's a high-quality glove for just $90.
