Oyuki Chika GTX Gloves Review

The Oyuki Chika GTX Gloves are high performing in many aspects with quality construction and a Gore-tex insert. Where they are a real standout, however, is in their warmth-to-dexterity ratio thanks in no small part to their sleek and low-profile design.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Oyuki Chika performed among the top gloves in this metric. With 200g of Primaloft Gold on the back of the glove and 133g of Primaloft Grip insulation on the palm, these gloves maintained plenty of heat for most days. The strategic placement of this insulation kept the level of insulation from restricting movement, which is a key element to all-day warmth. This high-quality synthetic insulation is very lofty and compressible and maintains some insulating qualities even when wet.

While testing this glove on a shady, cold, early winter lift ride we noticed that it kept our fingers warm even while sitting still. The double cuff, with a neoprene inner and adjustable hook and loop outer cuff blocks out drafts extremely well. We found that this closure was able to fully cinch around the wrist comfortably when combined with its inner cuff. We also enjoyed the soft and warm tricot liner of this glove.

Where this glove left room for improvement was in its breathability. While the Primaloft and Goretex should both be breathable, the leather construction prevented excellent performance here. When fully exerting on uphill hikes and ski tours the Oyuki trapped a little moisture, which could lead to cold hands over time. The tricot lining and Goretex do slowly wick this moisture away so long as the glove (and skier) are not being pushed to the limit. This glove is just a little too warm for high-output uphill pursuits.

Water Resistance

The Oyuki Chika boasts an impressive level of water resistance. The Gore-tex liner keeps water from penetrating all the way to the fingers and the leather resists wetting out when taken care of properly. Oyuki recommends running with the factory DWR treatment on the leather until it is worn down before adding additional treatment. The next layer of defense is continuing to treat the goat skin leather with an included Nikwax water-resistant treatment. Once the leather is saturated with this treatment, the exterior shell beads and resists water well, as long as you re-treat it regularly.

We found that on long days with many hours of hands in the snow, the water resistance of the treated leather started to wear off. When the leather began to soak through at the seams, but the Gore-tex liner successfully kept our hands dry and warm. In most situations and weather conditions, this shell sheds moisture without issue and the moisture doesn't ever reach the Gore-tex liner. This treated leather is impressively water-resistant.

Dexterity

In addition to its great performance in other metrics, the Oyuki Chika is an extremely dexterous glove. The full goat skin leather construction of this glove also allows for stretch and conformity over time as the material breaks in. Where this glove surpasses some other all-leather gloves is how supple the leather is right out of the gate.

We found this glove to be capable of doing everything from transitions while ski touring to writing down snowpack observations. The strategically placed insulation (more on the back) allows for easy flexion while the svelte leather construction around the fingers makes it easy to grip things and do fiddly tasks with the gloves on. The internal cuff fits snugly on the wrist, eliminating any bulk underneath and around the jacket cuff. Considering its warmth, we found the Chika to allow for excellent dexterity.

Durability

The Chika GTX are made of quality materials with a well-executed construction that leads us to believe that they will be durable gloves. The goat leather outer is supple, but resistant to wear and abrasion. We found that this glove showed little sign of wear even when tested using ropes as a belay glove. While Oyuki has really only made a splash in the US market in the last five or so years, these gloves are tested and developed in some of the harshest winter weather out there in cold and snowy Northern Japan.

These gloves claim to be built to last and a close examination of tightly sewn seams and high-quality leather doesn't suggest otherwise. Our only point of concern in this glove is the lack of reinforcement in the high-use thumb and first finger intersection. As with other gloves constructed completely of leather, we recognize that their lifespan depends on proper treatment and care of the leather. The performance of other all-leather gloves we have tested over the years suggests that these gloves should last several seasons if taken care of properly. We will update this review if any durability issues arise as we continue to test them throughout the winter.

Features

This streamlined glove does pack in a few extra features. One of the most unique elements of the design is the two-layer cuff. The interior layer of the cuff is constructed of snug-fitting neoprene, reinforced with an adjustable hook and loop closure exterior cuff. We loved how this feature sealed up the gloves around the wrist on powder days helping to maintain warmth and keep snow out.

The double-layered cuff also includes a sleek pull tab. We like how the pull tab is integrated into the body of the glove, eliminating the possibility it becomes worn and detached over time. These gloves also feature a stretchy and functional wrist leash to help prevent losing them if you take them off on the chairlift. While the Chika doesn't have some of the fancy features found on other gloves on the market, we found that the quality of the ones it did have made them more than sufficient.

Should You Buy the Oyuki Chika GTX Glove?

The Oyuki Chika excels at combining dexterity and warmth, with a sleeker fit than many other gloves on the market. If you are looking for a glove that is warm enough for most days and has great dexterity, this is an excellent option. If you are looking for a streamlined fit and don't need the warmest gloves on the market, this is a well-designed glove that is waterproof and looks good too.

What Other Women's Ski Gloves Should You Consider?

If you value warmth above all else, consider looking at a mitten like the award-winning Black Diamond Mercury Mitt. And, if you need the dexterity of this glove, but a little more warmth, you can't go wrong with the premium Arc'teryx Fission SV.