Arc'teryx Lithic Review

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Lithic features two layers of PrimaLoft Silver insulation; one 133 gram layer and one 100 gram layer. The inside offers a layer of extremely soft brushed fleece that helps your hands to feel warm as soon as you put them on, adding to the overall insulation of the glove. The two types of PrimaLoft appear on the outside of the hands where grip isn't an issue; it is there that Arc'teryx used the thicker PrimaLoft Silver. The inside of the palm was constructed using PrimaLoft Gold insulation; this insulation is denser, allowing it to last longer while giving it the ability to provide a more secure grip.

While they were not as warm as the Black Diamond Guide or the Hestra Army Leather 3-Finger Mitt, we did find that they were warmer than many of the gloves in our review, including our high-scoring Hestra Leather Fall Line. They are comparable in warmth to the Outdoor Research Mute Sensor Glove and Black Diamond Legend. As far as breathability goes, the Lithic's construction gives it the title of being the most breathable glove in our review; as a result, they are also the quickest to dry.

Dexterity

The Lithic offers one of the best fits of any contender in our fleet. They use a unique construction, which allows them to be highly dexterous without sacrificing warmth. Instead of a fabric cut-out sewn into the shape of a hand, with box shaped cuttings for fingers like nearly all other gloves are made, the Lithic uses a three-lobe finger pattern that mirrors the thumb and each finger separately, according to their most natural position and movement patterns.

All of our testers could easily feel the super ergonomic design and several commented on the exceptional dexterity (and lack of resistance), especially when compared to other gloves. The seams tend to be in places that minimize their interference with grip, with less stitching in the construction process overall. All in all, the Lithic performed fantastically in our side-by-side dexterity tests and was one of the most dexterous glove in our review, with the Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride and the Hestra Leather Fall Line scoring similarly.

Water Resistance

The Lithic was by far the most water resistant in our review, proving that it was up to the challenge of keeping our hands dry for the longest period of time (when compared to its competitors). The Lithic proved itself as being highly water resistant in both our real-world testing and in our two-minute water bucket comparison.

Unlike most gloves that use Gore-Tex or a waterproof insert, sandwiched loosely in between the inner liner of the glove and an outer layer of fabric, the Lithic is constructed more like a traditional three-layer Gore-Tex jacket. This works extremely well, as the Lithic isn't as reliant on the outer layer of fabric in order to stay dry for a longer period of time, resulting in drier (and warmer) hands.

Durability

The Lithic is designed to function more like a typical three-layer Gore-Tex shell; in order for this design to work effectively, Arc'teryx had to limit the the number of stitches in the glove that reduce feel and affect dexterity and water resistance. Instead of using leather, like many other higher end gloves, the Lithic uses very low-profile and water resistant TPU reinforcements that have been laminated to the palm and fingertips. While these reinforcements are not quite as burly as leather, they do add some toughness in higher wear areas. Overall, we were impressed with these gloves and found them to be on the more durable side of the spectrum when compared to competitors. Gloves that offered a higher level of durability include the Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride, Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex, and Outdoor Research Olympus Sensor.

Features

A big part of the Lithic's ease of use derives from its functional construction; the gloves remain warm and water resistant, yet very dexterous. Other than exceptional construction, they have a fairly normal set of features, with nothing out of the ordinary. Their one-handed gauntlet closure system was slick and very easy to use, while the stretchy wrist cinch was comfortable, but locked the glove onto our hand. One unique and impressive feature of the Lithic, considering that they are on the warmer side of the spectrum, is that they are easily the most packable glove in our review.

Best Applications

There are very few applications that the Lithic Gloves don't excel in. They are warm enough for most resort-bound skiers and riders, keeping your hands toasty when temperatures dip to around 0F or possibly even colder, depending on how warm your body runs. We found that they were fantastic in stormy or wet conditions, with everyone appreciating their above average dexterity.

Value and the Bottom Line

You don't buy the Lithic Glove because they're cheap; at $250, they are easily the most expensive glove in our review. When compared to other pricey options, they are substantially more expensive, with the Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride costing $180 and the Outdoor Research Olympus Sensor selling for $175. However, included in the $250 price tag is the totally unique sewing construction that offers fantastic dexterity and freedom of movement for your fingers, with a fairly warm and incredible waterproof design.