FlyLow Oven Mitt Review
Compare prices at 2 resellers Pros: Tough, waterproof, warm, dexterous for a mitt
Cons: Sweats out easily, must apply Sno-Seal often to avoid soaking up water
Manufacturer: Flylow
Our Verdict
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 This Product
FlyLow Oven Mitt | |||||
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| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $49.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $199 List Check Price at REI | $68.85 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $49.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $50 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Tough, waterproof, warm, dexterous for a mitt | Warm, water resistant, durable, dexterous, lightweight and packable | Warm enough, weatherproof, inexpensive | Tough, windproof, durable | Very dexterous, breathable, great fit, fair price |
| Cons | Sweats out easily, must apply Sno-Seal often to avoid soaking up water | Expensive, lacks some features | Poor dexterity, slightly tight fit around the knuckles | Bulky stitching, not very warm, not waterproof | No wrist leash, soft-shell construction can wear out quickly, overall durability |
| Bottom Line | A tough, trendy, and affordable choice for resort or backcountry skiing | With top-tier performance across the board, this glove is what we recommend to those seeking the best pair | A warm and fully featured ski glove for a great price | Trendy and stylish, but lacking in key aspects of versatility for skiing, these gloves are solid winter work gloves, so don't hesitate if you're looking for that utility | A more dexterous but less durable deviation from hardware store leather gloves, this model is an OK choice for resort, side-country and short backcountry missions |
| Rating Categories | FlyLow Oven Mitt | Arc'teryx Fission SV | Gordini GTX Storm T... | Flylow Ridge Glove | REI Co-op Guide Ins... |
| Warmth (25%) | |||||
| Dexterity (25%) | |||||
| Water Resistance (25%) | |||||
| Durability (15%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | FlyLow Oven Mitt | Arc'teryx Fission SV | Gordini GTX Storm T... | Flylow Ridge Glove | REI Co-op Guide Ins... |
| Double or Single Glove | Single | Single | Single | Single | Single |
| Gaunlet or Cuff? | Cuff | Gauntlet | Gauntlet | Cuff | Cuff |
| Palm Material | Pigskin leather | Leather | Polyurethane | Cowhide leather | Leather |
| Waterproof Material | SnoSeal beeswax | Gore-Tex | Gore-Tex | SnoSeal beeswax | None |
| Insulation Type | Spaceloft Micropuff | 133g Primaloft Gold Eco and 200g Primaloft Silver Eco | Megaloft | Spaceloft Micropuff | Polyester fibers |
| Nose Wipe? | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Oven Mitts are one of the more simple product designs we tested, but they hold up well for their price. The Primaloft insulation works well in cold weather but sometimes too well in warmer conditions.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
The Oven Mitts were first tested in warm, early season conditions where they did not seem to be a good fit due to the inability to breathe well. These mittens sweat out easily when touring or resort skiing on days above 30F and take a while to dry. That being said, in colder conditions the Primaloft insulation performed great. These mittens are ideal for temperatures between 0F-20F.
Water Resistance
The Oven Mitts wetted out fairly quickly in the ice bath/ submersion test, which was expected given their construction. However, they held up well in the ice portion of the test and kept our hands warm longer than some of their pricier counterparts, even when saturated.
Dexterity
As far as mittens go, the Oven Mitts were plenty dexterous. Gripping ski poles is where they stood out most due to the grippy pigskin leather and thin construction. Zipper adjustments were significantly easier with these than some competitors and getting them back under your jacket sleeve was as easy as it should be.
Durability
The pigskin leather is what gains the Oven Mittens all the durability points. A long-trusted material, the leather holds up extremely well against weather, ice, wind and sharp edges. Before one of our testers converted from the dark side (snowboarding) many years ago, these were the only gloves that did not rip from carrying a snowboard. Stitching is where the Oven Mittens begin to lose points as it seems to be a cheap, imported stitching job with the intention of moving product.
Features
There isn't much to be said about the Oven Mitts' features because of their simplicity. The elastic cuff fits great on the wrist but the hands can feel a bit loose inside the mittens. This is because of a lack of insulation filling up space, which also contributes to its above-average dexterity.
Value
The Oven Mittens do their job well for their price and are a great option to have in the quiver if you switch out gloves often. They are carried in most ski shops so they also make for a great impulsive buy if you realize you forgot your gloves and don't want cold hands from a cheap alternative.
Conclusion
The Oven Mittens are no award winners but they are a great product that can be trusted for backcountry, sidecountry, and cold-weather resort skiing.
— Travis Poulin