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FlyLow Oven Mitt Review

A tough, trendy, and affordable choice for resort or backcountry skiing
FlyLow Oven Mitt
Credit: Backcountry
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Price:  $50 List | $49.95 at Amazon
Pros:  Tough, waterproof, warm, dexterous for a mitt
Cons:  Sweats out easily, must apply Sno-Seal often to avoid soaking up water
Manufacturer:   Flylow
By Travis Poulin ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 17, 2020
Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more
44
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#22 of 22
  • Warmth - 25% 5.0
  • Dexterity - 25% 3.0
  • Water Resistance - 25% 4.0
  • Durability - 15% 7.0
  • Features - 10% 3.0

Our Verdict

The FlyLow Oven Mitts are not only trendy but handy. For a mitten, they surprisingly exceeded in several dexterity tests including knot tieing. They are also very warm and do well in windy conditions. They do come coated in Sno-Seal but persistent reapplication is necessary as the leather drys out. These are not great for warm days as they sweat out easily but for those with cold hands, they are a great pricepoint option. For their price, the Oven Mittens are well-rounded. They work best in the backcountry if you carry a liner glove because once your hands warm up in these there is no cooling back down without removing the mittens. The name "oven" is in the name for a reason but they find their place in cold temperatures.

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
FlyLow Oven Mitt
This Product
FlyLow Oven Mitt
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award   
Price $50 List
$49.95 at Amazon		$199 List
$199.00 at REI		$70 List
$55.53 at Amazon		$50 List
$49.95 at REI		$55 List
$50.00 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Pros Tough, waterproof, warm, dexterous for a mittWarm, water resistant, durable, dexterous, lightweight and packableWarm enough, weatherproof, inexpensiveVery dexterous, breathable, great fit, fair priceTough, windproof, durable
Cons Sweats out easily, must apply Sno-Seal often to avoid soaking up waterExpensive, lacks some featuresPoor dexterity, slightly tight fit around the knucklesNo wrist leash, soft-shell construction can wear out quickly, overall durabilityBulky stitching, not very warm, not waterproof
Bottom Line A tough, trendy, and affordable choice for resort or backcountry skiingWith top-tier performance across the board, this glove is what we recommend to those seeking the best pairA warm and fully featured ski glove for a great priceA more dexterous but less durable deviation from hardware store leather gloves, this model is an OK choice for resort, side-country and short backcountry missionsTrendy 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
Rating Categories FlyLow Oven Mitt Arc'teryx Fission SV Gordini GTX Storm T... REI Co-op Guide Ins... Flylow Ridge Glove
Warmth (25%)
5.0
7.0
7.0
2.0
3.0
Dexterity (25%)
3.0
8.0
4.0
10.0
7.0
Water Resistance (25%)
4.0
10.0
8.0
4.0
4.0
Durability (15%)
7.0
8.0
8.0
2.0
6.0
Features (10%)
3.0
7.0
9.0
4.0
3.0
Specs FlyLow Oven Mitt Arc'teryx Fission SV Gordini GTX Storm T... REI Co-op Guide Ins... Flylow Ridge Glove
Double or Single Glove Single Single Single Single Single
Gaunlet or Cuff? Cuff Gauntlet Gauntlet Cuff Cuff
Palm Material Pigskin leather Leather Polyurethane Leather Cowhide leather
Waterproof Material SnoSeal beeswax Gore-Tex Gore-Tex None SnoSeal beeswax
Insulation Type Spaceloft Micropuff 133g Primaloft Gold Eco and 200g Primaloft Silver Eco Megaloft Polyester fibers Spaceloft Micropuff
Nose Wipe? No Yes Yes Yes No

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


FlyLow Oven Mitt ski gloves - field testing ski gloves in colorado.
Field testing ski gloves in Colorado.
Credit: Laraine Martin

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.

FlyLow Oven Mitt ski gloves - the oven mitts trap heat well despite having relatively little...
The Oven Mitts trap heat well despite having relatively little insulation. They are not the warmest mitts, but they are still warm.
Credit: Travis Poulin

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.

FlyLow Oven Mitt ski gloves - the mittens were quick to let water in during our submersion test
The mittens were quick to let water in during our submersion test
Credit: Rachel Croft

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.

FlyLow Oven Mitt ski gloves - a tough mitt that wets-out easily.
A tough mitt that wets-out easily.
Credit: Rachel Croft

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
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