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Arc'teryx Fission SV Glove Review

This unisex glove is off the charts for almost any adult, noticeably feeling different and excelling above other gloves on the market we have tested
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Arc'teryx Fission SV Glove Review (The Fission SV are some of our favorite ski gloves around.)
The Fission SV are some of our favorite ski gloves around.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Price:  $200 List
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Manufacturer:   Arc'teryx
By Amber King ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Dec 6, 2022
82
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 13
  • Warmth - 25% 8.0
  • Water Resistance - 25% 8.0
  • Dexterity - 25% 9.0
  • Durability - 15% 9.0
  • Features - 10% 6.0

Our Verdict

No glove out there can compete with the Arc'teryx Fission SV Glove for dexterity and warmth. Loaded with highly breathable and compressible PrimaLoft Silver and Gold insulation, it'll keep your hands warm while chilling out on chair lifts early morning, or while getting the goods at dawn in the backcountry. This glove stands out as our favorite because it feels light and thin with a huge range of mobility. If you need to keep your gloves on all day while performing fine tasks, this glove is the one to really consider, if you can get the fit right. Given its unisex design, it's important that ladies size down in this model. If you can get the fit to work, you'll be happy and comfortable all winter and this versatile glove works well for other winter activities, too. Check out our article on the best women's ski gloves to see how it ranks versus competitors.
REASONS TO BUY
Warm
Lightweight and packable
Breathable
Waterproof
Single construction
Dextrous
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Won't fit super small hands
Editor's note: On December 6, 2022, we updated this review with additional information to aid in your purchase decisions.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Women's Ski Glove
 Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Women's Ski Mittens
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck Women's Mitten
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck Women's Glove
Price $200 List$109 List$74.99 at Evo
Compare at 4 sellers
$29.99 at Evo
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$54.99 at Evo
Compare at 4 sellers
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line The best all-around unisex ski glove that you'll find on the marketWith high-end performance at a reasonable price, this featured glove impressed our testersWith a waterproof and breathable exterior and a fluffy insulated removable liner this mitt maintains warm and dry fingers better than any othersA high quality and fairly priced double-construction mitt that'll perform at any of your favorite winter localesA versatile and high value glove for use on and off the ski hill
Rating Categories Arc'teryx Fission S... Outdoor Research Wo... Black Diamond Mercu... Burton Gore-Tex Mit... Dakine Camino
Warmth (25%)
8.0
7.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
Water Resistance (25%)
8.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
4.0
Dexterity (25%)
9.0
7.0
3.0
4.0
7.0
Durability (15%)
9.0
7.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
Features (10%)
6.0
9.0
6.0
7.0
9.0
Specs Arc'teryx Fission S... Outdoor Research Wo... Black Diamond Mercu... Burton Gore-Tex Mit... Dakine Camino
Waterproof Material Gore-Tex Gore-Tex waterproof insert BD.dry Dry-Ride Two Layer & Gore-Tex Insert Nylon Shell (black part), Hoxton (75% nylon, 25% polyester) DWR treatment, Leather palm (water-resistant)
Insulation Type 200g PrimaLoft Silver and 133g Gold synthetic fibers EnduraLoft 100% Polyester 100g, removable merion wool liner glove 170g PrimaLoft Gold
Back of hand: 133g PrimaLoft Gold
ThermaCore Synthetic Insulation 110/350g high loft synthetic
Palm Material Goat leather Water resistant goat leather Goat leather Leather, Sticky Icy Grip Palm Goat Leather
Inner Glove Material (if applicable) Octa Loft Merino wool Polyester Fleece 150g tricot, 100% polyester
Double or Single Construction? Single Double Double Double Double
Gauntlet or Cuff Cuff Gauntlet Gauntlet Gauntlet Gauntlet
Special features Unisex fit, kevlar stitching, removable wrist leash, carabiner loop Touchscreen compatible liner glove, nose wipe, removable leash, glove clip, carabiner loop, cinchable gauntlet Nose wipe, carabiner loop, removable liner Nose wipe, leashes, warmer pockets, wrist cinch Google wipe on thumb, touch screen compatible liners, removable wrist leash
Fit Fits large (unisex sizing) True to size True to size True to size A little smaller, size up if you're unsure

Our Analysis and Test Results

Warm, comfortable, and dexterous. This lightweight glove is our top recommendation for its breathable construction that offers warmth all day long. Whether you're skiing at the resort, hiking for lines in the backcountry, or doing virtually any other winter activity, this glove has it all, if you can justify the price.

Performance Comparison


arc'teryx fission sv glove - this glove earns our editors' choice for its durable, breathable...
This glove earns our Editors' Choice for its durable, breathable, and protective construction. Highly mobile and dexterous, it's suited to wear at the resort, in the backcountry, or on your next alpine adventure.
Credit: Amber King

Warmth


Rated for “severe weather,” the Fission SV is Arc'teryx's warmest glove in their line. Built for skiing and snowboarding in cold Canada winters, this glove's warmth comes in the form of high-quality insulation with the ability for the glove to breathe and vent. We have tested it down to zero degrees Fahrenheit, where it fared just fine. For ladies that run a little bit cold, you might want to add an additional thin glove for a little extra insulation, as it's not built for winter in the Arctic circle, but best for active warmth while you're adventuring in the winter wonderland.


We've had the opportunity to test this glove while backcountry skiing, shoveling snow, and riding chairlifts at our favorite resorts. The coldest day we got to test it reached down to about zero degrees Fahrenheit in the high altitudes of Colorado. One of the first things we noticed about this glove was its super lush liner. The material in the liner is quite breathable, and also loaded with insulation, feeling a lot like a down-filled construction. When flipping the glove inside out, we noticed that the interior has a fleece-lined palm to help wick away sweat. This feature is huge as sweaty hands can lead to cold hands when standing still.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - the insulation is compressive, warm, and lofty, resembling down in a...
The insulation is compressive, warm, and lofty, resembling down in a lot of ways. The flexible construction of the glove allows mobility which conducts heat more efficiently on colder days in the mountains.
Credit: Amber King

While hiking uphill on a warm day, we immediately had to take this glove off. It is much warmer than the previous version of the Fission glove. That said, we are impressed with its wicking ability, which exceeds that of other gloves, and even more impressed that the material offers sufficient breathability right through the thickness of the fabric. Loaded with 200 grams of PrimaLoft Silver insulation and 133 grams of PrimaLoft Gold, it offers plenty of warmth for its surprisingly lightweight design.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - nolan sports the fission sv (a unisex glove) early morning before...
Nolan sports the Fission SV (a unisex glove) early morning before heading up Red Mountain Pass in Colorado.
Credit: Amber King

If you're a lady that runs warm and needs a glove that both breathes and offers great warmth, this is our top recommendation. For the vast majority of North America, this glove is suitable for skiing at resorts or in the backcountry.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - getting ready to head to the hill. this glove offers awesome warmth...
Getting ready to head to the hill. This glove offers awesome warmth for all sorts of winter chores and activities...not just skiing.
Credit: Amber King

Water Resistance


Built with a waterproof exterior, this glove is incredibly water and weather-resistant, absorbing only a tiny bit of water during our tests, and offering exceptional performance while skiing in wet weather.


The exterior shell (the colored part) is made from a material that Arc'teryx calls Fortius 1.0. This is a 160 g/cubic meter of Nylon (84%) and elastane (16%) that stretches and protects. The exterior is treated with a DWR treatment, which promotes the beading of water upon contact. Given that Nylon is absorptive, we imagine that once this treatment wears off after use, the material may be prone to saturation without additional treatment. Arc'teryx's products tend to bead water longer than most other brands, but an at-home DWR treatment before every winter isn't a terrible idea.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - we weight the glove after it's been immersed in water. during this...
We weight the glove after it's been immersed in water. During this test, it only absorbs 2.2 oz of water! The original weight starts at 3.25 oz.
Credit: Amber King

The palm and high abrasion areas are built with a pliable double layer of goat leather that offers great weather protection. During our water tests, we submerged the glove and squeezed our hand 100 times, trying to agitate the glove to see if water leaked at the seams. After this test, the water absorbed a little bit into the Nylon material but never penetrated into the liner. In fact, it only absorbed about 2.2 oz of water in this test, showing its ability to resist water. Water didn't leak anywhere inside the glove.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - the shell of the fission is quite water-resistant doing very well in...
The shell of the Fission is quite water-resistant doing very well in our tests. It repels snow and water without issue.
Credit: Amber King

This observation is further validated when we took the glove outside. When shoveling snow, skiing, and doing chores around our house, it protected our hands, keeping them dry and warm. If you live in wet climates or need a glove that is very water-resistant, we'd recommend the Fission SV. Just be sure to treat the leather, and reapply the DWR treatment once it wears out to retain performance.

Dexterity


The Fission SV's performance in this metric is truly a class of its own. This glove is extremely dexterous! We were able to zip up zippers, unclip boots, put skins on, take them off, and all the rest. This is largely attributed to its thinner design that strategically places the lofty yet compressive insulation in particular parts of the glove. The digits don't feel “stuffed,” and the fingers have a huge range of motion and mobility. If you need a glove that you don't need to take off while digging snowpits, making transitions in the backcountry, or adjusting your helmet, this is one of our favorites. It would function well as a belay glove while climbing as well.


As a unisex glove, it's not built specifically for women's hands. The fit of a glove can affect dexterity significantly. If you only need this glove to simply grasp your ski pole, adjust your helmet, or put your boots on, then it's not a big deal if the sizing of the glove isn't perfect, and this still might be an easy choice to make. Just be sure to expect that the fingers of the gloves are longer with a wider profile around the width of the hand. Be sure to consult the sizing chart on Arc'teryx's website before buying these gloves. If anything, be sure to measure your hand and possibly size down to ensure the proper fit, and thus, the dexterity that you need.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - even with gloves that are a little too big for this tester, we can...
Even with gloves that are a little too big for this tester, we can still perform all the fine tasks needed while backcountry skiing and adventuring in the backcountry.
Credit: Amber King

Durability


After extensive testing both at the resort and in the backcountry, we can say the Fission SV has impressed us with its durability, quality construction, and materials. Just like the previous version we've found them to be bomber.


Looking at the craftsmanship alone, these gloves look absolutely beautiful. The shell is constructed of materials that look quite durable, with seam construction that looks flawless. It is constructed with kevlar seams throughout the palm and in high-wear areas. The location where you'd hold a pole offers reinforcement of materials that add an extra layer of protection in these high abrasion zones.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - the bomber palm is made from flexible goat leather and reinforced...
The bomber palm is made from flexible goat leather and reinforced with kevlar stitching. Excellent craftsmanship.
Credit: Amber King

After some heavy use, the materials still look new, and the interior insulation hasn't packed down. In fact, PrimaLoft is a highly durable synthetic insulation, with the Gold and Silver offering some of the best durability on the market. We imagine that the warmth of this material will continue, however, as we said before, time will tell.

Features


This glove is fairly streamlined and has all the bells and whistles you'd want for resort skiing.


It has a single-glove construction, meaning that you can't remove the liner. It has enough room inside the glove to add a thinner liner of your own if you'd like a little extra insulation. It comes with a carabiner loop on the finger, meaning you can clip it to a harness, making it an excellent belay glove option if you prefer hanging out at crystallized water walls in the winter.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - the removable leashes are simple and adjustable. it girth hitches...
The removable leashes are simple and adjustable. It girth hitches into a small loop on the interior of the glove to stay intact.
Credit: Amber King

We also appreciate the one-pull cinches that are around the medium-length gauntlet cuff and the simple and removable leashes that any resort skier can appreciate when they save you from dropping your gloves off the chairlift.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - the carabiner loop is present on both fingers of this glove if you...
The carabiner loop is present on both fingers of this glove if you need to clip your gloves to your harness.
Credit: Amber King

These gloves are not smartphone adapted, so be prepared to take off your glove if you need to text on the chair. They are also unisex in sizing, so you can share them with your partner if you have the same size hands! Score? Maybe not.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - the fit is large. here we see a size medium, which this tester...
The fit is large. Here we see a size Medium, which this tester normally wears, but the glove is much larger.
Credit: Amber King

Should You Buy the Arc'teryx Fission SV Glove?


It's not too much of a surprise that the highest-performing glove is also quite expensive. These have been a longstanding favorite for their impressive combination of warmth, breathability, and dexterity, making them our top recommendation in both our men's and women's glove reviews. With excellent craftsmanship, we suspect this glove will last you for many years when treated with care and occasional maintenance, helping to justify the high price tag.

What Other Women's Ski Glove Should You Consider?


If you're not willing to spend top dollar for the Arc'teryx gloves but you want your hands to stay warm in the coldest weather, the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts are super warm and cozy, although you make a serious sacrifice in dexterity moving to mittens, though they cost significantly less money.

arc'teryx fission sv glove - do everything you need to do in the snow with your gloves on! these...
Do everything you need to do in the snow with your gloves on! These highly dexterous and warm gloves offer the best performance that money can buy.
Credit: Amber King

Amber King