FlyLow Oven Mitt Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
FlyLow Oven Mitt | |||||
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Awards | Best Bang for your Buck | Best Bang For Your Buck Mitten | |||
Price | $43.96 at Evo Compare at 2 sellers | $69.25 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $65.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $70 List $52.49 at Amazon | $43.96 at Evo Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Functional for in the backcountry or at the resort, but have a relatively small temperature range | This excellent ski glove provides warmth and weather resistance at a budget-acknowledging price | A warm and comfortable mitten at an excellent value | Average warmth, weather resistance, and durability, for an attainable price | Missing key aspects that make a good ski glove, their durability makes them capable winter work gloves |
Rating Categories | FlyLow Oven Mitt | Gordini GTX Storm T... | The North Face Mont... | Gordini AquaBloc Do... | Flylow Ridge Glove |
Warmth (25%) | |||||
Dexterity (25%) | |||||
Water Resistance (25%) | |||||
Durability (15%) | |||||
Features (10%) | |||||
Specs | FlyLow Oven Mitt | Gordini GTX Storm T... | The North Face Mont... | Gordini AquaBloc Do... | Flylow Ridge Glove |
Double or Single Glove | Single | Single | Single | Single | Single |
Gaunlet or Cuff? | Cuff | Gauntlet | Gauntlet | Gauntlet | Cuff |
Palm Material | Pigskin leather | Polyurethane | Synthetic leather | Rugged ripstop softshell, bluesign® approved | Cowhide leather |
Waterproof Material | SnoSeal beeswax | Gore-Tex | DryVent | AquaBloc® insert | SnoSeal beeswax |
Insulation Type | Spaceloft Micropuff | Megaloft | Back of hand: 250g Heatseeker Eco Palm: 160g Heatseeker Eco |
Back of hand: 600-fill GooseDown, Palm: Megaloft® synthetic insulation | 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
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 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 simple construction and lack of a waterproof membrane. 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 with 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 mittens that did not wear out prematurely from carrying a snowboard. Stitching is where the Oven Mitts begin to lose points. It does not appear to be up to the higher standard of more expensive options.
Features
There isn't much to be said about the Oven Mitts' features because of their simplicity. They are simple leather mittens, after all. 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.
Should You Buy the Flylow Oven Mitt?
The Oven Mitts don't stand out in any of our performance metrics. Overall, they are very simple and basic, but they are also affordable. If you're going for the mitten look and want a decent level of dexterity at a reasonable price, these may be a good fit.
What Other Ski Gloves Should You Consider?
If you are a dedicated mitten-wearer, you can get the much better The North Face Montana Ski Mitt for just a little more money. If you want the warmest mittens that money can buy, the Black Diamond Mercury Mitt is super warm, waterproof, and durable.