Arc'teryx Venta Review

Likes

First things first: the Arc'teryx Venta fits like a glove. We loved how easily they slipped onto our hands and how comfortable they were to wear for long periods of time. We often forgot we were wearing them at all.

We were able to move our fingers effortlessly, even during more tedious tasks like tying a shoelace, pulling up a jacket zipper, or responding to a text. A thin fleece liner gives the Venta a soft, cozy feel, so your skin isn't exposed to the stiffer wind-stopper shell fabric.

As with most Arc'teryx products, the Venta gloves ooze quality. The gloves earn their higher price tag with tight stitching, top-tier fabrics, and a stylish design.

One of our favorite quality features was the stitching. The manufacturer goes the extra mile to include tons of double stitching. Each sew line is compact, resulting in more windproof seams and a more durable glove that is less likely to fall apart over the years.

Weather resistance is another area where the Venta gloves shine — sorta. They earned above-average scores when used in high winds, but they are not at all waterproof.

We window tested our gloves at 40 mph and were very pleased. A three-layer design, including GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER technology, gives the Venta fantastic resistance against wind, yet these gloves remain impressively breathable, in effect, letting hot air out, but not letting cold air in.

However, when it comes to water resistance, they simply don't hold up. A few snowflakes or intermittent sprinkles won't ruin your day, but anything more and you're gonna feel it for sure — heavier precipitation passes right through the fabric almost instantly.

Dislikes

A nice fleece liner makes the Venta gloves cozy, but not overly warm. Aside from the liner, they lack traditional insulation.

These gloves aren't designed for conquering the Arctic. Rather, they're activewear, made for cold-weather running, showshoeing, or hiking. So the fact that they aren't as warm is a plus for those who participate in winter sports. They'll keep your hands warm enough if you're moving. But the Venta can be more than just activewear; we wore ours while running errands, shoveling snow, and walking in an outdoor mall. The low-profile cut works well as all-around gloves, as long as the temps don't drop below zero.

Features are few, but then again, these gloves are simple and basic. We would have preferred a more reinforced palm, and touchscreen capabilities on two fingers instead of one.

The Venta gloves take a minimalist approach, leaving out features like clips and cinchable gauntlets. The features we did like included excellent touchscreen response, form-fitting elastic cuffs, pull-on loops (which clip nicely onto a carabiner), and an appealing style.

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Should You Buy the Outdoor Research Sureshot Pro?

If you like to get out and get after it, even in winter, these gloves are our first choice. They block the wind, breathe fairly well, and they have just enough oomph to keep your hands warm during a run, hike, walk, or anything in between. They're also a great lightweight daily wearer, if temps aren't too cold. The Venta gloves are not very water-resistant, and are only lightly insulated, so you may want to consider another option for snow sports like skiing or snowboarding.

What Other Winter Gloves Should You Consider?

We also liked the REI Co-op Polartec Wind Pro 2.0 gloves, which offer similar wind-stopping abilities as the Ventas. They aren't as warm, but they're also significantly cheaper. If you just want an inexpensive pair for your morning runs, the Achiou Touch Screen Thermal might do the trick. An even thinner option is the Smartwool Merino, which has a simple construction with minimal seams and no silicone grips, making it an excellent liner glove to add an extra boost of warmth to a thicker pair of gloves.