Arc'teryx 'New Standard' For Gloves

Canadian brand Arc'teryx has been behind quite a few cutting edge developments in outdoor kit and for autumn 2010 they've turned their attention to gloves creating what they say is 'a new standard for fit, function and thermal comfort'. The aim is greater dexterity along with faster moving.

The new range of mitts and gloves uses something called Tri-Dex Technology along with Gore-Tex textiles and advanced shaping. Arc'teryx says that the advanced construction process 'employs complex three-lobed patterns, where each finger is individually patterned to replicate its unique shape and direction of articulation.'

There's no seam on the finger tips and each finger has just a single taped seam to reduce bulk.


Or in simple terms, the gloves are articulated to fit your finger so they match your digital anatomy and feel comfortable and natural either moving or at rest.

The two flagship models are the Alpha SV Glove and Alpha SV Mitt, which use fully-taped Gore-Tex Pro Shell technology for waterproofing. Both have removable fleece liners which are made using the same Tri-Dex patterning and have microseam construction to reduce constricting bulk in the fingers and improve dexterity - removable inners dry much faster too, which is ideal for multi-day trips. Palms are made from Lezanova leather for durability and grip.

Interesting stuff, an awful lot of mountain gloves seem to be designed almost as an afterthought to main clothing ranges with quite basic finger articulation, so it'll be fascinating to see if the Arc'Teryx approach gives a significant advantage in use - technically, for example, you should be able to ice climb, tie knots and place screws without taking your gloves off, but many current models are so bulky and awkward that it's hard to do.

The new Arc'Teryx gloves will be available in late summer / early autumn 2010. They even have their own web site at gloves.arcteryx.com. More general information at www.arcteryx.com.