Trail race season runs from spring to autumn
Especially in long races such as ultra-trail races of over 70km, you may be forced to ride at night or deal with sudden changes in weather
Some races have designated must-have items, and people take careful precautions such as wearing rainwear and cold weather gear, but what is often overlooked is how to deal with wet and cold hands. Especially when running at night in the rain in high altitude areas, for me , having cold hands for an extended period of time can not only be unpleasant, but can also be very damaging.
So this time, we've compared the waterproof gloves you should carry with you to complete an ultra-trail race
table of contents
table of contents
- About the items tested this time
- Test Results & Spec Comparison Table
- Evaluation results - Recommended models by type -
- Review of each item
- summary
About the gloves we compared this time
Selection criteria
In April 2018, I completed the UTMF ( Ultra-Trail Mount Fuji ) for the first time in two years in 43 hours, 25 minutes, and 28 seconds. Luckily, the weather was good throughout the race, so I barely needed to wear the rainwear or cold weather gear I had brought with me.
Contrary to initial expectations, the temperature did not drop much during the first mountain section, the Tenshi Mountains, and the mountain sections in the latter half, such as Ishiwariyama and Shakushidake, and I was able to run without having to take my clothes off or on much. However, the temperature does drop at night and in the morning
One of the measures I took to protect myself from the cold at that time was to change my gloves. Just keeping my fingertips cool can make a big difference in how the temperature feels. The gloves I brought with me for this UTMF were three types: Salomon fingerless gloves, thin merino wool gloves, and Patagonia shell wind gloves. I used the fingerless gloves during the day, the merino wool gloves for night runs, and the shell wind gloves for the mountainous areas. This time the weather was good and there was no rain, so this strategy was effective, but after finishing I felt that if it had rained I might not have been able to finish the race. I think that the choice of gloves is the most important thing, especially for runners like me who are running at the last minute to finish
From this perspective, the waterproof gloves for ultra trail races are:
- Waterproof and water-repellent in rainy weather
- Can it be used alone for long periods of time, from day to night?
- Can it be stored compactly?
We compared them based on the following criteria
- A model designed for use on trekking
- It must be available for purchase from authorized Japanese distributors, online shopping sites, etc
We selected the following models that met these criteria and seemed like they could actually be used in trail races
- Axes Queen Light Shell Waterproof Gloves
- finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves
- Mont-bell OutDry Overglove Fit
- ISUKA WeatherTech Rain Gloves
- Black Diamond Lightweight Waterproof
Test environment
I tested the gloves on a trail in Kamakura on a Sunday in May, when it was raining fairly hard (7mm) but not too hot (19°C). To better understand the difference in performance, I wore separate gloves on each hand and ran about 2km (30 minutes) each. The rainwear I was wearing was The North Face Strike Trail Hoody and pants
When scoring and evaluating, we focused on waterproofness, long-term use, and compact storage, assuming use in a trail running race in the rain, as shown below
- Weight: To make it a little faster, it's better to be lighter
- Waterproofness: We rated the product based on how water resistant it was when wearing gloves
- Breathability: In order to continue running comfortably for long periods of time in the rain, we evaluated the material based on its breathability, or the ability to not get sweaty
- Storage: Ultra races include road sections in addition to trails, so you don't have to keep your gloves on the whole time. We evaluated the gloves based on whether they could be stored compactly in a backpack with limited capacity
- Protection: The course included technical sections where participants had to grab onto chains and ropes, and participants were graded based on whether they could hold on safely and whether they were slippery
- Design: The appearance of the design. This was scored subjectively by the author
- Price: Gloves are actually a consumable item. There is a significant price difference depending on the model, so I decided to include it as an evaluation item
Test Results & Spec Comparison Table
| Overall ranking | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | 4th place | 5th place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| item |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Reference price (tax included) | 6,048 yen | 4,752 yen | 7,344 yen | 8,424 yen | 7,128 yen |
| Here is ◎ | Water repellency, packability, fit, and moisture resistance | Waterproof, breathable, and protective | Weight, waterproofness, and packability | Waterproof, protective and durable | Heat retention power |
| Here is △ | Insulating, not completely waterproof | Storage and weight | Easy to get sweaty, warmth retention, palm protection | Weight, operability, storage, ease of getting sweaty | Weight, storage, and tendency to get stuffy |
| weight | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| waterproof | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Breathability | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Storage capacity | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| protection | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| design | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| price | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Specifications | |||||
| item | finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves | ISUKA WeatherTech Rain Gloves | Axes Queen Light Shell Waterproof Gloves | Mont-bell OutDry Overglove Fit | Black Diamond Lightweight Waterproof |
| Weight (g) | 30 | 88 | 26 | 85 | 88 |
| material |
|
|
|
|
|
| Smartphone operation | ◯ | × | ◯ | ◯ | × |
| remarks | The seams are not taped, so it is not completely waterproof |
|
One-hand adjuster (a unique feature that allows you to adjust the tightness of the cuffs with one hand while wearing gloves) |
|
|
Evaluation results for each model
finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves
Finetrack is Finetrack even in gloves
Here's what I like about it
- water repellency
- Storage capacity
- Fit
- Resistant to stuffiness
Here's △
- Heat retention
- Not completely waterproof
The material is very thin and stretchy, and when you put it on, it fits snugly against your hand. Because of this, I was a little worried about its waterproofness during the washbasin test, but my concerns were wiped away after riding in the rain. Raindrops rolled off the surface just like a waxed car hood, and when you shook them off, they fell off instantly
The palm area has a non-slip surface, providing excellent grip even when wet, allowing you to use the gloves safely on technical courses
In addition to using it alone, I also wore it with a base layer to consider using it in cold weather, and in either case I didn't feel stuffy and felt that it had high breathability. I don't think it will be a problem even during long runs
It weighs just 30g, and the material is thin enough that you can put it in your shorts pocket when you're running. If you plan to use it with a base layer, we recommend going up one size from your usual size
ISUKA WeatherTech Rain Gloves
Waterproof gloves that are surprisingly useful
Here's what I like about it
- waterproof
- Resistant to stuffiness
Here's △
- Storage capacity
- weight
Axes Queen Light Shell Waterproof Gloves
Strong shell gloves that repel water
Here's what I like about it
- weight
- waterproof
- Storage capacity
Here's △
- Easily gets sweaty
- Heat retention
- Palm protection
Since Layer is the basic glove, we recommend going up one size from your usual size
Mont-Bell OutDry Overglove Fit
Gloves for walking rather than running
Here's what I like about it
- waterproof
- protection
- durability
Here's △
- weight
- Operability
- Storage capacity
- Easily gets sweaty
The waterproofing was excellent and no water seeped in at all. However, when I ran with a base layer on, I felt a bit of discomfort due to the sweat, and the overall feel of the jacket was undeniable in terms of comfort. As a result, while it was possible to use my smartphone, it wasn't very user-friendly. While the waterproofing was impeccable, I felt it was a bit overkill for trail running
Black Diamond Lightweight Waterproof
Waterproof gloves for cold weather
Here's what I like about it
- Heat retention power
Here's △
- weight
- Storage capacity
- Easily gets sweaty
The gloves have a thermal inner lining sewn into them, so I tried using them alone. First, regarding waterproofing, the wrist area is not waterproof, so the results were mixed in the basin test, but there were no problems in the field test. However, because there is an inner lining, the air inside the gloves does not escape well, so they quickly become stuffy while running. They also weigh 88g, making them the heaviest of the items compared, and they cannot be stored compactly. If you are using them for high-intensity activities like trail running, I don't think they are suitable except in cold seasons. As for size, you can wear your usual size
A brief review of each item
waterproof
We compared the degree of water seepage by immersing the items in a basin of water for five minutes and moving our fingers around, and also compared each item by actually wearing them in the field and running in the rain. The results confirmed that the AxisQueen and Montbell the Black Diamond , while the waterproofness of the main body was not an issue, water seeped in through the wrist area, which slightly lowered our rating.
Breathability
When running for long periods of time, staying dry is a very important factor. In this respect, the Finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves stood out. However, the Iska WeatherTech Rain Gloves have an excellent inner mesh structure, which keeps you feeling very dry.
Storage capacity
Compactness is important when competing in trail races with limited backpack space. The finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves protrude and are compact enough to fit in your shorts pocket. The AxisQuin Light Shell Waterproof Gloves also pack compactly, making them a great talisman to have in your backpack in case of bad weather.
protection
the Axis Queen Light Shell Waterproof Gloves had anti-slip functionality, but the finetrack Ever Breath Trail Gloves have anti-slip properties on the fingertips and palms, allowing you to firmly grip chains and ropes.
design
Appearance is important after all. Just having it increases motivation. In that regard, and this is purely my subjective opinion, the AxisQueen Light Shell Waterproof Gloves and the finetrack Ever Breath Trail Gloves have an appearance that makes you want to carry them with you.
price
The Isuka WeatherTech Rain Gloves are the cheapest of the items we compared, and are highly rated for both waterproofness and breathability, making them the best value for money.
summary
(1) Best Choice: finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves
With my running ability, it takes about 15 hours to cover 70 to 80 km, and nearly 20 hours to cover over 100 km
Especially in mountain races, you never know when the weather will change. In such cases, the most important features you want from gloves are not only waterproofness, but also comfort even when worn for long periods of time, and the ability to store them away easily without taking up too much space
From that perspective, the best choice the finetrack Everbreath Trail Gloves .
Although the waterproofing test showed some water seepage, field tests confirmed its high water repellency, and unless it's raining heavily for long periods of time, I think this jacket will be sufficient for most races, from daytime to nighttime parts and even in the rain. If you're worried about the cold during early spring or winter races, bringing a thin inner layer will make it perfect
(2) Runner-up: Isuka WeatherTech Rain Gloves
The Isuka WeatherTech Rain Gloves came in second place , but to be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this model at first.
However, when I actually tried wearing it and riding, I found that it was highly waterproof, didn't get stuffy, and best of all, was reasonably priced. If the design (appearance) and storage were good, it would have performed so well that it would have been a top choice. It's definitely a model worth considering
Soichiro Hanazono
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