Review: handson grip Tracker What's this familiar? Japan-made outdoor gloves that combine the skills of gloves craftsmen
written by Outdoor Gearzine Editorial Department
Fit is an extremely important factor. No matter how high-performance your clothing, if it's too small or too big, you won't be able to fully utilize its capabilities. Especially in winter, poor fit is directly related to the cold, and in some cases, it can be fatal. Jackets and other items can be adjusted to some extent with drawcords, but the smaller the item, the more difficult it becomes to adjust. When it comes to gloves in particular, palm size and finger length vary greatly from person to person, yet there's only one size, or only a few sizes (S, M, L), so many people end up compromising and feeling stressed
This time we're introducing Tracker gloves from handson grip . Higashikagawa City, where this factory is located, is a glove town, shipping over 90% of the gloves distributed in Japan. Craftsmen in this town who have been making gloves for over 60 years have made these gloves by making full use of new materials and generously utilizing the techniques they have accumulated over the years. So, what kind of gloves are they and can they withstand outdoor use? We've reviewed them.
table of contents
Have you ever had a glove that felt so comfortable? Tracker 's main features
The handson grip Tracker is the handson grip factory brand, a product line created by a long-established glove manufacturer in Higashikagawa City, Kagawa Prefecture, which has been making gloves for over 60 years, leveraging its accumulated technical know-how. The main fabric is made of Polartec Power Stretch, which is cut into multiple pieces and carefully sewn together to maximize fit. The palm is made of thin TEIJIN Nanofront, providing a snug fit, high-friction grip, and delicate operability. These gloves are packed with the attention to detail you'd expect from a glove manufacturer.
Recommended points
- Extremely high fit and operability
- Moderate breathability and heat retention
- Lighter than I expected
Points that interest me
- The warmth and durability of the palm area is somewhat poor
- It would have been nice if it was somewhat windproof and waterproof
Item appearance
Main Specifications and ratings
| item | Specifications and ratings |
|---|---|
| Actual measured weight | 46g (M size) |
| size | XS/S/M/L |
| color |
|
| material |
|
| Smartphone compatible finger |
|
| Fit | ★★★★★ |
| Cold protection | ★★★☆☆ |
| Comfort | ★★★★★ |
| Mobility | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★★☆☆ |
| comprehensive evaluation | ★★★★☆ |
Detailed review
Features and shapes
The main fabric Polartec Power Stretch a four-way stretch fleece material made from polyester. The inside is brushed, so it provides some degree of cold protection.
The Polartec fleece provides excellent warmth
The stretchy material provides a snug fit if the size is right. The size lineup ranges from XS to L, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding a good fit. The highly breathable material keeps you dry and less likely to get stuffy even during high-intensity activities, but you may feel cold in low temperatures or strong winds
Highly stretchable for an excellent fit
The palm of the hand Teijin 's Nanofront . Nanofront is an ultra-fine fiber measuring 700nm. While 700nm may not seem like much, it's actually extremely thin—roughly 7,500 times thinner than a human hair. Fabrics woven with this fiber have a significantly larger surface area, resulting in high friction, water absorption, and moisture resistance, while also being extremely soft to the touch. In addition to the Tracker, Nanofront is also used in golf and motorsports gloves, socks, insoles, and other sports equipment. It's also used in a wide range of applications, including parasols, shoji paper, towels, and filtration filters. Nanofront provides the palm with excellent grip and maneuverability.
The palm material is thin and fits comfortably in the palm, providing high friction
Careful and detailed craftsmanship that only a specialized glove manufacturer can provide
Turning the gloves inside out reveals the careful attention to detail that went into their construction. Many parts are used to take advantage of the three-dimensional cut, and every stitch is extremely detailed and precise
Carefully sewn with many small parts, carefully made
The cutting pattern is designed to allow the garment to bend all the way to the fingertips
Three-dimensional cutting that allows your fingertips to curl even when placed flat
The areas between the fingers, which are prone to tearing, have been reinforced to make them feel better against the skin. This is the first time we've used such reinforcement
There are patches between the fingers to prevent the stitching from being noticeable
The wrist area, which is inevitably less durable, is reinforced with double layering. Adding volume to the wrist also helps prevent wind from getting in
Photo (double wrist part
Simple functional beauty that stands out in its simple construction
Smartphone compatibility is a must for gloves this size these days. This Tracker features smartphone compatibility on the thumb and index finger. It's designed so that only the narrow tip responds, reducing false touches and allowing for more precise operation
The conductive fingertip touch panel is small and allows for delicate operation
There is a loop at the wrist to tie the gloves together so that you don't lose one. This loop is made of leather and is a nice accent to the simple gloves, showing the attention to detail
Connect it with a loop to prevent it from getting lost
The actual weight is an ultra-lightweight 46g (medium size). This light weight is likely due to the simple design that only includes the essentials and eliminates unnecessary elements
Impressions of actually using it
The first thing that stands out when you put them on is the soft fit. They fit snugly, as if enveloping your hand. This is likely due to the high elasticity of the material used in areas other than the palm. In addition to this fit, they are available in four sizes, from XS to L, so if you choose one that fits your hand size to some extent, you can expect a very good fit
Thanks to the highly stretchable material, the fit is excellent
The material that creates this perfect fit is Polartec Power Stretch. These gloves use a Power Stretch material that's neither too thick nor too thin, allowing for unrestricted movement no matter how hard you try, as long as the fit is right. However, they don't offer sufficient warmth, windproofness, or waterproofing to keep you warm. The Nanofront palms are particularly thin, making them chilly to the touch when gripping the handlebars of a bicycle in the middle of winter. These gloves are only designed to provide comfort for traveling, running, hiking, and other activities in milder weather. As long as you use them appropriately, they offer just the right amount of warmth, providing ample warmth while running, and the excellent breathability means you won't feel the discomfort of stuffiness inside the gloves. Still, is it too much to ask for at least some water resistance?
It is not waterproof or drip-proof, and if water is dropped on it, it will quickly soak into the fabric and spread
The Nanofront palm is a material used in a variety of fields, not just outdoors. In the same outdoor category, it's also used in finetrack's Nano Towel. The Nanofront used on the palm of this Tracker is extremely thin, feels like tanned leather, and adheres perfectly to the skin. It extends not only to the palm but also to the fingertips, so when pinching or grasping objects, it feels like bare skin. This area has almost no elasticity. This material has high friction, providing excellent grip, making it easier to hold poles and other objects than with bare hands. This is extremely helpful, as it can be difficult to apply force when your hands are cold. While the material is already very strong, there is reinforcement between the index finger and thumb, likely in consideration of gripping
The thumb and index finger, which are subject to a lot of stress, are reinforced
It's relatively easy to perform detailed tasks, and your fingertips have a high degree of freedom. As a result, actions you might do while on the move, such as taking things in and out of the backpack, opening individually wrapped snacks, and opening and closing zippers, can be done with ease. Incidentally, I'm typing this sentence with the gloves on right now. That's how stress-free it is when it comes to delicate hand tasks
The fingertips have enough freedom to type
The tips of the thumb and index finger are touchscreen compatible, but the touchscreen area is small, so you can tap exactly where you want, reducing the chance of accidental taps and allowing for some fine manipulation. Typing on the QWERTY keys is a bit tricky, but typing on the numeric keypad using flicks was no problem
Detailed operations are also possible using the touch panel
If you look closely, you'll see that it's carefully sewn together to fit snugly around the palm and fingers. This delicacy of fingertip movement is surely the result of carefully sewing together the small parts. There's nothing to complain about here. However, when so many parts are sewn together with thin thread, I worry about durability. I didn't notice any loose threads or torn seams during my review, but it's still a bit of a worry
The weight of both hands is 46g, which is super light. I don't think you'll notice how heavy the gloves are. For comparison, I measured the simple merino wool gloves I normally wear for running this season, and they were only 48g! The Tracker gloves should be superior in every way, including warmth and functionality, so I was quite shocked when I saw the weight of my gloves
Summary: Recommended for people like this
As you'd expect from a specialized glove manufacturer that has been making gloves for over 60 years, these gloves are simple and well-made, made with a clear understanding of what is necessary and what is not. While they don't yet have the know-how they need to build up as outdoor gear, they are probably among the best gloves of their kind currently available from other outdoor manufacturers in terms of fit, functionality, and ease of use. Personally, I couldn't help but be surprised by the weight..
Although they are warm, they offer virtually no wind protection, so they are not suitable for winter activities where you'll be cutting through the wind. However, for activities that require a certain level of exertion, they offer a good balance of warmth and breathability, making them comfortable to wear. You can do most tasks without having to take them off, so these gloves are great to wear from start to finish
As you'd expect, these gloves are carefully manufactured in Japan, so the price is a little on the high side for this type of glove. However, the satisfaction you'll get from them is well worth the price. As they become more widely used in a variety of outdoor activities, they'll likely generate a lot of feedback that wouldn't be possible with regular gloves, leading to even better gloves. This is already how they are now. One of the joys of using these gloves will be seeing how they evolve in the future based on that feedback
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