I look for three qualities when selecting my annual pair of new winter gloves: 1. Are they warm? 2. Can I hold and drink a beer? 3. Am I able to make finger guns at my friends while saying “Ayyyy” like the Fonz? With the Dakine Fillmore Trigger Mittens, the answer to all three is “yes.”
Selecting between mittens and gloves can be a difficult decision: you want the dexterity of having your fingers independent but also the warmth of your digits huddling together. With the Fillmore mittens, your index finger and thumb are on their own, allowing you to stay warm in the High Loft Synthetic (60/170g) while retaining the ability to take a photograph, pick your nose or make a steazy grab at the Buttermilk baby park.
Typically by the end of the season, my gloves are shredded from a full winter of knuckle-dragging. I’ve put in about 40 days so far this year and haven’t yet experienced any fraying, rips, tears or other cosmetic defects. The treated shell on the Fillmore mittens also gets rid of perspiration while keeping moisture out, so it’s not impossible to jam your sweaty hands back into ’em if you take the mittens off. The cuff around the wrist is a bit tight, so you may want to consider a larger size than normal.
I typically run hot and don’t need to stash handwarmers in all crevices to stay toasty on the hill, so these were the perfect choice to keep my phalanges frostbite-free without making my palms pruney from overheating. They’re rated a 3/5 on the warmth index, which is adequate for anything you’re going to do in bounds under just about any conditions Colorado can come up with.
The mittens are advertised as being touchscreen compatible, so you never have to stop swiping right, even on a powder day. Unfortunately, I found this feature to be finicky at best and had to free my hands if I wanted full accuracy on the smartphone.
The Fillmores also come with “nose wipe thumb panels,” which is more handy than a soggy tissue when it’s nuking and a benefit if you’re stricken with perennial weepy eye. Just be sure not to mix up which thumb wipes away what. If I could add an upgrade to the Fillmores, I’d include one of those mini windshield wipers that wicks droplets off your goggles, and maybe a discrete stash pocket somewhere.
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I also appreciate the flair of rocking a trigger mitten. Afterall, just as important as the quality of mountain gear you select is how you look screaming down the hill, enjoying a Wine Cabin party or apresing back in town. It’s fashion meets utility with the Dakine Fillmore Trigger Mittens, and as an added bonus, your Halloween costume is halfway complete if you want to dress as a lobster.