Warm and windproof ultralight gloves
Sometimes a product comes along that really surprises me. That’s the case with the ultralight Rab Xenon gloves as they’re far warmer than I expected them to be. They weigh just 69 grams for a Large pair and can packed into a small ball. That’s fairly standard for thin liner gloves, a pair of which I always carry. However, liner gloves aren’t usually windproof or very warm. I usually wear them under thicker gloves or mitts, so I still have some hand protection when I want to unfasten buckles or zips or use a camera or smartphone. You can do all these with the Xenon gloves and have far more warmth and protection from the wind so much of the time a thicker pair isn’t needed.
The warmth of the Xenon gloves comes from a thin layer of Primaloft Gold Insulation (40 g/m²), the wind resistance from a Pertex Quantum outer. The gloves also have a soft PU layer on the palm and front of the fingers for durability and a soft microfleece lining that feels instantly warm to the touch. The elasticated cuffs are fairly long. The gloves come with a tiny stuffsack but can be easily stuffed inside each other.
I’ve been using the gloves since last autumn and most of the time they’ve been warm enough on their own. I’ve really enjoyed having gloves that keep my hands warm and allow me to use my fingers as they are very flexible as well as quite thin. Most days I’ve held trekking poles and sometimes an ice axe and so far they show no sign of wear. They’re not waterproof but are surprisingly warm when soaked and dry quickly. In fact, the Xenon gloves are the closest to ‘do everything’ gloves I’ve ever used.
£45
