LTR: Ibex Wool Glove Liners - André

This is my Long Term Report on the Ibexwear Wool Liner Gloves 
submitted for your editing pleasure. Also in the test folder at:
http://tinyurl.com/dsxtx

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Ibex Wool Glove Liners
Long Term Report by André Corterier
Date: 2005-SEP-16 

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Year of manufacture: 2004
Manufacturer: Ibex Outdoor Clothing LLC
URL: http://www.ibexwear.com/
MSRP: 25.00 USD
Colour: Black 

Weight Comparisons - scale accurate to 5 g (0.2 oz)
listed weight: 1.3 oz/pair (37 g) -avg.
measured weight: 40 g/pair (1.4 oz) -size XL 

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Introduction:
These are black, thin gloves of non-scratchy, stretchy "superfine" 
Merino wool. You can find a more detailed description in my Initial 
Report. Also, I have discussed how they performed in most conditions 
which I consider to be of interest to backpackers like me in my Field 
Report. This report only deals with the few additional findings I 
have made in the Long Term Testing phase. 

Field Experience:
These gloves have accompanied me literally everywhere I went in the 
Long Term Testing period, just as during the Field Testing phase. 
They've seen some more of the woods around where we live and the 
stretch to work (on my bicycle), as well as having accompanied me 
into the German/Luxembourg Nature Preserve for four days. I have worn 
them rather regularly into June, on cool mornings, both hiking and on 
my bicycle. In actual summer, I've used them on a cold night in my 
hammock, for stealth on a night hike and for protection when 
gathering (lots of) firewood. They did not see much precipitation, 
but some wind. 

Warmth:
Too warm for summer, really. But why would I wear gloves in summer? 
Only if my hands were getting chilled by wind on a cool morning, 
maybe - or if I felt that the night has gotten colder than expected 
by the time I enter my hammock. I've encountered the former scenario 
many times, the latter twice. The gloves worked really well in the 
former, as was to be expected from my Field Report. In the latter, 
they worked well when I put them on in the beginning, while my hands 
were still warm. I assume this is because once my body gets chilled 
it reduces circulation to the extremities. Once circulation is 
reduced, my hands don't warm up again by themselves without some 
other effect boosting circulation. At any rate, I have felt that 
putting these gloves on at night when my hands were cold did little 
to warm them (I have noticed the same phenomenon in relation to my 
feet and warmer socks). Once I've kick started circulation (running 
around the hammock a few times at night, followed by some knee-bends 
and push-ups), the gloves kept my hands warm. 

Durability:
Having worn them some more has not made them look more worn, with one 
exception: When gathering firewood at night, I put them on because it 
was getting just a little bit cold and to give my hands a modicum of 
protection when encountering broken twigs etc. (we did this without a 
light). The gloves gave what little protection I expected of them 
(I've noted in my Field Report that they aren't the equal 
of "protection gloves"). They also incurred a few sap stains, 
however. I was able to get some of the sap off and make the gloves 
non-sticky where some sap remained by scrubbing my hands with dirt 
(without taking the gloves off). Washing has removed most, but not 
all of the remaining sap. The right glove now has a small, somewhat 
lighter patch on the palm where some sap seems to have become a 
permanent part of the glove. While this is a direct sign that the 
gloves aren't new anymore, it is both the only sign and not a 
problem. It isn't sticky and I can feel no difference. 

Summary:
I love these gloves. They are so small and light that I don't notice 
taking them with me. Around here, with temperatures usually not far 
below freezing, they provide all the warmth I need in a very small, 
light package and do not insulate me from my environment - I like 
that a lot. I'm the type who'd rather wear a broad-brimmed waterproof 
hat when it's raining than pull up a tight-fitting hood, and the 
gloves fit this approach - well, like a glove. I know I won't be 
going back to my thicker winter gloves. Should I get the chance for 
an extended trip where I expect harsher conditions, I guess I will go 
for thin, light, waterproof/breathable mittens under which I will 
wear the Ibex Wool Liner Gloves. Should make for a take-anywhere 
package that's still light and compact. In my usual climate, I 
consider this pair of gloves, together with a multi-functional head 
covering (" Buff") to be *the* colder-weather combination, extending 
my hiking comfort range downward by at least 5 C (9 F) at a weight 
penalty of only 100 g (just over 3 oz). 

Pros/Cons:
Pro: Light. Pack small. Make my hands feel a nice bit warmer whenever 
I want them to. Hold up well to moderate use.
Con: Get soaked by rain. Tree sap won't come out. 

Thanks to Ibexwear and BackpackGearTest.org for letting me test this 
cool item. 

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Personal Biographical Information:
Name: André Corterier
Gender: M
Age: 33
Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight: 80 kg (175 lb)
Email: andreDOTcorterierATfreenetDOTde
Home: Bonn, Germany


Backpacking Background:
I began backpacking in my late teens using Europe's "InterRail"-
System ? weight hardly mattered, as we were on trains a lot. I 
recently rediscovered backpacking and have started out slowly ? 
single-day 15 mile (24 km) jaunts by myself or even shorter hikes in 
the company of my little daughter. I am getting started on longer 
hikes, as a lightweight packer and hammock-camper. I've begun 
upgrading my old gear and am now shooting for a dry FSO weight 
(everything carried From the Skin Out except food, fuel and water) of 
about 10 kg (22 lb) for three-season camping. Not quite there yet.





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