"Warm hands, feet and head and you won't freeze, boy." - that's what my grandma used to say. And she is - blessedly - still right. Gloves are both one of the most important and, controversially, one of the least discussed pieces of equipment that a freerider needs on the mountain. Hardly any of us would want to ride for even half an hour in decent snow conditions with our pink patches exposed to the wind, weather and snow. Good gloves are therefore worth their weight in gold and many powder skiers have been using the same ones for years, in contrast to constantly changing outfits or even skis. We have tested for you whether the Arc'teryx Vertical SV Glove is such a permanent companion for tough powder use.
Everyone knows the feeling of how quickly your fingers get cold when the fine flakes of the last dumpicane melt away on your skin like - yes, snow in the warmth. What a pleasant feeling to slip back into the warm gloves afterwards. Good gloves are a wonderful thing.
However, a glove must not only keep you warm, but also master an astonishingly diverse repertoire of tasks. Waterproof and windproof, a good fit with the jacket sleeves, minimally impairing the tactile function of the fingers and, ideally, being robust and easy to care for.
The Vertical SV masters many of these tasks brilliantly. First of all, you immediately notice the anatomical fit, which is due to Arc'teryx's special sewing technique. The glove fits comfortably around every finger and is very soft and flexible. No thick or misplaced seam disturbs the sensory experience. After a few days of wearing in, the Vertical SV allows surprisingly deft handling of zippers or ABS waist belt buckles for its robustness and thickness.
The insulation is absolutely sufficient for our latitudes. Water and windproofness guaranteed thanks to the Gore-Tex® membrane and the breathability also seems to be okay. In any case, I didn't notice any moisture build-up. The workmanship is excellent and the leather looks robust and durable. Only the waterproofing of the leather leaves something to be desired and it absorbs water surprisingly quickly. However, this can be easily remedied with commercially available products. Nevertheless, it tarnishes the good impression of the high-priced glove a little.
Conclusion
The remaining points of criticism are more a matter of taste. Even though I personally really like short, close-fitting cuffs, as I like to pull my jacket sleeves over my gloves, the outer material of the Vertical SV is very slippery. It is therefore advisable to combine this glove with rubberized cuffs on the inside or long, elastic cuffs with a thumb hole, otherwise a gap will quickly form. Even if the cuffs can be closed well with the large Velcro tabs. And then there's a lot of nagging. At least that's how it was for me when I used to go sledging with Grandma.
Advantages & disadvantages
+ fully waterproof
+ excellent fit
+ separate inner glove
+ warm
+ quick-drying
+ enables good tactility
- somewhat poor basic impregnation of the leather
- high price
Product details
RRP: €199.95
Available sizes: S, M, L, XL
Weight: 186 g
Waterproof
Leather outer glove with Gore-Tex membrane
Fleece inner glove, removable
Anatomically pre-shaped
Seamless fingertips for good fingertip sensitivity
Adjustable cuff with Velcro fastener
To the manufacturer's product information
Update: The successor to the Vertical SV is called the Vertic SV and has been revised in terms of material mix, impregnation and features. In addition to improved basic impregnation and durability, there are now also removable wrist straps
