Gear Review

Marmot Randonnee Glove

extra features
Gore-Tex insert
warm
inbounds and out

I purchased Marmot's Randonnee glove for cold-weather backcountry skiing, but I've since discovered I like the glove inbounds as well.

Consequently, the Randonnee has become my go-to Alpine skiing glove.

The Randonnee's reasonably light weight (9oz in the 2007 model) make the glove appealing for backcountry use. Other backcountry-oriented features include a GoreTex insert for waterproofness, an articulated grip for dexterity, wrist cinchstraps, and a safety leash.

Inbounds with the Randonnee

Alpine skiers will like the Randonnee's PrimaLoft synthetic down insulation, which helps keep fingers warm on those chilly January chairlift rides.

Also nice: the Randonnee features a sewn-in nose wipe patch on the thumbs.

For 2008 the Randonnee glove adds Pittard's MicroVent leather for reinforcement and a bit more grip on smooth tool shafts.

First impression with the Randonnee: it's a comfortable glove. The fabric feels soft and unobtrusive. It's easy to grip a ski pole handle—the Randonnee does not feel stiff or constricting.

In truly cold weather my fingers do get cold in the Randonnee, so I'll call this a cold-but-not-arctic weather glove. Your results will of course vary depending on how warm or cold your extremities tend to run.

Note that the liner is not removable. For me, this is a positive, as I hate when liners pull halfway out of gloves, forcing me to somehow puzzle the fingers back into place. Other people, however, prefer removable liners to make drying the glove easier. It's your call.

As for cold-weather backcountry use, I do bring the Randonnee for chilly day tours, but for overnight use I've switched to a fully waterproof shell (ala Black Diamond's System GTX) which I supplement with windstopper liners as needed. I've found that for very-wet overnight camping tasks like digging a kitchen or shelter, the Randonnee just isn't waterproof enough to have my full confidence.

Marmot in general seems to have a knack for creating products that blend a rich but intelligent feature set with competitive pricing. The Randonnee Glove is no exception. The glove's design shows a careful attention to detail and function, and the cost is certainly reasonable compared to other brands in this category.

» Bottom Line: Smart Features, Solid Performance, Warm Enough for Alpine Skiing.

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