Lathrop Keene Wearing the Gordini MTN Crew Artist Mitt’s at Grand Targhee Resort | Photo Baxter Geyer Mountain Weekly News
The Gordini MTN Crew Artist Mitt is an eye-catching mitten, perfect for lapping the lift on cold days or throwing in your touring pack for extra warmth in emergency situations. They’re comfortable, durable and look great doing it!
Wearing While Skiing
I got to use the Gordini MTN Crew Artist Mitts inbounds and out of bounds on skis and snowboarding. I prefer the dexterity of gloves while skiing for holding poles and strapping my boots at the top of the lift, but for those skiers that prefer mittens on colder days, the dexterity is there.
As with any mitten, the MTN Crew Artist has definite limitations in the backcountry. The use of your fingers is too essential to wear mittens for the whole tour, and therefore I recommend these as backup mittens out of bounds.
I found the best use for them is inbounds on a snowboard, which is where mittens really find their stride for me. They have enough dexterity to strap in and out of your board, and give you that extra warmth when you’re sitting on the lift. The rad design has gotten a few inquiries and comments from fellow riders in the lift line, and the faux-leather has the durability for a day full on hand drags.
Warmth
These mittens contain 600-fill Downtek™ for ultimate warmth on chillier days when those mittens really come in handy. One of my favorite design features is the thought that went into the inner lining. There is a moisture-wicking lining on the palm that helps prevent over perspiration, but sports a high-pile fleece lining on the back of the hand.
I love this design, because it keeps you warm where you want it, but not having to take off your mittens to cool off when the sun comes out. I find this also avoids the dreaded glove stank of a clammy guy like myself.
Comfort
The soft inside is smooth as butter and comfy as a couch. The palm side inner-liner allows for dexterity, while the back of the hand is more plush for warmth. The neoprene cuff around the wrists allows for full range of motion without sacrificing warmth or waterproofing.
Mitten Features
The MTN Crew Artist Mitts are lightweight and sleek, with a rad design- preventing you from having to bug your friend to draw a design on your Kinkos. The shell is a guilt free CLUTCH® synthetic leather, which is waterproof yet subtle and soft. It takes conditioner and waterproofing just like any other leather glove. The provided leash has a thick wrist strap, which feels more durable and comfortable than others I’ve used.
The velcro wrist strap is sturdy, but as with any velcro, it gets worse with age. To prevent the velcro from looking like Beetlejuice’s hair- I recommend setting the strap in a comfortable place and leaving it there, instead of strapping and unstrapping everytime I put them on.
Dexterity
The dexterity in these mittens takes some time to break in. Upon first use, I was bummed at the range of motion and ability to pick up items, but as I used them more, I felt less and less like I had Lego hands.
After 5 uses and an application of waterproofing, the mittens now feel broken in and usable. Great for inbound skiing and riding levels of use, but would not recommend for more intricate use such as ripping skins or transitioning a splitboard. Compared other ski and snowboard mittens like Kinko and Hestra mittens, these are definitely last place in the dexterity department.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Super warm where you want it, but breathable on the palms
- Heady mountainscape design
- Neoprene wrist allows for comfort and high range of motion
- Lightweight and packs down fairly well
Cons:
- Velcro around wrist wears down over time
- Takes time to break in and lacks dexterity
Overall Impression
The Gordini Men’s MTN Crew Artist Mitt ($89.99) is a great in-bounds snowboarding or skiing mitten. It’s ultra warm for cold days, yet prevents sweaty build up when you’re really getting after it on the slopes. As with any mitten, the MTN Crew Artist Mitt has its limitations in the backcountry, but it is my new “bottom of the pack” emergency mitten due to its lightweight construction and never ending warmth.
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