No Cold Spots, Full Send: Gordini Elias Gauntlet Gloves Review

With its new Thindown fabric, Gordini has seriously upgraded one of its existing gauntlet-style ski gloves. The Elias Gauntlet Gloves are now made with a removable liner system to be adaptable to different uses and conditions. The other big upgrade is its Thindown insulation.

While the components like the cinch cuff at the wrist, pull tab at the cuff, wrist leashes, and nose wipe are all pretty standard for full-featured ski gloves, it’s what’s on the inside that really sets this glove apart.

In short: The Elias Gauntlet Gloves ($140) have a removable, moisture-wicking lining made with 150 gsm of cut and sewn sheets of goose down insulation. The insulation is one uniform piece, eliminating cold spots. It’s designed to be as light, efficient, and packable as possible — at least when it comes to down. Gordini also extended the gauntlet cuff to keep out snow and elements. For all the technology Gordini packs into this glove, it also comes at a stellar price.

Note: Gordini also makes a mitten version, but we only tested the glove.

Gordini Elias Gauntlet Women’s Glove Review

We’ve been testing these gloves for over a year (two winter seasons), with 50+ ski days and counting. We tested in temps from about -5 to 35 degrees, with a focus on active testing in colder conditions on powder days skiing, and doing things like shoveling snow and walkways at home.

For skiing, these have become some of my favorite gloves. While I typically choose mitts with synthetic insulation with fleece or synthetic-brushed liners, these down-insulated gloves have earned their keep. They are very warm, yet still offer dexterity in the hands and have a comfortable grip (holding ski poles, snow scraper, shovel, etc.).

Also, my hands were never sweaty. In warmer temps, the Thindown removable liner wicks moisture very well. If the temps are extra warm, you can remove the Thindown liner and exchange it for a thinner liner glove or none at all.

When it comes to moisture on the outside, however, the gloves’ Clutch synthetic leather exterior (also used in the previous models) could be better waterproofed. To test, I spent a day shoveling snow and making snowballs in the yard, and the moisture did wet the glove. But it didn’t soak through the membrane or liner.

The adjustable strap across the back of the wrist is simple but gets the job done. It’s the cinch at the extended cuff that is crucial to these gloves. And it’s super easy to use: Simply pull it tight and adjust while wearing the Elias Gauntlets.

If I really had to make a complaint about these gloves, there are quite a few “danglers,” or various cinch tabs and clips on the exterior.

Thindown Fabric: What Is It?

The composition of Thindown fabric is simple: Cut and sew vertical sheets of goose down together, instead of quilting the down through individual channels. Instead of tufts or clumps of feathers, Thindown is sewn into one uniform sheet, which Thindown claims will eliminate cold spots. We happily found this to be true. The new down fabric tech works — and it works well.

More interestingly, the construction of Thindown reduces the production time of outerwear by about 25%. The single sheet (or sheets, depending on the type of garment) doesn’t need to fill individual channels. So it requires less assembly time.

Currently, the Thindown manufacturers offer duck or goose down, in various weights from 30 gsm up to 150 gsm. The 150gsm weight is what the Elias Gauntlet Gloves use, and it’s designed for use in moderate to heavy cold conditions (like skiing).

This is one type of fabric technology, like recent innovations in GORE-TEX and Monarch Flyway milkweed insulation, that we hope to watch closely and test more over time.

Fit and Sizing

We tested the women’s size medium Gordini Elias Gauntlet Gloves, and found they fit true to size. One of my sticking points with gloves or mittens is when the palm length isn’t long enough to comfortably fit your hand (with or without liner gloves). Or worse, when the palm length and width are too taught to comfortably grip ski poles. The width, length, and overall sizing of these gloves are accurate.

While this didn’t affect comfort (or durability!) at all, I did wish there were less stitching along the edges of the leather palm component. This could be a weak point as I continue usage past these first two seasons. The lighter color of the synthetic leather on the palms and fingers also requires some spot cleaning.

Conclusion

The combination of both warmth and articulation in these gloves is stellar. Even testing in temps below zero degrees, I didn’t notice any cold spots. And, the stitching around each finger and thumb gives these gloves lots of dexterity. Sometimes, big gauntlet or full-length wrist gloves can feel bulky — not these. They were warm, yet allowed for enough movement in my hands for me to grip items like keys, clip on a dog leash, and even tie my shoes.

From daily winter use to shredding the ski slopes, I was highly impressed by the Gordini Elias Gauntlet Gloves. They were consistently warm in varying conditions. The removable liner was easy to adjust and wash and is what allows these gloves to adapt to warmer weather.

Because let’s face it, at some point the 150gsm insulation weight will be too warm for spring skiing conditions. And as much as I like the feel and warmth the Thindown provides, when I don’t need it, I can simply remove it.

Spring skiing, here I come.