REI Co-op Guide Insulated Mittens Review

Our favorite aspect of the REI Guide is that it comes in well below many of its competitors price-wise. This mitten is a step above the basic work gloves many of us continue to use for day-to-day heavy use, and the increase in warmth is worth the small increase in price.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

While this mitten does not feature very heavy insulation, a large degree of warmth comes from the fact that it is a mitten. The REI Guide does a good job of circulating existing heat from hands inside the mitten. We did like the pile lining on the inside of this model. We found that the pile helped to wick moisture away from hands and keep them both dry and warm. On very cold days, however, we did still find ourselves balling our hands into fists inside these mittens to warm up our fingers on the chairlift.

Water Resistance

The overall water resistance of the REI Guide Mitten comes from an included water-resistant treatment that needs to be applied to the leather. Without this treatment, we found that water seeps through the seams of this mitten and the leather itself begins to absorb water. This also begins to happen as the treatment wears off and is due to be reapplied. This mitten requires more maintenance than most other mittens we have tested.

Dexterity

We found that we had a fairly good ability to adjust gear, zip zippers, and handle ropes with the Guide Mitten compared to other mittens. The nature of having four fingers in one pocket still hinders dexterity compared to gloves, of course. The lack of heavy insulation, however, allows for some individual motion and the use of fingers.

Durability

We believe the durability of the Guide Mitten is just so-so, and largely dependent on the maintenance of the leather. The fabric construction of the mitten in the woven cuff and wrist backer is susceptible to tearing and catching.

The double-stitched goat leather construction of the main body of the mitten appears solid. The supple nature of goat leather leads us to believe that it may begin to wear thin in the highest-use areas. That said, a major factor in the health of the leather is protecting it from moisture, and diligent water-resistance treatment will significantly improve the durability of this product.

Features

The work-style Guide Mitten is relatively sparse on features. It does feature a suede-textured nose wipe, which is always appreciated. We do wish these mitts had at least a leash, however, as we do find ourselves taking mittens off more often than gloves due to the decreased dexterity.

Should You Buy the REI Co-op Guide Mittens?

These mittens are a great consideration for the wallet-savvy skier. Spending just a little more than you would on a hardware store pair of gloves will get you significantly warmer and hardier mittens. Moreover, if you want a pair of general-use winter mittens that might occasionally see some ski use, these mittens are ideal and well-priced for that functionality.

What Other Women's Ski Gloves Should You Consider?

If you're seeing the pinnacle of warmth for your cold-weather ski adventures, the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts are our top recommendation. Not only are they super warm, but they are also waterproof and the long gauntlets help to seal out the elements on windy or stormy days. Our other mitten recommendation is the Burton Gore-Tex Mitten, a high-value option that still performs well without breaking the bank. Either option will keep you warmer than the Gide Mittens, though arguably not as stylish.