Mountain Hardwear Jalapeno Review

The Mountain Hardwear Jalapeno Glove vs. The Mountain Hardwear Jalapeno OutDry Glove

The Jalapeno Outdry is now available and retails for $110, $15 less than the Jalapeno. Outfitted with Thermal.Q™ Elite, the Jalapeno OutDry is similar to the original Jalapeno, but now has OutDry®, what Mountain Hardwear refers to as a “breathable membrane bonded directly to the shell fabrics to full seal out water, wind, and cold.” While we have not tested the OutDry, we have contacted Mountain Hardwear to confirm the differences.

Performance Comparison

Dexterity

The Jalapeno was one of the more dexterous in our review. It could accomplish all but our most complex tasks during testing. While wearing them one could easily buckle boots, open a locked car door, take photos with a camera, tie shoe laces and even write with a pen in a notebook. Though close, the Jalapeno didn't perform quite as well as our Editors' Choice, the Arc'teryx Alpha SV Glove. Even thought it wasn't quite as dexterous as the Alpha SV, it was the only option in our review we could consider dexterous enough that you could ice climb in. Just barely behind the Jalapeno was our OutdoorGearLab Top Pick, the Outdoor Research Magnate.

Warmth and Breathability

As a result of having less insulation, the Jalapeno is noticeably less warm than other models we tested. This is part of why the Jalapeno had such good dexterity, and makes them a better option for folks who don't get cold hands. We think it would be okay for resort skiing and snowboarding down to around 15F but would work okay for colder temps while backcountry skiing or mountaineering. We thought they were around the same warmth as the Black Diamond Squad and the Black Diamond Rebel and a little warmer than the Rab Guide.

Durability

Durability was one of the strongest points for the Jalapeno. The palm is completely covered in a goat skin leather along with much of the fingers, the rest is a beefy nylon that proved to hold up to even the harshest of users. Having used this glove for over forty days it is still looking great. The only product that might be more durable is the BD Guide or the BD Legend, and we think the Jalapeno is more durable than the OR Northback Sensor or our OutdoorGearLab Top Pick award winner the OR Magnate, as well as far more durable than the price pointed Columbia Air Chamber.

Features and Ease of Use

The Mountain Hardwear Jalapeno has a unique, easy to use and super effective gauntlet closure system that was among our favorites in the review. To tighten it, you simply pull on one side with one gloved hand and to loosen you pull on the other. Simple but awesome. We liked the nose wipe on the thumb of the Jalapeno and while there wasn't a wrist strap like on many other models we tested, the elastic did a great job of holding our hand in place.

Value and the Bottom Line