REASONS TO BUY
Great dexterity
Affordable
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Absorbs water easily
Not as warm or durable as other options
Outdoor Research Adrenaline Review
A low-frills, inexpensive and dexterous ski glove
Credit: Outdoor Research
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Our Verdict
The Outdoor Research Adrenaline is an average-performing ski glove at a great price. Its best attribute is its dexterity, which is surpassed only by the thinnest (and coldest) gloves. On the other hand, the Adrenaline is not particularly warm or water-resistant, which limits its usefulness on the ski hill. Furthermore, it doesn't have as many features as other gloves on the market, and we have doubts about the durability of the palm material. That said, the Adrenaline is affordable and will perform well on mild and dry days on the slopes.
Our Analysis and Test Results
This is as dexterous as ski gloves get. Other than that, we weren't impressed, except by the price tag.
Performance Comparison
Testing the Arc'teryx Fission SV on a cold January day.
Credit: Jed Porter
Warmth
The Adrenaline features synthetic insulation and a fleecy fixed liner to keep your hands warm. Unfortunately, we didn't find the insulation to be adequate for cold days on the ski hill. During testing in British Columbia in single-digit Fahrenheit temps, these gloves didn't keep our hands warm. However, when temperatures were mild and hovered around freezing, these gloves hit the mark. If you ski in the Rockies or the Northeast, these gloves won't be warm enough for the coldest days.
A fleece lining helps the Adrenaline feel warm, but on chilly days, this wasn't enough to prevent our hands from getting cold.
Dexterity
This metric is where the Adrenaline excelled. These gloves have great dexterity, which we appreciated when performing tasks that required deliberate and detailed use of our fingers, like making clothing adjustments such as pulling cords and straps. We never had to take these gloves off during the day of skiing. These are great mild weather gloves for parents or ski instructors who need to use their hands to help others make clothing adjustments.
The Adrenaline performed detailed tasks well, like buckling boots and operating small zippers.
Water Resistance
When conditions got wet, the Adrenaline did not perform as well as we hoped it would. OR claims that the glove is waterproof, but the outer shell soaks through quickly, making the glove waterlogged, and eventually, our hands felt moisture coming through. On the slopes, we need a glove that will keep our hands dry and warm, and these gloves didn't stand up to the heavy, wet snow we encountered while testing in British Columbia. After cold and wet chairlift rides, we found ourselves swapping these out for warmer and dryer gloves. Clearing the new snow off our car at the end of the day, water soaked through the glove and showed that the Adrenaline is not the choice for wet weather on the ski hill.
Unfortunately, the Adrenaline's exterior fabric is not water resistant and allows liquids to easily soak through. The glove is not waterproof.
Durability
We weren't particularly impressed by the durability of these gloves. The shell material is not the strongest and can rip easier than other options. The rubbery texture of the palm material did not inspire confidence and seems like it will wear through quickly, compared to tougher leather-palmed gloves on the market. During our testing, we haven't bumped into any of these problems yet, but we don't expect these gloves to last more than a season of heavy use, especially because they get wet so quickly, exposing the materials to more wear and tear.
The OR Adrenaline's rubbery, synthetic palm does not inspire confidence in it's long term durability.
Features
The Adrenaline is equipped with a wrist cinch strap, an elastic gauntlet cuff pullcord, and a pull loop to help get the glove on. It also comes with a small clip to keep the pair together during drying or travel. Other than that, the glove doesn't have many frills.
The Adrenaline features an effective wrist cinch strap, a good gauntlet closure system, and a clip for keeping the pair of gloves together.
Value
These gloves are inexpensive, which makes them appealing. If you are a fair-weather skier who doesn't need much warmth or weather protection, these gloves might be a great investment. However, we feel that for just a small increase in price, you can find a much better glove that will keep you warmer and dryer than the Adrenaline can.
Conclusion
While the Outdoor Research Adrenaline's dexterity is notable, it comes at the sacrifice of warmth and water resistance, making this glove suitable for only mild and dry days on the slopes. If you need much weather resistance, look elsewhere, but if you don't care about performance and want the least expensive option for a full gauntlet ski glove, the Adrenaline fits the bill.
On a mild and dry day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, the Adrenaline performed pretty well. We wouldn't choose this glove if conditions were any colder or wetter.
—
Jeff Dobronyi
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