Outdoor Research Inception Aerogel X

Our take Last year, we gave an Editors’ Choice Award to the Bitterblaze and Ouray gloves for their innovative use of aerogel, a superthin but solid insulator, in the palms. This year, Outdoor Research spreads aerogel throughout the glove, incorporating the material into the fingers as well for a glove that’s dexterous enough for detail work but warm enough for subfreezing temps. The combo allowed our tester to shoot video and do rope work in Banff National Park in biting wind—frozen fingers not required. Fleece insulation on the back of the hand and a softshell outer kept us warm down to about 15°F (the glove felt stiff in temps below that).

Trail cred “This glove allowed me to grip my shovel tightly without my hands going numb as I dug out a pad for my tent in Banff in 20°F temps,” one tester says.

5.5 oz.; m’s XS-XL