Outdoor Research Stormtracker Gloves - Kit Review

If you're looking for a pair of gloves that are smartphone compatible then, as our kit expert Alf Alderson suggests - these Stormtrackers might be the pair for you.

PRICE: £60

WEBSITE: Outdoor Research

WHAT THEY SAY: "Updated for touchscreen compatibility, the StormTracker Sensor Gloves are equally at home alpine climbing, ski touring or ice climbing. Low-profile GORE® WINDSTOPPER®. Soft Shell fabric deflects biting gusts, and a tricot lining retains valuable heat. The streamlined profile allows for amazing breathability, unprecedented dexterity and extraordinary tactility."

WHAT ALF SAYS: If you really can’t live without your phone when you’re on the slopes Outdoor Research’s Stormtracker gloves are touch screen compatible to allow you to take calls, text etc. and keep your hands warm at the same time.

They have a low profile, pre-curved construction which offers excellent dexterity – always useful when using a phone – and they’re also windproof, breathable and water-resistant, whilst the leather palms provide excellent grip – again a good thing if you’re messing about with your phone on a chairlift or in the snow.

They come with a zipped cuff for a snug, under-the-cuff fit, but are not as well-insulated as some ski gloves I have tested, so in really cold conditions you may need to wear a thin liner glove beneath them. However, as an all-round glove for warmer conditions – say spring skiing – I’d be happy to use the Stormtrackers irrespective of their touch screen capability, as they feel great in use whether you’re on the phone or not.

The touch screen capability, incidentally, is built into the index finger on each glove, and it feels slightly stiffer than the other fingers as a result, although not so much you really notice.

FOR: Good option if you use your phone (or GPS) regularly whilst skiing; great fit

AGAINST: Not massively insulated

Alf Alderson is an award-winning freelance ski journalist who will be working on gear reviews throughout the 2016/17 season for the Ski Club of Great Britain.