A lightweight glove designed for alpine use, we first tested the The North Face Vengeance on a fast and light ascent of Mt. Hood. The gloves are constructed out of a 3-layer Gore-tex Pro shell with removable Polartec Wind Pro liner. The liner features a thin layer of Primaloft pads along the back of the hands and fingers for added protection and insulation.
While the Vengeance aren't warm enough for polar exploration, when you're moving fast in the mountains, the gloves won't hold you back. The palms and fingers are covered in perforated Pittards leather that when partnered with the Gore-Tex Pro membrane attached via a dot adhesive, works to let moisture vapor pass through without compromising waterproof performance. The seams are taped, and the long gauntlets help to protect wrists and forearms from encroaching moisture. There are leash straps on the wrists – we chose to shed these as they tended to channel water into the gauntlet.
The North Face Vengeance Gloves retail for $220 and will be out in time for the Fall 2014 season.
–Nancy Prichard Bouchard