While we often think long and hard about the different layers we wear when heading outdoors for a cold weather adventure, sometimes we don't put as much consideration into other articles of clothing designed to help keep us warm in the winter. Take gloves for instance. Often we'll make do with whatever we have lying around, which can result in cold hands and fingers while the rest of us is toasty warm. Thankfully, there are plenty of good gloves to choose from these days, including a host of options from Seirus, a company dedicated to making a variety of gear for use in inclement weather.Recently, I had a chance to try out the Heatwave Plus ST Spiral gloves, wearing them both at home and while traveling in the Arctic, and came away very impressed. This is a high quality product that not only look great and are very durable, but will keep your hands warm in all but the coldest of conditions.
Made with a premium leather outer shell, the Spiral gloves have a classic look to them that would be right at home now, or 40 years ago. They are stylish enough to be worn on urban adventures and nights out on the town, yet still durable enough to survive long days on the trail. That same leather is very soft to the touch and is highly pliable as well, allowing the fingers to move with surprising ease and dexterity.
Inside, Seirus has given the Spiral a soft, supple liner that is both waterproof and breathable. This helps to keep your hands warmer and dryer, which is the key to staying comfortable for extended periods of time in the outdoors. That liner is paired with the company's own HeatLock insulation system, which helps to protect the hands from cold temperatures and moisture too.
Overall, I really like the way these gloves feel on by hands and I was mostly satisfied with the level of warmth they provided. I say "mostly satisfied" because I found that they weren't completely up to the challenge of the frigid temperatures that I faced while traveling above the Arctic Circle. There were times when the temperatures there plummeted to -15ºF (-26ºC), with windchills dropping things closer to -40ºF/C. When outside in those conditions, the Spiral simply wasn't up to the task of keeping my hands warm for extended periods of time. They worked fine for quick jaunts and shorter excursions, but don't expect them to perform well in those conditions for more than 20-30 minutes or so.
To be fair, there are a lot of gloves that wouldn't perform well in those types of conditions. Thankfully, I brought along a pair of tried-and-true mountaineering gloves to keep my hands warm on that particular trip, or I would have run into some trouble. But, most other gloves probably would have faced similar issues as the Spiral. Much like most humans, they simply aren't built for extreme cold conditions.
That said, use these gloves in anything short of those extremes and you're likely to find that they perform exceptionally well. I love the way they look and fit on my hands, and they are soft and plush inside. Velcro wrist straps makes it easy to dial in a nice fit and the fingers feature SoundTouch materials that allow you to use your smartphone without having to take them off. That is a handy feature to have on any glove, let alone one that looks and performs like this one.
As with most good outdoor products, the Seirus Heatwave Plus ST Spiral gloves come at a price point that is above the norm. This model carries a price tag of $139.99, making it twice the price – or more – for casual leather gloves. Those other models aren't going to offer the same level of protection and durability as what you'll find here however, making a pair of Spirals worth the price for those who need this level of insulation and protection. If you're not an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys cold weather adventures, you'll probably find a less expensive glove that will fit your needs. For the rest of us, we can be thankful that Seirus offers such high quality products.
