Tested: Arc’teryx Fission Mitt

I arrived in Whitehorse with only the clothes I was wearing, a state of affairs brought about by the airline’s inability to synchronise passenger and luggage. This would typically have necessitated buying only underwear and a toothbrush, but this was the Yukon. In winter. Which meant temperatures as low as -40°C. A decent pair of gloves or mittens, such as Arc’teryx Fission mitts, would be essential.

So, Amex card in hand, I arrived at Coast Mountain Sports to stock up on some winter essentials.

Regular readers will know that I’m a huge fan of Arc’teryx clothing, so a pair of its Fission Mitts found their way into my basket. Insulated with PrimaLoft, they have a Gore-Tex liner and are faced with Arc’teryx’s own Fortius softshell fabric.

Leather, too, at least on the palm and fingers, there to give extra durability and a better grip. As a result, they’re tough, and the synthetic insulation meant that they would keep me warm even if they got wet.

And so it proved. My hands were warm in even the foulest conditions – and it got pretty damned foul at one stage with temperatures, including wind chill, approaching -60°C. I wore them for walking, dog-sledding, snowmobiling, and to warm my hands up between taking photographs. The long gauntlet style and tight inner cuff kept out drafts and gave an almost snow-proof seal.

Being pre-curved, they fit like a, er, well, like a glove.

I kept the cord keepers cinched loosely around my wrists, which made it almost impossible to lose them when I slipped one off too quickly to take a photograph or untangle a recalcitrant dog. As with all the best gear, they worked so well that I soon took them for granted.

Faults? None, really. A snot patch on the back of the mitts would have been handy, but other than that, I was delighted with their design, fit and performance.

Expect to pay around £120 for a pair of Arc’teryx Fission mitts, which isn’t cheap, but then it’s way cheaper than getting frostbite.

Carlton Boyce
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