Glove Liners

Reviewed by Andrew F.

This is a lightweight shoulder season glove, or it’s also useful as a liner glove. I like the larger-than-normal "grab loops" because they’re easy to snap into a light carabiner. The swirlies on the palm look funky, but don’t expect them to provide much grippiness. The pointer fingers are touchscreen compatible. Pricy, but very useful.

 BACKGROUND The gloves. They clip together, nice for such a light glove. out for a walk, mid-30s.  backhand view Sized from XS to XL, the R1 Daily gloves are a successor to gloves Patagonia used to sell as capilene liner gloves. The polyester fabric feels like relatively substantial stretch fleece. It’s smooth on the inside, no grid like some of Patagonia’s other R1-named products.  inside surface; cuffs are finished inside and out. Some basic features/upgrades from basic liners: large loops are easy to clip to a small carabiner.

Read more: Patagonia R1 Daily Gloves review (1)

Reviewed by Brian Nordberg

Great lightweight way to protect your hands from the sun and other pokey things outside

Because I use poles on most hikes, my hands take a beating. Either from the sun, or shrubs, or cactus, or rocks...my hands take a beating.  The Black Diamond trail glove offers great half finger protection when I don't need insulation. The gloves are very basic, there is no velcro wrist adjustment, just a stretchy back fabric that adjusts to your hand.  There are pull tabs at the wrist side and in between the middle fingers - like webbing. I initially wasn't sure what the webbing thing was about, but the first time I went to take them off, I got it.

Read more: Black Diamond Trail Gloves review (1)

Featured review by _Christine

Straightforward sun and friction protection. These OR gloves are more durable and (slightly) less expensive than the competition. They do fall apart after heavy/use and abuse (2 months of hiking everyday, with trekking poles), but that is expected from a lightweight material. 10/10 Would recommend (over other brands) for someone looking for sun protection for their hands—though I do not consider these "essential."

I used these sun gloves for two months while hiking through the 700-mile desert portion of the PCT—and they held up. If you use trekking poles/self arrest gear regularly, you will definitely get holes in the palms or fingers after heavy use. These are the third brand of sun gloves I have tried, and the other brands have deteriorated in about 1/3 the time. If you burn easily, I highly recommend them, if you don't—who needs 'um!  Comfort: These gloves are comfortable and breathable. They also ease you into trekking pole callouses.  UV Protection: They do the trick.

Read more: Outdoor Research ActiveIce Spectrum Sun Gloves reviews (2)

Reviewed by Lester M

Generic, no-name skinny, stretchy gloves, available at Pound Shops and Dollar stores, everywhere. The cheapest, lightest insurance policy an outdoors person ever bought.

I bought another pair yesterday. I feel underprepared without Magic Gloves in my pack. They aren't the warmest, not the most durable, and won't move the needle, amongst your brand-conscious friends. They will, often, turn the wrong choice of glove into the right one. So snug fitting that you can wear them under—or over—a pair of cycling mitts. So versatile, that one adult-sized pair will fit 95% of the folks you meet, outdoors. Dexterity is retained, to the point where you can play many musical instruments whilst wearing them.

Read more: Magic Stretch Gloves review (1)

Reviewed by Second Gear

The Sprint offers great flexibility for active winter enthusiasts. While touted as a liner, this glove can be worn alone for a variety of pursuits. The gloves are very durable, hold their shape when wet, and comfortable.

I can hardly say enough about how much I like these gloves. I did buy these gloves before they were offered with the touch tips, so I cannot speak to that feature that is now offered with these gloves. My hands are not really an "off the shelf" size, but these glove fit well on variety of hand shapes of similar volume. I have a pretty short little finger, and the pinky doesn't flop like I have had in other gloves. These fit well -- just snug enough that they ride well, becoming part of my hand, but they never, ever bind or pinch.

Read more: Manzella Sprint review (1)

Reviewed by SCHiker

These are nice, lightweight gloves for people who need a lot of dexterity and only a little warmth. They work well in everyday life because of the touchscreen grid, and they are more dexterous than a typical liner.

 Fit and Comfort: Fits well and is comfortable. These gloves fit my hands like a, well, glove. They have 10% elastane, so they are skin hugging. This improves dexterity and improves their function as liner gloves, which most people will use them as. The fabric, while nothing special, is soft and feels good against the skin. The seams are noticeable, but not unpleasant.  Water resistance: Not very water resistant, but dries fast. These gloves are about as water resistant as a synthetic shirt.

Read more: Under Armour Core Liner Gloves review (1)

Reviewed by Andrew F.

Great solution if you need fingertips handy. Merino is smooth, doesn't itch. Good for cool weather and as a liner for cooking, photography, pitching a tent. Sadly may have been discontinued.

Closeout purchase from an Icebreaker store that closed in our area. 100% merino wool. Very stretchy, not tight, cuff is ribbed and doubled over. Ends of fingers are nicely finished, no loose ends. Thicker than 200 weight merino long johns. I use them often during shoulder season hikes on their own. Very minor wear after 18 months. For years, I had been cutting off the fingertips of synthetic liner gloves (often after melting the tips on a stove or candle lantern) so I could have fingers available in the winter.

Read more: Icebreaker Fingerless Merino Wool Gloves review (1)