We are always interested in any item versatile enough to eliminate the need for multiple products.
The TransWarmer mitt with Lightwave LEDs is one of those items: It's a glove, mitten and LED safety light -- plus works like a bare hand so you can operate your smartphone without freezing your fingers off.
We put these in our winter gift guide and now we've had time to put them to the test.
The 84% polyester, 16% polyurethane shell (82% nylon, 18% spandex palm) from Nathan's new "No Matter What Gear" line are incredibly lightweight and surprisingly warm. The glove lived up to our high expectations, but there are some quality issues with the LEDs (more on those below).
Function: I've worn these comfortably between 15 degrees (as a mitt, sometimes with a Little Hottie handwarmer) and 35 degrees (as a glove). They tend to get slightly soggy if you're out in the rain or snow, but my hands stayed warm enough.
I'm a big wimp about the cold, so I change constantly between mitten and glove depending on which way the wind is blowing. The mitten flap stuffs easily into the stow pocket on the back of the mitt, making the transition quick and easy. The LEDs will be visible no matter how the mitt is configured.
The thumb and first two finger tips on each hand are made from Nathan's TrūTouch fabric, which will work with a touch screen device. I wouldn't want to type epic emails in these gloves, but they work well enough to send a quick text, shoot a picture or change music. The palms have silicone grips that make it a easier to hang on to your phone.
The LEDs are advertised to be visible from up to 2,400 feet, and have two blinking settings and a constant mode. There are three lights per glove and they are bright, but I wouldn't bet money that a frazzled driver will see you and stop. The batteries-- two CR2016 lithium batteries (included) -- should last about 30 hours. (If you get a pair, check out Nathan's battery replacement offer.)
Pros: Really warm but still very lightweight. If you're moving around, these are going to be too hot if it's above freezing, even with the flap folded back. If you're standing, they're going to be perfectly toasty up to about 45 degrees.
Cons: It's a mitten over a glove, so you can't stuff a hand warmer into the finger compartment. The battery source for the LEDs on one glove stubbornly wouldn't stay in its stash pocket. Each time I took this glove off I had to stuff the battery back in.
You also have to remove the LEDs and battery source before each wash. I'm willing to take an over/under on how long these make it before I absentmindedly wash the whole kit -- batteries and all. Getting the system out isn't difficult, but getting it back in involves threading the lights and cords through several internal loops (which really could be skipped) and then several attempts to get the lights into the right place. I've solved this annoyance by not washing the gloves very often. (They do not dry quickly.)
Quality: This was the biggest issue I had. After a month of wear -- two or three times a week -- the wires from one LED snapped at the power source (see image, right). Reps from Nathan said they had not heard of this happening before, and suggested I ended up with a defective pair. They sent a replacement set, we'll let you know how those hold up.
Sizing: My gloves are a small, with sizes available up to an extra large. If I'm a small (5'6" 135 pounds), then what do the super-petite women wear? The fit is important; your fingertips must be flush with the ends of the gloves for the TrūTouch to work well.
Verdict: The gloves are great, and the only quality hiccups are with the LED system. So if you want to skip the hassle opt for the plain TransWarmer mitts instead.
Get more information on the TransWarmer mitts on Nathan's site. Get them at most outdoors stores for $35.
Sara Davidson is an ultrarunner and resident women's gear destroyer. She is easily distracted by blinky lights.
