Expert Review: Flylow Unicorn Mittens
Published on 09/18/2022 · 4 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the mittens, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2022.
Warm and durable with full leather construction! All photos by Kyle Kolbig
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the mittens, which I purchased with my own money in March of 2022.
My take
I like the Flylow Unicorn mittens for mild to colder conditions. The full leather construction is why I bought them. I have found in the past that cheaper, synthetic fabrics are trash and rip right away when dragging my hand or clipping in. I like a sharp snowboard, and these held up great with grabs and even just carrying my board.
Full leather palm!
About the mittens I own
- Model: Flylow Unicorn Mittens.
- Size: XL
About me
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 200 lbs
- Experience: 20 years of snowboarding/skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought them: March 2022
- Days used: 20
- Weather conditions used in: Cold, snowy days and spring conditions.
- Where I’ve used them: Stratton, VT, Killington, VT, and Powder Ridge, CT
- Terrain: Resort, parks
How they perform
What I was looking for
I wanted warm mittens that would last. I go through mittens quickly with lots of hand drags.
Why I chose these mittens
I bought the Flylow Unicorn mittens because they are leather and, more importantly, have a full leather palm. I chose these mittens because I liked the look and price tag, in addition to the full leather construction and included waterproofing wax treatment. I considered the Candy Grind Workman’s Mitt X but decided against needing down insulation.
Just the right length on the wrist
What I love about them
- Comfort: The plush inside is super comfortable and soft.
- Warmth: These gloves are very warm for the weight. The plush inside is super comfortable, and being lower profile, they are snug. I find this helps keep my fingers closer together and has less air inside the mitt. They are ultimately leading towards a warmer vibe.
- Waterproofing: So far, the waterproofing wax included has done a great job keeping my hands and glove shell dry.
- Conditions: The Flylow Unicorn gloves thrive in colder temps.
- Quality: I find these gloves to have above-average quality. Double stitching has helped reduce any seams from busting. The leather seems thicker than average and does not show cuts even from a super sharp snowboard.
- Durability: The durability of these gloves is above average and does not show any noticeable wear and tear or fraying in over 20 days on snow.
- Weight: These gloves have a good weight-to-warmth ratio. They are warm without feeling very heavy or bulky. The included wax treatment helps a ton and avoids any water absorption that would otherwise increase the weight throughout the day on the snow.
No wrist toggle included
Issues I’ve encountered
- Fit: These gloves have a smaller-than-average fit. The thumb is a bit slim on me.
- Ease of movement: I find even the XL to have some movement issues with a larger-than-average hand. The thumb is tighter than average. Also, being bulky with the thicker leather, movement is further reduced. I would suggest going one size up from one’s normal glove size.
- Breathability: The Flylow Unicorn gloves have virtually no breathability and are very warm. This is due to the higher-end materials used. I would suggest a park mitt or spring mitt for warmer temps.
- Touchscreen compatibility: The Unicorn gloves do not have any touchscreen compatibility.
- Features: My biggest issue with these gloves is the lack of wrist cords. Wrist cords are essential if someone finds themself taking off their mitts on the chair lift to check or answer their phone often.
- Any workarounds? I plan on attaching my own wrist cords to the clips provided.
Natural leather look!
Favorite moment with this gear
I was stuck on a stopped lift that was covered in ice from snowmaking. I love how these gloves did not stick to the bar and kept my hands super warm. I wish I could say the same for my butt. Sitting on an icy chairlift was really starting to get to me. I ended up sitting on my hands, and it worked.
Value for the money vs. other options
These mittens have great value for the cost. The full leather construction is usually found for $100 and up on other models. I ended up going with these instead of the Hestra Fall Line mitt due to being almost $100 cheaper.
Final verdict
I am happy with these mittens. The higher-end quality is noticeable right away. I would suggest using latex gloves when applying the waterproofing wax. It was kind of tough to wash clean after the application. The only real issue I had was the lack of a wrist toggle. I would pass on these if one is prone to taking off their mitts to check their phone on the lift. No one wants to be that person walking around under the lift, looking for their dropped glove.
