Expert Review: Flylow Oven Mittens
This review is my honest opinion of the mittens, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2020.
Stormy day at A-Basin at the top of the Zuma lift in January 2020. All photos courtesy of Andrew Cressman
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the mittens, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2020.
My take
The Flylow Oven Mittens are a great option for anyone that is looking for a budget-friendly mitten that will work effectively in just about any conditions on the mountain.
About the mittens I own
- Model: Flylow Oven Mittens (Natural)
- Size: Medium
About me
- Height: 5’7”
- Weight: 147lbs
- Experience: 20 years of skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought them: January 2020
- Days used: 60
- Weather conditions used in: Super cold stormy days, bluebird cold days, spring skiing
- Where I’ve used them: A-Basin, Loveland, Monarch, Keystone, Colorado
- Terrain: Resort and backcountry
How they perform
What I was looking for
I wanted a simple pair of mittens that I could wear skiing from opening day to close. They had to be waterproof, comfortable, and not take up a ton of room in my backpack.
Why I chose this gear
The price and style of these mittens are why I went with them. I also chose these because Flylow is a Colorado-based company, and they checked all the performance requirements for me.
Right palm minor wear
What I love about them
- Fit: These mittens fit well and the cuff extends up the wrist enough without being bulky.
- Comfort: The inside lining is nice and soft on the hands.
- Ease of movement: I can move my fingers freely inside to keep warm and easily work my zippers, buckles, etc without taking them off.
- Warmth: These are warm enough to wear alone on most days. However, I most often wear a thin pair of gloves/liners underneath these on very cold days, mostly to soak up sweat. On warmer sunny days, when I wear just the mittens, my hands start to sweat. So I take them off between runs.
- Waterproofing: The waterproofing is excellent. Admittedly, I haven’t applied sno-seal since buying them and I should, but even still they are waterproof.
- Weight: They are light and can be stuffed inside a pocket or backpack without even knowing they’re there.
- Conditions: These mittens are perfect for almost any winter day. If it is especially cold, it helps to have a layer underneath, but it is not always necessary.
- Features: These are basic waterproof mittens. They have a soft inner liner and loops to attach wrist cords.
- Quality: The leather is soft and the natural color looks awesome.
- Durability: Having not applied any sno-seal since I have owned them, they are holding up very well. There is some wear on the palms and thumbs, but they are still waterproof.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Breathability: In my experience, these mittens do not breathe well on the mountain. During runs, my hands felt fine, but when I got back to the lift my hands would be pretty warm; on warmer days, I would take them off while riding the lift.
- Touchscreen compatibility: These do not work with a touchscreen.
Left palm minor wear
Favorite moment with this gear
My favorite moment with these mittens was on New Year’s Day 2022 at Monarch Mountain. It was a stormy day with about eight inches of fresh snow and they kept me warm all day long. I especially liked that I’m able to open my zippers and adjust my boots/goggles without taking them off. My hands stayed dry and warm from the first chair to my final run.
Value for the money vs. other options
I don’t have any specific other mittens to compare these to, but for the price, they are hard to beat. These are just as warm and waterproof as gloves that I have used in the past, and the Oven Mittens are a third of the price. They are a great value, and I would absolutely buy these again.
Final verdict
For the price, these mittens perform exceptionally well. They are durable, waterproof, and look sick.
