The Arc’teryx Venta Glove is a newly redesigned lightweight softshell glove made for multisport use. Due to its trim fit, I’ve used this glove in a variety of activities that require high dexterity. The Arc’teryx Venta Glove is the perfect addition to your glove quiver. No glove will do it all, but the Venta fits the high-aerobic-activity category very well.

Colors available: Plum Rose, Black, and Gunmetal (shown)

Sizes available: XS-XL

Weight: 50 grams / 1.8 oz. (Size M) These gloves are lightweight and compact enough to stuff into any little nook or cranny of a pack or jacket pocket without noticing the extra weight or taken space.

Material: The Arc’teryx Venta gloves are made of N72s Windstopper 3L with hi-loft fleece. The Windstopper material blocks the wind and allows for snow and light rain to easily shed off of the material. The inner fleece is thin but comfortable, and it adds an extra degree of warmth when stationary. The palms and fingertips have a laminated TPU reinforcements for added grip and durability.

Fit: The gloves are low profile with a trim fit and no dead space in the fingers. Due to the stretch of the Windstopper material, the gloves are tight, but not restrictive.

MSRP: $79

Unique features: These days, everyone carries a smartphone or some sort of touchscreen device with them everywhere they go. Having to take off your gloves to use your phone not only exposes your bare skin to the elements (see screaming barfies), but increases the risk of dropping and potentially losing a glove in adverse terrain/conditions. Hopefully you aren’t one of the unfortunate few who have dropped a glove off the chair lift and spent the afternoon searching the slopes in a whiteout blizzard.

If you want to snap a picture with your phone, the Arc’teryx Venta Glove allows you to keep your gloves on with the addition of touchscreen-compatible material on the thumb and index finger. There is also a webbing loop on each glove near the cuff that enable the gloves to be clipped together with a carabiner. I personally have very warm hands, and when I was XC ski racing, I would not wear gloves if the temperature was above 25° F. If you are like me, this feature is perfect, as you can attach the gloves to the outside of your pack, jacket zipper, or climbing harness when not needed.

Application: Anything from high-aerobic winter sports, driving, or watching a ballgame in the fall.

Pros: 

• Lightweight
• Windproof
• Water resistant
• Touchscreen compatible
• Carabiner webbing loop

Cons:

• Durability is unknown at this point; I will give an update if there is an issue in this department. I haven’t used these during any rope-work — climbing or in the mountains.
• Price is a little high, but in this case, you get what you pay for.

Bottom line:  The Arc’teryx Venta Glove has kept my hands warm and comfortable in a variety of conditions over the last month. I recently wore them on a trip up the Hayden Glacier in the Three Sisters Wilderness of the Cascade Mountains. Temperatures were in the mid-20s with a light wind, and my hands stayed warm and comfortable the entire trip. I was able to get into jacket and pack pockets, take pictures with my phone, and light my stove at 9,000 feet without removing the gloves.

The dexterity of these gloves and their ability to block the wind extremely well are really their most remarkable features. If you are looking for an ultra-lightweight, windproof package to add to your existing glove quiver, look for the Arc’teryx Venta Glove this fall.

(Featured Image Courtesy: Arc’teryx)