CG Habitats The Handbag Mitten Review:
The Handbag Mitten Specifications from CG Habitats
Details:
100% Full Genuine Leather Outer Shell and Palm
Drytec breathable waterproof membrane
60 grams of polyester insulation
Intended Use: snowboarding, snow-sports, keeping your hands warm during the coldest days and cool during Spring and Summer sessions
Recommended for: Any rider looking for a top of the line mitten that will take you from the coldest days to the warmest days on the hill in style, this mitten does it all.
Review Date: February 2018 to June 2018 in Colorado
Size: Medium 9.51cm 3.75″
The Handbag Mitten performance and review:
Each year at the snow show in January I stroll by the CG Habitats booth and ogle over the brands fun and functional products, they all look rad and the the handbag mitten always stands out as one badass mitten. So, I had to try it. This mitten is on the higher end as far as price goes, however you’re getting a lot for your money: full leather construction, a DRYATEC breathable & Waterproof membrane, 60 grams of polyester insulation, 100% leather construction with double overlap leather at thumb and tops of fingers and don’t forget the waterproof side zipper which makes this mitten stand apart from the crowd. Sure you can find a mitten for a much lower price, but this mitten will take you through the harshest winter days and easily handle those warm spring days. Plus if you’re lucky enough to ride during the summer months, the handbag mitten has you covered there too.
This mitten is not a bulky mitten and in my opinion has the perfect amount of insulation to allow you to use glove liners (I prefer smartwool liners) on the coldest of days and you’ll be toasty warm and dry all day long. If you do tend to run warm you can dump heat by unzipping the side hand zippers at any time, they are very easy to grip even with your mitten on. Another benefit of the zipper I found is drying out your mittens, yes I do get sweaty too sometimes and I leave these mittens unzipped overnight by the window and they are dry the next morning and ready to go! During those warmer days they do get a little bit toasty, but you can always use the zippers to vent some heat on the chairlift ride up.
With some of my other mitten/gloves the seams have started to tear or come apart after a few months, these have not and have held up over 50+ days of use and for the most part they look almost as good as when I wore them the first time. The only issue that I have been able to find with these mittens, and it may be my own riding style that has caused the issue, is that the silicone grip pads have worn off on my right hand.
The mitten still grips well none the less, but I’m worried over time it will wear through the leather. However, I plan on using this mitten for at least one more season, so it’s a good investment if you’re looking to get multiple season use out of a mitten, and it looks like a million bucks too(which it obviously should for the price)!
Overall impressions: If you’re looking for a mitten that will take you through the winter into summer, will last multiple seasons, has some really unique features, you love the way leather looks on your hands and are willing to put up some extra money for your mittens, then CG Habitats handbag mitten is a great choice. You won’t be disappointed in the style and performance of these top of the line mittens.
Pros:
- Great Style and Construction
- Good Warmth during cold conditions
- easy to layer glove liners under this mitten for added warmth
- Vents well for all season usage
- Liner stays dry
- Leather Palm is durable and silicone strip on palm and thumb are grippy
- waterproof side hand zipper is a great feature
- Fits true to size
Cons:
- Price, this is on the upper end of mittens
- Silicone strip wears out quicker than expected
50+ days of use, right hand silicone grip is starting to wear through slightly.
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