Merino Glove Lifespan?

[Poser]

Just curious. How long do your merino gloves last?

 

[doverpack12]

Sitka and Kuiu have been the best for me with 2-3 seasons of being used 25-30 times each. First lite is awful and I'm lucky if I make it out of the house without holes.

 

[Colberjs]

I've had my FL merino gloves for just a few months and have used them for deer hunting with probably 25+ days in the field. The left glove looks good but the right glove has holes in the material as well as coming apart along a couple of the seams.

I need to contact them and see what kind of warranty they carry.

 

[fair-chase]

Smartwool = 5+ years and still going strong. No rips, holes, or tears.
FirstLite = Less than 1 season before multiple holes and tears made them undesirable.

It should be noted that I only use these as liners for late season. I have not used either as a stand alone or outer layer.

 

[justinspicher]

I love FL but their glove liners suck. I have yet to make it halfway through a season without any holes.

 

[NVCHUKAR]

Icebreaker Merino lasted half a season used mostly standalone. Unless there are some kind of protective layers the wool wears pretty quickly if used as a standalone glove.

 

[krohboy]

I broke through my Sitka gear pair this late season. Two seasons of heavy use. I'm looking for something better now.

 

[snowcamoman]

My Sitka liners made it through one sheep hunt. The seams started coming apart badly. The Kuiu liners held up far better. I'll get a second, possibly third sheep hunt out of them it looks like.

 

[Trial153]

Strange thing is I been through several liners ...but my Filson cutoff wool gloves are still going strong at about 15 years of hard use.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Icebreaker Merino lasted half a season used mostly standalone. Unless there are some kind of protective layers the wool wears pretty quickly if used as a standalone glove.

This has been my experience also, regardless of the brand.

 

[twall13]

I purchased a no name brand of merino liners before this past season. They now have holes in multiple places. That being said, I really liked the feel of them alot better than the synthetic liners I've used in the past. They seemed to breath better and regulate temperature better for me. I like the feel enough that I'm willing to pay the $30 once a year for a new pair. It would be nice if they lasted longer but I know I'm hard on gloves so I'll live with it.

 

[jmez]

Have the Kuiu and half a season they both had small holes in them and the grip dots are gone. I won't buy them again. Not worth the cost and Merino really isn't designed to be used as a glove.

 

[cali_hornhunter]

I've been using a set of FL and my righ thumb is starting to come apart and I've had them for about a year but I use them for pretty much anything and everything

 

[Backpack Hunter]

First Lites don't last too long for me either. Maybe a season, but I like them.

 

[jb79]

The first lite lasted about 3/4 of a season but I still wear them and they haven't got much worse just deal with the holes and they made it through the second season but will need replaced next year. The UA liners seem to hold up a little better but I like the wool liners better!

 

[Weekender]

I've scrapped the idea of wearing wool gloves. Have Kuiu liners they've held up to the wear and tear but really aren't that warm and can't use touchscreen. I've moved over to some cheap synthetic head gloves from Costco that you can use touchscreen. They don't last long but at $10 acceptable loss.

 

[snowcamoman]

I'm thinking of possibly ditching the merino liners and going with synthetics this season the more I think about it. Synthetics dry out quite a bit faster than the merino liners.

 

[HJ Handy]

I'm thinking of possibly ditching the merino liners and going with synthetics this season the more I think about it. Synthetics dry out quite a bit faster than the merino liners.

Check out the Peloton gloves Kuiu makes. Best light glove I've ever owned so far. I bought two pairs thinking I'd tear up one pair over one season. Pair #1 is fairing well, used them during summer hikes, into Sheep and Moose season and a good run on Kodiak. Just a few minor scrapes in them from Moose hunting in some thick stuff and from Kodiak thorn brush. The gloves have great dexterity, good enough for any rifle or handgun shooting and for my bow set-up too.

 

[snowcamoman]

That's good information jherald, thank you. I was looking at those last season, but they were out of them in my size. I'll get them on my list of gear to purchase for this season and give them a work out.

 

[twall13]

That's good information jherald, thank you. I was looking at those last season, but they were out of them in my size. I'll get them on my list of gear to purchase for this season and give them a work out.

My favorite thin, non merino glove is the Kryptek Krypton, bar non. It's the most comfortable glove I've ever worn. Slightly thicker than my merino liners, but a great glove if that's the route you are headed. It's worth checking out.