Waterproofing
Spring is a great time to test the waterproofing of gloves, since when the snow falls, it usually has a lot of moisture content, it’s warm, and sometimes melts on contact. And when you are carrying your skis around on a bootpack, or out to the car, or simply onto the ski rack, they are typically dripping with water.
In all of these conditions, the Gore-Tex-protected Commander glove has performed as expected, keeping my hands 100% dry. The glove’s leather is also protected by a DWR coating, so even the outer portion of the glove helps protect from water, instead of becoming heavy, saturated, and leaving the heavy lifting to the Gore-Tex laminate.
Breathability
The Commander is clearly intended for cool to cold weather, offering a great protection from the elements. In doing so, it may not be the most ideal warm weather glove, especially if you tend to run hot and get sweaty hands. Personally, I have used the glove on many spring days and have been impressed with its performance range.
Probably the harshest warm-weather test I have put the glove through took place on a quick ski tour up Pink Pine Ridge, just down highway 210 from Snowbird. While the temperature that particular day only rose to just above freezing, the spring sun was incredibly strong, and the uphill trekking definitely made my body temp rise.
I was able to keep my hands in the gloves for almost the entire tour, only pulling them out near the top on the steepest part of the climb and in full sun exposure. My hands were definitely hot on most of the climb, but I was very impressed by how the wool lining pulled moisture quickly off my skin and through the wool. My hands rarely feel damp from sweat.
I also found another great benefit of the wool lining and Xtrafit Technology on the Pink Pine tour: if the inside of the glove did happen to get damp, either from snow getting into the glove somehow or by inserting a wet or sweaty hand into the glove, I never had to worry about the liner turning inside out when removing my hand. So other than the occasional annoyance with the smallish opening of the cuff, taking the glove on and off required no extra precautions whether dry or damp.
Durability
I haven’t used the gloves for a long enough period to really stand behind any comments in the durability department. All I can say for now is that the gloves look as good as they did the day I received them: no loose threads, no tiny cuts from edges, no scuffs or other marks. Nothing. After 12 days of skiing resort and some local touring, they are looking as good as new.
Bottom Line
I love the dexterity the Dakine Commander glove offers, making it a great glove for both resort and cool- / cold-weather touring. And for all but the coldest-blooded individuals, it should offer enough warmth to keep you toasty.
I’d be sure to check Dakine’s size guide for this glove in particular, but I can’t think of a single thing I’d change about the Commander.