Engearment

Kate Agathon

Rated for frigid conditions, the Swany X-Cell Mittens are the warmest leather mittens I have ever worn.

My hands get super cold when I ski; even on so-called warm days. So in recent years, I have been relying on either battery-powered gloves or leather mittens.

I prefer leather mittens because they provide a different level of comfort and warmth than gloves. They also fit my small hands better.

Compared to my older Hestra leather mittens, the Swany X-Cell Mittens are hands down (no pun intended) the better mitten for their warmth, fit, and features.

As soon as I slipped my hand into the mittens, they felt immediately toasty.

The Swany X-Cell’s Tri-Plex Alpha Insulation system is purported to be 30 to 50 percent warmer than standard insulation. After wearing them, I believe it! It felt like a warm hug surrounding my hands.

Compared to my Hestras, the Stem Finger Construction’s snug fit difference was immediately noticeable. They just felt more secure.

Secondly, the overall design of the Swany X-Cell Mittens is well planned. I love the extended extra cuff (not quite as wide as a typical gauntlet) with the adjustable Swany SpeedDraw System wrist cinch for extra coverage.

Despite the elongated cuff, the mittens also did not get in the way of my ski jacket cuff, which was another bonus (I was initially concerned it would be “too much mitten”).

Other much-appreciated practical features of the Swany X-Cell Mittens include a zippered pocket on the top of the mitten designed to securely hold a heat pad, and straps to put around your wrist or hang on a hook when you’re in the bathroom. Sidenote: If you’ve ever gone to the bathroom in an on-mountain porta potty, you know how important mitten straps are! Also, I appreciate mitten straps for when I need to occasionally take my mittens off while on the chairlift to use my cell phone.

Constructed from smooth grain and nubuck leather, the Swany X-Cell Mittens also feature a reinforced digitized palm.

Compared to other leather mittens, the Swany X-Cell Mittens are surprisingly soft. I’m actually surprised that a mitten this soft and well crafted isn’t more expensive. They feel truly luxurious.

I have not had the mittens for more than one season, so I cannot comment on how they wear. But, based on my initial experience, they seem quite durable.

Extreme Warmth

My hands remained warm the entire time- even on the chairlift with the snow making machine blowing cold air nearby and later in the afternoon, when the wind picked up and the snow got thick near the top of the mountain. I didn’t even need a heat packet during those times!

Only a few times did I ever feel the need to add an additional heat packet to the mittens (we’re talking super frigid days). With the addition of the heat packet, I felt that they provided the same amount of heat as my battery-powered gloves at the highest setting.

Other features: Volcotek Heat Shield, Dyna-Therm lining, Dryfinger II water proof and breathable insert. Basically, every feature you can think of to keep hands warm and dry in the harshest of conditions.

They look nice and the white leather complements my dark ski jackets; a departure from the usual black. However, the white leather immediately showed dirt spots, etc. in the palm of my hands. Not surprising since I grip everything from my ski poles to the chair lift, just annoying. I prefer black to show less dirt.

The  Swany X-Cell Mittens are available in three colors (black, white, and winter camo) and three sizes (small, medium, large).

If your hands get easily cold like mine, I highly recommend the Swany X-Cell Mittens for their extreme warmth, fit, and features.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbabies, Sansa and Benjen.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing.

Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers. She and her fiancé, Paul, live in Summit County with their dogs, Benjen and Sansa.

Kate earned a BA in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving two terms on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

The Dr. of Stoke has been part of the Engearment team since 2016.