IMCO LEATHER SKI/SNOWBOARD GLOVES-Mens LARGE

INTERSTATE MOUNTAIN COMPANY, LLC

IMCO  LEATHER SKI/SNOWBOARD GLOVES-Mens LARGE

This glove will fit a normal hand with circumference around the knuckles of 10.5-11.5 inches (or 26.5-29.5cm).

I have worked my entire professional life in the ski and outdoor sport industry designing and developing products for the 2 top names in wintersports. After leaving to start this business in June-06, I have designed and sourced, directly from Asian factories, what I consider to be the best sports bags and wintersports gloves available today at any price. In short, these gloves are what I would have done if it were not necessary for my former employer to make a hefty margin on sales to please shareholders.

The IMCO YTL LEATHER RACE GLOVE is actually a descendant of leather gloves that I started building for the industry in late 1980’s. What is amazing to me is how many of those gloves are still in service. I see a pair or two almost every time out skiing or riding and everywhere I go. After all this time, there is no question in my mind that leather is the ultimate material for ski gloves. Its natural beauty and ability to breathe makes it perfect as the outer layer for a ski glove. Its durability makes it suitable for even professionals who are on snow every day. The motorcycle industry has been able to hang on to this material and we all wear it everyday on our feet. So why is a glove like this an endangered species? The simple answer is price. An Asian maker sends a "merchandiser" to the USA to drum up business for the factory, the big glove companies have well trained designers and developers who order up their latest creations. Then the Product Manager steps in who has done his homework on what the market will bear for cost. Then a VP of everybody lays down the minimum maintained margin that the company will accept. Even if they did sell this glove by the time they take their margin and pay a sales rep, who sells to a retailer who make his margin selling it to you, we could be talking about $120 to $150 gloves IF they cut corners. Make no mistake, all of the glove companies have barrels full of prototypes of leather snow gloves that they cannot figure out what to do with. Mine was pretty full a few months ago.

So what about this glove? The outer shell is drum dyed, then over sprayed cowhide. This way of coloring leather is the best combination of keeping the leather soft and supple while keeping it color fast. That means if it does get wet, you are not going to get black streaks on you best white snow pants. On the back of the hand at the knuckles and finger joints is a stretch mesh material inset as panels to aid in comfort especially when flexing your hand. In between the cowhide and the insulation, is a waterproof and breathable membrane insert made by my friends at YOUNGTEC®.

This insert is completely protected from any stitching and is attached with sewing only at the wrist of the glove. The breathability specs on this insert are as high as the pricey American version from Brand G in Maryland. Bottom line is this: it is pretty easy to make a completely waterproof glove, without a place for your body vapor to go and a way for it to get there, your hand will be damp and clammy in just a few minutes.

The insulation layer is 3M Thinsulate® brand. 3M has recently developed a fairly tough set of product usage standards. If you don’t meet the minimum they won’t sell you the fluff. They have tested the glove, sold us the guts and shipped it along with a hang tag that says so.

The palm side features a very helpful construction technique turning the finger seem inside out. This is done for one reason, comfort. Instead of squeezing the seams inside the glove "package" where they then press against your fingers, we turn them out. The result is a great feel right out of the plastic. The best thing about a leather glove, however, is when they get to be about a half season old. Just like your favorite shoes, as they age the take on the exact shape of your hand. After you break these in, anything else will just feel foreign.

The last layer is the one that actually touches your hand. We use a micro-bushed nylon material called BEMBERG®. If the inside of all clothing felt this good, there would be a lot fewer grumpy people in the world. Bemberg works hand in hand with the YOUNGTEC® insert to wick moisture from your hand and move it away.

All IMCO bags and gloves come with a 7 day, no questions, return option. Please take a week to make up your mind and decide that what is described above is everything I say and more. I only ask that you: 1) Let me know that you are returning the product, 2) Include the original packing slip, and 3) Pay for the return shipping. The same day I receive your return, your account will be credited the full amount including outbound shipping. Also, before you purchase this or any IMCO product, (or any item on Ebay for that matter) please take a few seconds and look at my feedback. I aim to make a living doing this, unhappy customers are not an option. We have the one of the fastest, if not THE fastest shipping turnarounds on the web.

Thanks for looking and pray for snow.