I recently purchased the Dakine Element Mitten in the Mainframe pattern as shown to the right. I was in the market for a nice warm mitten with a removable inner liner, and Dakine delivered.
What makes the Element mitten stand out are a few key features at an affordable price. First off, you get the waterproof removable liner. This not only adds additional warmth on those extra cold days, but allows for the freedom and dexterity that a pipe glove would deliver for those time you need it most. Just slip off the outer mitt and finagle even the toughest zippers.
My second favorite part about the Elements is the RubberTec palm coating. It’s like having one of those old school rubber lid opener things your grandma used to have on the palm of your hand. This stuff grabs onto your board when throwing down some stylish grabs off the kickers. It also adds complete waterproofing across the entire palm of the mitten, where you need it most.
Long story short, I took these mitt’s out with me to Bretton Woods, boarding hard throughout the powdery glades all day. Never once did I even think about my hands because they kept perfectly warm and dry the entire day. I was even able to slip off the mitts to snap a few pictures with my phone while riding and the inner liners kept my fingers nice and toasty. The mainframe pattern is pretty sweet and unique looking as well, a nice added style to an already well built mitten. My only complaint is that sometimes the liner will turn the mittens thumb inside out if you remove it too quickly, but it’s easily solved by just paying attention to what your doing.
I had this gloves, good quality and good price.
So, finaly, after almost 10 months, are you still happy with those Dakines gloves?
Yeah man, definitely. They are still in great condition and I plan to use them again this season. I even used the liners alone for some spring riding and they are holding up good as well. Still, my only complaint is that if you remove the liners too fast they are a bitch to get back into the mitten because they grip the inside and pull the thumb inside out. But you just need to be aware of it and pull the liners out carefully and they will slide right back in correctly.
Also because the mitts are made to go with the liners they are a bit big and loose feeling without using them. So I basically always wear them with the liners in, which makes them great for cold or powder days but not so great for warm spring days. In spring I wear a pair of insulated Burton pipe gloves or use the Dakine liners if its really warm