Removable or sewn-in fixed liners in ski gloves?
Removable Liner Ski Gloves
The benefits of removable liners:
1. You can take the liners out of the shell, allowing the gloves dry much faster.
2. The liners can be used by themselves as an effective second pair of light mittens/gloves.
3. The shells can be used by themselves as an effective second pair of gloves when it gets warm.
4. Often, removable liner gloves breathe better and may be warmer because the liner and shell have more space between them, enhancing air flow. But that is also dependent upon glove design and the amount of insulation.
5. You can replace the much-less-expensive liner without having to buy new gloves.
6. You can fix the glove much easier.
The potential problems:
1. The problem with removable liners is that they are often difficult to re-seat in the correct position inside the shell. And when your hands are sweaty, it could be even more difficult. That's less of a problem with mittens, but gloves can be a crap-shoot, depending on the design of the glove. When you try them on at the store, make sure the liners come out fairly easy and go back in easily. When you're out in the elements it will be much harder.
2. The liner is not fixed so the gloves rarely fit exactly right, and dexterity is often decreased. The liner (in most designs) moves relative to the shell every time you move your hands.
3. Often more expensive.
As a glove designer who has spent a lot of time trying on and testing other company's designs I am constantly amazed by the terrible functionality of most removable liner gloves. Several prominent brands (which I will not list here) are barely usable at all. They are so hard to put on and take off AND re-seat once removed, that I wonder if any person from that company even tested them at all before going into production and marketing them. Also, I don't understand why a ski shop would carry a ski glove that you can't even get on your hand. Lots of removable liner glove designs should have been rejected outright.
Knowing all of these potential issues, Free the Powder designed removable liner gloves and mittens that fix all these problems. They go on and off as if the liners were sewn into the shells with all the benefits of a removable liner. That is our specialty.
Sewn-in Fixed Liner Ski Gloves
The benefits of fixed liners:
1. Simple design.
2. The liners remain mostly straight and seated properly inside the shell for their entire usable life.
3. You will never lose the liner.
4. Easier to take on and off when your hands are sweaty.
5. Potentially improved dexterity due to less layers in glove.
6. Often less expensive.
Potential problems:
1. Slower drying.
2. Often, they are not as warm. Less air flow between liner and shell. But that is dependent on glove design and insulation amount.
3. If the liner has a twist, it's never gonna change.
4. You cannot replace the liner. Once the glove is packed out, you'll need to buy a new pair of gloves.
5. Really hard to fix. Will need a professional or a new pair of gloves.
Ultimately the choice is very personal, depending on how you use your ski gloves. For this reason, Free the Powder makes a variety of gloves with different designs.
Learn more about ski glove design: