A representitive over at Swany America offered me the opportunity to review a pair of their gloves. The gloves they sent out were the X-Change II model, and they came just in time for some of the coldest days of riding in my life in January-February in Colorado.
Warmth
These are the kind of glove you don't really need to wear liners with. The first time I put my hand in them I was surprised at how cushy and soft they were. I'm not very used to a glove that has actual insulation in it, and the Swany X-Change II is stocked with a patent Tri-plex insulation system.
One key day I remember these guys really shining through was during my level 2 pre-course clinic in February. Those three days were definitely the coldest of the season in my book, and while my friends were freezing their fingers off even with glove liners I was just barely noticing the bitter cold through my nice Swany gloves.
These aren't no Grenade gloves. Granted that Grenade gloves aren't usually meant for the type of winter riding I experienced in CO.
I'd have to say that every other pair of gloves I have ever owned has either frozen on me or gotten soaked to the bone by the end of the day... this isn't the case with the Swany X-Change II, though you may want to beware of hand-sweat since these guys are just that toasty.
A tasteful combination of leather and rubber seals these gloves up tight against snow and water.
Durability
One of the biggest problems I have with most gloves out there is they are clearly made to last maybe one season and no longer. I've had countless pairs of gloves rip, tear and wear away right on my fingers. Whether it's simply due to shoddy workmanship or a clever business tactic to keep people buying I'm just not into it.
My first glance at the Swany X-Change II and I knew they were different. The index fingers are abrasion resistant leather since you'll be using them most, and that same leather is placed strategically throughout the glove.
The palm has an extra layer of rubber material double stitched on top so no more rips from grabbing the board.
Features
The X-Change II features a cushy, comfy Dyna-therm liner. Like I said before the first time I put my hand in the glove I was very surprised to find that instead of the usual awkward abrasiveness found in many of my previous gloves these guys were very soft and inviting.
They offer several ways to cinch the glove and keep fresh powder from coming in, though admittedly it was difficult at times to get the glove cuffs and my jacket to agree together.
Both the right and left glove have a stash pocket on the top of the glove which is terrific for adding a heat packet on those ultra-frigid days (and even hide certain substance paraphenelia). The pocket is sealed with a tight, seemless waterproof zipper.
Overall Impressions
If I didn't have these gloves going into January up in Colorado I would have been a much less than happy camper. These gloves pulled me through all of the coldest days I experienced while I was up there and may be the reason I made it through my level 2 pre-course up at Keystone in February.
I can't say that the gloves are necessarily the most stylish gloves in existence, but they aren't your grandfather's gaper gloves either. They have decent aesthetic to them, nothing to flashy, but it really doesn't matter since they keep you WARM and DRY.
I would be lying if I told you that the rep had asked me to postpone this review until the end of March. I admittedly got tied up in training and other problems, originally intending to review the gloves after a week of use.
The mistake has given me a chance to really test the lifespan of these gloves, and they have held up to some beatings over the last few months with not much sign of wear beyond stinkiness (Sadly, I also procrasinate on washing things).
Swany has the X-Change II retailing at $80.00 which is right around the cost of most Grenade, Dakine, Burton and other snowboarding gloves promising similar performance... except the X-Change II might actually do its job for you.
Where to Buy
Head over to Swany and check out the X-Change II and other gloves in their collection.
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