Ski patrollers and on-mountain resort workers are out there every day, all day long, and many are not rocking the latest in outdoor-industry handwear. Indeed, old-fashioned leather work gloves procured at hardware stores have become a popular option at many resorts. What’s the deal? Well, these gloves are durable and often warm enough. And they’re cheap — patrollers, lift operators, and snow makers do not choose their line of work for the cash part of it!
The trickle down of this trend is evident in a new glove from FlyLow. The Tough Guy Glove offers a work glove look and form but with a couple design tweaks to make them more usable on the snow. Cost, at $28, is in line with the mountain workers’ PBR budget.
Design upgrades, according to the company, include “fingers that fit right,” consistent stitching, and a soft leather treated with bees wax to make them water resistant. Looks like some quality on a budget. Purchase these gloves and you’ll have some cash left over to buy a liftie or patroller a beer when the chairs stop turning.
—Stephen Krcmar lives and rides at Mammoth Mountain, Calif.
