DaKine Scout Review

Performance Comparison

Dexterity

The DaKine Scout while relatively warm for its price range, suffered badly in the dexterity department. The fit around the fingers is bulky and we were forced to take the shells or even sometimes the whole glove off for several tasks. We could do easy tasks like buckling boots and unlocking a car door, but moderate and complex tasks like tying shoes, writing and taking a photo with a traditional point-and-shoot camera proved difficult. It wasn't quite as dexterous as similarly priced options like the Columbia Air Chamber, FlyLow Gear Tough Guy or the OR Southback. It was however around the same dexterity as the much warmer Black Diamond Guide.

Water Resistance

They kept us dry during moderate storms but if we were out all day in the Scout are hands would feel more soggy than comparably priced models. All the insulation is what we felt kept us dryer rather than the actual shell fabric. We thought these were a little less water resistant than the similarly priced Columbia Air Chamber, but were more water resistant than the FlyLow Tough Guy.

Warmth and Breathability

The Scout was above average in warmth among all of the gloves we tested during our side-by-side comparisons. The Scout uses 140 grams of insulation on the palm and 280 grams on insulation on the back of the hand. In addition to the insulation in the shell it also uses a touch screen sensitive liner glove. All this made it the warmest product we tested under $100 and was a little warmer than even our OutdoorGearLab Editors' Choice, the Arc'teryx Alpha SV Glove or the Black Diamond Rebel. It wasn't however warmer than the other double gloves we tested like the Hestra Heli or the Black Diamond Guide. We thought most resort skiers and snowboarders could use them down to around 5-10F and maybe a little lower depending on conditions and the person.

Durability

This is the main category where the DaKine Scout really faltered. It was likely the least durable model in our whole review. The palm material is made of a material DaKine calls Rubbertec and while it is fairly grippy, it isn't that tough. We also thought the the inner liner in the Scout was the least durable in terms of both material and stitching of all the double layer models we tested. We didn't think the Scout was near as tough as our OutdoorGearLab Best Buy award winner, the Outdoor Research Southback. We think the Scout is good for the occasional skier or snowboarder or good for folks who only go a dozen or so times a season.

Features and Ease of Use

The touch screen sensitive liner is a great idea, but you still have to take your shells off. We found ourselves just taking the whole glove off half the time to answer phone calls, update our status or change songs. If you like the touch screen but don't want to take your shells off, consider the the OR Northback Sensor which features a touch screen sensitive thumb and index finger on the outside of the shell.

Value and The Bottom Line

A decent product that is above average in warmth for someone who doesn't want to spend more than $50. If warmth isn't as big a deal for you, for a similar price we would choose the Columbia Air Chamber because of superior water resistance and durability. If you are willing to spend an extra $35 then we would recommend our OutdoorGearLab Best Buy award winner, the Outdoor Research Southback because it's even more dexterous, water resistant and durable and has nice features.

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