Mittens, Fingerless, or the Conductive classic-style glove? These three options of brushtail possum gloves from Zpacks have a lot of overlap in that they’ll keep your hands warm, they’re soft and comfy, and they’re light. Yet there are key differences as well. I’ve been lucky enough to compare and contrast these three styles in Southeast Alaska, famously a wet and chilly place. As a result, my hands have been happier on my outdoor adventures, and I feel that I’ve honed in on the specific niches that these three varieties of gloves are best for.
What’s a Brushtail Possum?
This special material is worth an explanation. You’ve likely heard of merino wool, with its incredible anti-odor, sweat-wicking qualities. Most of the world’s merino wool comes from New Zealand, and as it happens, I lived there for most of 2023, which is where I encountered the brushtail possum-merino wool blend for the first time.
Brushtail possums are possums native to Australia and invasive in New Zealand. There’s actually a big conservation effort in New Zealand to get rid of these possums and preserve their endemic bird populations, so there are traps scattered throughout farmland and the backcountry. Repurposing their pelts as a blend with merino wool has a dual purpose of contributing to native New Zealand species conservation as well as making these gloves extra water-resistant and warm thanks to their hollow fibers! I’ve taken these gloves out in the rain, and the way they shrug off light moisture compared to regular gloves is pretty incredible.
When to Use Your Mittens
If you ask me, mittens are the perfect call if you like to go outdoors, find a beautiful place, and simply hang out. Examples would include long periods watching something gorgeous and ephemeral happen: sunsets, sunrises, birds flying to and fro, the aurora borealis.
My favorite time wearing my Zpacks Brushtail Possum Mittens was on a night close to summer solstice here in Juneau, when my partner and I climbed Thunder Mountain in the afternoon to watch the sun set and then rise again.
We pulled an all-nighter to see how short the night would be exactly, and just meandered around a beautiful sub-alpine area. The sun set around 11 PM, the sky began to lighten again at around 3 AM, and then sunrise officially happened at 3:50! All the while, my fingers were snug and warm in my mittens, even as I held my trekking pole.
Zpacks Fingerless Brushtail Possum Gloves on the Go
When are fingerless gloves your best option? One example: you’re in the great outdoors, and you need to do something intricate with your fingers such as repairing your gear or berry picking. The added dexterity these gloves give you are just a cut above the full-finger coverage variety.
In my experience wearing these, they come up far enough on the finger to really genuinely assist with warmth, (though of course these wouldn’t be your first choice in extreme cold) and while I thought I’d reach for this pair less than the other two, that hasn’t been the case. I actually really enjoy having my fingers free to fiddle with zippers on my backpack and similar little things. They’re also great when you’re out at Baird Glacier and want to show off your chipped fingernail polish as you give a bunch of icebergs a thumbs-up.
The Reliable Standby: Conductive Gloves
If versatility is your goal, these are your go-to. If I’m not sure what I’m in for on a day hike or an overnight, I’ll grab this pair. They’re warm, they’re comfortable, and they’re reliable. Plus the fingertips on the index finger and thumb have conductive ends to allow you to use your smartphone without taking them off.
My problem with similar gloves in the past has been moisture. Rain comes, they get waterlogged, and they’re suddenly useless. If anything, they hurt more than they help at that point. That’s why the brushtail possum fur and the merino wool combination is so useful for this particular piece of gear. The added resistance to moisture and their quick-drying properties make for a beautiful synergy. Here’s my pair sitting on top of a small iceberg.
One thing about these gloves: my experience, as well as some comments, lead me to believe they run a little large. If you’re on the fence about size, opt for the smaller one. Mine keep my hands perfectly warm while allowing most normal finger functions, and I can still take pictures on my phone without taking them off. However, the excess fabric around my fingertips makes texting a little clunky. I’m sure if my hands were a little bigger and fit just right into the large, texting would be a breeze.
Conclusion: No Wrong Answers
Each distinct variety of these Zpacks Brushtail Possum Gloves fills a niche and fills it well. The wool and possum fur blend really sets them apart. There’s a reason the combination is so well-loved in New Zealand, a wet and windy place with epic alpine adventures for all. The question of which pair to get really falls to what sort of adventures you most often like to go on. And if you can’t make your mind up about that, maybe the answer lies in your aesthetic.
Matthew Kok (they/them) is a writer based out of the unceded territories of the Áak’w Kwáan on Lingít Aaní, or Juneau, Alaska. They write poetry and nonfiction and can be found on Instagram @matt.kok.
