It's not unusual for Canadian brand Arc'teryx to go their own way when it comes to designing top-drawer outdoor gear, and the Lithic glove is no exception. Many gloves at this top end of the market and price range feel duty-bound to toughen their gloves with real leather. Despite being a lovely material to literally get to grips with, leather will eventually soak up water. This adds weight and even more importantly loses heat.
Instead, the Lithic uses tough Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) reinforcements which are laminated to the Gore-tex palm and fintertips. An even more breathable grade of Gore-tex is used for the backs of the gloves, and three different grades of PrimaLoft insulation are used in different parts of the glove for warmth, as well as taped seams to keep water out.
The result of this picky distribution of materials and insulation means that the Lithic gloves can be left on for fiddly jobs that you would normally have to take more bulky gloves off to perform. If you do have to slip one off, there are removable leashes to stop you losing them. In terms of insulation, the Lithics will provide enough warmth for pretty much any day on the snow, short of sub -20C Arctic conditions.
