The Sabre gloves were designed for big mountain freeride skiing and snowboarding, but we can see them appealing to everyone from gnarly freeriders to recreational piste skiers.
The outer material is a mixture of stretchy nylon, with leather on the palm and fingers for extra durability. Internally the gloves benefit from a mix of Primaloft silver and Primaloft Gold Eco with grip control, this is mapped depending on the area of the glove and therefore the need for warmth Vs the need for dexterity.
A slither of elastic keeps the glove snug against the wrist and a velcro closure gives you that extra bit of protection, whether you're wearing the gloves over or under your jacket. The cuffs have been very well shaped and allow for more or less unrestricted freedom of movement. The combination of these three things along with the fairly hefty synthetic insulation makes the Sabre a particularly warm and cosy glove to wear.
The Gore-Tex Active waterproof membrane, the most breathable in Gore-Tex's range, works well in conjunction with the Sabre's breathable Primaloft insulation and the highly breathable Fortius outer material. All this means that, although these gloves are toasty warm they don't smell like a well-aged reblochon cheese at the end of a weeks skiing.
Finger dexterity is better than most, especially considering the level of insulation, so clumsy fumbling is kept to a minimum.
Far from being a backcountry specific item, we think the Sabre gloves are some of the best all-round winter sports gloves that have graced our palms, and although not cheap at £140, they do represent good value for money.
