Feb23

Chaval Heated Ski Gloves

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Chaval Heated Ski Gloves
  • Sumo

The Chaval heated ski gloves came just in time.  We were days away from our ski weekend in Stowe,Vermont where temperatures had been hovering below zero each time we checked all week.  We were getting anxious because in the past few years my husband has developed Raynaud’s in his fingers.  Raynaud’s is a painful cold induced condition that looks a lot like frostbite, where his fingertips turn white, and it alternately causes pain or numbness.  It is tough to avoid in New England winter conditions, and can really put a damper on a family ski trip for him. He has been searching for heated ski gloves for the past few years since developing Raynaud’s, but heated ski gloves are pricey, and he had researched many pairs with poor to mixed reviews that did not seem worth the investment.  This year a new product on the market, with a new technology, caught his eye.

The Chaval heated ski gloves use alphaHEAT™ technology made up of flat, flexible, conductive traces to transmit power inside the glove, similar to technology used in cell phones and computer chips.  They promised to last three times longer than other heated ski gloves and to automatically adjust to the warmth needed throughout the day.  We decided they sounded like they would be worth a try, and he had the perfect opportunity to test them out during our frigid January ski weekend in Stowe, VT. The gloves arrived a few days before we left, and upon opening the box we thought the weatherproof all leather exterior resembled chic motorcycle gloves.  The insides are lined with a soft moisture wicking microfiber fleece.  We were impressed with the handsome look to them,  but interested to see if their performance would match up.  We were really hoping they would pass the test.  We love to ski as a family, but my husband can only last so long out in the cold before it becomes too uncomfortable for him to bear.  In Stowe the temperature hovered at zero throughout the weekend, and got down to as low as -20 Fahrenheit at the top of the mountain.

Base of the Stowe Gondola mid-day

This was probably the coldest ski weekend we have ever had as a family and there is no way he would have been able to withstand the cold if he had not had the Chaval gloves on during those ski days.  True to their word the power lasted a good 5 hours of skiing and the heating elements must have had to work overtime to regulate the temperature in such severe temperatures.  Unlike other heated gloves he has tried they never became hot, but rather maintained a mild warm temperature, which kept his hands from getting cold.   The gloves allowed him a full day of skiing with his family that would have been impossible for him without them. Because the heating elements are located along the backside of the fingers he benefitted from the snug fit that kept good contact with the gloves for maximum warmth. We loved that there is no need for a battery change on these gloves; he just plugged them in and charged them overnight, and was ready to face another below zero day of skiing again in the morning.

We have a friend who lives in Alaska who once told us that there is no such thing as weather that’s too cold, just gear that is not warm enough.  That sentiment fits in with Chaval’s slogan of “Conquer The Cold“, and with these gloves my husband has found his gear.   Overall we’d give them  a (warm) thumbs up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*We received a discount on our purchase of  a pair of Chaval gloves in exchange for this review. As always all opinions are honest and my own (and in this case my husband’s), and are never swayed by outside influences. 

 

 

17 Responses

  1. Thanks for sharing this! I’ve had Raynauds since I was sixteen and it definitely puts a damper on things. I love winter outdoor sports and activities, but can only manage for a few minutes.

    • Sheri,

      My husband is the same way, so for him to be able to ski in that bitter cold for five hours, it was a real testament to how well they worked.

      • Do the gloves keep you warm for at least 4 hrs? When the batteries wear how do you replace them? Also are they not so bulky that you could shovel snow with them. I work at a school and shovel snow all winter for 4 yrs at a time. How would they be for that?
        Joe

      • Hi Joe, Yes, we were in below zero conditions on an East Coast mountain and the batteries lasted for four hours of skiing. They seemed to be very flexible so I’d think good for shoveling, and to recharge you just plug the gloves right in to the charger.

  2. “there is no such thing as weather that’s too cold, just gear that is not warm enough.” Love this and I realize, in the gear department, I’m completely unprepared for the cold! I can face a short jaunt to build a snowman but that’s about it. These gloves sound heavenly!

    • I know, Carla I love that saying too! As you can see in the picture we were totally covered, so able to still enjoy skiing in that bitter weather.

  5. Pingback: Stowe

  7. I, too, have developed Raynaud’s and it has made skiing very frustrating. I bought a pair of heated mittens that worked very well (Warm Gear), but was very disappointed when a design flaw caused them to stop working after less than 1 1/2 seasons (the battery pack/wire connection was not protected well enough and it weakened and broke). Curious to hear if his gloves are still working well. Heated gloves are expensive, but I have to buy a new pair if I want to keep skiing. Really hoping to find a brand that has more longevity. Thanks for any input!

    • Since these were a new to the market product last year we are eager to see them hold up again for our next planned skit trip to Vermont in January. They are still in great shape so I would be surprised if they didn’t hold up but I’ll keep you posted!

  8. I also have Raynauds and have suffered since childhood. I have solved cold feet with Hotronics in my boots. I purchased the Cayenne from BD 2 ski seasons ago and although they worked just ok, one glove stopped working altogether. I returned them and they just sent me a new pair. I charged them up and found little warmth in the thumbs. Has your husband used the BD in comparison?

  9. I too suffer from Raynauds caused by Schleroderma. I have struggled for years with trying to enjoy outdoor activities in the cold to include skiing and running. Then I found the Chaval company through this post. I quickly ordered a pair and have to let everyone know about these gloves.

    The weekend after I received them we were “lucky” enough to have an extremely cold day on my regularly scheduled long run day. The temps were in the teens with a wind chill that brought the outside temp down to single digits. We took my hand temp (with a temple thermometer) and they were about 86 deg (F) – I am always a little chilly in our house. I then put on my gloves and left for my 1 hr 15 min run. The easy to use buttons makes turning the gloves on a snap, and the sensors inside self regulate depending on how cold your fingers are. The gloves started out noticeable warm to get my fingers up to a normal temp and them maintained that temp throughout my run. It was the first time that I lost feeling in my feet but not my fingers! When I returned from my run about an hour and 15 minutes later, we took my finger temp and discovered that they were a perfect 97 deg (F)!!

    These gloves are life changing for me and I can now enjoy regular activities outside that I wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise in the past. I encourage anyone with any circulatory issue to give these a try. No messing with heat settings, easy to use off and on buttons and consistent warmth that adjusts to the temperature of your hands – I didn’t think such a thing would be developed in my lifetime. The freedom I know have is awesome. They are definitely worth checking out – you won’t be sorry!