Steph Wetherell shares her verdict on the Outdoor Research Backstop Sensor Windpro gloves after rigours testing in wet weather.
The Outdoor Research Backstop Sensor Windpro fleece gloves are lightweight but yet pretty warm, and I found they were well suited to putting on when I was on a windy ridge or having a rest on colder days.
Stepth Wetherell’s verdict
These are a warm and practical glove, but best suited for people with long fingers in proportion to their palm size.- warm for the weight
- very long fingers
| Quick specs |
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| Price: $45 | £45 (available from Outdoor Research) Weight: 56g (pair, womens large) Materials: 3L Polartec Wind ProTM Fleece, 97% Polyester 3% Spandex Features: Touchscreen leather thumb compatible, tapered wrist Sizes: Women: S, M, L Men: S, M, L, XL Men’s version: Yes www.outdoorresearch.com |
I found them too warm to wear when moving, but if you feel the cold in your hands, they would suit well. They have a fairly long wrist that has some light elastic to cinch in snugly, and a clip to keep the pair together when not being worn. There is light grips on three fingers and on the palm, meaning they were comfortable and practical to use with poles, and the fabric is tough and durable, showing very little wear after a few months of use. The tip of the thumb and first finger is touchscreen compatible, and I found this functionality very responsive. The fingertips are made of goat leather, making them strong and hardwearing, but it’s worth being aware of this if you are not someone who wears leather.
However, the big issue for me with these gloves is the fit. I measured my hand and according to my hand circumference, opted for the women’s large (equivalent to the men’s medium). The gloves were a great fit around my palm and I have good range of motion in my hand when wearing them. All the fingers and the thumb are half an inch too long on me, which makes them difficult to use and stopped me being able to use features like the touchscreen compatible tips easily. These are a warm and practical glove, but best suited for people with long fingers in proportion to their palm size.
How we tested
Steph tested these gloves across South Wales and Scotland, in all weathers and especially rain! She has a women’s size large or unisex medium hands and is prone to cold hands when standing around but hot hands when moving. She also usually walks using trekking poles.
This review was first published in the November 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors magazine. Compare this with other models in our guide to the best hiking gloves.
