Zpacks Vertice Rain Mitts Review

Overview

The Vertice Rain Mitts are a pair of waterproof-breathable shell mittens built from the same 7-denier fabric Zpacks uses in its Vertice rain jacket and pants. They are meant to go over a thin fleece or knit liner glove, turning it into a three-season hand system for about the weight of a few tent stakes. The trade-off is durability: the fabric is among the thinnest used in any rain gear, and it costs $69.95.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight (pair)	28 g (1.0 oz)
Fabric	1.50 oz/sqyd Vertice waterproof-breathable, 3-layer, 7D ripstop nylon
Water repellency	C6 DWR (PFAS-free)
Seams	Fully taped
Wrist closure	Elastic wrist band with a clip to join the pair or hang them to dry
Fit	Ergonomic hand and thumb shaping; long cuff to sit under jacket sleeves
Intended use	Three-season rain and cold protection over liner gloves
Price	$69.95

Performance

Weather protection. The selling point is the combination of a true waterproof-breathable membrane and factory seam tape. In a roundup of ultralight rain mittens, Adventure Alan singled out the Vertice as the only pair in the roughly one-ounce class with factory-taped seams, an edge over mitts that rely on hand-applied sealant, which tends to wear away sooner than tape. Zpacks’ own customer feedback describes a first outing in a snow-and-rain mix with hands that stayed warm and dry while holding trekking poles.

Breathability. Most rain mitts turn into a sauna once the hands start working. The Vertice fabric is the exception. Adventure Alan’s reviewers rate its breathability at more than three times that of Gore-Tex, and Zpacks says the material keeps hands comfortable rather than clammy. On a climb in drizzle, where hands are pumping poles and generating heat, that difference shows up as less sweat inside the liner and less wet fleece when the mitts come off.

Warmth. The mitts have no insulation of their own. What they provide is a wind and water barrier, which is most of what a wet liner glove needs. Reviewers recommend pairing them with a basic fleece liner for a complete three-season system. Cold-weather hikers should treat them as a shell layer rather than a warm mitten.

Fit and design. The shaping around the hand and thumb is ergonomic, and the cuffs are long enough that jacket sleeves can overlap the wrists. Elastic wrist bands exit at the palm, which makes left and right easy to tell apart, and a clip lets the pair be joined or hung from a pack strap to dry. Backpacking Light’s rain mitt guide, which tested a medium, noted a long gauntlet and a drawcord closure but no palm reinforcement.

Durability. This is where the Vertice demands care. Adventure Alan calls the 7D fabric about as thin as it gets and flags it as the main drawback, advising against rubbing the mitts hard on trekking pole straps for hours at a time and against handling rough objects while wearing them. Zpacks claims the material holds up to trekking pole wear, and owners report decent results with normal use, but anyone who scrambles, bushwhacks or grabs branches in them will see the limits of a 7D fabric. Adventure Alan’s verdict: these are ideal mitts to carry by default, but a sustained wet trip calls for something burlier.

Weight. Zpacks lists the mitts at 21 g, while independent testers put a pair closer to 23 g (Backpacking Light) or 1.0 oz (Adventure Alan). Either way they sit at the bottom of the weight chart, comparable to the Enlightened Equipment Visp mitts, which list at about 0.7 oz and sell for about $10 less.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Roughly an ounce for the pair
• Very high breathability for a waterproof mitt
• Fully taped seams from the factory
• Long cuffs that tuck under jacket sleeves
• Clip-together wrist bands make drying and storage easy
• PFAS-free C6 DWR treatment

Cons

• 7D fabric is delicate around trekking pole straps, rocks and brush
• No palm reinforcement
• No insulation, so a liner glove is required for warmth
• $69.95 is a lot for an ounce of fabric
• A poor choice as the only handwear on a long, wet trip

Who Should Buy This

Weight-focused three-season hikers who already carry a jacket and a pair of liner gloves, and who want a dedicated rain layer for their hands that will not make them sweat. It suits thru-hikers and fastpackers who treat the mitts as emergency-and-cold-morning gear, and anyone building a base weight in the single digits. Hikers who spend long days in sustained rain, scramble over abrasive rock, or want something they can use hard without thinking about it should look at a heavier, sturdier shell mitt. Shoppers who want a similar profile for less money can look at the Enlightened Equipment Visp mitts, though they lack factory seam taping.

Verdict

The Zpacks Vertice Rain Mitts do what an ultralight rain mitt should: block wind and wet at a weight that is easy to ignore in a pack, and they breathe better than most. Handle them with care and they are a worthwhile piece of kit for ultralight three-season hiking. Buyers who expect to abuse them should plan for a shorter service life or choose a tougher fabric.