MSRP: $70 | AUCLAIRGLOVES.COM
Since 1945, the makers at Auclair have been singularly focused on creating gloves and mittens to help winter sports enthusiasts better enjoy time spent in the mountains. With the introduction of the all-new Luv U gloves, available in men’s and women’s styles, these Canucks are intertwining their proud Canadian heritage alongside a slew of technical features in a glove that’s made specifically for freeriding—and flipping your friends “The Bird.”
The gloves are built with a sublimated, waterproofed polyester camouflage backing and cowhide leather accents on the fingers and palm. In the liner, a layer of thin, lightweight PrimaLoft Silver insulation keeps your digits warm without inhibiting dexterity while a Hypora membrane helps regulate moisture and the short, elastic cuff tucks easily under a jacket sleeve.
The real story behind these gloves, however, begins with the embroidered heart on each middle finger. Auclair’s Vice President of Product Creation and Innovation, Philippe Koyess, explains that the inspiration for the glove actually came from a trip to the Retallack Lodge in British Columbia for FREESKIER’s annual Apparel Test. Its here that a cat-driver and lowkey industry legend, Karl “The Gnarl” Guderyan is renowned for looking skiers straight in the eye, sticking up his middle digit and saying: “It means I love you!”
“I noticed a lot of the guys were giving each other ‘the finger’ with a big smile on their face. I didn’t think too much of it at first—that’s something a lot of good friends do, friendship by insult. Thinking about my next trip, I wanted to create something special and thought that making a fun glove with a heart on the middle finger would add even more love to the gesture. That’s how the Luv U Man and Luv U Girl were created—all in good fun!”
On each thumb, Auclair’s designers have also included a stitched Maple Leaf—the country’s hallmark symbol—so you can give a thumbs up (or two!) to your friends north of the border. “We came up with the Maple Leaf on the thumb as a way to express our pride in our Canadian heritage,” says Koyess. And the brand is encouraging folks to share “thumbs up moments” this winter; if you share a photo and location with #AroundTheWorldInAuclair, they’ll put you on a digitized map that shows where in the world the Auclair community is skiing.