Mittens for Skiing Kids: Swany Jetter, X-Change and Epic Junior

If your kids are serious about skiing and riding, or spend lots of time in wet, snowy conditions, they are going to need serious mittens and gloves.

Like Hestra (reviewed yesterday), Swany is a “go-to” choice for skiers and riders.  The company was founded in the 1800’s near Gloversville, New York, a hamlet where 90% of the gloves made in the United States were manufactured until 1950. Swany made its name, early on, purveying elegant handwear to the beaver hatted swells of New York City. Today, Swany is a top choice for skiers and riders, of all sizes, and is a supplier to PSIA/AASI.

Swany Jetter Junior Mittens

BEST FOR: Swany Jetter Junior mittens are a good choice for recreational skiers and riders who aren’t out in super-cold weather or looking for a heavy-duty technical product.

WHAT THEY ARE: With a zipper that runs around the top, the Jetter Junior is a mitten that quickly lets your fingers out giving you “the warmth of a mitt and the flexibility of a glove” (as Swany puts it).

FEATURES I LOVE: The Jetter Junior, is a good value at $45. Insulated front and back, the sewn-in liner is soft and made of Swany Dry fabric which wicks dampness away. The palm is leather and other features include a taped zipper to keep moisture out and a wrist strap to tighten the mitten down. Of course, the best feature is the ability to get your fingers out in the open.

A BIT MORE INFO: I have the Women’s Toaster Softy, which at $52 is one of the least expensive mittens/gloves in the Swany line. While this mitten is not my warmest mitten, it’s a great choice on chilly, but not frigid ski days. I really like being able to free my fingers, without exposing them to the cold. 

HOW TO GET THEM:  The Jetter Junior comes in solid black, black and royal blue (which I’m giving away), white and magenta or trimmed with one of three cute plaids! Sizes fit ages 5-12 years of age. You can find them at many retailers, or here, at the Swany website.

Epic Junior Glove

BEST FOR: This is a serious glove for junior ski racers.

WHAT THEY ARE: At $115, this is most expensive junior glove made by Swany and is a junior version of the men’s high-performance Epic glove.

FEATURES I LOVE: The outer construction is 100% leather for warmth and water resistance. The fingers are pre-curved, the palm is pebbled to help grip poles and the knuckles are padded to provide protection against racing gates (or maybe for boxing with your brother). A velcro wrist strap keeps snow out, while a leash keeps loss and misplacings to a minimum.

A BIT MORE INFO: As with any all-leather mitten or glove, the Epic Junior requires a bit of special care: the outside should be cleaned with a leather cleaner and then lightly sprayed with silicone.  You can’t just throw these in the wash.

HOW TO GET THEM: The Epic Junior comes in white, black, white and black (which is up for giveaway), red and white and purple and white. Sizes fit ages 5-12 years of age.

X-Change Junior Mitt

BEST FOR: Kids who like mittens and need a tough, durable mitt that will hold up over a long season, or seasons.

WHAT THEY ARE: The X-Change Junior mitten is a nice mix of the features found in both the Jetter Junior and the Epic Junior.

FEATURES I LOVE: First, it’s a mitten, and I think mittens are warmest. Secondly, I like the pre-curved construction which is a mix of soft-shell and leather. The glove-shaped liner is made of Swany Dry material. My favorite feature however, is the barrel lock cuff which is water-resistant. The cuff tightens down with a bungee to keep the snow out. There is also a wrist leash.

A BIT MORE INFO: Since there is no exterior zipper, you can’t let the fingers out like you can with the Jetter Junior and there is very little room for hand warmers inside the mitten. There is a very small exterior zipper pocket, into which you might be able to stuff a hand warmer. This pocket needs to be bigger to be really useful.

HOW TO GET THEM: Available in sizes from 5-12 years, the X-Change Junior, which retails for $60.00, comes in a multitude of colors. There is something to match every ski outfit!

The Upshot

When it comes to well-made mittens and gloves for junior skiers and riders, each of these models will serve you well.

Because we decided to give these mittens and gloves away to readers, I haven’t taken them outside or into the elements. However, I have no doubt that they are good gloves and mittens and a good value, too.

If you find yourself out on very cold days, the Jetter Junior, while the least beefy and technical in its construction, will most easily accommodate hand warmers.

Giveaway

As mentioned above, I am giving away all three review models from Swany! All of them are youth size medium (ages 7-8). I can fit my women’s large hand into the Jetter Junior and it was just about 1 inch short. The X-Change Junior and Epic Junior fit more snuggly.

To enter:

1.  Leave a comment. Since I will have separate drawings for each mitten or glove, please put “all” in the comment if you want to be entered for a chance at all three. Otherwise, please tell me which one (or two) for which you are entering.

2.  Follow the Brave Ski Mom on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google+, and let me know.

One winner will be randomly chosen for each product from all eligible entries on Wednesday, February 27th. Open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck!

Related Posts: 

• How to Keep Your Kid’s Hands Warm This Winter, October 10, 2011.
• Warm Kids are Happy Kids (Especially When Skiing), November 28, 2012.
• Mittens for Skiing Kids: Reviews and Recommendations (Today, Hestra), February 18, 2013.

Coming this Week: 

• Mittens for Skiing Kids: Review of Molo Mittens, February 20, 2013.
• Mittens for Skiing Kids:  Review of Snowstoppers and Mittenhugs, February 21, 2013.

To facilitate this post, I received three pairs of mittens and gloves from Swany to review. I am giving away each of these review models. As always, all opinions are my own and are exactly what I would tell my family and friends. 

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to David, winner of the X-Change Mitt, Gretchen, winner of the Epic Glove and Julia, winner of the Jetter Junior Mitt!

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