At first glance I noticed that these gloves are seriously steezy. Not only do the AX-30’s look awesome, the packaging/tag is also quite practical - "Keep as Ice Scraper." Who doesn't need an extra ice scraper? Upon testing this “ice scraper” is not as efficient as the real deal, but great in a pinch.
The Swany women's AX-30 "The Jam" has a colorful design that includes squares, circles and stars on the fingertips. If Michael Jackson had a signature ski glove, these would be it. As far as sizing goes, I was quite surprised that I needed a medium. Despite being Caucasian, I have the hands of a small Asian women and typically wear a small in gloves.
The palm and all the fingers have a patterned texture that adds some grip to the glove. This feature prevents slippage and is extremely helpful for carrying your skis, clinging to a rope tow or chopping wood. “The Jam” allows for great dexterity; you can open a water bottle and press the unlock bottom on a key fob without de-gloving. I still rock a vintage cell phone, so I can answer calls with my gloves on. Unfortunately the same is not true with an iPhone. My high tech friends allowed me to test the AX-30 on their fancy iPhones, and I regret to inform you that I had no luck answering calls or picking out tunes.
The AX-30 also has a pull strap at the wrist that allows you to easily pull on your gloves, and a solid Velcro strap to shut out the cold air and snow. The pointer finger has a softer fabric, different that the other fingers and is great for giving your wet goggles a quick swipe without scratching your lens. While these gloves wouldn't be my choice for days with negative temperatures, they are the perfect glove for moderate temperatures and spring shredding. The bottom line is “The Jam” will keep you warm and looking hot.
