The Modern-Day Ski Glove: A Surprising Opportunity for Innovation.

Editor’s note: This is the winning essay for our 2024 Design Essay Competition. You can read the original prompt here.

As an avid skier, I often find myself spending five to seven consecutive hours on the slopes during optimal powder days at my favorite resorts. Picture this: you've just completed a thrilling ski run and now you're seated on a chairlift, feeling thoroughly exhausted. Meanwhile, large snowflakes are swirling around in a brisk 20mph wind, while the thermometer on the ski lift reads a chilly five degrees Fahrenheit. Naturally, your nose starts running incessantly, adding to the discomfort of trying to conserve warmth. The mere thought of removing your gloves in the biting wind to rummage through your coat pocket for a tissue feels unbearable, especially when it becomes a frequent occurrence, happening for the tenth time that day.

This scenario is not an exaggeration; it's a regular experience of mine throughout the winter season. In the mountainous regions, temperatures drop drastically, and within minutes, one's face feels like an unsanitary version of Niagara Falls. Many people have devised their own remedies for this nuisance. Some opt for ski masks, which absorb moisture into the fabric. Personally, I find this very unhygienic. Alternatively, certain ski gloves are crafted from absorbent materials, allowing for a quick swipe of the thumb to clear the nose. However, after repeated use, the stitching and coarse texture can feel abrasive against the skin, not to mention the discomfort of saturating one's gloves with nasal discharge. Additional market research and online forums have revealed a wide variety of unique solutions in addition, ranging from nasal spray to allergy meds [1,2]. While many have found effectiveness in their respective methods, the pain persists for many to have an effective solution to this issue. In contrast, I've adopted a different common approach: always carry tissues. While it may not seem a nuisance for sporadic use, in cold and windy conditions, the need to blow one's nose can arise over two dozen times in a day. Given the bulkiness of ski gloves, each instance requires removing them and exposing one's hands to the freezing air just to retrieve a tissue from a pocket. At this juncture, what might initially seem like a minor annoyance evolves into a significant—and valid—market painpoint.

This is a painpoint I have given a considerable amount of thought to. Utilizing my background as a designer and engineer, I've explored numerous avenues to tackle this issue effectively. Ultimately, I'm convinced that an innovative ski glove design offers the solution for maintaining nasal hygiene during cold winter outings. Envisioned as a cutting-edge solution, my idea entails incorporating a specialized compartment into the backhand of the ski glove. This compartment would feature an easily accessible flip-open mechanism, revealing a soft, absorbent, and replaceable fabric specifically designed for nasal care.

This fundamental idea is founded upon the following key requirements, based on the current experience of skiers and snowboarders:

• The skier must be able to quickly and easily wipe his nose in cold conditions [2]

• The design must provide a sanitary way to do so

• The design must be comfortable to wipe with after frequent use

• It must be simple to access

Each of these elements constitutes a crucial component of the enhanced ski glove design. Consider the illustration below: a plastic compartment positioned on the back of the hand, housing a small 1” x 2” cushion crafted from an exceptionally soft fabric, which naturally extends approximately 0.5” when uncompressed. The compressive ability of the cushion allows the user to clean their face more effectively. When the need to wipe one's nose arises, the skier can effortlessly flip open the tab using their other hand, exposing the cushion for quick nasal care. The lid of the compartment features a prominent lip for easy grip, along with a simple snap mechanism to secure the lid shut upon closure, eliminating the inconvenience of glove removal for each nose wipe. The cushion, functioning as a type of cartridge, seamlessly slides into and out of the housing compartment, making for easy maintenance by enabling cartridge washing between ski sessions. The location of the compartment itself is strategically located on the back of the glove—a location that is readily-accessible but not functionally utilized. Moreover, because people are already accustomed to wiping their nose with their thumb or glove, this innovative design presents a simple transition to a more hygienic alternative, rather than a drastic change. In essence, it is a straightforward yet highly effective solution that can be easily integrated into most ski gloves. And having learned from my experience, the simplest designs often prove to be the most effective.

Sketch by Bradon Thomason

Sketch by Bradon Thomason

A design such as this would be a groundbreaking solution to the everyday challenge encountered in my favorite sport. However, to address this painpoint universally, the next phase would be to get this design into the hands of other skiers. This requires building prototypes and seeking feedback to refine and optimize the design, so that it may satisfy the painpoint in the most effective way. One of the exciting qualities of the design is the ease by which it may be tested. Thanks to its simplicity, rudimentary prototypes can be developed using 3D printing technology and basic sewing skills. It would require minimal work to develop initial design specification, print, and assemble. Subsequently, the gloves can be introduced to ski enthusiasts on the slopes, inviting them to trial and provide feedback. While I am confident in the effectiveness of this simple design, these insights may prompt further innovative design decisions. In the end, you have a novel concept: a modern-day ski glove that has been engineered and enhanced to offer a straightforward solution to a common yet significant challenge experienced by many skiers and snowboarders.

References

1. “Anyone Else Get Runny Noses? How Do You Manage?” 2011. October 13, 2011. https://www.reddit.com/r/snowboarding/comments/lanff/anyone_else_get_runny_noses_how_do_you_manage/.

2. krypton22. 2023. “Skier’s Nose.” January 29, 2023. https://www.reddit.com/r/skiing/comments/10oe49s/skiers_nose/#:~:text=Ipratropium%20Nasal%20Spray%20will%20dry.