In 2025, 10 infantry soldiers from the National Guard of Ukraine were equipped with DRYE liners during active operations. What followed was a structured questionnaire — six questions, signed by the Corps Chaplain. This is the unedited data.
The test was not designed to be a clinical study. It was designed to answer a practical question: does a moisture-routing glove liner change anything that matters to a soldier in the field? Grip. Warmth. Weapon handling. Skin condition.
The soldiers were from the 2nd Corps, "Khartiya" unit. They wore DRYE liners inside their standard-issue tactical gloves during operations. The questionnaire was completed collectively and signed by the Chaplain of 2nd Corps.
The results
Six questions. Each with a structured response scale. Here is every answer.
| Question | Result |
|---|---|
|
Q1 — Warmth Did the liner affect warmth inside the glove? |
9/10 "Significantly better" · 1/10 "Slightly better" |
|
Q2 — Grip Did grip quality change? |
Majority: improved "Slightly better" — consistent across respondents |
|
Q3 — Weapon precision Did handling or precision change? |
9/10 "Improved" · 1/10 "No change" |
|
Q4 — Dryness inside glove How dry did the hand remain? |
All respondents: "Partially dry" — moisture reduced but not eliminated |
|
Q5 — Skin damage Was there less skin damage than normal? |
10/10 — Yes |
|
Q6 — Would use in combat Would you use DRYE liners in active combat? |
10/10 — Yes |
What this test measures — and what it doesn't
This is a structured field observation with n=10. It is not a randomised controlled trial. There is no control group, no blinding, no laboratory measurement of moisture levels. Anyone reviewing this as clinical evidence should treat it accordingly.
What it does measure is operational relevance. These are soldiers in conditions that are about as far from a lab as it gets. Prolonged wear, cold temperatures, continuous physical load. The question was never "does DRYE perform in a sterile environment" — it was "does it change anything that matters when conditions are worst."
The same mechanism has been observed across professional environments — automotive mechanics in Gothenburg, mine workers in Kiruna, and athletes in sealed gloves. Different contexts, identical physics.
"The only environment where 'partially dry' is the worst outcome reported — is also the environment where cotton saturates completely within the first hour."
Field conditions contextOn Q4: "Partially dry"
This result requires honest framing. All 10 soldiers reported hands that were "partially dry" — not completely dry. That is the accurate result and we will not present it otherwise.
What it means in context: DRYE routes moisture away from the skin continuously. In high-intensity conditions with extended wear, some moisture accumulation still occurs. The liner does not eliminate moisture — it prevents saturation. There is no absorption ceiling, but there is an upper limit to any single material's routing capacity under extreme conditions.
The comparison that matters: standard cotton liners or bare gloves in the same conditions would show complete saturation well within the test period. "Partially dry" represents a structural improvement over any absorbing alternative — but it is not a claim of "completely dry hands."
Source: Structured questionnaire, National Guard of Ukraine, 2nd Corps ("Khartiya"). Completed and signed by the Chaplain of 2nd Corps, 2025.
Why moisture matters in tactical gloves
The mechanism is the same regardless of context — whether a mechanic, a surgeon, or an infantry soldier. Moisture trapped against the skin in an occlusive environment creates three compounding problems: reduced dexterity from skin swelling, increased bacterial load, and surface breakdown that progresses from irritation to open damage.
In a work context, that means lost productivity and dermatitis claims. In a tactical context, it means degraded precision, increased risk of injury, and — over extended operations — hands that no longer function at full capacity. The dermatological basis for this is well-documented in research on glove occlusion and skin barrier function.
Provenance and verification
The questionnaire was conducted in 2025 with 10 soldiers from the 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. The completed questionnaire was signed personally by the Chaplain of 2nd Corps. DRYE holds the original signed document.
This is not peer-reviewed research. It is a documented field observation from a verified unit. We present it as exactly that — not more, not less.
For verification inquiries, contact wilhelm.backstrom@drye.se. The signed questionnaire is available on request to journalists, procurement officers, and institutional buyers.
