cold weather gloves/mittens

valcas1

valcas1

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
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So as it gets colder hear in the NE I started to think about cold hands and glove/mittens. I have plenty of different job specific hand coverings but was wondering what everyone wears while out in the woods.

Does anybody have or wear beaver or natural fur mittens? I am contemplating picking up a pair of surplus aviator mittens or actually buying some beaver pelts and making my own.

Give me some ideas for extreme cold weather hand covering.

Thanks Paul
 
I wear insulated leather gloves on top of Patagonia thermal inserts. The leather helps with the wind and the double layer of insulation keeps me warm while still allowing me to use my fingers. This works well for me when I'm hiking or snowshoeing.

All the best,

- Mike
 
If I'm limited in the weight/bulk I can carry, I like the so-called glo-mitts. They are the models with a mitten-like cover that folds over fingers that are normally half glove covered. When you want to do detail work with bare fingers, you fold back the mitten portion (which velcros to the back of your hand and stays out of the way). When your fingers are colder, you fold it forward to cover them.

I've used glo-mitts made out of a highly water-resistant fleece with Thinsulate insulation when elk hunting in Montana during Nov. They worked OK down to about ten below zero. On the preceding day my hands were getting a bit cold with regular gloves.

I like the versatility of the glo-mitts when I don't want to carry both light and heavy gloves/mittens.

DancesWithKnives
 
I have these big ol' snowboarding gloves that come up to my elbows - crap

I have been using cowhide leather work gloves over wool full finger liners on all my outings cold enough for gloves and they are the cheapest awesomest set up i've used.
 
I've got some thinsulate-lined wool mittens with deerskin (I think) palms. I don't know the maker but they are nice and toasty.
 
I used to borrow a pair of thick rabbit fur (fur on the INSIDE of the glove) gloves, the inuit style with no thumbs and a keeper cord that went thru you jacket arms) , (basically a big pouch you put your hand into). WARM, sometimes too warm, but i always had wamr hands no matter how cold it got while snow shoeing in winter temps of -20 and lower.
 
+1 on the glo-mitts. I would not use anything different. I have a couple different pairs for different tasks. Just some regular thinsulate for outside. and a pair of neoprene palmed for fishing / wetter activities.

One word of advice, think twice about them if they do not have a way to get your thumb out. It is VERY frustrating for me to try and do something with my fingers and then have my thumb covered up.

I have also found that glo-mitts are often warmer than gloves because it focuses the heat from your hand better rather than having your fingers out in the elements individually. Another thing I will do if it is exceptionally cold is to use some hot hands and put them in my gloves on the top of my hand. Works wonders.

Also, I do live in Louisiana...so my frame of reference is a little skewed from real cold, but regardless I think glo-mits are the way to go.

BillyP
 
I have some Minnesota Mitts made of fleece; not bad at all if it's not bitterly cold (like tonight-it is -11 right now). I also have some leather mitts with wool inserts-these bad boys are warm!
 
I have a 2 pair of Pearl Izumi Lobster gloves. they are a nice compromise between gloves and mittens for snowshoeing or cross county skiing when it is really cold and windy.
One pair is large enough that I can put a thin liner glove inside for extra warmth.
 
I would recommend carrying two or three choices...gloves and mitts are lightweight and don't take much space. Right now, I use a pair of Thinsulate Supreme ski glove/gauntlets for extreme cold; also leather mitten shells with military-style wool glove liners; and a pair of knit Wells Lamont gloves with latex coating for real positive grip. One of my local mil-surp stores has some really serious looking Air Force cold weather gauntlets that I would like to buy, but they are really bulky...no nose picking there :D
 
Coldwood,

Those Air Force mittens are the ones I am eyeing. They have the heavy wool liners and I think that with a keeper cord and a pair of wool liners it will make for a good combo.
 
when it is cold, one looses dexterity to some degree. Mittens are generally warmer than gloves and a big pair of mitts with glove liners/good gloves is pretty good and allows one to shed an out layer for finer work when necessary.

Outside activity varies by user, so ymmv, but I've been on overnights in the the double digit negatives with OR goretex shell mits and expedition liners and that combo is tough to beat. I now use some heavy duty primaloft gloves with the or shells and haven't had any problems in the negatives. Again, ymmv, but I'm a big fan of layers on my body or hands.
 
The old leather Choppers Mits with the Rag Wool liners are about the only thing that ever kept my hands warm. I wore them all the time when we chop holes in the ice on the stock dams to water the cows. The wool kept your hands warm and the leather kept the liners dry.
 
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