Cold Weather Gloves Recommendation?

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Kirk_Ferentz

Joined
Feb 16, 2010
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One piece of my gear that I'd like to improve is my cold weather gloves. I guess you could always get something that is warmer (yet thinner and giving more dexterity), more breathable (yet still waterproof), etc. I have seen that you can really spend a lot of money on a pair if you'd like, so I thought I'd check with you all to see if any of you have a good handle on the various offerings on the market right now. The high prices make me think that the manufacturers are trying (or at least trying to make it look like they are trying) to make a better product with the latest and greatest materials, but I don't know what is worth the money and what isn't.

I think this is really a question for the gear heads out there who really know about the features and performance of the various offerings available as of late 2012. Most of the posts I found on here are mostly people giving accounts of how they bought some cheap gloves and they work great.

For background, I want gloves (or a liner + glove/mitten combo) that will keep my hands warm in temps down to sub-zero but still provide good dexterity and breathability if possible. I will use them when I'm using my hands for backpacking / camping tasks as well as when my finger is on the trigger when I am up in a tree stand. I've experimented with layering and I'm sure that I could make an improvement just by getting some good wool or possum liners, but I have a gift card I need to use so I can look at spending more if it is worth it.
 
Personally I like trigger mitts. Keep your fingers in the main portion until you need the extra dexterity--then pop your index finger into the finger of the mitt and you'll be almost as handy as wearing gloves with the warmth of mittens.
 
To me, gloves are never truly warm - they're always a compromise.

For excellent warmth mittens are the only way to go, but dexterity is lost with mittens. I have a pair of thin "Schoeller" fabric gloves that provide reasonable warm for a few brief moments when handling little things, but easily slide back into my mitts when my fingers start getting cold. I think they're made by "Black Diamond" and have leather finger tips and palm area. I've had these for several years and though the leather finger tips are starting to wear a little, they're still amazing.
 
I was in the same spot as you about a year ago. I didnt want any synthetic ski gloves, so after some research i went with the Hestra Falt Guide gloves. I wanted something tough and durable, so the leather construction (impregnated cowhide and goatskin on the palm) was a plus. They come with some removable thick inner liners in terry wool too, which can be swapped out with other Hestra liners, such as merino wool for less cold conditions. Ive worn them in subzero conditions and theyve held my hands warm just fine. I remove the liners during the other 3 seasons and use them as work gloves when backpacking.

Besides, i think the look fits my bushcraft/backpacking style much more than the funky ski gloves sold everywhere.

Not that it makes them the best or anything but Ray Mears wears them on his winter expeditions to Canada, Sweden, etc. But he also sells them on his site :rolleyes:

http://hestragloves.com/en/gloves/outdoor/guide-glove/

The removable terry wool liners
6558704265_2ec713b901_z.jpg


With some proper leather balm, theyre actually pretty water resistant. The leather gets quite darker though. Notice the difference between the first and second pic.
7101431103_474668b2c3_z.jpg
 
I'm pretty much a "down" guy when it comes to parkas and sleeping bags, but must admit with hand and foot wear i would be extra cautious.

Personally, i prefer heavy-duty waterproof shell mitts with a warm heavily insulated inner mitt. Though i'm currently sporting 3-layer fleece inner mitts, i'll replace them when they're worn out with a pair of good 'ol fashioned boiled wool mitts (Dachsteins to be exact). But thats just me and my idiosyncrasies. I have a pair of (now discontinued) Outdoor Research (OR) mitts (they're similar to the Mt. Baker mitts, but have a longer gauntlet like their Alti-Mitt.

I bet the mitts you linked to would be very warm, though you'd have to be careful to not get them wet....
 
fmajor007 said:
I'm pretty much a "down" guy when it comes to parkas and sleeping bags, but must admit with hand and foot wear i would be extra cautious.

Personally, i prefer heavy-duty waterproof shell mitts with a warm heavily insulated inner mitt. Though i'm currently sporting 3-layer fleece inner mitts, i'll replace them when they're worn out with a pair of good 'ol fashioned boiled wool mitts (Dachsteins to be exact). But thats just me and my idiosyncrasies. I have a pair of (now discontinued) Outdoor Research (OR) mitts (they're similar to the Mt. Baker mitts, but have a longer gauntlet like their Alti-Mitt.

I bet the mitts you linked to would be very warm, though you'd have to be careful to not get them wet....
Click to expand...

that is exactly what I used
Army suplus canvas long gauntlet mittens with a pair of good 'ol fashioned boiled wool mitts (Dachsteins)
Wool glove liners as liners in those if I need to touch metal
 
I'm a new comer to down. I just bought an REI anti-freeze down jacket because it was half off on black friday -- it is very warm but it feels delicate and feels like it would be prone to clumping over time or if it ever gets wet. Since I am often out in the sticks where things can get snagged and ripped, I'm not sure how much I will actually use it.

Anyway, is your skepticism about down gloves based on what will happen to it if it gets wet? Other reasons?

I chose down because people were saying they were the way to go for warmth, but what I choose will see work, so they can't be fragile and prone to failure if there is moisture. If they are like my coat, they would be great for keeping my hands warm but wouldn't last long if I started using them. On the other hand I guess I could just use them as shells and remove them when I'm using my hands, but the idea is to keep my hands warm when they are doing at least some work (like holding a gun or moving hiking gear). If I want to take my hands completely out of use, I can always roll them into my sleeves or put them in my pants (my last ditch).
 
I use merino wool mitts with a wind/waterproof outer mitt, light weight and very warm, I also pack a pair of outdoor research mountain gloves when more dexterity is needed. This also gives me a back up and allows one pair to dry out.
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
Anyway, is your skepticism about down gloves based on what will happen to it if it gets wet? Other reasons?

I chose down because people were saying they were the way to go for warmth, but what I choose will see work, so they can't be fragile and prone to failure if there is moisture. If they are like my coat, they would be great for keeping my hands warm but wouldn't last long if I started using them. On the other hand I guess I could just use them as shells and remove them when I'm using my hands, but the idea is to keep my hands warm when they are doing at least some work (like holding a gun or moving hiking gear). If I want to take my hands completely out of use, I can always roll them into my sleeves or put them in my pants (my last ditch).
Click to expand...

Yes, my primary concern in recommending the mittens is what happens once they're wet. Since they're constructed with a leather shell it's possible they would hold up very well for you, but that doesn't mean there will be times when they loose insulation if the down becomes moist.

I'm definitely a huge fan of down - down parkas, vests and sleeping bags (i have several of each as well as several down "comforters", yes, i like down!). However, I've never used down-insulated hand-wear (or footwear for that matter).

Nearly all of my hand-wear gets wet eventually and i'm hyper-cautious about this so if i'm backpacking i will carry a couple hand-wear items. Frozen fingers = loss of dexterity and pain (from when they begin to thaw.... ouch).
 
Kirk_Ferentz said:
For background, I want gloves (or a liner + glove/mitten combo) that will keep my hands warm in temps down to sub-zero but still provide good dexterity and breathability if possible. I will use them when I'm using my hands for backpacking / camping tasks as well as when my finger is on the trigger when I am up in a tree stand. I've experimented with layering and I'm sure that I could make an improvement just by getting some good wool or possum liners, but I have a gift card I need to use so I can look at spending more if it is worth it.
Click to expand...

Kirk, I've found that no single glove or mitten will work for all conditions and temperatures. I taught skiing for 6 seasons and have been winter camping for over 20. I've found you don't need to spend a lot of dough to keep your hands warm, but I do have a drawer full of gloves and mittens to match the conditions. That's how I spend my money.

The short version is this... Around town, I use insulated deer skin work gloves available at
many hardware stores. Kincos and Wells Lamont are 2 brands I trust. When the break in
after a year or so, I cut out the liners and use the shells in the woods over rag wool or
fleece gloves. When it gets really cold, I use leather chopper style mittens over boiled
wool mittens. (I have a link to an easy pattern if you or somebody you know can knit.) And
for super cold, windy conditions, I use double layer fleece mittens under OR brand Gore-Tex
gauntlet mittens.

Full essay is here (prompted by this thread - great question!):
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/gloves.txt

The only modification I would make if you're planning on sitting in the cold in a tree stand would be to replace traditional boiled wool mittens with shooter style mittens with a flap in the palm. Wear them under leather chopper mitts. Sew on an idiot cord to your chopper mitt shells. This will allow you take off the shells with no fear of having them drop to the ground while you take the shot.

Lastly, I don't bother with down mitts. Boiled wool (or double layer fleece) takes me down to -10F safely. After years of dancing with frostbite, -10F is my low temperature limit. All my gear starts to crap out there. In other words, if I really need down mittens, I really need to get out of the woods (or buy new boots, new sleeping bag and so on...) YMMV.
 
pinnah said:
The short version is this... Around town, I use insulated deer skin work gloves available at
many hardware stores. Kincos and Wells Lamont are 2 brands I trust. When the break in
after a year or so, I cut out the liners and use the shells in the woods over rag wool or
fleece gloves. When it gets really cold, I use leather chopper style mittens over boiled
wool mittens. (I have a link to an easy pattern if you or somebody you know can knit.) And
for super cold, windy conditions, I use double layer fleece mittens under OR brand Gore-Tex
gauntlet mittens.
Click to expand...

Pretty much the same here...

Cool-to-cold weather: fleece gloves with rubber grippy dots.
Cold weather: Fleece hunting mittens that fold back to expose the fingers, or elk skin chopper mitts with wool mittens underneath.
Really cold weather: those same fold-back mittens with thin fleece or army surplus wool glove liners on underneath, or Outdoor Research Gore-Tex mitten shells with thick fleece mittens underneath for the very cold days.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
Yeah I've already come to grips with the fact that I need an array of hand weather protection gear. I guess that my philosophy right now is to start from the situations where I need the most protection, since that is where I am feeling the most need right now (sitting in a tree stand in 5 degree weather with my hands going numb on the gun).

So since down is a no go for insulation in mitts, it seems that prima loft might be a good option? I was looking at these, which get some great reviews:

http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/shop/mountain/gloves/mercury-mitt

These don't look too bad either:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/gr...aidShopping&utm_campaign=Affiliate+PCGOOGLEB2


Finally, I'm also considering the OR Mutant Mitts (made for the USMC I think) and wear some good liners like the boiled wool underneath -- it is nice that they have the trigger finger separate. They don't have a leather palm like the others above though.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Personally I like trigger mitts. Keep your fingers in the main portion until you need the extra dexterity--then pop your index finger into the finger of the mitt and you'll be almost as handy as wearing gloves with the warmth of mittens.
Click to expand...

I have these too. Mine are Canadian army surplus, with leather palms, huge canvas gauntlets, and wool inserts. I like to wear thin, synthetic glove liners under them too. This way, I can slip the mitts off when I need greater dexterity but still have some protection from the cold.
 
Kirk,

I consider mittens and gloves that have built in insulation to be "front country" gear. Suitable for things like skiing or hunting when you know for real sure that you'll be back at the car before sun down. Whether it's primaloft or down, the issue is that when they are worn while active, the inside of the handwear will get wet with sweat. This isn't a problem if you the ski lodge has glove dryers in the bath room but it's a big issue on an over night trip. This is why I prefer handwear systems with removable, changeable and easy to dry liners.

Mittens like the Black Diamond Mercury are an interesting hybrid. Mitts that I've seen that are like this don't have full above tree line amounts of insulation. It's more like an insulated over shell that is sized big enough for a removable liner to fit inside of. If, and this is a big if, if you can keep them off while actively hiking, you can keep the outer insulated mitt dry. The problem comes when you need have something over the liners while moving.

One solution would be to get a mitt like the BD Mercury AS WELL AS A PAIR OF CHEAP LEATHER CHOPPER MITTS (for another measly $20). For active hiking, use the liners from the BD Mercuries inside of the chopper mitts. When you need more warmth, like in the tree stand, swap out the chopper outer mitts for the Mercuries. That will keep the Mercuries drier and thus warmer.

With respect to the OR Mutants, I think mitts like this only make sense if you need constant dexterity of the index finger. Ski lift operators, soldiers and such. The downside to them is that they condemn you to finding single finger liners, which are rarer than hen's teeth. I strongly prefer traditional fingerless mitten outers. If I need a trigger finger, I'll use a trigger finger inner (if by luck I can find one) or a fold back mitten liner (easy to find) or just plain wool gloves under the mitten shell. Lots of possibilities. The Mutants really limit choices.

Mercuries + Kinco chopper mitts (with the inners ripped out). That's what I would do.
 
Eastern Mountain Sports has some awesome gloves and mittens, as does Cabela's. IMHE's, it is wise to have a thin liner glove of polypro, in whatever you wear. Buy one size bigger to ensure they will fit without restriction. I like to carry a thin leather glove that fits well for cooking outside in the snow. That way you can manipulate your stove, pots & utensils without bare hands.
 
Sounds like I need to think in terms of a piece to go on top (a mitt shell) and separate pieces to go underneath (mitt liner and possibly a thin glove/glove liner under that). For the latter, seems like there are a lot of good options -- dacstein boiled wool, fleece, polypro, or smart wool liners (I have also seen rave reviews for possum liners), or maybe something like mechanix gloves if I want a more grippy option.

For the latter, sounds like people are split between leather chopper mitts and gauntlet shells made of high tech breathable materials like gore-tex and eVent and scholler. A little more guidance on this might be useful. One thing that sticks out is that I tend to think that neither one of these would do a great job in very wet conditions.

If I'm going with goretex, it looks like one option might be the British army gore-tex mittens -- they are pretty affordable.

By the way, where do you all get your dachstein wool mittens? I am not able to find them available online.
 
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Kirk, try here for Dachstein mitts.
http://www.sweatersintl.com/index.html

Or here:
http://www.mountaineer.com/store/me...TR&Product_Code=ArcticMitts&Category_Code=020

Or make 'Yer own using the pattern I posted a link to!!

I think your on the right track with a shell and several liners for different conditions. I would classify outer mitts in 3 major groups:
1) Uninsulated GoreTex gauntlet mitts.
2) Insulated gauntlet over mitts (like the BlackDiamonds you found)
3) Uninsulated leather choppers

IMO, the insulated over mitts are best carried in a pack while hiking and put over the liners when stopped. Also good for things like lift served skiing or ice fishing.

I currently have both Gtx gauntlet shell mitts (OR) and chopper mitts. The long gauntlet gloves work well for above treeline hiking as they are more wind a d rainproof. But, I very much prefer chopper mitts for being in the woods and backcountry skiing. They give better grip, are more durable and are easier to take on and off. The one time I don't like them is in wet spring snow on multi day trips as once they get wet they take longer to dry. AquaSeal helps a lot.

Hope this helps.
 
It's funny because this is shaping up to be the exact same strategy that I use in keeping the rest of my body warm in frigid temps, which is to use a "waterproof" yet breathable outer layer over the best multi-layered insulation that I can get, which so far has turned out to be a base layer of smart wool and some fleece layers. I just recently picked up a thick down jacket, which I consider to be a different approach to insulation. I'm not sure which will end up being my preferred approach; I'm guessing that I will stick with the multi-layers because the down jacket feels so fragile to me.

If the british army shells are a good option as a gore-tex shell (chime in anyone who knows), then I will probably just try both an uninsulated goretex mitt shell and an uninsulated leather chopper mitt shell since both of them are pretty inexpensive.
 
a hand "system" is really the only way to go in cold weather, I use a thin glove liner for when it's warmer and when I need to do fine work, a mid-weight fleece mitten (OR PL 400) over that if need be and a waterproof/windproof over-mitt (OR Endeavor)

gives me several combinations to use depending on the weather; it's a very light weight system, but I can operate comfortably from 40 to below 0 w/ it
 
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