Cold Weather Glove/Mitten Recommendation
TommH
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
Recently I find that my fingers are much more cold sensitive when shoveling/snowblowing. I actually had to go inside today half way thru the job. Any recommendations on super insulated gloves or mittens. Did some research and there are a lot of choices. Will be used mainly for snow removal chores.
Replies
go to military surplus get wool liners for gloves and a pair of leather to go over. thats all I have used for 20 years ice fishing snow blowing snowmobling works for me
Yup, any mittens are much warmer than gloves, and a removable (dryable) inner insulating liner and an outer waterproof shell is the best combo.
Also, make sure you're drinking enough fluids (not coffee, hot chocolate, alcohol or other diuretics and vasoconstrictors), since fluid balance is the most important factor for keeping extremities warm in the winter. If you're not peeing clear fluid, you're dehydrated.
Robert, certified Outdoor Leader and Wilderness EMT instructor
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
Thanks. Guess I shouldn't have had those 2 cups of joe before I went out. Next time I'll wait 'til after.
I find that starting out with warm extremities is pretty important. Cold fingers get cold faster than warm fingers, they loose circulation faster.
My favorite method for quickwarming hands:
Put hands in sink and turn on the COLD water tap - it will feel burning hot for a moment, when it begins to feel cool, start adding some hot water to the mix. In about 2 minutes, your hands/feet will be normal temp again.
It's the fastest way to warm up your poor piddies!
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
For actual work in cold weather, I use cheap cotton knit gloves, and I might slip a pair of leather work gloves over them.
I carry -literally- a couple dozen pair on the truck. This allows me to change gloves the moment a pair gets wet or dirty. A trip to the laundromat solves that problem.
When it gets a bit colder, I might wear a pair of polypropylene gloves under the cotton ones. These have longer 'wrists' and cover the gap between the gloves and the jacket.
For simple chores in cold weather ... like pushing a snowblower .... I have a nice insulated leather pair of 'flexxor' gloves. these have an extra fold of material at the knuckles that lets you have a lot more dexterity.
For romping in serious snow, it's hard to beat army surplus trigger finger mitts. There's enough room inside to fit several layers of liners - I have used as many as three, with the innermost being full fingered - and the long canvas gauntlet keeps the wrists out of the weather.
Hunters mittens. The top and thumb fold over onto a velcro strip when you need to use your fingers
"Shawdow boxing the appoclipse and wandering the land"
Wier/Barlow
Wow!! After I posted my original message, I went scrounging around the house and found a pair of mittens exactly like those you posted...right down to the velcro strips. I also found a pair of gortex glove liners and used the two together ...fingers stayed warm(or at least didn't freeze). I'm still going to get dog sled approved mittens...if it's good enough for Todd Palin, it's good enough for me.
I'm still going to get dog sled approved mittens
There you go! I have a pair of leather outer mittens with gauntlets and heavy fleece inner mittens that were handmade by Eskimos on Baffin Island in the arctic. They're easily good for -60°.
Riversong HouseWright
Design * * Build * * Renovate * * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
Edited 12/25/2008 12:57 am ET by Riversong
Did you have to go there (Baffin Island) to get them?
Edited 12/25/2008 8:14 am ET by TommH
Did you have to go there (Baffin Island) to get them?
Hell of a long dog-sled just for a couple of mitts ;-)
No, actually I bought them cheap from another Outward Bound instructor when I was doing dog-sled trips in the MN Boundary Waters (-40°). I also bought a two-piece anorak: inner synthetic fleece and outer canvas shell with hood. He bought them on Baffin Island when he went up to scout for a solo dogsled trip through the Northwest passage. I don't know if he ever did the trip, though.
Riversong HouseWright
Design * * Build * * Renovate * * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
I use those same gloves for the outer and the neoprene palm and finger covered guys underneath. The wool outer shell can get wet without my hands getting wet.
Down mittens, available at ski stores. A little expensive, $80-100 but they can't be beat.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
last week i went into HD to get a few things and i saw these gloves with a vent built into them. so that when your hands started to get cold you could blow warm air through your whole glove...i baught them...they work really well...we framed up a garage at 5 below last month and they held up great..
All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...
I've seen those before, but I thought moisture would be a problem. Any issues with that?
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
If you could blow hot air, you could also dry them out too I would think.
Tu stultus esRebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
no...they got some spaceman fabric in there that acts as a vb I guess...they do real good though.All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...