Just a random thought today. Has anyone tried food service gloves for rain overgloves? They aren't breathable but they are lite and cheap.

I have experimented in this area but I'm not sure what you mean by food service gloves. Clear vinyl? Rubber?

if you can get extra long sleeves with an elastic cuff for your light wind jacket and rain jacket you could normally blouse them inside so they wouldn't be long, but when you need them to cover you hands you could extend them out. That can be very effective over wool mitts.

Not sure what they ar made out of. I was thinking of the clear, plastic gloves that food service workers use when serving food they have to touch with their hands.

I've seen/used the clear vinyl gloves quite a bit as they are common where I work. If they were to work as an overglove they would have to be very large unless the user has small hands or is using very thin liner gloves. Durability would be an issue. They stretch a little bit but they are also easy to tear. They are a one use item at work and the same would probably hold true in the field.

We also issue a clear polyethelene glove which is cheaper but even less durable. I would reserve this glove for emergency use only.

There are also latex rubber gloves out there but they would have to stretch pretty far to be used as an overglove.

All of the above gloves make my hands sweaty pretty quickly and that's when I'm not even moving very much. The powdered versions can also be messy.

cook

Youre hands will be soaking wet inside them - why bother? oh and cold too, unless you put them over liners.
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I suppose all rain mitts have the "sweaty hand" problems. Plastic gloves like these would be the worst. But maybe not much worse. I'm not a big believer in this "breathable fabric" technology. If you are sweating at all no water resistant fabric will be able to keep your hands truly dry.

One thing the plastic gloves would work well for is a vapor barrier. Put them on under gloves in really cold weather. Your hands will feel a bit clammy but you won't lose as much heat through your hands and your hands will stay warmer.

I carry a pair of latex gloves in my first aid kit. The primary purpose is to prevent contact with blood when I give first aid.

They can be worn under possum down gloves as a vapor barrier at night.

They can be worn over possum down gloves if I needed, but I have finger loops on my poncho and my hands do not get very wet when I hike.

They are one use disposable gloves. They give them to me when I donate blood. I did not use any in 2008, but it is time to get a fresh batch for 2009.

In wet weather I carry a pair of reusable nitrile gloves a size larger than I normally wear so they fit over liner gloves. They're tough enough for handling wet brush, rocks or whatever. They do get a bit stiff in cold temps.

I use a pair of tyvek sleeves. They work great to keep water out and breath but they don't have thumbs. cheap <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Check your local farm supply store in the animal care section for the various gloves available. You can get separate tyvek sleeves(for poncho use) and complete gloves with forearm sleeves. I used to use them to give the farm critters a hand with tough births, both cows and horses <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Great tip, I will look next time I am there.