Winter Snow Sport Gear
Winter Hiking & Snowshoeing
Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#105659 - 11/01/08 07:49 PM My Glove & Mitten Standards
300winmag Offline
member

Registered: 02/28/06
Posts: 1342
Loc: Nevada, USA
**This post is not just for gear weenies. It's for those who dislike frostbitten fingers**

I have found it difficult to find gloves & mittens to meet my "standards" but have managed to collect what I want.

"The Glove & Mitten Standards"

1. REMOVABLE LINERS> this is the most important feature. Fleece or heavier pile liners are the best. Carry one or two extra pair for replacing sweaty liners. IMHO gloves & mittens W/O removable liners are a "one-time-a-day-use" item.

2. GORE TEX OR EVENT MEMBRANE> Important B/C there are times when melting snow or "crick water" from filling drinking bottles gets the gloves wet.

3. ANATOMICALLY CURVED FINGERS> Not the most important but it helps

4. GAUNTLETS> Nice for very cold weather so they are a MUST for mittens. Even better if they have tethered cord locked gauntlet hem tightener cords.

5. KEVLAR STITCHING> Again, nice but not a deal breaker.

6. LEATHER PALMS/FINGERS> I'd prefer the greater toughness of kangaroo leather but try to find it!

Eric


Edited by 300winmag (11/01/08 07:58 PM)
_________________________
"There are no comfortable backpacks. Some are just less uncomfortable than others."

Top
#105660 - 11/02/08 01:27 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: 300winmag]
ajherman Offline
member

Registered: 05/02/06
Posts: 208
Loc: Rock Springs, WY
I think all those things are important also. I would love to spend the money on Black dimond
but instead have cabela's gloves that are great, except they do not have a removable liner. the leather holds up great, and they keep my hands very warm. I wear a pair of mountain hardware butter liner gloves in them. I think the most important thing is the long gauntlets for cold weather. This was my first criteria for my gloves.
_________________________
KD8DYO
www.hikeforacause.wordpress.com

Top
#105661 - 11/02/08 02:22 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: ajherman]
chuck Offline
member

Registered: 10/01/02
Posts: 83
Good post. It surprises me that people have learned benefit of layering their legs and torso but don't think about hands or feet.

For hands I use nice warm wool glove liner then insulated waterproof mittens if needed. For very cold times I also have vapor barrier glove liner.

Works rather nice for me.

Chuck

Top
#105662 - 12/17/08 03:48 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: 300winmag]
altadude Offline
member

Registered: 11/16/03
Posts: 524
Quote:
**This post is not just for gear weenies. It's for those who dislike frostbitten fingers**

I have found it difficult to find gloves & mittens to meet my "standards" but have managed to collect what I want.

"The Glove & Mitten Standards"

1. REMOVABLE LINERS> this is the most important feature. Fleece or heavier pile liners are the best. Carry one or two extra pair for replacing sweaty liners. IMHO gloves & mittens W/O removable liners are a "one-time-a-day-use" item.

2. GORE TEX OR EVENT MEMBRANE> Important B/C there are times when melting snow or "crick water" from filling drinking bottles gets the gloves wet.

3. ANATOMICALLY CURVED FINGERS> Not the most important but it helps

4. GAUNTLETS> Nice for very cold weather so they are a MUST for mittens. Even better if they have tethered cord locked gauntlet hem tightener cords.

5. KEVLAR STITCHING> Again, nice but not a deal breaker.

6. LEATHER PALMS/FINGERS> I'd prefer the greater toughness of kangaroo leather but try to find it!

Eric


What works for me:

1. wool glove liners
2. Kinco all leather work gloves
3. boiled wool mittens
4. OR Designs goretex mitten shell

1 and 2 work while I am skiing, exploring
3 and 4 work while I am in camp

nothing keeps my hands/fingers as warm as wool liners.......

This is a relatively inexpensive set of systems..........

Top
#105663 - 12/17/08 04:23 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: altadude]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Altadude, a number of the guys on TTips wear Kincos, which I can't find in LA. I emailed Kinco but haven't heard back from them.

Look on wintertrekker in the clothing section article on gloves and mitts. Those guys wear wool and leather gloves. Also look at the mitts on the Empire Canvas Works website. They have two heavy duty versions in a traditional mitt.

I saw a pair of ECW mitts for sale on eBay yesterday.
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#105664 - 12/17/08 05:00 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: TomD]
altadude Offline
member

Registered: 11/16/03
Posts: 524
Kincos is THE glove for me....
I have a pair of their reflective safety gloves I use for commuting on my bike

Kincos is a direct wholesaler........

try this mail order company:

www.keepsafesolutions.com

they have all of the good stuff.

I have been using the Kinco ski gloves for lift-service skiing and for 20 bucks they are amazing...........add wool liners and they are easily the best ski gloves I have ever used.

let me know how it goes.

A

Top
#105665 - 12/17/08 05:17 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: 300winmag]
midnightsun03 Offline
member

Registered: 08/06/03
Posts: 2936
Loc: Alaska
When talking about hand coverings and what works, I'd be interested in knowing what kinds of temperatures your hands are subjected to. I have little to no problem staying warm above zero (when I put my mind to it), but below zero, fuggeddaboutit. There comes a point where layers make the hands useless. Sigh. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

MNS
_________________________
YMMV. Viewer discretion is advised.

Top
#105666 - 12/17/08 05:56 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: midnightsun03]
altadude Offline
member

Registered: 11/16/03
Posts: 524
BC skiing I wear my wool liners and leather gloves even below zero deg F.......
Any aerobic activities and my wool liner/leather gloves work.

Liftserv skiing I use Kinco insulated ski gloves (leather with their patented Heatkeep synthetic insulation.........If it is really cole (below minus 5 F) I add a wool liner to that ski gloves......

Belays or camping out I use mittens at rest........

HTH
A

Top
#105667 - 12/17/08 05:57 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: midnightsun03]
Jimshaw Offline
member

Registered: 10/22/03
Posts: 3983
Loc: Bend, Oregon
Midnight

Hi there <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

As you point out - all of this Winter glove talk needs to be tempered with weather information. I hate layered gloves, but a warm liner and shell is ok. I'd rather carry a 5 ounce pair of Kombi Goretex ski gloves and another pair of lighter more flexible gloves, which for me often means Black Diamond wind stoppers. Both of these pairs of gloves have stood up well over time and show no wear at all, I recommend them, especially if you wear an OR Gore Tex mit over the windstoppers, but you have to seam seal shell gloves and mitts these days. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Anyway the Kombis were good the morning it dropped to -5 with 50 mph gusts. Mitts are generally a better idea though, and THE PROBLEM WITH WEARING LINERS IN MITTS IS THAT THEY INSULATE THE FINGERS FROM EACH OTHER. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Its like wearing down pants in a sleeping bag - they keep your legs from keeping each other warm.

I once had a pair of $125 BD ice gauntlets. They were one piece but they were so massive that you could only do one thing in them - hold an ice tool. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

If you're like me, you have a can/box of gloves by the door. If all single gloves end up in there, often pairs appear. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The obvious solution if you live in a cold place is too have half a dozen (or more) pairs of gloves and a forced air glove dryer. I wear a pair of gloves to scrape the windshield and clean snow, then toss em into the truck and put on a fresh pair of warm fake fur like lined ten dollar gloves from Safeway. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> YMMV
_________________________
These are my own opinions based on wisdom earned through many wrong decisions. Your mileage may vary.

Top
#105668 - 12/17/08 06:20 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: Jimshaw]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
Anyone used mittens like the Marmot Expedition mitt or the OR Alti Mitt? I know they're expensive, but if they're really warm they could be worth it. I have to admit I have a hard time spending $100+ on a mitten.

I'm also hesitant to buy online, I've found Marmot's sizing to be tighter than other companies. I'm thinking the XL, I normally wear L. I would probably want it sized so I can wear wool liner gloves inside, though.

By the way, the problem I have had with a lot of otherwise good mittens is the thumb fits too tight which results in a cold thumb.

I should count my gloves and mittens someday, I've got a ridiculous number. Still looking for perfection...

Top
#105669 - 12/17/08 06:39 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: altadude]
TomD Offline
Moderator

Registered: 10/30/03
Posts: 4963
Loc: Marina del Rey,CA
Altadude, Are you wearing the Kinco 901's? The pigskin with the liner? They also have the Pro model with the waterproof liner which also sounds like what you have. I have looked at them online, but hope to find them somewhere, so I can try them on.

Andi, look at what the Canadians on wintertrekking wear. I know I've mentioned this site several times, but they really seem to know their cold weather stuff and are friendly people when it comes to answering newbie questions. If they can keep warm in -40C, they must be doing something right.
_________________________
Don't get me started, you know how I get.

Top
#105670 - 12/18/08 05:07 AM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: 300winmag]
JAK Offline
member

Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 2569
That's what I love about standards,
There are so many to choose from.

Top
#105671 - 12/18/08 07:02 AM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: TomD]
altadude Offline
member

Registered: 11/16/03
Posts: 524
Quote:
Altadude, Are you wearing the Kinco 901's? The pigskin with the liner? They also have the Pro model with the waterproof liner which also sounds like what you have. I have looked at them online, but hope to find them somewhere, so I can try them on.

Andi, look at what the Canadians on wintertrekking wear. I know I've mentioned this site several times, but they really seem to know their cold weather stuff and are friendly people when it comes to answering newbie questions. If they can keep warm in -40C, they must be doing something right.


For resort skiing, yes I do LOVE the 901's
http://www.keepsafesolutions.net/main/os...p;reviews_id=20

They are too warm for bc skiing IMHO.....
For that I use these:
http://www.keepsafesolutions.net/main/os...products_id=348 with wool liners..........Kinco makes these as well



For bicycle commuting I use these:
http://www.keepsafesolutions.net/main/os...products_id=312 these are the pigskin with the blaze orange dorsum with a huge reflective strip on the knuckles.........great for night commuting

I don't work for Kinco or KeepSafeSolutions but I find the Kinco gloves ROCK and KeepSafe is a reasonable mailorder store.

I have no experience with the Pro series but the gloves are so reasonably priced that for me I was willing to go with ttips suggestions.

Sizing:

They run true to size. I wear usually Large gloves........I have a pair of extra large gloves (unlined pigskin) so I can wear two pairs of wool liners if necessary..........

HTH

Go for it.........way cheaper than all the traditional name brands and IMHO way better........

Alta

You coming East to ski the ice this season?

Top
#105672 - 12/18/08 07:05 AM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: TomD]
altadude Offline
member

Registered: 11/16/03
Posts: 524
Quote:
Altadude, Are you wearing the Kinco 901's? The pigskin with the liner? They also have the Pro model with the waterproof liner which also sounds like what you have. I have looked at them online, but hope to find them somewhere, so I can try them on.

Andi, look at what the Canadians on wintertrekking wear. I know I've mentioned this site several times, but they really seem to know their cold weather stuff and are friendly people when it comes to answering newbie questions. If they can keep warm in -40C, they must be doing something right.


I am not aware of the wintertrekking website..........tell me more

Also, I have a pair of Kinco's waterproof liner gloves and I don't like them for anything which will get my hands sweating (nb: they are not the pro gloves but the safety gloves with heatkeep and waterproof lining)-they don't seem to ever dry........so If I wear them I use a cheap pair of nonsterile medical gloves to avoid wetting them out..........

HTH

Top
#105673 - 12/18/08 08:06 AM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: 300winmag]
alanwenker Offline
member

Registered: 02/04/03
Posts: 812
I have a bit of a glove fetish and have amassed a box full. Like most things, there are only compromises.

For a high-end shell glove with removable liner and a waterproof insert, I think Granite Gear made the very best in that category. However they are no longer made so you need to watch ebay and they don't show up often. This place may still have some for sale.
http://www.snowshoecenter.com/Shop/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&ProductID=1267
I don't know if this style glove (Granite Gear or other brands) is worth the money they sell for as $100+ for a pair of gloves is a lot of dough. All the wonderful features they have make them a marvel of design, but mostly its over-kill. Granite gear also made shell mittens with removable fleece liners and I have a pair of these as well.

If I am active, the Granite Gear gloves and mittens are just too warm for me, therefore they rarely get used. My favorite gloves for anything above zero are ragg wool gloves with thinsulate insulation. I think these are very comfortable and warm, but not too warm. If it's wet or damp outside, I have a pair of Marmot precip shells and I can layer ragg wool gloves under the shells. However, the precip doesn't breath at all in winter.

For daily wear I have a pair of Marker spring gloves and I wear a cheap liner as an insert. This is a decent pair of gloves and warm. Smartwool makes a spring glove and I think it's beautiful, but I'm not going to pop $70 for a pair.

The Kinco brand looks interesting and the price is right. Ultimately a decent leather glove over a liner will work nearly as well as any of the more expensive options. I do like to wear a thin liner glove regardless of which outer glove I wear simply to have something covering my hand if I need to pull the gloves off. I buy cheap liners as they get chewed up easily.

If you're looking for a pair of tradtional moosehide chopper style mittens, these are as good as you'll find. Henry also makes very nice belts and used to sell very nice fixed blade knives, but I no longer see them on his web site.
http://www.henrysshoerepair.com/moosehide%20chopper%20mittens.html

Top
#108179 - 12/22/08 02:09 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: ajherman]
ajherman Offline
member

Registered: 05/02/06
Posts: 208
Loc: Rock Springs, WY
Originally Posted By ajherman
I think all those things are important also. I would love to spend the money on Black dimond
but instead have cabela's gloves that are great, except they do not have a removable liner. the leather holds up great, and they keep my hands very warm. I wear a pair of mountain hardware butter liner gloves in them. I think the most important thing is the long gauntlets for cold weather. This was my first criteria for my gloves.


I wear my these from about 20 degrees to how ever cold it gets, usually not more than 35 below zero.
_________________________
KD8DYO
www.hikeforacause.wordpress.com

Top
#108209 - 12/22/08 09:47 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: Paddy_Crow]
fos Offline
member

Registered: 05/24/02
Posts: 538
Paddy, the OR Northwall mitts have plenty of room in the thumb for wool glove liners, once you remove the fleece mitt liners, and they are still insulated in the shell portion. I know what you mean about the thumb issue.

Also, size XL will fit over size large wool gloves.

Top
#109074 - 01/09/09 06:22 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: fos]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
I recently got a great price on a pair of Hestra Heli Mitts, I have to give them a big thumbs up (pun intended). They have removable liners and the liner gloves that go with their Heli Gloves will also velcro into the mitten shell.

They are really well made, warm, and comfy, I can't imagine needing another mitten system anytime soon. As luck would have it, I'm going to have the opportunity to test them in some single digit temperatures next week...

Top
#109126 - 01/10/09 07:04 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: Paddy_Crow]
thecook Offline


Registered: 10/03/08
Posts: 541
Loc: Minnesota
Let us know how well they work and also if you usually have warm or cold hands. I have a pair of mittens like your new ones that worked wonderfully for about 15 years. They don't keep my hands warm below about 12F now and I am looking for a something new.
_________________________
If I wouldn't eat it at home, why would I want to eat it on the trail?

Top
#109156 - 01/11/09 12:22 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: thecook]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
How warm my hands are really tends to depend on my activity level. When I'm working hard, I need a lot less on my hands. When I'm driving, my hands tend to get cold easily.

I have not worn many of the high end gloves or mittens, but I can honestly say these Hestras are the warmest mittens I've worn. It would be nice to be able to reference a Marmot Expedition mitt or an OR Alti mitt for comparison, but it's not going to happen with the price of admission...

Top
#109359 - 01/14/09 07:12 PM Re: My Glove & Mitten Standards [Re: thecook]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
I wound up buying some more Hestra stuff. I bought their quallofill heli glove liner and also a pair of their Power Dry liner gloves. The liner gloves fit well into both the mitten and the glove liner, and each of those fit well into the mitten shell. I can remove the mitt and liner and the Power Dry layer stays on my hand. Total weight of all these pieces is 13.7 ounces.

I tried the mitts out this morning. As luck would have it, we had to evacuate our building so I got to stand around outside for half an hour with the temperature hovering between 0F and 10F. Fingers felt the cold, but they did not get cold.

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 241 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum.com