I usually carry several items for my hands on a winter backpacking trip. I really like Windbloc or Windstopper fleece gloves for winter hiking. They are warmer and more weather protective than regular fleece. If the weather is really bad, I put on a pair of w/b overmitts. (Too heavy -- I need to get the MLD version.) In general I like to have a separate set of gloves or mittens for camp. I have an old set of Windstopper glo-mitt things, so I can use my fingers when operating a stove, etc.