Lori, yea, sorry, a bit vague I guess. The liner is something I had not thought of. I'll check into that. I've got some leather insulated gloves that are good, yet bulky. Since acquiring some "newer" winter stuff, I am learning that the windproof aspect is very important; at least here in Texas where temp isn't that bad, just the cold wind.
Merino/possum wool gloves are light and warm but not all that thin. About the size of a tennis ball for the med size. Around 35g (just over 1 oz. Warm enogh for me to about 25f. Not abrasion resistant. Warm for me when wet but I also wear them under PTFE mittens. Franco
I do the same thing, Franco - it works great. The Smartwool merino wool liners allow sufficient dexterity (without the mitten shells) to do pretty much everything I need to do, and the mitten shells give me the flexibility to wear thicker down mittens (with or without the liners) on bitterly cold mornings.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I always used to use polypro liner gloves, but was given a pair of Smartwool liner gloves for Christmas of 2010. They are thin enough that I can light my stove and perform other functions without taking my gloves off. There's a bonus in that I can grab my pot with them on (not recommended with polypro, which melts).
I have a pair of Mountain Laurel Designs eVent mittens to wear over them when it's raining. I also have a pair of fleece gloves which are big enough that i can wear them over the Smartwool. I plan to get a pair of fleece mittens, though (mittens are warmer). This all means I can wear one, two or three layers on my hands depending on conditions
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Good options, Mouse.... But he's in Texas, like me. Here, when water isn't involved, I wear cheap rag-wool gloves or mittens from Campmor. Home Depot also sells them in the work glove section. They are very thin and do the job, even wet. If it gets colder, I'll put on snowboarder shells, over the gloves. Colder yet, I like the two layer fleece mittens I made (Beyond Backpacking...Jardine)with the snowboarder shells. Nothing gets through that setup but you won't be lighting stoves with it. Neoprene paddling gloves are great in water but clammy if you just wore them around camp...they don't breath at all, so I only wear them paddling or diving.
If you decide on a neoprene type, look at Glacier Gloves. Served me well in very cool water. Wouldn't be my choice for a comfortable glove unless my hands were being continuously immersed.
I like liners in snowy/windy situations as I can remove the outer glove for delicate tasks and still have some protection. I always used polypro but I'll be checking out that smartwool version.
I'm trying to put together something like a layering system for my hands (because conditions change) but haven't found all the pieces yet.
If you actually have to USE your fingers as well as keep them warm, check out some of mitten/gloves at sporting goods stores. I have a pair that are fleece, fingerless gloves...they work great...and then there is an attached mitten that you can pull over all your fingers.
I had a pair of Serius polypro glove liners that I loved, and lost (Shakespere anyone...). They fit into a pocket easily, were thin enough to type with (though too slippy to pick up paper) and were middling wind resistent.
Since I've lost my last pair, I picked up a set of smartwool and a set of Manzella poly liners at Campmor. I can't vouch for either one. After wearing the Manzellas last week, I want my old gloves back.
Quick thought - have you tried a set of thin leather gloves with a 40 gram thinsulate lining? I just picked up a set of like this from Ocean State job lot, and their fairly warm, block the wind, and are almost as easy to stuff in an overcoat pocket as any of the three types of liners I'm playing around with.
Somehow, I seem to have created a glove collection.
There is a lot of love for glove layering as I think there should be , same for hats as it is for the rest of the body. looking at the various suggestions and solutions it is possible that we have started a glove fetish feast. ( I too have had an eye on thin leather gloves. I had a par as teenager ) Franco BTW, I find it funny how some put a third or fourth torso layer on , yet wear no gloves or warm hat ...
I've had great results from warmstuff distributing. I used their synthetic liner gloves (around $5) under my MLD rain mitts and was toasty warm, along with a nice cheap fleece hat from them. Still look like new after more than 2,500 miles trail carrying them.
I have this problem of cold hands using trecking poles in the wet. My hands got pretty cold using normal gloves. I now use possum wool gloves I got from New Zealand and a event overmit. I am hoping this will solve my issue with a light weight kit.
It has been some time since I posted the original post. Today, I was at Academy and found that all the winter stuff was 50% off. Gloves also. Got two pair, one heavy and a fleece pair for total of $15. Just a note for you guys near an Academy.
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