Cold Weather Gloves

[ChumpMcgee]

#3827

Question goes out to the cool or cold weather climate hunters. What type of glove do you use for cold weather?? I shoot with a leather finger glove and my phalanges on those 3 fingers drive me crazy when the temperature drop. I also wear a thick wool glove but it does not seem to help at all. That leather against my skin freezes my fingers to the point where it hurts. Any tips or tricks?

[paleoman]

#24130

You could try one of the shooters mittens – where the fingers part of the mitt velcro’s back on top of the mitt. Or one with the fingers cut off. Other than that I just keep my draw hand in my coat pocket and wait for the action:lol:

[ChumpMcgee]

#24136

paleoman wrote: You could try one of the shooters mittens – where the fingers part of the mitt velcro’s back on top of the mitt. Or one with the fingers cut off. Other than that I just keep my draw hand in my coat pocket and wait for the action:lol:

I currently have that mitt as my wool glove and its not working the greatest. I have even put a handwarmer in the mitt part in hopes that would keep them warm still no luck.

[paleoman]

#24158

Maybe one of those muff type jobs if I’m using the right term? The fleece lined tube you put your hands in while at rest….I never used one but a friend has and seemed to like it at the time. It could probably be secured so it wouldn’t swing into your string.

[Dave Nash]

#24232

American leather has a pair of cold weather gloves that work well.Have a buddy who swears by them.

Dave

[Col Mike]

#24344

T-Roy

Pm me and will give you more advise then you can imagine–much experience in that arctic environment, and with nerve dead hands.

[Troy Warner]

#24897

In early cool weather that requires some kind of cover on my hands I use a very thin driving glove that is tight on my fingers and I use my tab over the glove just to keep the same smoothness on the string when I release.

Keep in mind you have to practice with the gloves on…. A lot.

In the later season I use a mitten that flips the finger mitt back and I can have my tab on my finger inside the mitten.

Again practice with it on A Lot.

If it gets cold enough that neither of those set ups will work while I’m sitting, I put the bow away grab my double, load the dog up and go pheasant hunting. 😀

Troy

[wojo14]

#25368

Mike,

You need to fill me in on this!

I have same problem with my fingers and toes.

[Reddwarf]

#26002

I too would love to benefit from your experience Mike.

I also use a flip-back mitt with a chemical warmer against the back of my hand, and I keep both hands in my pockets as much as possible (chemical warmers in both pockets) and carry my bow under my arm.

Red Dwarf

[wojo14]

#26060

😛 LOL

Red, Me too!

I can stay warm in the core, my my fingers and toes do not last long!

I am still on the hunt for the perfect foot and hand protection to keep warm.

This is one reason I want to get out of the tree stand and walk/still hunt more!

[Col Mike]

#26519

Her it is guys not cheap but works.

Feet– http://www.mukluks.com get the camuk xtreme–good to -50 very light and great to stalk in also rubber soles and rubber covered moosehide. I wear them when temps are below freezing. Make sure you follow the sizing guide–you want big at least one size bigger then your normal boot. They last for about 8 years on my second pair. Actually I wear these every day in winter even when running the dogs.

Hands– Due to significant nerve damage I have very poor circulation in hands. Best I have found–mountain climbing mitts with liner, again, large wear my bow glove inside right hand one line harness to both mitts around neck when time to shoot right hand one comes off it then dangles from end of sleeve while shot is taken. Just practice with it. I also stick a hand warmer in each one. Wojo next time your down will show you and you can take pictures for the site as I still ain’t learned how to post them things–probably a good thing:D

When it get’s real cold–I sit in front of the fireplace with a good book and beverage.:lol:

[wojo14]

#26523

Mike,

I saw those boots! I was actually thinking of them.

You will have to show me them when I get down there next!

I like to do the same when it’s too cold! Although my young and dumb butt would still try and go out first. Then I would be in once I realize it’s too cold!:?

[Reddwarf]

#26557

Mike

Am I correct in reading that you are able to shoot with the mitt still on your bow hand?

RD

[Col Mike]

#27623

Red

Yes correct–but you have to practice. Correct my previous post, the string hand glove does not dangle from the wrist it gets flipped around to hang on the fanny or day pack. With, again, practice this movement becomes almost invisible to the prey. When Wojo comes again I’ll have him photo it. Present mitts are mountain hardware but almost 10 yrs old so likely they have a different model now. If you can afford a pair of beaver mitts –well you won’t have cold fingers again. Alas my pair didn’t survive one of our Husky’s exploring:evil:.

Mike

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#43181

I recently got these gloves from John Turner at American Leathers. They come with full fingers on both hands, and you can trim them to accomodate your glove, as needed. The seams are intentionally sewn so that they won’t unravel when you cut the fingers off.

The fleece is somewhat stretchy for a nice, snug fit, and they are quite warm for their weight. They also have leather on the palms and thumb for a good grip. A darn good glove for $39!

[Charles Ek]

#43290

Smithhammer wrote: I recently got these gloves from John Turner at American Leathers. They come with full fingers on both hands, and you can trim them to accomodate your glove, as needed. The seams are intentionally sewn so that they won’t unravel when you cut the fingers off.

Thanks for the tip! My niece is supposed to be working on custom shooting mitts for me, but if the much-maligned, equally misunderstood polar vortex actually gets here before she’s done I may have to grab a pair of these.

[Patrick]

#43297

I either wear a thin glove or nothing at all on my right hand. I use a heavy mitten on my left. I have a “hand warmer”, similar to what you’d see football players wearing. I use that for my right hand, and when it’s really cold, I’ll sometimes put my left hand in it as well…mitten and all.

[Fallguy]

#43680

The one thing that I have found is if the gloves have a knit cuff that is snug my hands get cold because it restricts the blood flow to my fingers. And I also want to give a 2 Thumbs up on the Mukluks that Mike recommended.

[David Coulter]

#52650

Smithy, i just ordered a pair of the amer leather gloves to try on. I have wool gloves that i trimmed and wear the shooting glove inside. I’ll give it a try on the outside with these. I have a duraglove so i’ll see how it works. Thanks for the recommendation. Dwc

[grumpy]

#53750

Been thinking about writing this for some time, but didn’t have the right prompts, and needed to get the right way to present it.

Saturday my fingers and toes were too cold, and had to leave the stand, and still hunt (which I’m not good at). Sunday I sat for 4 hours, and wasn’t cold at all. Same gloves, same sneakers and socks. What did I do different?

The big picture: Your heart is the furnace pumping hot fluid (blood) to the extremities. The most important extremity is your head. This was programmed by millions of cave men, so you can’t change it.

Gory details: On Sunday I left the dirty old hat at home, and wore a hood. If the heat is used to keep the head warm there is no heat left for the hands/feet. If the neck isn’t insulated the heat never gets to the head. On the top half I wore 2 base layers (duofold), a fleece pullover (turtleneck with a zipper to cool off), a fleece vest, and a nylon parka (camo). Two base layers add a lot of insulation, without a lot of weight/restriction. The vest is one I modified over the years to eliminate the BUTT DRAFT (aka plumber’s leak). I added a extra layer of fleece to the back of the vest, and a flap at the the bottom which I tuck into the seat of my pants. The butt flap is 3 layers of fleece and a layer of waterproof nylon. That is to keep the butt warm and dry when I’m sitting on a wet log or cold rock. I also wore long johns (duofold), and snow pants. Same kind of snow pants Arwen wears sledding, they work. Thus the blood didn’t get cooled on the way to the extremities. I also take a closed cell foam pad (covered in waterproof nylon) to sit on. If you sit on that fleece you compress it, and all of the insulation is no good as there is no air space (might as well be bare a$$ed), and a rock can soak up a LOT of heat. In my sneakers I like to have a 1/4 inch insole of closed cell foam because no matter how many socks you wear as soon as you stand on them all the air goes out, and there is no insulation value. Ice fishermen take out a piece of plywood to stand on so they are not standing on the ice. When it snows I wear snowmobile boots. Rubber bottoms, and nylon uppers with a felt liner. The rubber/nylon keeps them dry, and the felt liner keeps them warm, with a 1/4″ insole of closed cell foam. Obviously, anything that restricts blood flow (like tight shoes/gloves) is a killer.

[bruc]

#53807

Great info Grumpy !

Bruce

[burgess]

#54799

i used to keep the nikon battery packs going on -12º photo shoot simply buy wearing rubber surgical gloves under army wool gloves……with a hand warmer pack between the rubber and wool…..palm side.

use the same technique when the temp takes a dive with the bow……the surgical gloves alone will add 10º to your regular gloves…..the hand warmer on the bow hand goes on the outside of the bow hand between the surgical glove and reg glove…….on the draw hand it goes on the palm side……since i shoot a finger glove the draw hand spends a lot of time in the kom pocket until needed however……..really though……simple surgical rubber gloves will add a lot to your regular gloves temp wise…….:wink:

[Bernie Clancey]

#61545

paleoman wrote: Maybe one of those muff type jobs if I’m using the right term? The fleece lined tube you put your hands in while at rest….I never used one but a friend has and seemed to like it at the time. It could probably be secured so it wouldn’t swing into your string.

I use one of these muffs with a handwarmer inside it. In the early season my string fingers are bare (I shoot with a tab), and I use one of those fingerless gloves on my bow hand.

Last weekend temps were -2 celsius (about 28 F) with a windchill of -12 celsius (about 10 F). I used a wool glove on my string hand inside the muff with a handwarmer and had no problem with the cold on my fingers. The rest of me complained a little.

The muff doesn’t get in the way of drawing the bow and keeps your hands warm. When still hunting, it is strapped around my waist and I don’t put my hands in it. Walking generates enough heat to keep my gloved hand warm.

[David Coulter]

#61751

The American leather gloves came and they are really nice. I got the med/large size and they are too small. They fit nice and snug, but won’t work with the duraglove. I’ll exchange for the larger size and see how they fit. They are really well made and feel like they’ll be nice and toasty. I think the price is very reasonable for the high quality. Dwc

Ps. They also threw in a nice tip protector with the gloves. Nice touch. Dwc

[sinawalli]

#7958

Hmmm, cold fingers… Know a thing or 2 about that! I use my usual shooting glove under a pair of those ragg wool/thinsulate lined fingerless gloves that have the mitt flipped over with a small Velcro tab to hold it against the back of your hand. You can put a hand warmer in if you choose.

[handirifle]

#9908

I cannot add anything to the cold weather gloves of choice, but I will suggest something I did. I use the flip back mittens mentioned several times, except I replaced the Velcro with magnets. sewn into the fabric. MUCH quieter and easier to use. I got tired of seeing game flinch when using them.

Some might say, “they don’t make noise till you close them” and I say, wait till your hand hits something on the draw, or gets caught on something when lifting the bow.

Just remember the magnets are in there if you use a compass though.

[David Coulter]

#16942

I have my American Leather handwarmer gloves in the X-xx size and they fit very nice. I have not cut the fingers for my Duraglove yet, but it should be fine. These gloves are really well made with fairly long cuffs. The cuffs do not have elastic in them, so there’s no blood flow restriction. Very soft, very warm. best, dwc

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#17159

Glad you like them, David. I’ve certainly spent that much (or more) on gloves that weren’t half as nice!

[David Coulter]

#17170

I just cut the fingers in them, leaving the backs just a little longer for any added protection. I’ll try to shoot with them later today. thanks! d

[Greg Ragan]

#24850

sinawalli wrote: Hmmm, cold fingers… Know a thing or 2 about that! I use my usual shooting glove under a pair of those ragg wool/thinsulate lined fingerless gloves that have the mitt flipped over with a small Velcro tab to hold it against the back of your hand. You can put a hand warmer in if you choose.

I do this too when the temps get real cold.

Until them when I am still hunting and moving a little I wear the green wool liners from my old mil. leather gloves with the tips cut to accommodate my glove.

For feet, mine sweat a lot and moisture is your enemy. I found a couple tips.

In the morning spray your feet and toes with aerosol underarm antiperspirant.

Then Take a thin sock liner under some nice thick wool socks.

Doing this I can wear my uninsulated Bean Boots with snow on the ground…..but for stand sits I have a pair of toe warmers that go on over my boot toes and keep them warm.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#25338

Yup = a thin liner sock can make a big difference with moisture wicking.

I also added some good felt insoles to my uninsulated pac-boots, and it has definitely extended the comfort level in cooler temps.

[archer38]

#31483

cold shooting hand, I wear insulated bib overalls in cold weather. I simply keep my hand inside the bib when it gets cold.

Cold feet !?! I am cursed with feet that WILL NOT stay warm !!

I mean even at around the freezing mark, my feet are frozen. The only thing I’ve ever owned that kept them warm was a good pair of mukluks. One thing that has changed the game is the Thermacell heated insole !! As a builder in Muskoka, I’m outside like every day year round !! These things are worth every cent !!

[David Coulter]

#39332

I got a chance to try the American Leather gloves on the stand Friday morning. It was 28f and I was still for about 3 1/2 hours of squirrel watching. The gloves worked really well. If it were much older I’d go to mitten, the fold-over type, but these did the trick for chilly weather. ?? dwc

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#41180

Glad to hear the AL glove is working for you, David. I found them to be quite toasty as well.

[John Dilts]

#43701

I live in Nunavut so cold weather hunting is all i get. The best thing is home made. 3 layers inside layer for warmth and comfort middle layer is a wind proof layer. Then on the out side you want beaver or dog yes i said dog or wolverine if you can afford it. There are places you can buy Inuit made gloves and mites you will never find any better.

Same with your feet i could never keep my feet warm in tell i had home made Inuit boots and the soft leather on the bottom makes them very quite

[John Dilts]

#43721

Eat foods that are highter in iron like raw meat and fish. mmm raw char.

[EJK]

#43825

I just bought a wool hand warmer from the Asbells. I’m sure it’s well made, I’ll give it a try.

[Author]

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