1.) DParker - 01/07/2014

Most specifically, at this point at least...gloves. As I get older I notice that I'm a little less cold hardy than I used to be, especially during these colder-in-Texas-than-Alaska days we've been having. The part of me that seems to be getting the most cold is my hands, and the lightweight gloves that have been perfectly adequate for years are no longer doing the trick.

So...what do you denizens of the even more frozen northern climes wear when the mercury really dips? I'm assuming something fleece lined but not so thick that your manual dexterity goes completely to hell. Or....?

2.) bluecat - 01/07/2014

I'm assuming by north you are referring to anybody living above the Red River?

3.) Jon - 01/07/2014

I'm in the same boat DP, I can't handle the cold like I used to. I cannot find a pair of gloves that can keep my hands warm and allow bowhunting dexterity at the same time. I can find gloves that do one or the other.
I have found a secret to keeping my back from going into spasms however, I use the thermawraps they sell at the rite aid or wallgreens. Wrap them around your torso and keep your kidneys warm, this seems to keep the rest of me warm.
I currently use a thin glove while bowhunting and just keep my hands in my pockets until I have to draw my bow.

4.) bluecat - 01/07/2014

I gave up on warm gloves because of the dexterity issue and use just plain old cotton gloves. I am able to draw with these at least. I have a muff or handwarmer pockets or mittens that I keep my hands in while wearing the cotton jersey gloves.

5.) Forkie McRut - 01/07/2014

DP,

I'll second Jon's recommendation on the kidney warmer ThermaCare wraps. They go a long way towards warming up the whole body.

For keeping the hands warm, I will wear a liner glove and use a handwarmer muff with a HotHands packet or two inside. The Cabelas MT050 one has done me right.

[url]http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-MT050reg-Extreme-II-Handwarmer-Muff/1222313.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dhandwarmer%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=handwarmer&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products[/url]

6.) Go Bucks - 01/07/2014

I wear liners or the cheapo wool things with the rubber dots on the palms. this is only in the event I take the hands out of the hand muff with a big Grabber body warmer inside.

exactly what forkie just said. I posted the same link... they are on sale now for like $25.

7.) DParker - 01/07/2014

[quote]I'm assuming by north you are referring to anybody living above the Red River?[/quote]

Well, that's the definition of "north", isn't it? :-)

I haven't gotten to the point yet that the rest of me is overly cold, but I probably will eventually, so I'll keep the kidney-warming strategy in mind for that. It makes a lot of sense.

As for gloves, I've got a pair of "Glomitts" (you know, those glove/mitten hybrid things) that do a decent job of keeping my hands warm so long as I keep the mitten part on, but as soon as I peel it back and expose the thin gloved part to do anything that requires dexterity my fingers instantly begin to get very cold. I imagine I'd have the same issue with muff-type hand warmers. Great until I need to use my hands for something. I think what I might need to find is a fleece-lined glove that's thin enough to permit dexterous movement, but with a pouch on the back for chemical warming packets. My Glomitts have such pouches, but they're warm enough as-is that I haven't had to use any chemical warmers with them.

Or maybe some experimentation with muffs and thin cotton gloves is in order.

8.) Swamp Fox - 01/07/2014

Keep hydrated with water (poor hydration doesn't let muscles contract as they should, part of the warming process) and lay off the scotch, uptown bourbon and especially the vodka while waiting for the big one...a deer I mean...

Speaking of the big one...Some blood pressure and heart meds (thinners, etc.) reduce tolerance to cold as a side effect. Also possible that those anti-psychotics are acting up on you. Maybe the horse tranquilizers, too. Consult your doctor.

Anything that you can do to improve circulation to the extremities would probably help. The proper extremities. You might want to cut back on the Viagra. I'm not a physician, though. Just sayin'.

I am kind of a glove maniac, since I get cold easily myself. Or I think I do...It's all mental, as they say in the Bahamas. I always dress and pack for cold, anyway. Best thing to do is try on every possible glove you can get your hands into. I cut a lot of fingers off gloves. Liners work great under thin gloves. A handwarmer (muff) is one of my best hunting (or fishing) purchases.

You can find a lot of thin stretchy gloves all over, but I've lost my source for a thin and trigger-friendly neoprene or lycra-neoprene glove that has been the bomb for me for many years. Closest thing to it is probably a golf glove or possibly you can find something under shooting gloves. If I find what I'm talking about, I'll let you know, but put a thin liner under it and cut off the tip of the trigger finger or whatever else you need, and they are far better than any single glove I've found for the needed dexterity plus some modicum of warmth.

9.) DParker - 01/07/2014

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;14416]lay off the scotch, uptown bourbon and especially the vodka while waiting for the big one...a deer I mean...[/QUOTE]

But I can still pour them on my Cheerios, right?

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;14416]Also possible that those anti-psychotics are acting up on you. Maybe the horse tranquilizers, too. Consult your doctor.[/QUOTE]

You're just trying to kill all my fun.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;14416]You might want to cut back on the Viagra. I'm not a physician, though. Just sayin'.[/QUOTE]

But should I still contact you anyway if I have a 4-hour woody? I mean, just to brag if nothing else.

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;14416]I am kind of a glove maniac, since I get cold easily myself. Or I think I do...It's all mental, as they say in the Bahamas. I always dress and pack for cold, anyway. Best thing to do is try on every possible glove you can get your hands into. I cut a lot of fingers off gloves. Liners work great under thin gloves. A handwarmer (muff) is one of my best hunting (or fishing) purchases.

You can find a lot of thin stretchy gloves all over, but I've lost my source for a thin and trigger-friendly neoprene or lycra-neoprene glove that has been the bomb for me for many years. Closest thing to it is probably a golf glove or possibly you can find something under shooting gloves. If I find what I'm talking about, I'll let you know, but put a thin liner under it and cut off the tip of the trigger finger or whatever else you need, and they are far better than any single glove I've found for the needed dexterity plus some modicum of warmth.[/QUOTE]

That sounds like a good avenue to pursue. I'm going to look into that as well. Thanks.

10.) Wild Bob - 01/07/2014

All I can offer is what works for me: I like to layer my gloves like the rest of my clothing. I have a couple pair of really heavy cold weather gloves but to be honest with you - I only use those if I'm sitting on a snow machine or doing something really sedentary and don't need my hands. So I use a good quality full wool (100% real wool no synthetics - these keep you warm even if your hands sweat a little) glove that is on the thin side as a base glove, then I have an oversize medium weight synthetic glove that I wear over top of the wool base layer. This seems to work pretty good for me, and it's reasonably comfortable and useable vs. bulky heavy gloves that aren't very flexible.

11.) Swamp Fox - 01/07/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;14419]

But should I still contact you anyway if I have a 4-hour woody? I mean, just to brag if nothing else.



[/QUOTE]


No please. I don't really want to know about that kind of stuff.


I have a lot going on right now.

12.) NEBigAl - 01/08/2014

Gloves only go so far, when its really cold and I need the dexterity, your own body heat just won't cut it.

Those hot hands packets work great, thats about the best thing I have found. I have a zippo handwarmer and I cannot get that damn thing to work worth a shit, it wont light no matter what I do.

13.) Floyd - 01/08/2014

DP, what ever you get, wait for the new mossy oak overwatch pattern hits the shelves. Then, you could look like a pile of dirty road snow and slush laying on the ground. Oh wait, never mind. You hunt in Texas.

14.) DParker - 01/08/2014

[QUOTE=Floyd;14433]DP, what ever you get, wait for the new mossy oak overwatch pattern hits the shelves. Then, you could look like a pile of dirty road snow and slush laying on the ground. Oh wait, never mind. You hunt in Texas.[/QUOTE]

Hell, I already look like that now...on a [I]good[/I] day.

15.) bluecat - 01/08/2014

Wait for the Baywatch pattern. It is much more exciting.

16.) Jon - 01/08/2014

I use the baywatch pattern on my hands......

17.) CHRIS - 01/08/2014

for cold weather I wear Arctic Shields Glo-mits with a thin silk layer glove, if its really bad I throw a small toe warmer pack in the mitten portion of the glove.

18.) ARCHERXP - 01/10/2014

When I was stationed in North Dakota, I used to use the same principle of layering outer garments with gloves. I'd have 4 layers of glove, a thin one (very form fitting and usually made of really great wicking material), a larger and thicker one, one larger and even thicker, and depending on the weather either hand muffs or really oversized gloves. Toward the end, I'd opt for the really combo using the muffs that way I can easily pull my hands out of the several cumbersome layers of gloves to make the shot. Since making the shot only exposed my skin to no more than a minute typically, it worked out well. The other thing that it did was offer ample room to add the hand warmer packets. Hope this helps.

19.) luv2bowhunt - 01/10/2014

I hate to admit it DParker, but the older I get the less interest I have in hunting when it hurts. If it's so cold I can't keep my hands warm with gloves and pockets and handwarmers, it just isn't fun anymore.

I'm hunting for fun nowadays. So, my advice would be warm fire, adult beverage, a good book or shooting magazine.

Hope that helps!:tu:

20.) DParker - 01/10/2014

[QUOTE=ARCHERXP;14491]When I was stationed in North Dakota, I used to use the same principle of layering outer garments with gloves. I'd have 4 layers of glove, a thin one (very form fitting and usually made of really great wicking material), a larger and thicker one, one larger and even thicker, and depending on the weather either hand muffs or really oversized gloves. Toward the end, I'd opt for the really combo using the muffs that way I can easily pull my hands out of the several cumbersome layers of gloves to make the shot. Since making the shot only exposed my skin to no more than a minute typically, it worked out well. The other thing that it did was offer ample room to add the hand warmer packets. Hope this helps.[/QUOTE]

If it ever gets N. Dakota cold here I'm moving to Costa Rica or something. :-) But I am starting to like the idea of the layered approach, although with probably a couple of fewer layers than you needed up there.

[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;14499]I hate to admit it DParker, but the older I get the less interest I have in hunting when it hurts. If it's so cold I can't keep my hands warm with gloves and pockets and handwarmers, it just isn't fun anymore.[/quote]

Well, it hasn't gotten so bad yet that I'd say it "hurts", or is even terribly unpleasant. I'd just prefer my hands to be a little warmer than they've been during these deep cold snaps.

[QUOTE=luv2bowhunt;14499]I'm hunting for fun nowadays. So, my advice would be warm fire, adult beverage, a good book or shooting magazine.

Hope that helps!:tu:[/QUOTE]

Now that deer season is over I'll definitely take the advice. The thing is, I still cherish my time in the woods too much to let cold weather take it from me....which to be honest I actually look forward to anyway. The cold is actually a nice counter after the miserable summer heat we get here. I don't really mind feeling a little cold anywhere, but when it comes to my hands it's just a double-whammy because it also tends to interfere with my manual dexterity.

21.) Bob Peck - 01/12/2014

[ATTACH=CONFIG]355[/ATTACH]

[url]http://glacierglove.com/our-products/hunting/bristol-bay-neo-full-curved-finger-313.html[/url]

Dexterity? Yes
Fleece lined? Yes, very comfortable
Warm? Yes. 2mm of neoprene
Sweaty and Clammy? Yes if you're active
Pain in the butt to get off? Yes.
Waterproof? Yup
Molded Curved Finger? Yes.
Goofy "too long" thumb? Nope.

8 times out of 10 I have "Hot Hands" in my jacket and wearing silk/spandex gloves (thin and excellent insulator).
[ATTACH=CONFIG]356[/ATTACH]

22.) DParker - 01/12/2014

Those look interesting, Bob. Thanks.

[QUOTE=Bob Peck;14521]Goofy "too long" thumb? Nope.[/QUOTE]

LOL! I wasn't thinking about that, but now that I am you may have just hit on the single biggest gripe I've had with every pair of gloves I've ever worn. For a while I thought I had freakishly short thumbs relative to my other fingers. I even compared my hands with other peoples' before realizing mine were normal. So why is it that glove manufacturers tend to over do the thumb length? I might have to try these ones on the strength of the thumbs alone. :tu:

23.) Jon - 01/13/2014

The only downer about those neoprene based gloves is the sweaty/clammy thing Bob mentioned. I have a pair of those and sure enough, they get wet when your hands are warm. Sorta contradicts the whole warm dry hands thing. They are fantastic for ice fishing however, which probably isn't something you do very often in Texas.

24.) DParker - 01/13/2014

[Quote]They are fantastic for ice fishing however, which probably isn't something you do very often in Texas.[/QUOTE]

Does pulling a box of Mrs. Paul's fish sticks out of the freezer count?

25.) bluecat - 01/13/2014

Face it DP. You have freakishly small thumbs.

26.) DParker - 01/13/2014

[QUOTE=bluecat;14540]Face it DP. You have freakishly small thumbs.[/QUOTE]

Never. I will, however, face that I threw up [I]on[/I] Dean Wormer.

27.) Bob Peck - 01/13/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;14522] So why is it that glove manufacturers tend to over do the thumb length?[/QUOTE] There is actually an answer. I'm told by at least two manufacturers the reason isn't length of the thumb, it's the girth. In order to accommodate the girth of big meat hook kinda hands, the glove pattern for the thumb specifically is averaged differently than for the other digits.


Oh I can hear the replies to this now ... :laugh: 3 ... 2 ... 1 !!!

28.) Bob Peck - 01/13/2014

[QUOTE=Jon;14537]The only downer about those neoprene based gloves is the sweaty/clammy thing Bob mentioned. I have a pair of those and sure enough, they get wet when your hands are warm. Sorta contradicts the whole warm dry hands thing. [/QUOTE]

Yes and no.

Insulation is material that slows heat loss. In most cases the material slowing down the heat loss is permeable (i.e. Primaloft, Goose down, wool). In the case of neoprene, there is very little permeability which is why it's a great material for wet suits. With Neoprene the heat loss is so minimal *and* there is zero permeability. The only direction for heat to go is back to it's source (in this case the hand). The ambient temp (cool) and the inner temp of the glove (warm) causes condensation. Arctic Shield is another product that technically speaking isn't really insulation and which also causes clammy when exerting in the garments. I also pack Arctic Shield to the stand for the same reason as the neoprene gloves.

When calories continue to get burned, heat is the by-product, sweat is inevitable to regulate temps BUT with neoprene your hands are warm albeit in a clammy way. When you stop or slow down the calorie furnace you're in trouble with neoprene, cotton and Arctic Shield.

I never put these neoprene gloves on until I get in the stand. While I'm transporting them to the stand they are in my pack with Hot Hands inside them. I'm not burning a ton of calories sedentary in the stand so I rarely get the clammy feel.

29.) bluecat - 01/13/2014

[QUOTE=Bob Peck;14544]isn't length of the thumb, it's the girth. [/QUOTE]

That is what people with small thumbs always say.

30.) NEBigAl - 01/14/2014

[QUOTE=bluecat;14548]That is what people with small thumbs always say.[/QUOTE]

Well if you ask my girlfriend my thumbs are 5" long...please no one show her a ruler.

31.) DParker - 01/14/2014

[QUOTE=Bob Peck;14544]Oh I can hear the replies to this now ... :laugh: 3 ... 2 ... 1 !!![/QUOTE]

Something about Ron White and a cheese wheel springs immediately to mind, but I'll keep it PG-13 and not go there.