I carry a multi-part glove and mitten layering system on day hikes and backpacking journeys (primarily in spring and autumn) to maintain my arms heat when it’s chilly, windy, or raining. The “glove layering system” I exploit combines fingered gloves for dexterity with a water-proof/windproof mitten shell to entice heat. The mixture lets me take away the outer shell layer after I want extra dexterity or when it’s too heat to make use of, however weighs subsequent to nothing so there’s little weight penalty for carrying it. I exploit an identical system in winter, however with heavier parts for extra heat retention.
As a rule of thumb, I keep away from shopping for mountaineering clothes that attempt to do “too-much” when it comes to their performance and stick with one-layer, one-function fashion layering parts as a result of they’re rather more versatile than layers that construct a number of features right into a single layer. For instance, I choose carrying a fleece hoodie and a rain shell, as a substitute of a single insulated artificial jacket as a result of it’s simpler to fine-tune my heat stage in altering climate. The identical holds for gloves.
Fleece Liner Gloves
Fleece gloves are an awesome baselayer glove as a result of they keep heat when moist and since your physique warmth can dry the perspiration that accumulates in them if you are mountaineering. Skinny gloves additionally assist protect your guide dexterity, permitting you to open zippers, take pictures along with your digital camera, and even prepare dinner if you’re cautious to keep away from flames. They’re additionally fairly cheap. I normally purchase a number of pairs at a time, so I can swap in a substitute after I lose one. The Decathlon Fleece Gloves I at present use are dust low-cost and fairly skinny, which is nice for dexterity. If I want a little bit extra heat, I swap in a thicker pair of cheap REI fleece gloves for extra heat.
Rain Mitts
Rain mitts act as a wind barrier and assist retain extra heat than waterproof/breathable gloves, regardless that they reduce down on guide dexterity. That’s not as massive a deal because it sounds, as a result of my REI rain mitts are made with a skinny shell materials that’s much more malleable that the heavy shell material you discover in winter glove shells. If I want extra dexterity, I can take them off briefly and nonetheless hold my fleece glove layer on.
I’ve tried many alternative pairs of waterproof shell gloves and mitts over time together with Mountain Laurel Designs Rain Mitts and Yama Mountain Gear’s Rain Pogies, however they require seam-sealing which is a messy course of and I discover them clumsy to put on. REI’s rain mitts are seam-taped and made with waterproof/breathable 3-layer Gore-tex which breaths surprisingly fairly nicely. I feel they’re a superb worth, they’ve a a lot better match, and you may return them in the event that they don’t work out.
Backpacking Glove Layering Techniques
A backpacking glove system, as I described above, can present an essential stage of safety and luxury in case you hike in chilly climate, or in bone-chilling wind, mist, or rain. Whereas might select to make use of totally different parts in your mountaineering or backpacking glove system, the power to mix them or use them individually is a bonus that normally outweighs the overhead of carrying separate gloves and mittens.
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