Does anyone make Gore-tex mitten shells, or a Sil-Nylon version ?

[SteveK]

Hi Everyone:

I know that Sgt. Rock and others use Gore-tex mitten shells, but OR no longer makes them. Do other companies offer Goretex or Event mitten shells ? How about sil-nylon versions for weight ?

Appreciate any help.

Steve

[fiddlehead]

try ragged mt. in NH. or you could make your own. I have an older pair (heavy) i got from ragged mt. years ago. they make custom stuff too. good luck

[Footslogger]

I was fortunate enough to get a couple pairs of the OR Rain Mitts before they vanished and to my knowlege they were the only ones of that kind available.

However, you might want to check out Backpackinglight.com. Here is a blurb they published about the topic and a similar product made from "Event" that they will be offering in 2006

'Slogger

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Born Again Rain Mitts

Something that was nearly ubiquitous on the early gear lists of our staff was the Outdoor Research (http://www.orgear.com/) Rain Mitt (a few were aficianados of the Lobster Claw style). These little beauties weighed 1.1 oz per pair, covered just the hands, and secured with an elastic cuff - a little short for mountaineering and full time wet walking, and a bugger to put on, but suitable for supplemental handwear in the shoulder seasons.
In 2004, of course, something predictable happened. OR discontinued them.
Their replacement was abysmal: the Rain Claw Mitts (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/outdoor_retailer_summer_wrapup.html). These babies gained weight with tougher fabric, a gripper palm, and one handed closure: exactly the kind of crap we wanted stripped when we screamed for the original rain mitts a decade ago. The Rain Claw Mitts were a full 300% heavier than the original Rain Mitts.
Not so surprisingly, the supply of Rain Mitts and Lobster Claw Mitts dwindled rapidly off the likes of eBay (http://www.ebay.com/) and STP (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/), and it was a banner day for an ultralight hiker to find a set in a closeout bin of a specialty retailer who hadn't a clue about the fact that they were worth ten times the marked price.
Of course, these models didn't even last a full season, and they've now vaporized from OR's web site, sort of (Google still has them (http://www.orgear.com/home/style/home/handtools/gloves/ascent/70410) indexed). Which means there is a chance they could reappear, or vanish from the market entirely, due to the simple reason that they were pretty unremarkable products that failed to capture anybody's attention in a way that the one ounce mitts did.
Death of an entire category in six months. Unbelievable. Worse, more fringe ultralighters identified OR with the rain mitt as their finest product (http://www.ryanjordan.com/weblog/2005/11/kanso_how_bill_.html). Now what's left for us? Stuff sacks?
Do-it-yourselfers rejoice. You can finally make a very useful product for which nothing on the commercial market is available.
http://www.ryanjordan.com/weblog/images/bmwrainmitts.jpg (http://www.ryanjordan.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/bmwrainmitts.jpg)(At least until Spring 2006...3-layer eVENT, seam-taped, 1.0 oz per pair, full gauntlet with drawcord.)

[TDale]

http://www.thepacka.com/page4.html

Sil-ny mitts

[Bblue]

These ultra light gore-tex mitts look like something you might be interested in. I emailed these folks and they ship to the US for their standard rate. The mitts themselves are spendy though.

http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product75.asp

This is a new website and they have some interesting things. I am not in any way connected with this company BTW.

[Mags]

http://www.thepacka.com/page4.html

Sil-ny mitts

I use these mitts with wool glove liners. Gotta say, it is a combo that works well. Used it one very snowy day on the Colorado Trail. Wool stays warm when damp, the silnylon kept out the worse of the moisture.

[Footslogger]

http://www.thepacka.com/page4.html

Sil-ny mitts
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If I didn't already own the OR ones this is definitely the way I'd go. Plus, Cedar Tree (Eddie, the owner of the company) is fantastic to work with.

'Slogger

[Youngblood]

I've had a pair of the OR one's for about 5 years. The elastic was too tight and I was frequently re-sewing it where the threads broke. I finally wised up and replaced the elastic, making it loser. If my memory is correct, they get pretty damp on the inside in prolonged rains, but it is warm and wet not cold and wet. I looked for a replacement before I replaced the elastic and couldn't find anything in its weight class a couple of years ago.

[Whistler]

I believe Dancing Light Gear makes silnylon mitts and booties.
-Mark

[MedicineMan]

I've got the original OR mitt, they are precious for the wt/fx...
i've also got the rain claw mitt and I wouldnt be so harsh on it....granted it is heavier a 3x the wt, but until they are lost they should last a lifetime.
The whole situation makes me wonder about OR, lately they've introduced a sweet rain jacket that looks competitive with the other BIG name players but why loose something so simple and basic that forms the foundation of your business....i'll never understand.

[orangebug]

I've got the OR mit, bought the last ones at MRO last Thanksgiving. The biggest problem is the small, tight elastic wrist, that makes it impossible to get over anything bigger than a glove liner. I know that I'll be trying to replace the elastic band, probably with some sort of a hook/loop tie.

They should shine in windy, wet weather. I'd only use sylnylon if anticipating nothing but wind, as it should be very wet inside from sweat. I'd like to hear a review that contradicts that expectation.

[MedicineMan]

i was just thinking though that jacks-r-better have an opportunity to add a piece of gear to their offerings, if they do then i will want stock options and a secret e-mail before they go public :)

[MOREHEAD]

Try running companies. I have a pair of gore-tex mittens made by Asics, the running shoe company. They are light and do a great job.

[Youngblood]

I've got the OR mit, bought the last ones at MRO last Thanksgiving. The biggest problem is the small, tight elastic wrist, that makes it impossible to get over anything bigger than a glove liner. I know that I'll be trying to replace the elastic band, probably with some sort of a hook/loop tie.

They should shine in windy, wet weather. I'd only use sylnylon if anticipating nothing but wind, as it should be very wet inside from sweat. I'd like to hear a review that contradicts that expectation.
Orangebug,

As I best I recall, this is how I replaced my elastic:

I got some Spandex fabric from a fabric store and rolled it so that it was two layers for the elastic band.

I increased the relaxed diameter 1" (?) from what was there, accounting for seam width. Sew the elastic by itself into loops, ie cuffs. DO NOT SEW the two long edges of the together at this point.

Use a seam ripper to remove the original elastic band.

Prestretch and sew.

I found a glass that was the right diameter for the mit to fit snuggly and slid the mitten 'right side out' on this glass (actually a girl friend figured that out) and slid the elastic, 'inside out' or 'wrong side out' in sewesse, on top.

Hand stitch the edges of the mit and stretched elastic while the glass holds them together with the elastic stretched. Sew through three layers, the edge of the mit and both long edges of the rolled Spandex.

It is not quit as easy as it sounds because the glass is somewhat slick and between elastic apply pressure and you handling it, it will be a little struggle to keep everything in place... but it can be done. You only have to do it twice.

Youngblood

[Footslogger]

[quote=orangebug]I've got the OR mit, bought the last ones at MRO last Thanksgiving. The biggest problem is the small, tight elastic wrist, that makes it impossible to get over anything bigger than a glove liner.
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That's all I wear under mine so it's never been a problem.

'Slogger

[orangebug]

Pre-Thanksgiving this year, we had freezing rain, wind and general nastiness. Liners were soaked quickly. Mittens helped me hang on to my Leki's and avoid frost bite to the fingers. The shell would have kept everything dryer and toasty. There just isn't any real insulation value in the shell, and not that much with liners.

[Footslogger]

Haven't yet had to deal with wet liners under my OR Rain Mitts. Mine are pretty roomy and while they don't have any insulation properties per se they do contain what little warmth I can generate by keeping my fingers moving.

'Slogger

[Youngblood]

Pre-Thanksgiving this year, we had freezing rain, wind and general nastiness. Liners were soaked quickly. Mittens helped me hang on to my Leki's and avoid frost bite to the fingers. The shell would have kept everything dryer and toasty. There just isn't any real insulation value in the shell, and not that much with liners.
That's my approach also... thin gloves (some kind of stretchy material but not the knit ones), light weight fleece mittens and then the GoreTex mitten shells. I need all of them at times to stay warm.

[Turtle2]

I'm thinking of making some sil-nylon mittens. What kind of problems would I run into if they were lined with lightweight fleece?

Thanks to all.

[Youngblood]

I'm thinking of making some sil-nylon mittens. What kind of problems would I run into if they were lined with lightweight fleece?

Thanks to all.
If you sewn the lining in, it will be a problem drying them out. I would go with lightweight fleece mittens and waterproof shells, that would also give you more flexibility as you could use the lightweight fleece mittens by themselves.