View Full Version : U/L Waterproof Mitts
Gentlemen, and Ladies: a question for the board. I would like to ask what are your favorite Waterproof / Shell ultralite mitts for use in typical wet/cold conditions on the trail? I'm looking for something weight less than 3-4 ounces per pair. Some that I've considered are: MLD eVent mitts; Zpacks Cuben fiber mitts; Outdoor Research Pentex shield mitts. I was using some OR PL400 gloves on my last hike, and they did fine down to temps in the 30s, until it was in the rain, when completely soaking wet, these gloves lost insulation and hands got very cold. So I'm looking to change to a shell mitt and inner glove liner (fleece or wool liner gloves) combo. any ideas ?
Weather-man
11-12-2013, 10:03
I use a glove/mitten set-up similar to these for 3 season hiking.
(http://www.amazon.com/Craft-Mens-Hybrid-Weather-Glove/dp/B008TNFM4E/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_6)
http://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Trans-Warmer-Convertible-X-Large/dp/B00847MRGQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384264480&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=Nathan+++Convertible+Gloves%2FMittens
They're a little flimsy and I've reinforced the seams with thin strips of black shoe-goo. I also pulled out the LED gear. I believe that they make a model without the LEDs but can't find it right now. These have served me very well....they're light weight, have smart-phone compatible texture on the finger tips and the mitten feature works very well to break cold wind and keep warmer air around my fingers.
For colder weather I have wool fingerless glove/mittens set-up. Same concept as the Nathan's but all wool and fairly heavy. Like these: http://www.amazon.com/Trimmed-Ragwool-Thinsulate-Convertible-Fingerless/dp/B005SOKA4Y/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1384265018&sr=8-3-fkmr0&keywords=Nathan+++Convertible+Gloves%2FMittens
Over the top of those I have an old set of OR mitten shells that I've had for years. They're light and do a good job of breaking wind and shedding snow.
garlic08
11-12-2013, 10:16
Mitts are about the easiest DIY project around, and the only thing I've ever made myself. I'm a total klutz at sewing. I'm the proud owner of a pair of Polartec 300 undermitts and nylon overmitts, made before the days of silnylon. Someday if I find a scrap of silnylon, I'll try to make a new pair of UL overmitts. Maybe when I decommission my Contrail. I use them for skiing and cycling in extreme cold (-20F) and they work great.
oldwetherman
11-12-2013, 21:17
I vote for the MLD Event rain mitts. Seam sealed inside and out with the liners of your choice. Make sure the sleeves of your raingear overlap the mittens by a few inches. Nothing worse than having moisture, in whatever form, run off the sleeves of your raingear and into your gloves/mittens.
Concur, the MLD mitts are super light, take up no space, great alone or on top of other hand-wear. Will never go back out without them or something similar.
Great gear
jimmyjam
11-12-2013, 22:32
I use some shell mittens I made from tyvek over wool liner gloves. Works pretty good .
Prime Time
11-13-2013, 10:40
For day hikes in the "shoulder" season, which here in Northern NH is late Oct to mid Dec and late March - early May, I use a waterproof, lightweight OR shell mitt over OR Flurry gloves. I like the flurry because it's wool, not synthetic. If I plan on summiting or stopping for any length of time, I also bring Hestra expedition weight mitts. They have a waterproof shell with a leather palm for grip and are toasty warm. The key here is you'll never find one pair of gloves that will do it all. With my OR combo, I can wear just the gloves, just the mitts, or both depending on weather conditions and the strenuousness of the hike. You will sweat almost no matter what you wear so when you stop, especially on an exposed ridge or peak, you must immediately change out to something seriously warm or your hands will be freezing in a matter of a few minutes. On especially cold days I add a mid weight Ibex wool liner so if I need to take off my mitt to work a zipper, eat something, or take a leak, I don't have a bare hand exposed to the cold.
I plan on ordering the MLD rain mitts this weekend. Lately 9/12 of the year is a "shoulder season" around here. I plan on using Outdoor Research Polartec gloves with the mitten flap as liners. Also plan to keep a pair of mil-surp wool liners as a backup for extreme cold/wet conditions.
MLD EVent mitts! The most breathable truly highly WP material I know of is EVent. I layer different liners or mitts underneath depending on conditions. I usually don't like wet or sweaty hands in cold wet extended distance winterish hiking conditions.
From Zpacks:
Constructed from 1.42 oz/sqyd Waterproof Breathable Cuben Fiber material.
Someone please help me out. Perhaps, I'm not aware of something. That's certainly possible. Since when has 1.42 cuben considered to be breathable? Set me straight in how this idea is being reached? Seriously, what am I missing for this statement to be accurate in any sense of what breathable means?
http://sticksblog.com/2012/12/09/zpa...er-rain-mitts/ (http://sticksblog.com/2012/12/09/zpacks-waterproofbreathable-cuben-fiber-rain-mitts/)
Kerosene
11-13-2013, 15:46
Can someone post the link to the zPacks Cuben fiber mitts? I would have thought it would be under Accessories, but I can't seem to find it.
http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/mitts.shtml
Firefighter503
11-14-2013, 09:20
I've been bringing OR PL 150 or Windstopper gloves whenever I hike for the last couple of years, but have been thinking really hard about a pair of mitts for in the rain/wind. In short, this is a tag.
I picked up these British issued Gore-Tex mitts at my local army/navy store. I paid $11.99. They are non-insulated, seam sealed and weigh next to nothing but they only come in camo. I also picked up a pair of wool us army mitt inserts for $3.00. I have used them a few times and they work great. If you get the larger size you can still use a thin glove liner and make a nice hand layering system.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-BRITISH-ARMY-ISSUED-CAMO-GORETEX-OUTER-MITTENS-GRADE-1-/121195645130
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/190775549618?lpid=82
Weather-man
11-14-2013, 10:12
Can someone post the link to the zPacks Cuben fiber mitts? I would have thought it would be under Accessories, but I can't seem to find it.
I can't find them either. I wonder if they dropped them?
Luke's has a pair....http://www.lukesultralite.com/content/cuben-fiber-over-mitts
and here....about an ounce heavier than the Cuben's but half the price.
http://www.lukesultralite.com/content/waterproofbreathable-over-mittens
Some great info here from everyone, thanks for the responses and tips. Another reason I love WB, you get feedback from hikers in different regions, different climates, different personal preferences. FWIW, those US Army wool glove inserts work great in cold/wet conditions, are inexpensive at almost any Army surplus store. I'm leaning toward the MLD EVent mitts, and also looking over some OR lightweight waterproof mitts. There's many different ways to tackle this beast. Thanks again!
Can someone post the link to the zPacks Cuben fiber mitts? I would have thought it would be under Accessories, but I can't seem to find it.
http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/mitts.shtml
I can't find them either. I wonder if they dropped them?
Joe Valesco(ZPacks) was so kind to quickly get back to me regarding some specs I requested on the 1.42 cuben he uses(used?) in his mitts. Sounds like he may be updating the mitts and/or the link as provided above by RamblingHiker. Would not be surprised to see Joe making a concerted effort to make anything he can better. I get the same thing from Ron Bell at Mountain Laurel Designs. This is what I so appreciate with cottage gear manufacturers: personal often prompt customer service. And, with either Zpacks or Mountain Laurel Designs mitts ONCE THE CUSTOMER GETS A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR it's hard to go wrong with either WP mitt.
I noticed just now that zPacks posted on Facebook that the cuben fiber rain mittens are again available: http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/mitts.shtml
steve0423
12-20-2013, 06:20
I use some shell mittens I made from tyvek over wool liner gloves. Works pretty good .
+1 Super light, water proof and trap a lot of heat. Combine with a thin merino glove liner and you’re in business. Can usually get at least 2 pair from a $15 tyvek paint suit purchased at the hardware store. Make sure to seam seal.
Kerosene
12-20-2013, 12:03
+1 Super light, water proof and trap a lot of heat. Combine with a thin merino glove liner and you’re in business. Can usually get at least 2 pair from a $15 tyvek paint suit purchased at the hardware store. Make sure to seam seal.So can you provide an actual weight for these ("super light" means different things to different people)? Thanks!
steve0423
12-20-2013, 12:52
Seriously?!
steve0423
12-20-2013, 13:02
Sorry, I misread your post as passive aggressive… That’s why I shouldn’t be on here with only a couple hrs sleep. I used them on a thru hike this past year. I know I weighed them on a kitchen scale but don’t remember what they came in at, and I wasn’t sharp enough to write it down. They worked well and once they finally started to give out and it warmed up, (somewhere in VA?) I tossed them rather then sending them home. They were made from the thinner Tyvek from a paint suit, hand sewn with basic thread and sealed with homemade seam sealer. Basic “oven mitt” pattern. My apologies again.
Kerosene
12-21-2013, 13:10
Yep, that's the problem with e-mail/text/etc. Hard for writers to consistently frame their question and easy to mis-interpret. No biggie.
You answered my follow-up question on how you assembled. Thanks.
After a decade of weight-shaving, I'm down to the point where I look at each and every ounce, although price does factor in at some point.