Thumb holes in long-sleeve T-shirts?

[DownEaster]

I'm planning on a late winter start for next year's NoBo AT through-hike, and I'll need warmer base layer clothes at the start. I'm trying out various options, and I noticed there are some wicking T-shirts with extra-long sleeves that cover half your hands, with holes for the thumbs. Does this little bit of extra coverage really make a difference? I can maybe see the value in keeping drafts from getting to your wrists, but I don't know if this is a useful feature or just a gimmick.

Your thoughts?

[Slo-go'en]

Yes, it can be a useful feature. I have a couple of shirts like that I use in the late fall or early winter.

[egilbe]

I get them because most sleeves arent long enough for my arms. They are pretty useful for keeping my baselayers sleeves from riding up when I put my next layer on. I suppose if one has short stubby arms, they will add some warmth to your hands and wrists, or you can buy wristies which will do the same thing.

[cliffordbarnabus]

i'm a round the world cyclist and a 4 time thru-hiker (pct/at). i am addicted to thumb holes. if the shirt i have doesn't have them, i get out the scissors. and then it has them.

[Venchka]

I bought my merino wool 1/4 zip top from LL Bean. Bean knows cold weather clothes. Thumbholes standard. My arms stay covered in my sleep.
Nuff said.
Wayne

[gbolt]

I have a couple of shirts with this option and for above freezing it does seem to help some. However, below 32º, I have fallen in love with "Wristies". These are awesome and I often end up wearing them 24/7 on the trail.

[NJdreamer]

I like them, and for weather when it is cold only early in the morning, or until I get moving, I bought a cheap one at a thrift store, cut off the sleeves and added elastic at the top of the sleeves. Now I have cheap and very usable removable sleeves for a fraction of the price for professionally made ones. When I am ready to take them off, I tie them around my waist pack.

[Dogwood]

In a layering system where the LS is not the outer most layer with the outer most layer also a LS jacket or if I'm stacking multiple LS shirts yes I too like the monkey finger(thumb holes) in the sleeves to 1) keep from riding up my arms also 2) give a bit more warmth to hands allowing for a lighter wt glove/mitten

[JPritch]

Love 'em....and I previously came from the 'they look silly camp'...until I actually tried them. Help keep your hands warm...and offer extra sun protection for your hands if you're in an exposed area. If I could just find a summer weight long sleeve with thumb holes it would be the perfect summer hiking shirt.

[Tipi Walter]

Love 'em as others have mentioned. There seems to be two different types---the Patagonia fabric loop which creates a thumbhole; and the Icebreaker style incorporated into the actual sleeve. I use both.

The Icebreakers don't last long on extended winter trips because the merino frays and pulls apart. Here's a field repair using a sewn-on fabric bandaid.

[Tipi Walter]

Here's a pic of the other style--Patagonia thumb loops---and different than sleeve holes.



Not my pic, it's from---

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/patag...lkweight-crew/

[Deadeye]

They're really just meant for gram-weenies: the holes weigh absolutely nothing.

[DownEaster]

I went ahead and bought two: one for sleeping, and another (with a quarter zip) for hiking.

DuofoldThermamatrix.jpg DuofoldQuarterZip.jpg

I figured the color of my sleeping base layer shirt isn't going to matter most of the time, but if I get in an emergency and need high visibility, it couldn't hurt to have safety orange available.

[cliffordbarnabus]

just cut them in any shirt. all good.

[DownEaster]

just cut them in any shirt. all good.

I guess you have shorter arms than I do, because that advice won't work for me. These shirts with thumbholes have sleeves 3-4 inches longer than my other shirts, and those sleeves are stretched between my shoulder and thumbs when I use the thumbholes. There's no way the sleeve from just "any shirt" is long enough to reach past my thumb.

[cliffordbarnabus]

i'm 6'2" with long long arms. stretch it out. all good. no worries. make it work!

[MuddyWaters]

Not a deciding factor for me
I either wear my fleece gloves when it cold enough, or dont

Early morning with cold poles, wet hands after stowing tarp covered with condensate, i often wear thin gloves gor 40 min till body warms, even with temps only in 40-50s