Bushwalk Australia

Out for a Sunday afternoon stroll on the WE gone. Turned back approx 50m from summit of Hartz peak as the wind became a little overpowering and the ensuing front dropped 6" of snow. Thought we were suitably equipped but both of suffered very cold hands and by cold, I mean numbingly painful! I was wearing wind stopper fleece gloves covered by BD g/tex shell gloves, my Wife, the same fleece gloves covered by WE g/tex overmits. Both of us use poles and I suspect this is a significant cause for the lack of circulation with subsequent discomfort. Any one have any recommendations for keeping hands warm(er) in these conditions?
Cheers, Randal.

Hi Randal; the advice I offer is to walk faster to encourage circulation and to get acclimatised as quickly as possible by exposing your hands to cold conditions as often as possible before hand.
Also check the fit of your gloves, most people do not buy gloves large enough and if the gloves themselves are even a little tight they make the circulation problem worse.
Fleece gloves with a windshell should be good enough for most Australian conditions, were you warm over the rest of your body? Sometimes adding a little core insulation in the form of a vest or putting on an extra hat works to as the extra heat is shunted to the extremities

thinsulate or primaloft gloves are warmer or by proper mountaineering gloves. black diamond, outdoor research do great ranges, outdoor research list a temperature rating for the various gloves on the labels...
fish oil improves circulation...

I usually have a few of those cheap disposable hand warmers in my pack for days like that. Even when wearing full mountaineering gloves with an inner, I can still get cold hands when guiding (walking slower than I'd like in exposed areas). You can usually pick up two packs at the chemist for a few dollars.
And I agree with you about the impact of using poles on hand warmth, I think it's partly reduced circulation but also just how exposed they are!

Cheers!

Dee

I like the look of the new Montane Prism Gloves: http://vimeo.com/72406517 Not yet available though...

Also the Outdoor Research Versaliner glove system. Reviewed this year on Sectionhiker's blog looks pretty handy

mountain designs have a version of teh prism glove, havent seen it on their website but its in store. nice light and warm

Thanks Guys, Moondog55, I am ex Geelong and have spent the last 30 odd winter years roaming Victoria's high country, my major haunt being Feathertop. Surprised me have not met ?? However, I have not experienced cold the likes of down here in Tas in winter. The wind chill factor is, we'll strewth, the tarns we passed on the way up Hartz peak had frozen over on the way down, so I'm talking damn cold. Where I can travel faster, I'm not prepared to leave my Wife behind, I consider myself extremely fortunate that she even comes with me. Core temps for both of us were fine, just hands suffered. dee_legg agrees the use of poles is a contributing factor, and I will admit that when the gloves are wet they are hard to get on and off, so perhaps too tight. Will shell out for upmarket mitts, always been a fan of OR stuff so will look there first . Many thanks. Randal.

what are your walking pole handles made of? my black diamonds are made of closed cell foam, hands always warm

A small flask of something "medicinal" may be what you need.......

Dave

wayno wrote:hands always warm

I agree. Walking with poles means that you are using your hands, increasing arm and hand circulation. Your palms are protected from the elements, if the handle material is half decent you'd have to be warmer than without poles.

I have to say that sometimes my hands are colder when using poles, perhaps it is the fact that they are in a clenched position for a long time and my fingers aren't wriggling as much as normal.
Are the wrist loops also a little on the tight side too?
Personally I find my Windstopper gloves far less warm than any of my other gloves or glove/mitten/mitt combinations because Katmandu did not have them made in an XL/XXL size and I am a ten and a half in gloves which is reasonably big.

Moondog55 wrote:I have to say that sometimes my hands are colder when using poles, perhaps it is the fact that they are in a clenched position for a long time and my fingers aren't wriggling as much as normal.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

Best not to clench the poles, I use a light grip and tighten it as the pole tip strikes - loosening again when it leaves the ground. This is an automatic response to using poles for me and results in a continuous tense and relax for the muscles in my hands and forearms. Mine are pacer poles, there is no need to clench due to the anatomic grip and I hardly ever use the straps. I'd imagine using poles and gripping them firmly for a long time would be very tiring on the arms...

Right on! Dead grip on poles is a sure way to induce frozen hands. It restricts blood circulation and compresses the glove insulation.

The making of Mammut Gloves with Gore-tex membrane:



Interesting stuff!

can't fault that process. no wonder they cost so much, pretty labour intensive process....