Perfect hunting gloves

[boyne bowhunter]

While we're kind of on the topic of cold fingers I'm curious if this is something I uniquely experience or if anyone else has observed this. After I walk in and am climbing the tree, my fingers never seem to get cold even though I'm handling my metal one stick multiple times, even in really cold conditions. However, after a few hours in the tree, the moment I touch my platform and stick, each only once, to get them off the tree my finger tips go completely numb before I rappel down. The only thing I can come up with is that my hands are like radiators and after the walk in and while I'm heated up it takes a long time to cool off my finger tips. However, once I've cooled off during sitting it takes very little to completely chill my hands. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[TreeMunkie]

While we're kind of on the topic of cold fingers I'm curious if this is something I uniquely experience or if anyone else has observed this. After I walk in and am climbing the tree, my fingers never seem to get cold even though I'm handling my metal one stick multiple times, even in really cold conditions. However, after a few hours in the tree, the moment I touch my platform and stick, each only once, to get them off the tree my finger tips go completely numb before I rappel down. The only thing I can come up with is that my hands are like radiators and after the walk in and while I'm heated up it takes a long time to cool off my finger tips. However, once I've cooled off during sitting it takes very little to completely chill my hands. Has anyone else noticed this?

Similar. Can be completely comfortable but the minute I start climbing down my hands get painfully cold. It’s one of the reasons I started 1 sticking. It took forever to pack up my sticks.

 

[HuskerInIowa]

While we're kind of on the topic of cold fingers I'm curious if this is something I uniquely experience or if anyone else has observed this. After I walk in and am climbing the tree, my fingers never seem to get cold even though I'm handling my metal one stick multiple times, even in really cold conditions. However, after a few hours in the tree, the moment I touch my platform and stick, each only once, to get them off the tree my finger tips go completely numb before I rappel down. The only thing I can come up with is that my hands are like radiators and after the walk in and while I'm heated up it takes a long time to cool off my finger tips. However, once I've cooled off during sitting it takes very little to completely chill my hands. Has anyone else noticed this?

Yep. My hands and feet get cold no matter how much I spend trying to prevent it. Might actually invest in some sort of battery socks this season. Been following the thread because I use the hand warmer method now but last year after an all day sit in 0 to -10 windchill I thought I was gonna leave sticks behind and hope they were there the next day, was struggling that bad on the climb down. Sat for a bit with a fresh warmer to pack up, fine by the time I got back to the truck.

 

[Maverick1]

While we're kind of on the topic of cold fingers I'm curious if this is something I uniquely experience or if anyone else has observed this. After I walk in and am climbing the tree, my fingers never seem to get cold even though I'm handling my metal one stick multiple times, even in really cold conditions. However, after a few hours in the tree, the moment I touch my platform and stick, each only once, to get them off the tree my finger tips go completely numb before I rappel down. The only thing I can come up with is that my hands are like radiators and after the walk in and while I'm heated up it takes a long time to cool off my finger tips. However, once I've cooled off during sitting it takes very little to completely chill my hands. Has anyone else noticed this?

Same here. I just attribute it to the fact that I'm warmed up due to the walk in, the heart is pumping blood, and the extremities are warm. Even in the coldest weather, I can park the vehicle and just walk to the tree in my baselayers, then setup and still be warm - no cold hands or feet while I'm setting up or getting to hunting height. About 30-60 minutes later it starts to return to normal. When I go to get down at the end of the sit, hands get colder a lot faster. I compare it to being active outside in the winter - I can jog, hike, cut trees, hang trail cameras in 20 degree weather wearing only a sweatshirt, sweatpants, hat, and very light gloves, without a problem. No way I could just sit there comfortably for an extended period of time wearing those same clothes.

 

[Horn]

@thedutchtouch , #41 is you? I'm mostly just curious as the cold hands on cold metal doesn't seem to bother me much. Not fun, but not a big issue.

Cold hands, and feet, are their own misery. That'll ruin any outing as fast or faster than anything i know of, or have experienced.

Personally, handling the extra cold and heat sucking metal doesn't seem to make any difference to me, I do understand that's on a person by person basis and I seem to be the exception

 

[GCTerpfan]

I have a couple pair of Hot Shot fleece glove similar to these.

They are cheap and surprisingly warm. I typically just use a hand warmer but will pair these gloves with a hand warmer when the temps get really cold.

 

[thedutchtouch]

@thedutchtouch , #41 is you? I'm mostly just curious as the cold hands on cold metal doesn't seem to bother me much. Not fun, but not a big issue.

Cold hands, and feet, are their own misery. That'll ruin any outing as fast or faster than anything i know of, or have experienced.

Personally, handling the extra cold and heat sucking metal doesn't seem to make any difference to me, I do understand that's on a person by person basis and I seem to be the exception

Yeah I think so/frankly I think that all humans experience this to an extent. long-term inactivity out in the cold which causes your body to draw some blood away from the extremities and supply more to your core to protect your important organs etc. so it makes sense/I suppose we are having similar symptoms but slightly different circulatory systems. Not to the level of hypothermia, but it's the same regulatory system. My theory is this decreased flow of blood to the extremities, coupled with handling something that has low specific heat/good conductivity steals the heat from your fingertips faster than the decrease circulation can restore it air/trees etc, so we get the hand symptoms/hypothermia on a micro-level. Might be interesting to pack an infrared thermometer and take a hand reading before and after handling a stick lol.


Edit: also anyone experiencing this type of thing would be smart to look up Raynaud's and talk to a Dr if you think you do have stronger symptoms. We all get cold fingers occasionally (so I don't think I have it) but I think it's treatable to an extent if you do.

 

[dalton916]

I’m pickier about gloves than anything else. Can’t stand loose gloves and simply cannot have anything covering my fingertips. First Lite Marino wool fingerless are the perfect gloves. With that said….the Sitka fanatic hoodie with the thumb hole and hand cover flap is damned nice too. I often use both.

 

[Nosaj]

Yep. My hands and feet get cold no matter how much I spend trying to prevent it. Might actually invest in some sort of battery socks this season. Been following the thread because I use the hand warmer method now but last year after an all day sit in 0 to -10 windchill I thought I was gonna leave sticks behind and hope they were there the next day, was struggling that bad on the climb down. Sat for a bit with a fresh warmer to pack up, fine by the time I got back to the truck.

I spend a lot of time outside in the cold, hunting, ice fishing, hiking, camping, snowmobiling...however if it was -10 and I felt I had to be hunting off the ground, I would be in a stand with a insulator suit.

ArcticShield Body Insulator, Realtree Edge https://a.co/d/9ChTkc3

 

[Exhumis]

Sure. Most of them suck too. Why does no one make a short brimmed boonie anymore? Most of the boonies now look more like a freakin beach umbrella than a hat. I did get one of these last year for Christmas... https://www.kuiu.com/products/kenai-beanie-ash?variant=40536031232158
and it will keep your head toasty if you are folically impaired like I am.

Drake makes a fairly short boonie, it’s almost like a bucket hat. I can vouch for it being waterproof:

Waterproof Boonie Hat - Mossy Oak Bottomland

The Boonie Hat has a full brim that provides 360 degree protection from sun and rain.

rogerssportinggoods.com

 

[Exhumis]

Outdoor research makes an operator style glove that works pretty good if you rappel. It’s definitely an early to mid season glove. I use a muff for the later seasons. They sent me a set to review, my review is the last one if you’re interested.

Heavy Duty Range Gloves | Outdoor Research

Breathable and durable Nomex® protection with a reinforced goat leather palm combines to form a highly versatile, rugged pair of gloves capable of providing complete hand protection in varying environments while maintaining great dexterity.

www.outdoorresearch.com

 

[TheBlindCat]

Sure. Most of them suck too. Why does no one make a short brimmed boonie anymore? Most of the boonies now look more like a freakin beach umbrella than a hat. I did get one of these last year for Christmas... https://www.kuiu.com/products/kenai-beanie-ash?variant=40536031232158
and it will keep your head toasty if you are folically impaired like I am.

I use the Tilley T3 in olive, great hat washes just fine. This version in Canada, have care some of their similar models are made in China if that matters to you.

T3 Classic

T3 Cotton Duck Hat

tilley.com

They also have a Canada made camo bucket hat.

Waxed Camo Bucket Hat

A classic bucket hat in our Halley Stevensons Waxed Cotton, now reimagined in a camo print. This modern hat was designed with a smaller brim, and grommets.

tilley.com

 

[Ckwilli]

I’ve been interested in trying the battery powered hand warmers. I bought my wife a battery powered vest with warmers in it last winter and she said it was amazing. I typically buy the disposable ones by the case but I always have a few that won’t heat.

 

[Marmuzz]

I did get one of these last year for Christmas... https://www.kuiu.com/products/kenai-beanie-ash?variant=40536031232158
and it will keep your head toasty if you are folically impaired like I am.

I’m folically imp-haired too brother. Man that thing looks wonderful!

 

[Still Kicking]

On the glove topic, why don't they offer different finger length in gloves? I would pay extra for a good fit. I wear an XL but have short fingers apparently as there is always a half inch to an inch of glove with no finger in it. For bow hunting I use a merino in size L and it stretches enough to get on and I don't have the excess in the finger tips. The hand muff is what saves me below 32 degrees.

 

[Marmuzz]

@Still Kicking that’s not an unreasonable idea, just that the market mustn’t quite be there yet. Varying finger lengths within hand sizes do exist in golfing gloves. There’s just a lot more demand for such customization from people shooting golf balls than arrows. But the array of hunting products today is incredible, won’t surprise me if that feature would become prevalent soon enough.

 

[Maverick1]

I’ve been interested in trying the battery powered hand warmers. I bought my wife a battery powered vest with warmers in it last winter and she said it was amazing. I typically buy the disposable ones by the case but I always have a few that won’t heat.

They make a handwarmer/USB battery charger that works well. Three temperature settings. Just have to remember to recharge it!

 

[Stump06]

I have all kinds and these are a few that I really like. My favorite is the Sitka ESW glove.


However, most of the time I use a version of these and snip the tip of the index and thumb for better feeling

These North mountain gloves actually have a version already cut that I use a lot for turkey

I really don't like thick gloves and usually don't get much thicker than these. If it gets cold I like to use a muff with a hand warmer to put my hands in. This is just what has worked for me

 

[Iron_llama]

On the glove topic, why don't they offer different finger length in gloves? I would pay extra for a good fit. I wear an XL but have short fingers apparently as there is always a half inch to an inch of glove with no finger in it. For bow hunting I use a merino in size L and it stretches enough to get on and I don't have the excess in the finger tips. The hand muff is what saves me below 32 degrees.

I have a vague memory from my active-duty days of pilots and air crew getting their NOMEX flight gloves tailored. I assume a tailor shop near an aviation base will be familiar with what's needed; maybe your local alterations shop will as well.

 

[Iron_llama]

I’ve been interested in trying the battery powered hand warmers. I bought my wife a battery powered vest with warmers in it last winter and she said it was amazing. I typically buy the disposable ones by the case but I always have a few that won’t heat.

I bought a liquid-fuel Zippo hand warmer last season; the last week of rifle season was COLD. I'm actually happy with how it worked. I generally dislike relying in the field on electronic gizmos I have to recharge; if I can't replace a couple of AA batteries it will absolutely fail on me when I need it to work.