Insulating mitts/gloves?

I've had good luck w/ the OR PL400 Mitts (fleece)- I have a similar three part setup- smartwool glove liners and OR Endeavor shells (and the PL400 mitts)

I also use a similar 3 layer setup
OR Endeavor shell mitts, smartwool glove liners, and I think EMS? fleece fingerless/mittens. Works great for me down to 0F or so.

Thanks Mike. What temps have you been down to while using the PL400 mitts and still retained the warmth?

I just read some things about Dachstein Mitts. Does anyone have experience with these?

on their own I'd say 20-ish, maybe a little lower- w/ the shells I've used them below 0

I have a pair of woolpower 400 mitts that are warmer, but they're also heavier and the fleece mitts I can dry out easier than the heavy wool ones- I guess if I was expecting extreme cold temps than the wools ones would go

I use a 3-4 layer system – depending on the temps.

Base – fingerless wool
mid – fleece mitt
mid – larger fleece mitt
shell – homemade mitten shell – totally breathable

after wetting out a pair of "breathable" OR shells last year- I sewed my own. a lot cheaper also.

Two complete systems made for under $35

Dave

surplus trigger finger mitts are super warm, super cheap, and super tough.

Yeah, I have a three layer system. First is a glove (which used to be polypro, now its some sort of synthetic which is not quite as waterproof as softshell, but more waterproof than polypro). Second layer is a double thick army/navy surplus mitt. Third layer is an REI overmitt goretex shell (serves as wind and moisture layer). Not the lightest, but plenty warm. If I thought that I would encounter really cold temps, than I might go with a vapor layer (bread bags). In general, I don't worry about weight as much in the winter (better to err on the side of warmth).

Dachstein wool mittens are boiled over a wooden form to shrink them to an exact size. They are very dense and VERY warm.

I wore a pair under leather mitten shells while patrolling the Nordic events at the 1979 Pre-Olympics at Lake Placid. At -15 F. at the Biathalon venue they were warm, maybe a bit too warm. At -40 F. (yes) on the last day I had Army wool glove liners under them and had to remove the glove liners as the combo was TOO warm.

So yes,Dachstein mittens are the real deal. I still have mine and sometines use them in below zero temps inside OR GTX mitten shells.

BTW, The only thing that may be warmer is a pair of really thick, double layer fleece mittens I have. I had to buy an XL size OR mitten shell to get them to fit inside.
The company that made the double layer fleece liners only sold them for one year.

MEC does a great PL1 inner mitt, I just use the inner from my Alti Mitts though

the OR PL400 are kind of a double layer fleece- 300 layer outer, 100 layer inner

the woolpower mitts are also double layer (of 400 gram wool), but are a little too warm for most conditions

I was going to order a pair of mitts from MEC, but couldn't justify the $19 shipping cost.

So it does sound like the Dachstein mitts are the real deal. I probably won't be in -15 temps but they sound nice since my hands are on the colder side. The 400g woolpower mitts also sounds good.

Right on, Eric. I had a pair of Dachsteins that I wore all the time through many Montana winters. Unfortunately, they eventually wore out right about the time when "high tech" fabrics were supplanting natural fibers and so I couldn't find them any more. Now I use other brands of wool, but they aren't nearly as warm.