Best cold weather mitt liner

Outdoor Research makes a nice "flurry mitten". Possum gloves are very nice but a bit delicate, I only use mine for camp and sleeping.

Nitrile or latex gloves will help whatever else you use. Acts as a VBL, helps keep warmth in.

I'm a big fan of RBH gloves as well, not just the liners.

The gloves I wear the most while hiking are PowerStretch fleece gloves. Light 100 weight fleece but stretchy, with a smooth fabric on the outside. I've got a Marmot pair and an EMS pair. These are fantastic for hiking because they breath. I wear them alone in the 40s and 50s. Or under rain mitts. Or as heavy glove liners under down mitts in really cold weather.

With your mitts, a pair of these would be very flexible. Maybe you would need a pair of down or synthetic insulation gloves, too — but under the mitts, they wouldn't have to be heavy duty.

I actually think the combo of the outer shell mitt and Power Stretch Fleece gloves would cover you for everything from the 30s to the 50s. Will you see temps colder than that on a thru hike?

A thick pair of wool socks makes a decent mitt liner if you don't really need your thumbs and is multi use.

Glove liners and mitten shells actually work pretty well and give you a lot of flexibility. In mid winter I usually bring 2-3 pairs of liners ranging from or pl100 to or pl400. In summer at elevation/shoulder season one pair of 100 weight and maybe some camp wind mitts.

For true cold (say <20 F) i've found the lobser liner that comes with bd mercury mittens to be excellent. I actually sometimes bring it without the mitt shells when I just want something for stops but plan on sking in more dexterous glove shells over my liners. My plastic ski boots don't work with thick wool socks and are quite warm so the sock trick makes less sense here.

Coldish (~32 F) and really wet conditions are a whole different ballgame. Growing up on the Olympic Peninsula I recall using waterproof mitts, multiple liners and having thick socks in a zip lock as a back up. You can use the socks while you dry the gloves etc.

Vapor barrier latex gloves are a great idea too but i've never used them much as I need to access my fingers to do diabetic blood sugar tests. I'm thinking of trying a pair with the fingers cut out this winter.

I will look into the fleece gloves – I like that idea either as a stand alone with the waterproof mitts or as a base layer beneath some sort of other insulation to soak up and disperse sweat.

I do expect temperatures beneath 30 – from what I've heard the Smokies that early in the season can be pretty chilly.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a down or otherwise warmer layer specifically? I've never really purchased a nice set of light weight gloves before.

DACHSTEIN WOOL MITTS (6.63oz)….Have used them for years in below zero F conditions under over mitts of various kinds.

I use outdoor research pl 400 mitts double fleece mitss under a pair of MLD event mitts, I then swap them out for a pair of gooses feet down mitts in camp.

I agree with the fleece recommendations, only for pure warmth, I'd go with a thick fleece MITTEN, not a glove. It's amazing how much warmer mitts are…

As far as down is concerned, I don't think it's the best choice for aerobic activities; it's great for sitting around camp (do you really need separate mitts for that?), but hands get sweaty when you're on the move, and fleece is really great for that…

I also agree with fleece. A good windresistant fleece is nice (gore windstopper). The wind blocking membrane can make your hands pretty sweaty, but I find wind protection is more important than moisture management for my hands. Down or synthetics are really best suited for standing around doing nothing in cold temps, not for active endeavors in 30F+ weather.

I hike with OR Versaliners in near freezing temps and find my torso is still more difficult to thermo-regulate than my hands (which normally freeze in cool weather city life).

I like the Land's End Polartec 200 wt "Aircore" fleece gloves i have. Fairly warm for the weight. I also soaked them in Nixwax to help improve water repellency.

Since you will also be using the MLD eVent mitts, you don't have to worry too much about wind blocking as if that's an issue, just put the mitts on.

I'm a big believer in layering systems. For example, i like a thin wool or wool-synthetic blend for on hands for comfort and warmth, then a mid weight fleece or polypro glove on outside, and then a highly water resistant or WPB mitt on outside.

A little more weight, but adaptability is awesome. Plus, i really like having some back up gloves on hand. Last winter, on one trip, i temporarily lost some gloves and almost came to really regret it and lows were only around 20 f and not a lot of snow. Hands are not something you want to mess around with, and it's a very good idea to have some back up gloves–especially since gloves really don't tend to weigh much at all.

Haven't tried it yet, but if my area gets some more serious cold this winter (15 degree temps or less), i will try Doug's Nitrile/Latex glove VBL idea, at least for camp use.

I never go winter hiking without an extra pair of warm gloves. It's just too easy to lose a glove and that could be very bad news on a cold day. Plus, I hate cold hands, so I'm likely to start with gloves even temps in the 50s if my hands feel cold.

I have an assortment of gloves and I usually carry a range of at least three of these. From light to heavy:

a) a super thin stretchy glove, the kind that are sold for use with iphones. Not much warmth, but just enough on a cool day. Or as a liner for heavier gloves.

b) Power stretch fleece gloves. Light stretchy fleece with a smooth fabric exterior. Love these. Great for driving. Great for hiking. Even great for sleeping in a cold tent. Worn by themselves or as a heavy liner.

c) DriClime gloves. Like Marmot windshirts. Wind resistant DWR glove with a very light lining. Good for warm windy days.

d) Fleece lined softshell gloves. Basically, stretchy fleece with a stretchy softshell outer. These are my standard hiking gloves on a windy cool day as they block some wind. Good for rock scrambling.

e) Marmot Precip waterproof overglove. No lining. No warmth. Just waterproof. For use over any of the above. These are almost always in my pack, just like a rain jacket and rain pants. In addition to being waterproof, they serve as an additional emergency layer in the same way as rain pants.

f) GoreTex winter gloves with synthetic insulation. These would be my standard hiking gloves on cold winter day.

g) GoreTex winter mitts with synthetic insulation. Same thing as above, but even warmer. Mitts are a pain in the butt, but they are warm. Really cold windy day. Can wear any of the thin gloves as a liner for even more warmth.

Expedition Grade Liner Mitt

This mitt is designed for pure warmth. Made with ultralight and soft 10d Nobul inside and out there isn't much other than goose down covering your hand. The palm uses our red 20d DWR coated nylon for a more durable layer and the wrist has an added pull to adjust and snug the mitts while in use.

The Expedition Grade Liner Mitt

The streamlined design and heavy fill hugs the contours of your hand keeping every digit warm. We've bumped the fill to extreme levels adding over 60% more fill that our Original Mitts making these the warmest BRG mitts ever made.

The Nobul material has a light DWR coating to keep out any light moisture or condensation that may form in your tent or shell mitts and the high quality 900fp goose down keeps its loft. These mitts have over twice the fill level of previous versions and are rated for sub-zero temps. Highly packable at only 40 grams these mitts barely tip the scales but pack the heat when you need it most.

These are a must have for those who sleep with cold hands or simply want the warmest and lightest mitt out there. Wear them over your light layers and under your shells, these mitts will stay dry, lofted and feel like you've got tiny heaters on each hand. We absolutely love these mitts and think they will be one of our favorite sellers this year.

http://www.blackrockgear.com/linermitts.html

Since no one has mentioned it, I'll put in a good word for polypropylene liner gloves. They come in black or navy blue and can be had for $5-10 at Army Surplus stores (or check Amazon). I'm usually a fiend for wool, and I love the possumdown, but in a glove application those super-thin wool gloves just disintegrate. A thru-hike will eat them alive, especially if you plan on hiking in them while holding trekking poles. Fleece is good, too, but I find that once fleece gloves get damp they lose most of their insulative abilities and feel gross and clammy. The polypro has better moisture management and a better price point. They're cheap enough to buy back-up pairs.

The Dachstein wool mitts that Ken mentioned are awesome too–much greater durability and warmth than boutique-y merino options, but you'll probably end up sending them home once you get past the Smokies, or maybe after Mt. Rogers depending on your timing and the season. The hiker-trash alternative (my preference) would be to just bring an extra pair of thick wool socks ("boot socks") for around camp/sleeping–leave the liner glove on underneath so you can cook, pitch shelter, etc. without losing too much heat. Trying to tie knots with bare hands in sub-freezing temps always makes me sad.

Save the $$ you'd spend on high-end gloves and tell yourself you can use that cash for an extra night at a hostel if the weather gets really cruddy. :-)

hwc says a lot of good stuff.
poly liners are cheap and are my std wear, but they don;t stop mosquitos and wear fast. still .. cheap is good.
the manzella windstopper gloves are a bit warm, but nothing in my world has a high a temperature insulative value at such a nice thin-ness as them.

fleece is the default glove of the north. fleece is not perfect, but it works over a wide range of situations.

for ya'll that like composite material gloves, and those looking at lined gloves, consider the uselessness of any glove you Can Not get back onto your hand if it's wet. simply take your glove and hold it under water, wring it out,a nd try to put it back on, if the material won't allow it, then that glove is valueless. there are lots and lots of those gloves out there.
you can always get fleece gloves back on. some of the lined gloves are really terrible in this regard.

cheers,
v.

Doug's comment about Nitrile gloves as a VBL are good. Keeping your insulation dry is paramount. But I recommend wearing thin liner gloves Beneath the Nirtile gloves.
This will make them much more comfortable and keep you from getting "prune fingers".

My two pair of extreme cold mittens are as follows:

1st pair> OR GTX shells over Dachstein boiled wool mittens. These proved great at minus 40 F! when I was a Nordic ski patroller at the 1979 Pe-Olympics at Lake Placid. I even removed a pair of wool glove liners I had as my base layer and was still warm. Dachstein boiled wool is amazing. Its thickness and density are the secret.

2nd pair> A larger size of OR GTX shells contains my "ultimate" winter mitten liners, a pair of DOUBLE layer fleece mitten liners from EMS. Sadly they are no longer made but these liners are amazing in their warmth and how fast they dry.

P.S. I recommend, in leiu of double layer fleece mitten liners, that a single layer fleece mitten liner coupled with a medium weight fleece glove liner will keep you just as warm in – 20 F. temps and give the versatility of gloved dexterity when you need it.

Nick,

I just ordered a pair of OR Pl400 fleece mittens. I haven't used them yet so can't give you feedback. I bought them on Amazon. Note: the BLACK pair is $35.00 but you can save $10.00 if you order the COYOTE color. I think these may be what you are looking for too for most temps, but not for the coldest of conditions. Then I'd use vapor barrier. Mike

Raises hand tentatively… I did mention polypro gloves, just not as a liner, but a mid layer.

Re: fleece. Soaking fleece in a DWR solution helps a bit with the issues you mentioned. Kind of temporarily turns it into polypro in a sense as long as the fleece is not too thick. I wouldn't use anything over 200 wt for a single layer.

Thanks all for the responses.

Michael, good call on the Coyote color. I'm basically deciding now between the OR 400 mitts, the Dachstein wool gloves, or the afore mentioned hiker trash method of warming a nice pair of wool socks over my hands. I have a bad habit of letting my old fashioned taste get the best of me and I think that Dachsteins may be too warm (people have cited temperatures way into the negatives – I imagine that the coldest temps I will hike through will be in the teens, maybe single digits)/heavy/itchy for my purposes, especially compared to the fleece (but man oh man, do I like the idea of wool better than the synthetic). Are these gloves itchy if worn next to the skin?

A thin liner glove under dachstein mittens is a solid choice. For a mid-March start, OR PL 400's (mittens, not gloves) is probably okay, under some sort of thin mitten shell (which could just be bread bags), and with thin polypro liner gloves.

Dachsteins are heavier, so I don't always bring them, but if in doubt — great to have.