Good base layer gloves?

I've been using Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch gloves for years. The XL fits my hands fine and they work perfectly. 1.6 ounces.

Check out the Seirus All Weather line. They make good stand-alone gloves as well as liners. They have light "pleather" palms, thumb and forefinger reinforcements and good dexterity. They thin enough to work well in a mitten shell. The cuffs are long enough to fit inside a shell and I've gathered that wrist insulation has a lot to do with keeping your hands warm. REI carries them.

I do prefer some sort of palm reinforcement for use with trekking poles. I love Power Stretch type material, but it will pill and wear with constant pole use.

Stepping outside your request a bit, look at the OR Versaliner gloves. You get the inner that is close to your needs, plus a SUL pair of rain/wind covers to go over. They do have rubber dots on the fingertips and palms. It's like using a fleece and a windshirt on your hands.

as you have found out, buying gloves online without trying them on is a cr@pshoot … just like shoes or packs

i suggest going into a store and trying everything on … it really is that simple

if you want dexterity, i suggest going into a store with your pack and gear, and try to do all the basic functions with the gloves on … like putting on jackets, zipping up, setting up your stove, etc …

when i look for climbing gloves i bring a short length or rope in and make sure i can tie all my climbing knots with em on

fit is EVERYTHING

;)

i have had great service in cooler weather out of these :

http://www.rei.com/product/766531/manzella-silkweight-windstopper-gloves-mens

at REI. you can walk right in and try them on.

very thin, wears decently. quite comfortable. and thin enough to go nicely into a pair of glove or mitten shells i've stripped the linings out of. a nice cuff on them too.
the temperature differential across what is a pretty thin material is amazing. makes bike riding on cold days almost fun.

v.

Huge fan of PowerStretch fleece gloves. Not at all waterproof, but super for cool days. They breath really well and fit great. Also, work fine as a glove liner under waterproof shell gloves.

They should serve pretty much the same function as the wool gloves you tried.

I like powerstretch of thin softshell gloves for general purpose but I just picked up a pair of cheap and light true liner gloves from STP. Terramar wool gloves, super thin, fit well, ~$12, but I don't expect them to be very durable. I'll use these as true liners to boost the warmth of power stretch gloves or to provide a next-to-skin layer for deep cold conditions where I want enhanced dexterity but do not want my fingers exposed to frostbite inducing temps and winds.

Wool is durable and a good material for gloves. Think of what your wool socks go through.

I love my EMS powerstretch gloves. I think that they're the perfect weight for cold weather activities where you're generating some heat. The only drawback that I've seen with powerstretch is that it takes a long time to dry.

Another vote for PowerStretch. Over the years I think I have used Mountain Hardware's PowerStretch, but I have vague memories of other manufacturers. They have all worked well for me.

–mark

OR PL 100
Rab phantom grip (windpro) or powerstretch
Ibex knitty gritty (wool)

I have a pair of eddie bower first ascent windpro on the way as well…i like slightly more wind/water resistance without being full membrane. My rabs are the old hardface ones but i love them.

Also get 2-3 pairs so you can always have a dry pair or be drying pairs inside your clothing.

For thicker thermal layers under a shell mitt I just got the OR PL400 gloves, and mitts. They are double layer (100 and 300 weight) fleece and the warmest fleece gloves I've ever worn. If these are too hot I wear Patagonia's liner gloves but for -10˚C these are great.

Lands End has some 100w fleece gloves on sale. My daughter got a pair as a gift. They are real Polatec fabric and well made.

Thanks for the feedback all. I'll do some research and pick something in the new year based on your recommendations.

I also picked up a pair of Eddie Bauer polar tech gloves for a relative for Christmas and they seem pretty good. Might add them to the consideration list for myself.

If you want wool, check out the US military surplus wool liners. They come in several sizes. XL is around a 5, but they also have a 6.