Insulating liner gloves/mittens – Power Grid and Power Stretch confusion

I always have medical gloves in my med kit, but if the temperatures risk dipping below freezing a bring extra pairs. My hands and feet sweat a lot and I need a VBL on my hands, same as on my feet, at least when we reach -9C (15F). If under treeline, sheltered from wind, pretty much any thin liner works for me while moving. I often use cheap work gloves purchased from the grocery store. Not wind proof or anything, but provide enough insulation for most approach hikes. And I love the fact that I don’t have to worry about messing them up when using points. Above tree line, a soft shell glove or something with wind resistance or proofness is my preference, but again, I don’t need more insulation when working hard.

My current active set up for alpine conditions at very cold temps includes the nitrile glove, the work glove and a Yama Mountain Gear Pogie connected to my poles which usually only comes one above treeline. I like the speed I can get in and out of the pogie without any hassle more than I do a second glove or mitt. I do carry some insulating mitts for camp or stationary periods mostly.

https://www.yamamountaingear.com/pogies-rain/

For my feet I like Oven Bags as a VBL or large freeze bags.

I have been using Powerstretch gloves as a base layer in my 3-layer system for the snow, and as a one-piece solution for summer alpine situations, for years now. Very comfortable, warm for the weight, don’t absorb a lot of water and dry fast if they do get wet. The only thing I don’t like about them is they are not very durable. I used to use a polypro/wool blend glove, which were less comfy but significantly more durable, and a bit less wind resistant.

I suspect the difference between the power grid and power stretch is going to be negligible in a glove, although with less meat there, due to the grid, it seems like they might be even less durable. But I haven’t tried any grid fleece gloves, just clothing.

Thank’s for the opinions guys – but dose anyone know why the power grid ones are  rated warmer?

Either marketing hype, or that power grid fabric is thicker than the powerstretch fabric. Polartec makes a lot of different fabrics , and unless the manufacturer of the gloves states things very clearly, it’s hard top know which is being used. In the case of the two gloves you linked to, the one that is rated warmer seems to have a lighter fabric – way lighter, almost half the weight of the other; and yet the quoted glove weight is about 2/3 of the the other. Can it really be that much lighter and still warmer when they are both polyester fleece? I have my doubts. And anyway they are talking about only a few degrees difference really. At that point I’d just get the one that feels better on my hand.

But – one other thing, I see that the powerstretch glove you linked to has a suede palm. I stay away from anything with any kind of leather on it – takes forever to dry.

And another point – you mention wanting a fleece mitten with the ability to expose fingers, combined with a lighter liner. I’ve tried nearly all the liner gloves I can find, and the simple powerstretch liners at about 1.5 oz are almost as light as the thinnest liners I have found, which were 1 oz but nowhere near as warm, and almost useless on their own. So I’ve stopped looking for really thin liner gloves. If you need a lot of dexterity, like for cold temperature photography, silk liners under mittens used to be the way to go; but for most uses I think they are too thin to be useful, as they are not much use by themselves, where the powerstretch gloves, or anything of similar thickness, are very useful by themselves.

And just an educated guess but the OR mittens you linked to, with 300g fleece and a lining, are likely to be considerably warmer than the Montbells.

Try searching for convertible mittens or convertible gloves – you may find something that way.

Warmer because thicker but I guess an assumption about wind is being made, as in no wind; because grid fleece really lets the breeze blow through. But I do not expect my liners to be warm, I wear them to stop my hands sticking to metal surfaces, for warmth I need real gloves with a wind resistant surface layer of some description; Windstopper or a Goretex liner and when the wind is blowing hard and/or it is really cold shelled mittens naturally

I have always purchased GTX glove shells with removable liners. When winter camping I carry an extra pair of liners, usually heavy pile, to substitute for the damp mid-weight pile liners used during high activity.

But these new polyester grid glove liners may be better. I would have to try them for comparison.

Two years ago I did not take GTX shells backpack hunting in Nevada’s Jarbidge Winderness Area but used mid weight fleece gloves. They got soaked with wet snow and I regretted leaving the GTX shells at home. Never again

@ Christoph -> 35 Brit.pounds for liners??  YIKES! That’s over $70. I can get GTX shells and liners for a bit more than that.

My experience: per oz, grid fleece traps more air and is therefor warmer than non-gridded *IF* it is worn under a wind proof layer.  I’m a big fan of the gridded Cap 4.

I am NOT a fan of “gridded underwear” unless worn with the grid facing OUT. This is because the grid makes a pattern on my skin which soon becomes itchy.

If you get gridded underwear make sure it fits loose on arms and legs. Maybe sew a layer of thin poly fabric on the inside of the shoulders and waist area where your pack weight rests.