Warming Cold Hands

[Bodhi]

I learn so much from Susanjoypaul.

+1

SusanJoyPaul...have you ever considered writing a book or taking on an apprentice? Seriously, every Luke needs a Yoda. LOL (I really need to drink more coffee before getting on here....)

[Dex]

I always wear glove liners in winter, and they stay on till I get home. I usually have mountaineering gloves attached to my wrists with leashes as well, to slip over the liners if I need them. And a third pair - taped mitts - in my pack, in case it gets extremely cold and windy.

2) Rig your clothing and pack so you can manipulate the zippers, etc. with gloves on. For example, attach several inches of cordelette to each armpit zipper of your jacket.

What glove liners do you use? I use these and they don't do much for keeping my hands warm (without the mountaineering gloves). Part of the issue is that I always us trekking poles.

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___11211

2) I'm going to be adding a lot of strings to my zipper pulls - so simple - thanks.

[susanjoypaul]

What glove liners do you use? I use these and they don't do much for keeping my hands warm (without the mountaineering gloves). Part of the issue is that I always us trekking poles.

For warmth in winter, I like OR gloves... these have lasted me awhile, and they don't rip out in the fingertips as quickly as the Mountain Hardwears I had been using. I have the OR PL 400 women's gloves: http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/browse/Handwear/Liners.html

For warmer temps, I like the Manzella Silk Weight Windstopper. They're warm enough for spring-fall, yet thin and "grippy" for rock scrambling.

These all come in men's as well as women's varieties.

It's important to buy the liners first and then make sure that your mountaineering gloves fit over them, not vice versa, or you'll be forced to buy a liner that's too thin and inadequate for Colorado winters. I always use a single trekking pole, rather than two, and I keep it short, so my hand rests on top of it and I'm less likely to have it in a "death grip" (which reduces circulation and leads to cold hands). Also, since there's just one, I switch it between hands, giving each hand a break, to clench and stretch, offering the opportunity for more blood flow.

SusanJoyPaul...have you ever considered writing a book or taking on an apprentice? Seriously, every Luke needs a Yoda. LOL (I really need to drink more coffee before getting on here....)

Ha! Thanks for the vote of confidence. The only reason I know anything about anything is from hiking so much in really bad weather. I have this condition known as "peak-bagger's syndrome," which has allowed me plenty of opportunities to do everything every wrong way possible, till I finally hit on the right way.

I will pursue the writing suggestion... but as for taking on an apprentice, I already have a "Luke" in my good friend and hiking buddy DHatfield. Actually, he's more like Han Solo, in his sense of adventure, Chewbaca in his endless joking and howling laughter, and Princess Leia in his fashion sense. And if he starts calling me "Yoda" this weekend I will kick his R2D2

[cvrti5]

Then there's the obvious answer: don't take your gloves off, silly.

This really isn't practical for me because my hands sweat too much, no matter if they are cold or warm, they just sweat. I'm better off taking the soaked gloves off and getting a fresh pair. And my hands don't get cold because the gloves are off temporarily either. Stacking additional outer layers of gloves can work to a point, but then your mobility becomes more restricted with the additional layers.

[plark42]

when my hands are cold I put my bare hands on the back of my neck..

because there's so much blood flow going to the brain.. your neck stays very warm..

and unlike putting your hands on your chest, stomach, under your armpits, or in your pants, this method doesn't make you feel as cold.. I always shudder a little when cold hands go on my chest or stomach.

it also helps to straighten your arm and make huge circles with your hands, forcing the blood to your fingertips..

[susanjoypaul]

Stacking additional outer layers of gloves can work to a point, but then your mobility becomes more restricted with the additional layers.

With all due respect... layering is critical to ensuring you come home with all your digits intact. After you've done your first peak in sub-zero temps, with 50 MPH winds and 100 MPH gusts, you'll know what I'm talking about.

The layers can be pealed off when you need greater dexterity, but in general, we're talking about hiking here, not crotcheting. You don't need much dexterity, except maybe to occasionally pick your nose and scratch your butt. And hey - that's what your ice axe is for!

[MountainHiker]

The layers can be pealed off when you need greater dexterity, but in general, we're talking about hiking here, not crotcheting. You don't need much dexterity, except maybe to occasionally pick your nose and scratch your butt. And hey - that's what your ice axe is for!

Oh, so that's why they make those rubber tips for the ice axe!

[ht145bak09]

I have found that the best thing to do is to keep my hands doing something. The simplest way to do this is to hike with trekking poles or a hiking stick. Sometimes when I don't bring poles and don't want to carry a stick I will hold a small rock and toss that between my hands as I hike. Doing those different things along with proper gloves has always worked for me.

[cvrti5]

Stacking additional outer layers of gloves can work to a point, but then your mobility becomes more restricted with the additional layers.

With all due respect... layering is critical to ensuring you come home with all your digits intact. After you've done your first peak in sub-zero temps, with 50 MPH winds and 100 MPH gusts, you'll know what I'm talking about.

The layers can be pealed off when you need greater dexterity, but in general, we're talking about hiking here, not crotcheting. You don't need much dexterity, except maybe to occasionally pick your nose and scratch your butt. And hey - that's what your ice axe is for!

With all due respect? ... settle down. I'm not talking about negative 100 below wind-chills, I'm just talking your average 20 degree day at 14k with a 40 to 70 mph wind gusts. Just mitts will do me fine towards the summit and decent, but climbing lower without a lot of wind, I need to recycle out as many pairs of sweat soaked gloves as a can.

[ezsuperkev]

cvrti5,

Have you been above 12k in February when its -10 with 40-60mph wind gusts ? I watched the video you took on the summit of Grays Peak and considering you could hear your voice on the video I would guess that wind was no more than 35Mph. Trust me, that wind was nothing compared to what Susan is talking about (she knows). In temps like that, once the wind hits your bare hands it's not going to matter how much they sweat, they are gonna freeze.

[cvrti5]

cvrti5,

Have you been above 12k in February when its -10 with 40-60mph wind gusts ? I watched the video you took on the summit of Grays Peak and considering you could hear your voice on the video I would guess that wind was no more than 35Mph. Trust me, that wind was nothing compared to what Susan is talking about (she knows). In temps like that, once the wind hits your bare hands it's not going to matter how much they sweat, they are gonna freeze.

I haven't been outside in the conditions you state above ... on those days I try to stay home.

And I'm not saying anyone is wrong to layer--I do it all the time. I'm just saying *I prefer* to change out a sweaty glove when I can. Of course if it is really cold I'll layer. Or often when I go snowboarding, in the evening will put in the *dry* liners to fend off the cold for the rest of the day.

As for Grays, in the video I am shielded by a rock wall and the slope of the mountain. So the wind in that location wasn't too bad. The super wind that I encountered was on the climb up, and on the way down. On two occasions I almost fell over. On that same day, someone climbing Mount Bancroft clocked a couple of wind gusts with an anemometer at 66 and 71 mph. So I'm not necessarily making the 70 mph gust claim up.

[DHatfield]

Susanjoypaul wrote:
I will pursue the writing suggestion... but as for taking on an apprentice, I already have a "Luke" in my good friend and hiking buddy DHatfield. Actually, he's more like Han Solo, in his sense of adventure, Chewbaca in his endless joking and howling laughter, and Princess Leia in his fashion sense. And if he starts calling me "Yoda" this weekend I will kick his R2D2

That's great!! Yoda

[susanjoypaul]

ezsuperkev: You are ezsupercool! And not just your hands
cvrti5: Stop Sweating - Start Living!
Master Luke: It's gonna be a long weekend! May wanna pack both light sabres...

[ezsuperkev]

And I'm not saying anyone is wrong to layer--I do it all the time. I'm just saying *I prefer* to change out a sweaty glove when I can. Of course if it is really cold I'll layer. Or often when I go snowboarding, in the evening will put in the *dry* liners to fend off the cold for the rest of the day..

I have the same problem but only on the climb up towards the summit. On the way down is when my hands get cold. My gym coach mentioned to me that one cause could be that my shoulder straps on my pack might be too tight. I also tend to rest my wrists in the straps of my trekking poles. All good advice in this thread. I'll be trying many things out.

[cvrti5]

cvrti5: Stop Sweating - Start Living!

Sweaty palms have their advantage. Years ago I had to get fingerprinted for my job. It took them about 10 attempts to get a good print. So my sweaty palms prevent me from leaving solid fingerprints. That's gotta be good for something