How do you keep your hands warm?

[CobsGalore]

Ok sounds like a bit of a silly question, but I REALLY struggle to keep my hands warm in the winter. Even with thick gloves on, my hands sometimes get so cold that they are painful. And they sort of just seize up. Simple tasks like doing up rugs and poo picking becomes extremely difficult.

Can anyone recommend particular gloves or anything else that I can do to stop my hands from getting so cold? I think I must have bad circulation or something.

 

[WhiteMagic]

Not gloves but have you tried the little hand warmer things, you can get them in outdoor shops meant to be really good

 

[FireFly29]

Silk liner gloves are good, you can get them from outdoor camping/ski shops. They are really thin, like the same thickness as tights, but really good warmth to weight ratio.
They are so thin you could probably wear 2 pairs under normal gloves if you wanted to.
I also bought a pair of the new Woofwear waterproof winter gloves that seem warm, but not bulky.

 

[millikins]

Barbour's pure wool fingerless mitts, barely take mine off all winter.

 

[CobsGalore]

Thank you, will try these suggestions - willing to try anything!

 

[hnmisty]

Are your gloves thermal or just thick? Thinsulate

If you're already using thermal, you could try some that are serious pieces of kit- stuff they use on high altitude climbs.

 

[CobsGalore]

Yes my current gloves are Thinsulate ones, my hands still get sooo cold though!

 

[starryeyed]

Sealskinz!

 

[CobsGalore]

Sealskinz!

Never heard of this...googling now!

 

[MochaDun]

I totally empathise, I have splits on both my thumbs already just after a few days of cold temps. I have some mountaineer type gloves but not waterproof but as you can guess, no good for doing up fiddly rugs, etc, so have to be whipped on and off to do such things. But like you the pain once we get to really well below freezing temps almost makes me howl. Not there quite yet thankfully. The Sealskinz ones sound amazing so once got a bit more money this winter I think I am going to invest in some of those as fully proof for everything it would appear!

 

[lhotse]

I asked an Alaskan crab fisherman (don't ask!!) how he kept his hands warm in such cold and wet conditions. His answer was to never allow them to get wet and don't take off the gloves!! So, get a pair of gloves that allow you to do everything you need without taking them off, and a pair of tough rubber gloves to go over the top if you need to put your hands in water. It's actually quite easy to get used to doing fiddly jobs with gloves on, I used to climb and in winter, you just can't risk taking gloves off, so I can pretty much do everything with a pair on!!

 

[khalswitz]

Hand warmers, then fingerless wool gloves, then riding gloves for me. However I also keep my arms warm and have decent cuffs on my jackets to keep heat in - funny, if your wrists are warm your hands don't get quite as cold...

 

[CobsGalore]

I totally empathise, I have splits on both my thumbs already just after a few days of cold temps. I have some mountaineer type gloves but not waterproof but as you can guess, no good for doing up fiddly rugs, etc, so have to be whipped on and off to do such things. But like you the pain once we get to really well below freezing temps almost makes me howl. Not there quite yet thankfully. The Sealskinz ones sound amazing so once got a bit more money this winter I think I am going to invest in some of those as fully proof for everything it would appear!

I'm glad it's not just me. It's not a normal 'cold' feeling, it's just absolute agony and I'm not one to fuss, I just get on with it, but sometimes I find it very difficult as my hands just simply don't work!

 

[sandi_84]

Me too, I have incredibly cold hands at the best of times and they get very sore in the winter cold. Keep flexing your fingers and palms as much as possible in your gloves, it will help keep the blood flowing and keep your hands warmer.
I have sealskinz and as much as I think they are the best winter gloves even with them it won't keep your hands from getting sore and cold if they aren't moving enough, filling haynets etc isn't enough as i found out the other day, in between chores I had to keep moving my fingers.

 

[CobsGalore]

Which sealskinz gloves do you have? There seems to be a few different types

 

[sandi_84]

Which sealskinz gloves do you have? There seems to be a few different types

Ooh gosh sorry I can't remember, I was given them as a gift last year so I can't remember which "model" they are now

 

[khalswitz]

Me too, I have incredibly cold hands at the best of times and they get very sore in the winter cold. Keep flexing your fingers and palms as much as possible in your gloves, it will help keep the blood flowing and keep your hands warmer.
I have sealskinz and as much as I think they are the best winter gloves even with them it won't keep your hands from getting sore and cold if they aren't moving enough, filling haynets etc isn't enough as i found out the other day, in between chores I had to keep moving my fingers.

Yes, this. My horse is so bloomin' strong that my hands stay warm that way...

 

[Landcruiser]

I bought some insulated grippy work gloves a couple of years ago which are completely brilliant for yard work and hacking out in the cold/wet. I haven't found them again (mine are beginning to show signs of wear now, but they owe me nothing - they were about a fiver!). Something like these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ARTIC-POLAR-WINTER-WORKING-YELLOW/dp/B003BEA7P0/ref=pd_sim_diy_2
except mine don't have the knitted back. I also have several pairs of the thick Thinsulate gloves which are great, and a very good pair of ski gloves which are warm and waterproof. I have sealskinz winter riding gloves, but of all the above, these are my LEAST favourite. I'm something of a glove obsessive, because I have arthritic knuckles which quite literally seize up in the cold.

 

[starryeyed]

Which sealskinz gloves do you have? There seems to be a few different types

I have the "Winter riding gloves" and the "Competition riding gloves" (which I believe are the same as the "all weather" ones, but grippier) - the winter ones come out for intense cold (snow!), as they are very bulky and although i can do rug buckles, feeds, gates etc with them, they're not great for holding reins or anything too fiddly.
The competition riding gloves aren't as warm but are just as waterproof and they are a lot easier to do things with. I've only bought from the horsey categories so not looked at the other types they do, but have been really impressed with mine x

 

[McCauley]

Second the Sealskinz! I have a pair i wear through winter when needed...just started wearing them these past couple of evenings actually as the weather turned cold.

From memory, mine are the waterproof winter ones.... and they are indeed that. I can sort my 'soaked nets' out and stick my hand pretty much into the water without feeling the wet! They do admittely feel damp out the outside, but that dampness/wetness does NOT get through to my skin! I just pop them over mycar's front window heater vent on my way home and their back to dry as a bone by the time i get back

Fanastic pair of winter gloves in my humble opinion and they were bought for me as a Christmas Pressie from my parents last year (i'd asked for them!). Bit on the pricey side, but well worth the money in my eyes.

 

[Nannon]

I second sealskinz I have Reynauds syndrome and my hands get awful in the winter, last year I saw people recommending them on here and thought worth a go!
I have the hi viz hi grip ones, warm and waterproof without being bulky - can do buckles etc without taking them off and they are actually waterproof! I got them off eBay from a cycling shop thing for £12 instead of 20 something so worth shopping around - wouldn't be without them for another winter!

 

[Hoof_Prints]

I have mild raynauds, and my hands just won't warm up without a lot of exercise, blood vessels constrict so no internal warmth! I wander around with my hands on my neck, necks are always nice and warm and its like your own portable heater ! People think i'm a little mad until I tell them what i'm doing.. and since I've seen people on the yard warming their hands on their necks gloves go on once they have warmed up enough, but they seize up on me and turn white so I need to warm them up quickly.

 

[jinxter]

Thin disposable gloves then any normal gloves on top.

 

[pansymouse]

As I get older my Raynauds is getting increasingly severe and I find that layering gloves starting with silk liners then wool then neoprene works best for me. Imo layers are better than one pair of thick gloves. I warm my hands in my crotch - not a good look but the pain of them coming back to life is so intense I'm far beyond caring.

 

[Regandal]

I've seen me warming my hands on my horses' rump, under his rug whilst he's eating his hay. Have shoved my gloves in there as well to warm them up. A guy who works at our yard swears by fleecy wrist warmer things (could be magnetic inside) - says he's never had cold hands since wearing them

 

[djlynwood]

I have really bad raynauds in my hands and feet. Used to just get it in my hands but as I get older, its getting worse in my hands and now its starting in my feet. It hurts so bad that Im hunched over in pain when it kicks in.

The trick is to not get cold in the first place so I live in thermals until the spring. Make sure I keep my core always warm and as someone else said before, not let my hands get wet.

One of the best peices of advice Ive had was to use wrist warmers under my gloves. I also wear silk gove liners too but keeping my wrists warm too has made a massive difference.

 

[9tails]

I've seen me warming my hands on my horses' rump, under his rug whilst he's eating his hay. Have shoved my gloves in there as well to warm them up.

Me too. When my fingers stop working I stuff them, gloves as well, under my horse's rug. She's not that pleased about it and we do a little skitter dance for a few moments, but it only takes a couple of minutes to defrost them.

 

[NativePonyLover]

Sealskinz gloves - I'm a total convert this winter. Nothing else has come close - I've added the Sealskinz waterproof hat & thermal socks to my Christmas list, I've been so impressed.

 

[RutlandH2O]

I have 2 pairs of Sealskinz Ultra Grip gloves. I have found they are NOT waterproof, and within 2 weeks of wearing them, the tips of the thumb and first fingers need sewing to close up holes. I make sure my nails are short throughout the winter months to prevent any rubbing and friction to the gloves I might be wearing. For me, Thinsulate is, by far, the warmest material for gloves, but they are so bulky they have to be removed whenever gates need opening, or anything needs to be removed from one's pockets. Well-meaning friends give me fingerless gloves, not realising that it's my finger tips which suffer the most from the cold. I've taken to wearing 3 to 4 pairs of gloves in the coldest of the weather: I start with a pair of thin cotton gloves, then over them I put on a pair of thin wool gloves. I put on a pair of nitrile gloves, and then cover the lot with a pair of Thinsulate gloves. If I have to come in contact with anything wet, I remove the Thinsulates, do what I have to do, then put them back on immediately. If I could find a pair of not-too-bulky neoprene gloves, I think that would be another option, seeing as my neoprene-lined boots are so very toasty and warm.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

i have these and they keep me warm, tho when it drops below 1 degrees I find I do struggle with warmth so am looking at some for that temp....but I also have Raynaud's so warm and me are very difficult to get right:/

http://www.sealskinz.com/UK/gloves/kj598-ladies-all-weather-riding-gloves-pink.html