An Unsolicited, Unpaid, PRS Endorsement.
I’ve been regularly groundpounding, year-round, for about a decade now. The only weather-related things that will keep me inside are cold rain and icy sidewalks/roads. As such, I go out in weather down into the single digits. On the coldest days, I wear sweatpants and multiple layers (depending on the temperature) under a windbreaker.
Yo, Jimbo. What about your hands? At single-digit temperatures, WTF?
Good question. At the outset, it should be noted that cold hands are only a problem for the first twenty minutes or so. After that, blood flow takes care of everything. Until now, I have worn nothing on my hands more elaborate than white painter’s gloves. They were warm enough for the first twenty minutes.
However; lately, painter’s gloves weren’t getting it done by the House by the Parkway (South), where we have frigid temperatures and some gorilla-stompin’ wind. I tried regular gloves, but I found myself pulling my cold digits out of the fingers of the gloves in order to make a fist inside the gloves. This, of course, demonstrates that the best thing out there to keep your hands warm are mittens.
Hence, the endorsement.
I recently acquired a pair of Manzella convertible hunter’s gloves/mittens as shown above. They are gloves that cover your hands but leave your fingers free to do stuff like load guns and shoot. The key is the “convertible†part. The gloves can be instantly converted to mittens by pulling the cover over the tips of your fingers. I love this feature, because I can do lots of things, such as fiddle with my iPod, without removing the gloves, and, after twenty minutes, I can fold back the part that turned the gloves into mittens, and magnets keep them that way.
So, if you are a cold weather groundpounder, a hunter, or anyone else who wishes to keep his/her hands warm in nice mittens, but who needs the option of using their fingers, I suggest you consider the Manzella Hunter Convertible gloves.
You’re welcome.
P.S. The gloves picture above are the camouflage version. Mine are the blinding “blaze orange†version, which you can see by clicking on the color in the previous link. Between the blaze orange mittens and my retina-scalding chartreuse reflective windbreaker, I figure my groundpounds are visible from the farookin’ space station.
Hunh. So I’m sitting here trying to think of a S. FL equivalent… like a hat that converts to… something else. Nada. I got nuthin’. We have alligators that can be converted to belts and purses… but you can’t convert them back. What’s done is done. 🙂
Comment by Bou — December 19, 2010 @ 10:55 pm
I have two pairs; both the same style, but knitted instead of leather & fleece. Poifect for taking photos in the cold. 🙂
Comment by Erica — December 19, 2010 @ 10:57 pm
I use the heat packs sold for outdoorsmen everywhere….I buy mine at Sportsmen Guide, the large ones which when activated last up to 20 hours.They are called “The Heat Factory”,Just place one in each jacket pocket & Poof PFM! You won`t even need gloves. Been doing this for about 15/20 years when out hunting & do not even carry gloves with me.
Comment by dudley1 — December 19, 2010 @ 11:43 pm
SWEATPANTS? Jimbo, some day you’re gonna freeze your ass off!
Comment by Mike Anderson — December 20, 2010 @ 10:33 am
Nifty! And dudley1 is right, those heatpack thingies are great. Although I never thought to put them in my pockets, except the back pocket of my pants.
Never underestimate the value of a warm tush.
Comment by LeeAnn — December 20, 2010 @ 11:32 am
Up here in the frigid north, we have those mitten/gloves with a custom made pocket to put the handwarmers in.
Comment by firefly — December 20, 2010 @ 4:03 pm
Wow. All this scary cold weather advice. I have muppet slippers… does that count?
Comment by Bou — December 20, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
Uh, that is why the make car’s and garage’s so you don’ have to walk outside in the winter.
Comment by James Old Guy — December 21, 2010 @ 8:38 am
these are THE BEST! Though the knitted variety I have doesn’t seem to block harsh winds very well…
Comment by Mike R. — December 21, 2010 @ 10:46 am
It’s a record setting 82 degrees in Houston today. Just thought I’d share that.
Comment by Jerry in Indiana — December 21, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
There is a reason God made California – lower elevations – of course. 42!!! man that’s cold here where I live. Love your site and humor.
Comment by Lorraine Woodworth — December 24, 2010 @ 3:59 pm