I have written before about how to properly get dressed for winter shooting in the mountains so that taking photos won’t be a torture for your hands and you’d have a chance of returning home in one (not frozen) piece. Now I want to tell you a little more about winter hand warming. Nothing discourages from reaching for a camera in winter like fingers numb from cold (perhaps apart from clear sky). I have been testing various winter glove solutions for several years, I have tried the better and worse ones. In this article I summed up experiences from my winter adventures in the Bieszczady Mountains, Tatra Mountains, Dolomites, Italian and French Alps. It was an almost 10-year journey to reach the setup I currently use, which, as it turns out, can be summarized in a 10-minute reading article. So let’s get down to business…
Which gloves are the best for winter photography?
It depends :) On your budget, the materials from which they are made of, the quality of production, the temperature range in which you will be shooting, humidity, the ease of use of your photographic equipment (the buttons on different cameras are not the same size and shape, same for the knobs, grips etc. etc.) and many other factors. Nobody said it would be easy to choose something. How did I start?
Regular winter gloves
During my first winter outdoor activities, I was accompanied by Black Diamond Glissade gloves. Waterproof, insulated, ensuring good grip thanks to leather inserts. Very good mountain gloves. Precisely – mountain gloves. Unfortunately, what works well in the mountains is not always suitable for photography. Operating the camera and dealing with pressing buttons a few millimeters in diameter is like nanotechnology using a crane. So the Glissades, despite their advantages, ended up in the closet and I set out to look for something that would give me more freedom while operating my photo gear.
Staying true to the Black Diamond brand (this post is not sponsored by BD), I chose WindWeight Mitt. Photographically, it was a bull’s-eye. Fingerless gloves with the option to cover the fingers between taking photos, keeping the hands warm when necessary. They look like this:
Made of fleece, with windstopper. Down to -5 degrees Celsius, to me it was a pretty good solution (remember that everyone has a different sensitivity to cold – it’s good to know your body’s capabilities). Over time, I began to prefer trips to colder places so I had to start looking for more/better insulation. I have to also admit that the gloves did not cope perfectly with the rain, so their versality was somehow limited.
Photography gloves
PGY Tech
After some time photography gloves began to appear on the market. First impressions – shi… i mean poor quality. If something is “photographic”, it usually costs twice as much and is made twice as bad. This was true for many years. That’s why I remained loyal to Black Diamonds for such a long time. Two years ago, a friend recommended me PGYTech gloves. Chinese product available, among others, on Aliexpress. Good specs, cheap (for photo gloves).
In the product description mentioned the following properties:
- Reinforcing layer
- Waterproof layer
- Windproof layer
- HIPORA waterproof and breathable lining
- 3M Thinsulate – high-quality cotton that protects against cold
- Soft lining
“Gloves for all conditions”.
Sounded like a perfect match so I got myself a pair. A winter trip to the Dolomites ended with frostbites. I think that none of the Chinese marketers spent the night in a tent at -15 degrees Celsius wearing those gloves – remember this when reading descriptions of similar equipment. Gloves specs found over the Internet are often like description of the load capacity of tripods. 3 Legged Thing will not break at the declared 20kg load while Gitzo or FLM will ask you for another 20kg per each leg. Interestingly, in the case of these gloves, the manufacturer’s declarations were most likely verified by a larger number of customers – the company has already removed information about the temperature range in which these gloves can be used.
Vallerret Ipsoot
Fortunately, my hands came back to life after the Dolomites trip, ready for another blood-curdling experience. Should I try another photo gloves? Why not! This time I decided to give a chance to Vallerret Photo Gloves, specifically the Ipsoot model. Vallerret is a Norwegian brand that quickly gained the status of one of the best/most popular manufacturers of photographic gloves – which was also reflected in the price, because let’s face it, 450PLN (~€100) for gloves is quite far from affordable. On the other hand, although a finger is not a kidney, it would be still a pity to loose one, so this kind of investment might be worth considering.
What do the Norwegians offer in Ipsoot gloves?
Specification:
- Liner made of 100% merino wool
- FlipTech – exposed fingers (thumb and index) with magnets
- Goat leather finish
- Thinsulate insulation
- Memory card pocket/tripod key
- Stretch collar
IPSOOT in practice
The gloves seem to be well made and the materials used are of good quality. They fit comfortably on the hand, the size chart reflects well what you get – the gloves are neither too loose nor too tight (which could result in reduced blood circulation and frostbite). As I mentioned describing PGY gloves, it often happens that the technical specifications of the equipment have nothing to do with its use in ‘combat conditions’. In the case of Ipsoot, the manufacturer declares that these are “deep winter” gloves. As before, reality verified the joyful creativity of marketers. When testing them in winter in the Bieszczady Mountains, I did not have such an impression. At only -10℃ I felt cold wearing them, I assume that such a temperature is borderline for this model. I’m writing this as a person who, in winter at -15℃, can chop ice holes to swim in a lake for a few minutes. I can only imagine that for most people the thermal comfort may be even lower.
At temperatures from 0 to -5℃, the gloves performed well – they were warm and comfortable. The only minor downside was that after an hour of sleet, the gloves started to get soaked. However, they are mostly going to be used in sub-zero temperatures and they cope with snow very well.
What about photography? Exposed toes are a useful patent, as confirmed by previous experience with Black Diamonds Mitts. Unfortunately, the magnets holding the Ipsoot’s closure do not hold well when taking photos. Using a stronger neodymium magnet would not increase production costs a lot, but definitely would enhance the comfort of photographing. Especially in winter conditions, taking breaks in order to fight with rebellious gear is unwelcome. If it weren’t for this, we would be dealing with a successful photographic gloves that works well at temperatures from -1 to -8. Ultimately, the Ipsoots turned out to be a worse version of the Glissades, providing less protection against weather conditions and an imperfect photographic solution. They were still my best option at the moment. However, my experience with this product gave me hope that my pursuit for a perfect glove eventually might become successful and it is possible to produce photographic gloves that will make photographing in winter a pleasant (or rather neutral) experience for the hands.
What Ipsoot missed to achieve success?
- better finger opening system (stronger magnet)
- better water resistance
- better temperature range – greater versatility
The Heat Company
Knowing what you need makes it easier to find solutions to problems. That’s how I found The Heat Company. They made a huge impression from the very beginning – especially with the price, which is approximately 1,200 PLN (~260 EUR). However, for this price you get equipment that can handle temperatures from +10 to -25 degrees Celsius. How is this possible? THC offers a complete hand warming system consisting of three pairs of gloves. This provides incredible flexibility and the ability to adapt the set to any conditions. Taking into account the cost of treating frostbite, recovering after the expeditions and photos not taken due to the cold, the above-mentioned 1,200 PLN sounds a bit better (but still expensive).
The tested set included:
- Thin gloves (liner) – Merino Liner Pro
- Mittens with exposed fingers – Shell Full Leather Pro
- Polar Hood overlay
Merino Liner Pro
These are light gloves, perfect for winter cross-country running :D
Well, not really. They were usually used differently :) In my opinion, they provide good insulation at temperatures around 0℃. I also used them as approach gloves at temperatures down to -8 degrees – the body then releases a lot of heat (especially when you’re carrying 20-30 kg on the back;)). They have a good grip, the use of merino wool means that, considering the weight of the material, they are really warm and in case of getting wet they can still keep the hands away from cold. They weigh approximately 80g. For comparison, the thin Smartwools I used weighed 40g, but they tore on the second day of shooting in the Dolomites. The 40g difference is fully justified and translates largely into the durability of the equipment. The weight/insulation/strength ratio is excellent. The gloves are adapted to use touch screens. Operating the smartphone or the GFX 50S II screen was pretty much trouble-free.
A big advantage of THC gloves is a pocket for a chemical heater, thanks to which you can provide merino wool additional help in warming your hands. It is worth adding that THC also produces such warmers – for toes, back, arms, heated shoe insoles, etc. Some of them work for up to 40 hours (according to the manufacturer – I have not tested these for such a long time, but even if it is 20 hours, it is still a lot ). It is worth buying them, they can be useful in emergency situations – a sudden drop of temperature, loss of a glove, unexpected bivouac, etc.
Shell Full Leather Pro
When the liner was not enough, I put another layer on it – Shell Full Leather Pro. These are definitely my favorite gloves – classic fingerless mittens in a fully weatherproof version. Combined with the merino liner, they provide very good insulation while maintaining excellent breathability. The shell layer protects against rain and wind. The build quality is great. They are made of 100% goatskin, which provides good grip and durability. After almost 2 years of use, the gloves look like new. Primaloft Gold insulation is responsible for the thermal parameters, which, combined with the Merino liner, allows you to feel comfortable at temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius.
Similarly to the WindWeight Mitt, the glove allows the fingers (which are heated by the liner) and the thumb to be exposed, making the use of the photographic equipment as comfortable as it can be, taking into account the above mentioned temperatures. The part that can be opened is secured with a laminated zipper, thanks to which when I was not taking photos, the gloves were tight and did not let in any cold or wind. The magnets used in the closures are stronger than those in Vallerret gloves and do their job quite well (the gloves did not bother me while shooting, although the magnets occasionally let go – the use of slightly stronger ones in subsequent versions would be welcome).
The disadvantage of this layer (apart from the price) is also its size. The “shell” weighs about 430g and is really huge. For comparison, the Tarptent StratoSpire Li tent (which I would love to test, write a review and display its photos from a projector on the wall of my house – I’m just saying, in case this post reaches the USA :D), weighs less than twice as much. It also took me a while to get used to such a large glove and perfect the outdoor logistics (unzipping zippers, attaching magnets, maneuvering photo equipment etc.). It required several trips outdoors to get used to it. However, the thermal comfort is definitely worth it. I think that in at least a dozen situations, in the case of previously used gloves, I would not decide to stretch my stiffened fingers out into the cold. Who knows, these photos might not have been taken…
Polar Hood
When I needed even stronger protection, I put on an outer layer – Polar Hood – over the Shell. As the name suggests, it is a glove with a simple design. A waterproof, windproof layer that does not insulate itself, but better retains the heat generated by the body, liner and shell layers. That’s all. Increases thermal comfort significantly. To be honest, so far I have used them only a couple of times. I wore them almost as often as… I carried cooking water in them (this can be treated as a sort of a waterproofness test :)) The quality of workmanship, as in the case of the previously discussed gloves is very good.
A final word
