Electric Gloves (heated)

“I was at the Kittery Trading Post (Kittery Maine) yesterday looking at great gear I can't afford and noticed some electric, battery powered glopves - they took D cell batteries, alkalines supposedly last 5-6 hours. I wonder if they would be a decent alternative to the chemical heat packs (which are kind of lame - but can be better than nothing). Supposedly they were based on gloves developed for winter use on off-shore oil platforms.

The gloves at this url are close, but not quite what I saw: http://www.safetycentral.com/nogebahelegl.html”

“http://www.safetycentral.com/nogebahelegl.html" target="_blank"> another idea ”

“wish I had those last night on LeConte”

“Here's the link for http://www.safetycentral.com/nogebahelegl.html” target="_blank"> the first url”

“What's to stop the batteries from dying in the cold?

I like the chemical heaters myself - cheap and easy.”

“dats a gewd question... (an how much heat do they really generate and... do the batteries fall out when you unlatch the button, and how hard is it to turn them on when your hands are already cold... )

Needless to say, I didn't buy them... but still curious to see a report.”

“Have u seen the electric jacket, heated? I think TNF makes it.”

“I love the chemical heat packs, but NOT for gloves. First get GOOD gloves (goretex,down etc) For REALLY cold weather, mittens are better (even a mitten shell that fits over your gloves). It still stands that if your feet or hands are cold, put on a hat. This is where you lose most of your body heat. If you try the chem heat packs, get the 4x6" type & place it near your heart. (some like it on their back) The SMALL ones are lousy anywhere. In addition, they all stop working if they get wet.”

“I had, in fact I think I still have them, electric socks on the same principle. IM (not so) HO, they are pretty much a waste of time. Headlamp batteries are worth while, but anytything else is a pain. I sleep with my headlamps and spare batteries in my bag.

Heated socks, gloves and now jackets are simply unnecessary if you have the appropriate clothing (layering) system. You can be warm and comfortable without gadgets.”

“I agree with gremlin and if you are going into seriously cold conditions have a separate battery pack for your headlamp that you can put under your clothes to keep the batteries warm.”

“"Electric Gloves (heated)"

You thought maybe the electric was for illumination?”

“Layering is important, but at severe sub zero temps - I have heard too many nasty stories of people whose hands suddenly got numb - before they could do much about it and they had a real struggle to warm them up. That's why I carry a couple of chemical heater packs on really cold days - in case of an emergency need to get my hands working.

I figure the gloves are best for people emerging from shelter for a work shift (like on the off shore rigs in the North Sea).

Here is a recent example (from a New England board) of finding your hands suddenly getting numb and cold:

Last week, a friend and I hiked Cabot. On paper, it seemed pretty tame: less than 8 miles round trip, 2700 feet of climbing. Starting temperatures were a little cold – about 5 degrees above zero. “But we’ve done that before,” we both thought. As expected, the ascent to the cabin was nothing out of the ordinary. We took a short break for a snack and checked the temperature. It was around -8 in the cabin, but still no reason to be overly concerned.

Leaving the cabin and moving into the stronger summit winds, we quickly lost the trail. I had been warm all morning, but as we searched for a paint blaze, my hands suddenly went from comfortable to cold to uselessly numb. My friend went off to search for a hint of the trail. I struggled with the decision of digging through my pack in the wind for my warmer gloves. Every simple action seemed to be a major undertaking – both mentally and physically. I found my self alone on an icy, windy summit with next to useless hands. In a matter of minutes, I started to panic.

I eventually pulled on my warm gloves which helped immediately. My companion returned shortly, having located the trail and we made it safely to the summit sign. Even after that, my hiking partner developed a spot of frostbite on the return to the cabin. We had been checking each other often, but this spot developed in a matter of a minute or two."”

“Right, Ped, and you didn't need any battery powered clothing, right?”

“In my younger years, I've worked thruout new england & probably the coldest I've endured is -40 where you don't turn off your engine out on the road. I've had to put heaters under my vw bug just to get it to turn over & spent 15 mins trying to pry open the door. It was pretty good in the snow though.Occasionally, I've stuck my keys in my mouth & they stayed there. I've been up to Hudson & James Bay (ran outta road)in Canada & really hated the washboard effect that the side roads get. Camping, maybe -20 for 3 days. When it gets that cold, I try to stay out of the wind. Set my tent up in lean-to's (bad,bad,bad)& hung around the valley's & evergreens. Thought I'd like camping on top in winter, but I don't. Usually throw a 4x6" chem heat pack in my -35 synthetic bag on the 2nd or 3rd night. Only time I bring my goosedown parka & maybe start a campfire.”

“Yeah Gremmy, I think chemical packs are good for that extra boost when your hands are going numb (like if you need to use your fingers when wind child is 80 below) and have to strip your hands down to liners for a moment...
still curious about other gadgets. After all, not everybody takes a dog they are willing to cut open if needed (or can catch them when it gets that bad).

(Note: I'm not an animal hater, just referencing the first story I ever read about extreme cold).encing Jack London)”

“pedxing, I had what you described happen to me twice last year hiking in -17 and -19. Took my gloves off for a minute or so, put them back on, started hiking, then my hands went wooden like - very scary as they weren't overly cold prior to that. It was all I could do to get the heaters out and opened and had a scary wait while they started and warmed up my hands.

For a while after each time, the tips of my fingers were sorta numb and eventually the tips peeled.

I have friends who start the heaters before we even go outside, but then have trouble keeping them going because of sweaty hands.”