Keeping hands warm while shooting

phc · Dec 13, 2008

I'm off to Berlin in a few days. I remember the last time I was there in winter it was very, VERY cold, and I was unprepared. I've since got myself a little better equipped for such extremes, and I thought I might share a tip.

I've been using Neroprene hunting gloves from Barbour in cold weather for a couple of years now. The thumbs and first two fingers fold back on each hand and allow full control of the camera, while the rest of the hand stays toasty enough to allow you to keep working.

So there you go - a product with the PHC seal of approval!

Cheers, P.

Dan Henderson · Dec 13, 2008

I have had good luck with a pair of wool fingerless gloves with a mitten flap that folds back when you need your fingers to adjust the camera. When it is really cold I put a pair of North Face glove liners on underneath the fingerless gloves. They are thin enough to let me easily adjust aperture, shutter, and other settings, yet give my fingers a little protection. As soon as need for dexterity is taken care of I flip the mitten flap back up to keep my hands warm.

Mike Kennedy · Dec 13, 2008

I find the problem with cold hands is how to get them warm again once subjected to -c temps.
I use rechargeable Lee Valley hot packs.A liquid that becomes a hot solid when a small metal dick is snapped.Get them back to the liquid state by placing them in old socks and boiling for a few minutes.

Christopher Walrath · Dec 13, 2008

Go to WalMart to the hunting section and get yourself a pair of hunting mittens. The type where the mitten portion flip out of the way and leave you fingertips exposed in a glove. Keeps your dexterity and keeps your dexterity warm too.

phc · Dec 14, 2008

I guess it comes down to what kind of photography you're doing. I find mittens far too cumbersome when I'm holding a Leica in my hands and shooting "opportunistically".

Cheers, Paul.

wiltw · Dec 14, 2008

Has anyone tried using latex exam gloves or finger cots underneath the outer gloves/mittens? Not being from a really cold climate (sunny California) I have thought that they would provide protection from the wind, keep in the heat, yet not impede adjustment of controls. I just don't know what downside might exist.

phc · Dec 14, 2008

You need some way of letting your hands breathe, otherwise the sweat builds up on the surface of your skin and then gets even colder.

Cheers, P.

bobwysiwyg · Dec 14, 2008

Has anyone tried these in a pocket? Gloves or mittens for getting there and back, but returning ones bare hand to warmth periodically while setting up a shot, etc. might work. I may give one a try.

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Clothing/Accessories/EZ%20Heat%20Reusable%20Hand%20Warmer/Owner%20Review%20by%20Adam%20Bowerman/

Mike Kennedy · Dec 14, 2008

Same as the ones I mentioned from Lee valley.
Work great!!

ron110n · Dec 14, 2008

Paul,
I use this for Heavy Benchrest Shooting Competition in the winter. We need to feel the 2oz trigger with gloves on.

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jeroldharter · Dec 14, 2008

Keeping hands warm in winter photography is about the same as for winter fly fishing. Sometimes your hands are in contact with metal and your fingers need to be free for maximal tactile sensation. Other times, it is just downtime or re-warming.

Neoprene is nice when it is cool but not cold, i.e. above freezing. They don't breathe and sweating can make your hands cold, especially when you take the gloves off. Because to the thickness of neoprene, it can be hard to have a good feel for camera controls.

When it is really cold, I use thin liner gloves:

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___68168?CS_003=2477120&CS_010=68168

On top of that, I wear something like:

http://www.simmsfishing.com/site/windstopper_foldover_mitt.html

which is like a fingerless glove with fleece over-mitten. And then to top it off, I add an uninsulated Gore Tex over mitten with a long gauntlet sleeve.

In your pockets, you could add:

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Jim Michael · Dec 14, 2008

There are also the air activated hand warmer pacs that start producing heat when you take them out of the package, e.g. Dead Link Removed

pesphoto · Dec 14, 2008

these look pretty good
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Mark Fisher · Dec 14, 2008

I've used some thin Smartwool gloves with the gripper dots on them combined with some wool mittens and overmitts. It seems like over kill, but my hands are very warm. I can get off a large format shot (5 minutes?) with only the Smartwool gloves and get them back into the insanely warm mitten/overmitt combination. I've used the combo down to about -15F and my hands were reasonably comfortable. I used to do the same thing with thin neoprene, which worked well too, but I did not like the way they trapped moisture.

PHOTOTONE · Dec 15, 2008

I slip a chemical hand warmer pack into each glove. You can put them on the palm side or the back side. If they are producing heat, then even if your fingers are exposed (gloves with no finger ends), your hands will stay warmer overall. These chemical hand-warmers are very inexpensive at Wal-Mart in the sporting goods section of the store, and they product heat for 8 hours.

I also use a wood tripod in very cold weather, as it is much more comfortable to set up (than a metal tripod) without freezing your hands.

BetterSense · Jan 4, 2009

look into sealskinz gloves

jeroldharter · Jan 4, 2009

BetterSense said:
look into sealskinz gloves

I have some of those. I would say they are good only for cool weather. Mine fit too tight so maybe that is the problem. They do keep your hands dry, but not very warm.

eli griggs · Jan 4, 2009

I also use the chemical packs inside gloves, on the back side of the hand where it's out of the way and warms 'the works', especially over the back of the thumb area.

I'm usually using wool, fingerless gloves with mitten pull-over covers and traditional leather 'choppers' on a cord if it is extra wet or cold while hunting, etc or light deerskin gloves. I usually carry both if far away from the car, as my heavy wool coat has a generous pocket built into the lower back, accessible from either side by-way-of snaps.

I have arthritis and the heating pads will work well all day, for a very long day. If they get too warm, I just drop them in side pockets until needed again in the gloves. I also have the pocket little heaters, some use charcoal for fuel, others lighter fluid. They also work but are not as useful as the chem.pads, IMO.

IIRC, some good quality hunting gloves are now made with pockets for these little pads.

Eli

Keeping hands warm while shooting

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