The other day I was reminded of how important it is to wear insulated gloves during the winter, and how Thinsulate™ insulation is something to look for when choosing winter gloves.
Not only from a comfort standpoint, but from a preparedness point of view, insulated winter gloves (e.g. with Thinsulate™) of varying purposes and degrees of insulation is an important ‘must have’ for those who live in winter climates.
Here’s some information about Thinsulate™ insulation…
(UPDATED)
Wells Lamont Leather Winter Work Gloves, 100-gram Thinsulate Insulation
First, a brief story from the original posting a few years ago…
I decided to go over to my travel trailer to remove the TV that was mounted to a wall bracket and bring it back to the house. I figured that the little project would only take about 20 minutes. After about 10 minutes in the cold (temps below freezing) while using my exposed (non-gloved) fingers to manage a few hand-tools and work a few screws, I began to experience that partial numbness that begins to occur when your hands get really cold. It’s actually quite amazing how debilitating the cold can be with regards to using your hands and fingers to perform tasks. I managed to finish the job without going back to get some gloves, but it reminded me of the importance to have a variety of winter gloves for the various winter tasks that you may encounter!
As you know, there are lots of winter glove styles of varying designs available to us. With regards to insulation from the cold, 3M™ Thinsulate™ is considered one of the best for things like gloves, hats, boots, etc., to keep warm.
Carhartt Work Glove, 100-gram Thinsulate Insulation
I have a number of various winter gloves with Thinsulate™ insulation in them, but I wondered exactly what it was that makes it what it is, while also knowing that there are different ‘weight’ ratings for this stuff. Here’s what I found out…
What is Thinsulate™?
The unique microfibers (very fine fibers) that make up Thinsulate™ insulation work by trapping air molecules within them. The more air that a material traps in a given space‚ the better it insulates you from the cold outside air. Because the fibers in Thinsulate™ insulation are finer than the fibers used in most other synthetic or natural insulation‚ they trap more air in less space‚ which makes Thinsulate™ insulation a better insulator versus the space required to get the job done. It is breathable, moisture-resistant, and washable.
The fibers used to create Thinsulate™ gloves are approximately 0.00059 inches (15 micrometers) thick, which is five times thinner than traditional polyester fibers.
Recommended Weight of 3M™ Thinsulate™ Hats & Gloves
Grams per square meter of insulation
40 gram for high activity levels or cool conditions
70 gram for moderate activity levels or cold conditions
100 gram for light activity levels or very cold conditions
150 gram for very light activity levels or extremely cold conditions
In summary, you might want to consider a variety of winter gloves with insulation so that you can perform tasks or be outside in the cold without numbing your hands and fingers!
Because insulation like Thinsulate™ is so thin, they can make gloves (40-gram) which are useful for doing finer detail work with your fingers. I have also found that 100-gram Thinsulate™ gloves are heavy enough for most of the worst-case cold temperatures – although I do have a pair of 150-gram for ‘just in case’ during those ‘really really cold’ days…
Note: ALWAYS keep an extra pair of insulated winter gloves and an insulated hat in your vehicle during the winter!
Note: Gloves with a Goretex (or similar breathing waterproof membrane) layer are even better when combined with Thinsulate™ insulation – to keep it dry.
Note: Since your hands are at the ends of your limbs, this limits circulation and makes the fingers prone to frostbite. Wearing insulated gloves helps reduce this!
Also, practice firing your carry firearms with gloves on. Whole different experience trying to manipulate safeties, slide releases, etc. with gloves on. In cold weather, when I am apt to be wearing gloves, I carry a Ruger SP 101 in .357 mag. With my 40 gram Thinsulate gloves I can handle this firearm. During the other nine months I am back to carrying a Glock.
I don’t have any problems using my Glock with gloves on.
Thank you for this article. I just added a couple pair to my survival wish list on Amazon. Amazon prime was a savior for me this holiday season. Even though I don’t buy for many, my family is scattered around and shipping gets pricey. In addition, it has made it much easier to slowly stock up on survival gear.
I just said to my wife yesterday as we shoveled snow that I could not believe we were both native new englanders and had recently decided we would be for life, yet did not own a suitable pair of gloves. Just another one of the ways we have gone soft. Hands cold? Go to Wal Mart or Tractor Supply, right? I have decided that I better use Amazon Prime, and those physical stores while I can, before I have to learn how to tan hide and sew my own gloves.
I spend lots of time outside in the winter, and can attest to the importance of having the right gloves for the conditions and activity. I have several pairs of gloves and choose which pair to use accordingly. If it is really cold and I want to wear bulkier gloves, but know that I need to take them off for a few minutes to accomplish a quick task requiring more dexterity, I use a glove liner so that my flesh isn’t directly exposed to the elements. Sometimes I will use an insulated gortex mitt over the gloves to keep the gloves dry if the snow is heavy and wet or if I want to wear a lighter more dexterous pair of gloves but want a wind barrier. Just like the rest of your body, having layers that can be changed is a great idea.
Thinsulate is IMO, a really good product, and very affordable. However it’s not the only one. There are many others out there like insuloft and primaloft that are used by companies specializing in winter sports gear.
Another thing, if the inside of your gloves are wet, change gloves. Sweaty hands in cold temps can cause chilblains.
I no longer buy shoes or clothing from Walmart but early December I was in Walmart and tried on a $12.95 pair of suede leather gloves with 80 grams. They fit well, looked good, and were very comfortable. They keep my hands warm and show no signs of wearing out or coming apart. I’m very satisfied with them.
I purchased heavy warm gloves from Duluth Trading Post and I like them though they are bulky. In moderate cold or a work layer for short periods of time, I like the fabric garden gloves with latex or rubberized palms. They provide a small amount of insulation and allow enough dexterity to pick up coins off a table or 22 rimfire shells. I agree with Skibum in that one should have multiple pair of whatever gloves you use on hand when working out in the cold. Gloves eventually get wet.
Several years ago, while on a hunting trip, I found a pair of gloves made of neoprene on the palms and fabric and insulation on the back surface. These worked really well for their intended purpose of hunting in cold weather. They were not too bulky allowing use of firearms and safeties while wearing the gloves (Something to consider for Sgt Bill) I have had good luck finding these items in the hunting section of a sporting goods store near the duck hunting aisle or the winter steelhead aisle. They also sell mittens with slits in the palm allowing fingers to be exposed to operate safeties and load shells. (and tucked back in afterwards.)
For long periods of extended cold, I wore thin gloves beneath mittens beneath a gore tex overshell. Even then, I had to change out layers at mid day and set the mittens out to dry. I worked ski patrol when I was younger. I’m not a great skier but I was an experienced paramedic.
I wish my snowmobile suit was made out of thinner but as effective material as it is now. It is too thick and bulky to walk long distances, but it is very warm in 40 below weather. It was made in Canada for arctic wear. Yeah, I look like Ralphie’s little brother in it.
40 below?? I would not be snowmobiling in that cold of weather! 😉
As Ken’s article states, it is the air trapped between fibers that insulate – so when insulating your house, do not pack the rock wool/fiberglass bats too tight. Rule of thumb in the industry, fluff not stuff. Closed air cells are even better for insulating – that is why foam boards offer higher insulation values than open fiber products. If you can find a piece of foam board to sit on in the cold, the warmth will be a blessing.
Also noteworthy is to consider the gloves that have a tight fabric cuff. It sure keeps the snow from going down your glove when snow shovelling.
If your hands start to get cold, just swing your arms in a wide circle. The blood will be forced down to your fingertips.
Stay frosty.
Pieface, another option is a glove with a powder cuff. It’s an extension of a few inches past the wrist with an elastic draw cord. You tuck the sleeves of your coat into the cuff and cinch down the cord. Most ski gloves have this feature. It does a better job than the elastic cuff, which tends to get wet and cold.
Good information article and the posts add even more. Like most I have various pairs of gloves:
Wool glove liners, with the palm rubber bumps for gripping, good in cool weather, not so good in the cold, loose knitted lets the air intrude. I do use them with Gore-Tex insulated mittens. Also have military surplus wool mitten liners, tight weave.
Three pairs of nylon, leather palmed, insulated gloves for winter stuff (snow blowing Olympics, shoveling, and lighter outside work). One pair of heavy fleece gloves, not so good since they act like sponges and your grip slips all the time, a last resort glove.
Leather work gloves for very cool weather, flexible and tough.
I have waterfowling gloves, Gore-Tex shell, 40 gram Thinsulate, synthetic waterproof palms with Velcro wrist bands. Very flexible, best I have found for 30-40 degree, wet and windy days out on the water, easy to shoot with. On colder days we use a Mr. Buddy heater to keep the hands toasty, or quit and head for the camp fireplace. I think I posted before that I use mid-forearm length (long gauntlet) neoprene gloves to pick decoys out of the cold water (camo , we use 120 decoys in our set), boat bobbing in waves you tend to get dunked up the arms, any rougher on the water and out comes the boot hook, if it gets too rough and rolling on the water the heck with it head for the dock and camp, pick up the decoys off the shore the next day.
At home I also cheat with hand warmers, when winter black powder hunting I place warmers in the boots, lower back by the kidneys, gloves, hunting coat pockets, I am stationary satellite heat signature beacon for sure.
I have several pairs of Thinsulate gloves, one pair is mostly for riding and they not only keep the hands and fingers warm but the palms have ‘gripper’ ability to hold the reins.
Another pair are for winter chores, and one pair for running errands or whatever. I also have goat-skin chore gloves and those brown cotton ‘work’ gloves for warmer weather.
We also buy several kinds of rubberized gloves by the dozens. Those that really get the workout (gardening and such) have little rubber nubs all around the palm and inner finger areas — great for gripping but not good at all for cold weather.
Years ago, I bought a Thinsulate quilt batting and stitched it into a lap quilt. It was a very thin built but quite warm. With quilts, the warmer battings are made with synthetic materials like polyester. As far as ‘natural’ fibers, the wool battings are best for warmth (but they beard and can’t be machine-washed/dried). Cotton battings are the worst for warmth — that’s why families piled on the quilts back in the olden days. lol
Just bought one of the thinsulate watchcaps you have listed up top. I live in Florida ,but it does get cold and windy enough down here to need to keep the noggin warm. I drive at night with the windows down for work and fight with earaches a lot. I’ll see how this works and report back !
Nitecat
have heard that earplugs help with earaches…maybe even more so if wind whipping around ears
I agree Ken, always keep gloves in your car. I hate driving while wearing gloves even if my hands get cold but I keep a few different gloves in the car just in case. Of course I am on the road early this morning and “POW” a flat tire. This happened to be the coldest day of the year to date this winter, so as I had to get out and change the tire my hands got progressively colder just handling the lug nut remover thingy. So I pulled out the gloves. I would have been miserable without them.
I keep a pair of leather gloves in the car as well.
How can something be five times thinner? Presumably one times thinner is zero thickness.
@Tb, Maybe this will help you… “one-fifth as thin” (more accurate in this context)
Don’t forget to have a good pair of heavy weight mittens for survival purposes especially if you are going to be stationary. Gloves separate your fingers, mittens trap the entire warmth of your hand. In the pack I keep in my truck during the winter I keep heavyweight boots, a hat, and mittens in case I get stuck/stranded and can’t go anywhere.
@Don, good reminder. With my vehicle 3 day pack I also have a covered bin with boots, fleece vest, rain coat, medium coat, two hats, zip bagged socks, TP!, And extra gloves (trying to keep slightly on topic). Wear my winter coat and lined driving gloves. Need to add insulated bib snow pants, no good in the winter to be “no mas pantalones”. ?
You are right on regarding mittens and their warmth. Mrs.J wears a pair of deerskin mittens most of the time due to her fingers always being cold…
The following mittens look pretty darn tempting 😉
RefrigiWear Insulator Mittens
Nothing like having to put chains on a truck in the snow and slush to drive home the importance of having some good gloves with you. I learned that lesson long ago and now all our vehicles have a couple pairs stashed away.
I got some of the surplus claw gloves with trigger fingers and wool liners, the gauntlets go half way up your forearm and they have a long tether that can run inside your clothes, extremely well made and very warm, very tough
Also, look at neoprene, i have a pair of winter mountain biking gloves that have a neoprene liner and a gortex shell, they are very good when wet
Thanks for your post. For me and others like me, we have “Raynauds”, and cold hands is an emergency condition. You know how when you start to get cold, blood retreats from the fingers and toes to preserve your core body temperature, well with Raynauds, this happens for me at around 55F! So on a nice Spring Day, i’m the dude with a thin pair of gloves on. The other day the temp was in the low 30’s walked out of work to the garage next door, in the truck and drove home. 45mins to drive home, fingers were numb until I was 5 mins from home….and that’s with the heat on. I do have some 40g gloves, but they’re of no help now, will have to look for some 100’s….ugh. I’m built for the Sun 🙂
I can’t stress enough the importance of this article. I have Reynoids and refuse to let it stop me from being outdoors in the cold months. This just means that I own multiple pairs of gloves depending on my activity and the temperature. I also wear gloves with more insulation than what is recommended due to Reynoids as well. I love gloves that are both thinsulate and gortex lined as they keep my hands dry and warm.
Thanks. Mrs.J also has that condition where her hands are always cold. Good gloves are a must! Especially up here in north country…