Gloves and socks for cold weather hunts

joebobhunter4 · Aug 13, 2015

I was curious what kind of gloves and socks have worked best for you on cold weather hunts? I am heading to Alaska for the last hunt of their moose and bear season and am trying to decide what gloves and socks to get. I want a pair of gloves that keep the hands warm yet aren't so bulky you can't do anything with them on. Socks I guess would be to keep from sweating yet keep warm when riding on a horse? Also to throw a twist in with the gloves part I cut the tip of my middle finger off at the first knuckle a few months back and it was sewn back on and actually took. From what the doctor says more than likely it will be extremely sensitive to cold so have any of you had issues with this and know how to make the best of it? Thanks in advance!

trophyhunter · Aug 13, 2015

Hunter4: Smartwool socks in heavy weight will keep your feet toasty. They are fluffy but compress well in some quality insulated boots. It would be best to purchase the socks then go to the boot store and get a good fit with the boots on...nothing worse than soar feet from to loose or to tight boots. On the gloves....check out the Cabela's top quality camo, Gortex insulated gloves or if you can pop a few extra bucks see if you can find gloves that are battery powered to generate warmth because of your finger issue....also take enough of the 12hr. thermal heat packs that when you open them they will give off heat for 12 hrs. You can also get them for feet. We usually open 2 packs and put them in shirt pockets close to the body when hunting in below 0. F conditions ...
If weight is an issue calculate the hunting days and take only enough heat packs for the hunt.
Good hunting,

))))------->

Gator · Aug 14, 2015

Middle finger Dog bite 9 stitches night before the season. I (I have big hands) used a finger cut out of a brown (L)Jersey glove tape it on, then a skin tight pair of (XL) shooter gloves(Under Amour) then a XXL mitten over the whole deal, Worked great I could just shake off the mitten and be ready to pull a trigger in a micro second. But it keep that finger dry and warm.

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hounddawgs · Aug 14, 2015

I like to wear cotton socks and under Armour over them (cold gear) it keeps my feet toasty when riding and packing in on horseback gloves I wear under Armour gloves. My right index finger was frost bitten a couple winters ago in WY and it is very sensitive to cold now, I haven't found anything yet that's helps that.

RabidRattleSnake1 · Aug 17, 2015

First Lite is the way I go. Lightweight but super warm on my Jauary deer hunts.

bucklover · Aug 18, 2015

Spray your feet with anti-persperant deoderant, before you put on socks and boots. It helps control the sweat, which helps control cold feet. If its not your trigger finger hand, you might think about at least some of the time, using a mitten on that hand. You don't have as much dexterity control, but you have much warmer fingers, when they are together, in a single pocket. You are probably very limited in what you can take, but if you have room, both would be helpful.

Zeke · Aug 19, 2015

>Spray your feet with anti-persperant deoderant,
>before you put on socks
>and boots. It helps control
>the sweat, which helps control
>cold feet. If its not
>your trigger finger hand, you
>might think about at least
>some of the time, using
>a mitten on that hand.
>You don't have as much
>dexterity control, but you have
>much warmer fingers, when they
>are together, in a single
>pocket. You are probably very
>limited in what you can
>take, but if you have
>room, both would be helpful.
>

+1
Zeke

fatrooster · Aug 23, 2015

Never wear any cotton on anything. Cotton will hold moisture and will not dry and wet feet are something you do not want to have in cold weather. I love cotton but as the saying goes...."Cotton Kills." I had to find out the hard way. Wool socks are the only way to go. I wear them year around.
There are some good choices for gloves in the above posts. You might also look at the KUIU and Sitka gloves. fatrooster.

sagebrush · Sep 6, 2015

I use Outdoor Research snow mittens and Polartec gloves in combination. The mittens are waterproof, windproof and well insulated with snow gators that fit over your jacket sleeve. You can bite the end and slide off the mitten and still have some insulation and full articulation with tight fitting Polartec gloves. Nothing will keep your hands warmer than mittens.

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BPKHunter · Sep 10, 2015

Glommit's(Mittens with removable top) work well in cold. Under these I wear either a glove liner, or a thin UA or Sitka glove. Frankly the cheap polypro liners, which can actually be layered, and easy to cut top off fingers, work well under and are easily as warm as any fancy UA or Sitka thin gloves, but I like the "sticky" feel of the fancy gloves.

I have used various Merino Wool socks and find they all work, but the more expensive ones definitely hold their shape better, and I don't end up with a stretched out heel up by my calf after just one day. My right foot is almost a full size bigger than my left and therefore that foot is sensitive to over sized socks, so I tend to go with med weight when wearing my uninsulated boots, which works better than going too big and getting the circulation cut off which actually makes that foot feel colder.

My dad, would always preach about keeping my head and neck and torso warm enough because your body pulls blood into your core if it's cold, which makes your extremities(hands/feet) feel cold. So make sure everything is properly insulated and manage that sweat the best you can, meaning NO COTTON against your skin.

jims · Sep 10, 2015

I would make sure that the gloves/mittens you bring have some sort of waterproof outer. It will likely be wet! Thinsulate or windstopper insulation works good for me. Some sort of mittens/grommits are usually a lot warmer than gloves. As mentioned above, cotton is the worse thing you can bring to Alaska!