Winter Accessories

I’m breaking out my snowshoeing gear, and it’s time to replace a couple items. I know some, like me, venture out up north to stay in canoe tripping shape.

One item I’ve never been satisfied with is my face protection. I’ve been using a wool gator, but I fight fog on my glasses unless I use goggles. I’ve used a balaclava, but not a good warm one.

My gloves have been in need of replacement for years. They are waterproof ski gloves, oversized for a liner which I rarely use. I’d like to get something that fits better and is just as warm, ample dexterity for messing with bindings and poles. My preferred temperature range is -24 to -4 Celsius.

Let me know what you use so I can gear up before the powder piles up! After some health setbacks, I gotta get strong again before tripping season. Planning a May trip to Quetico, hopefully. Thanks.

Mittens all the way for handwear. I get insulated leather mittens from the local farm store. Back when I did a lot of photography and was always fiddling with the camera and tripod I would wear light gloves inside my mittens. Back then I used waterproof ski gloves but I've found those to be unnecessary and prefer leather.

Keeping my face warm has always been an issue for me as well, and glasses fogging and freezing has always been a complication. An anorak with a deep fur lined hood has been a big help. It keeps wind off the face and creates a little microclimate inside the hood.

I also use a balaclava but I usually keep the bottom of it pulled under my chin to avoid condensation buildup on the balaclava as well as on glasses. It's thin so it's mostly there as a windblocker with partial face coverage. It's used in conjunction with various stocking caps and the anorak depending on temp and wind.

Alan

I don't do any winter outdoor sports anymore, but I do spend about two hours outside moving snow with my tractor, shovels and hands whenever it snows.

I just bought my first good pair of warm gloves to replace the finally-fraying Goretex/Thinsulate pair I bought for winter canoeing and hiking 42 years ago. I've only tried them briefly, but my NEW WATERPROOF CARHARTT GLOVES seem quite warm and comfortable, are reasonably priced at $30, and have gotten 32,000+ good reviews on Amazon. There's enough dexterity for me to shovel, drive a tractor, and lace my boots with minor difficulty, but they are too thick for fine dexterity tasks.

I've never felt the need for a face warmer beyond the hood of my parka and a watch cap, so I have no experience to offer there.

This is pretty much my glove system and it would cover your temperature range for me. First, I don't like gloves with the elastic cuff around my wrist. It takes too long getting them on and off. In order to seal up the area between my sleeve and glove I use these custom made wrist gators. The gloves are lined leather work gloves and if they're not warm enough I can put on a non insulted over mitt. If the leather gloves are too warm, I remove the wrist gator, or the gloves themself. If temps are on the colder side of the range I can substitute the mittens for the gloves.

I typically keep the over mitts and wrist gators in an easily accessible pocket if I don't need them at the start. This way I don't have to stop and get into my pack for them. If it's rainy, wet and not too cold I sometimes will just wear the over mitts. This way my hands don't overheat and my gloves stay dry.

My favorite insulated chore gloves are the pigskin ones they sell at hardware stores. Or used to sell. Haven’t seen them in years. I bought some kinkos leather ones a couple years ago and they’re not the same. I think everything is now made cheaper.

I haven't noticed any quality issues with Kincos. There are a lot of different models though, some I liked and some I didn't. I've had a lot of them as a sister in law has given them to me for Xmas every year for probably 25 years.

I find if I'm snowshoeing, I don't need much real winter stuff. Even at -30, I'm usually in a pair of wool pants with long johns and a wool jacket type thing with a sweater underneath. I usually have a thin pair of wool gloves under a budget pair of leather mitts, the kind with no liner that you get at the hardware store for 5 bucks. I'm often taking the leather mitts off, as I heat up.

Different story if you are sight seeing, or ice fishing, then it's all my high tech FXR stuff that is designed to keep you warm while skidooing or not moving.

I love snowshoeing! It can be pretty low key if it's not too cold and I'm out in gentle terrain, but I wear/bring technical clothing if it's really cold, and/or I'm up in the mountains, and/or quite a ways from a road, where an injury might keep me out in the cold for a while, even overnight. Basically I'd be able to bivouac in my clothes. And I always carry an emergency blanket/tarp for that reason.

I like to wear light to medium weight gloves while I'm moving but have a pair of leather choppers with thick wool liners for when I stop for a while, like for a tea break or lunch. Standing or sitting around below 20F/-7C and I get cold quickly. A hooded wind shell jacket is always with me as well so I can put it on when I stop. And on a windy day the lightweight shell keeps me comfortable while on the move without having to put on heavier clothing.

Added: Face protection is a tricky one. I generally don't wear anything but if it's really cold I'll wear a neck gaiter and pull it up over my chin/nose and hope my glasses don't fog up.

Working Wyoming frost bite was a concern in winter especially riding back to the trucks at night on an ATV. We used a wool scarf mostly. I like balaclava in the cold. Now we have neck gaiters that can be used to cover the face. I use them for sun protection on the water, but they work great in winter too.

lowangle al said:

I haven't noticed any quality issues with Kincos. There are a lot of different models though, some I liked and some I didn't. I've had a lot of them as a sister in law has given them to me for Xmas every year for probably 25 years.

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The pigskin model with the stripped fabric on the back have been my favorite for 25 years, but can’t find them locally any more.

I wear glasses and have always struggled with fogging if I cover my face. Most miserable of all is when my glasses fog inside my goggles. The lenses of the goggles stay clear while my prescription lenses fog from warm air rising up through the foam vents of the goggles.
Last year I was recommended the balaclavas made by North45 and found they have solved my problems. The secret to their success seems to be the combination of a good seal across the bridge of the nose combined with no impediment to warm breath flowing downwards. A lot of runners and cyclists wear them and they make a version that clips directly to the base of your goggles using a series of magnets. The company has changed its name this year but you can still find some old stock under the previous branding.

Bothwell Voyageur said:

Last year I was recommended the balaclavas made by North45 and found they have solved my problems.

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Sounds like a great mask! I just ordered one from SkiUphill. It doesn't seem to be available on very many websites and with my quick search SkiUphill was the only one that had a choice of sizes.


Alan

My North 45 Surefit Balaclava showed up yesterday and I took it out for a walk with the dog last night. Temp was 15* F and it performed great.

It's comfortable and fit well with a good seal around the bridge of the nose. It's a great design and the best I've found so far.

I don't know how many weights there were originally but the lightweight version was all that was available when I ordered mine. It's enough to keep the sting off my cheeks and I wore a stocking cap on top for extra warmth. For colder/windier weather it will be paired with a hood so should be fine.

Alan