I wonder if anyone has experience with Heat 3 Special Forces Gloves? My wife and I will need them for a trip to Churchill for polar bear next year and we are collecting info. BTW, the trip will not be in a tundra buggy, but involve some walking outside the vehicle on the tundra photographing bear, so we will be exposed to more cold than on some trips.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on August 23, 2017 at 9:21 AM
Ed, I have no experience with the gloves you name, but several decades of experience dressing to work and play in the arctic. My suggestions:
- Wear this, fleece gloves, something that covers the hands lightly, allowing you to manipulate dials and buttons. REI sells a nice Polarguard light fleece glove that works well. I usually take two pairs; one to dry and one to wear.
- Over the gloves wear heavy mittens with a windproof cover. The mittens have to allow you to hold things, but not manipulate things.
- Use an "idiot string" so if you take the mittens off you don't have to stuff them anywhere. An "idiot strong" is a line connecting the mittens that runs up your sleeve, across your back and down you other sleeve. Or clipping the itens to your coat cuff. The mitten dangle when you aren't wearing them.
- There is no substitute to trying stuff on. Take a camera to the store and test it out.
- If you may be out in wet conditions, take more spares. Wet gloves are useless.
Good luck in Churchill. Be careful. If you want to ba closer t the bears but still reasonably sae. consider Kaktovik instead.
I freeze even in Bosque or Yellowstone in the winter. I wouldn't go without my electric battery-powed heated vest, gloves, and boot warmers. There are several good brands at REI and online. I also take and use the chemical hand warmers you shake up to activate. My extra pair of gloves is not battery-powered, but has a pocket to slip the small sized hand warmers in.
The fleece first-layer gloves Jim mentions are important.
I also use my old ski stuff - a fleece face-protector with a wire mesh area over the mouth to exhale thru so the mask doesn't get wet - it will then freeze. I also take an electric boot and glove dryer to use at night. Guarantees dry things in the morning.
Careful with the camera and batteries - batteries hate the cold, so don't work long. Carry lots of fresh ones in a tethered bag inside your clothing to keep them warm. I changed them every time I got back into the van and then charged up the partially-used ones with an inverter.
I found getting in and out of the warm van at Yellowstone (10 degrees) caused the camera lens and filters to fog up, so I alternated cameras so one was in the van and warm, and one with me.
I've also heard Churchill is declining and other places are good - but I'd like to know more about your tour in Churchill. On my "bucket list" for sure.
I'm sure there are articles on the Web about super-cold photography that will offer other suggestions.
Thanks Jim and Sandy. I appreciate your input. Going to the store with a camera is a good idea - I should have thought about it. My understanding is that the van we will be in will be somewhat comfortable in our cold weather gear but cool enough to avoid the camera fogging issue getting in and out. I will keep everyone posted on our decisions and the details of the trip. A year from now seems like a long time, but I like to preapre in advance. Thanks again.
Discussion
3 replies- Wear this, fleece gloves, something that covers the hands lightly, allowing you to manipulate dials and buttons. REI sells a nice Polarguard light fleece glove that works well. I usually take two pairs; one to dry and one to wear.
- Over the gloves wear heavy mittens with a windproof cover. The mittens have to allow you to hold things, but not manipulate things.
- Use an "idiot string" so if you take the mittens off you don't have to stuff them anywhere. An "idiot strong" is a line connecting the mittens that runs up your sleeve, across your back and down you other sleeve. Or clipping the itens to your coat cuff. The mitten dangle when you aren't wearing them.
- There is no substitute to trying stuff on. Take a camera to the store and test it out.
- If you may be out in wet conditions, take more spares. Wet gloves are useless.
Good luck in Churchill. Be careful. If you want to ba closer t the bears but still reasonably sae. consider Kaktovik instead.
The fleece first-layer gloves Jim mentions are important.
I also use my old ski stuff - a fleece face-protector with a wire mesh area over the mouth to exhale thru so the mask doesn't get wet - it will then freeze. I also take an electric boot and glove dryer to use at night. Guarantees dry things in the morning.
Careful with the camera and batteries - batteries hate the cold, so don't work long. Carry lots of fresh ones in a tethered bag inside your clothing to keep them warm. I changed them every time I got back into the van and then charged up the partially-used ones with an inverter.
I found getting in and out of the warm van at Yellowstone (10 degrees) caused the camera lens and filters to fog up, so I alternated cameras so one was in the van and warm, and one with me.
I've also heard Churchill is declining and other places are good - but I'd like to know more about your tour in Churchill. On my "bucket list" for sure.
I'm sure there are articles on the Web about super-cold photography that will offer other suggestions.
Good luck and have fun!
Sandy