[JohnBrooking]

I just shelled out $40 for a pair of these (http://www.hammacher.com/publish/71877.asp) at a local sporting goods store. They have a vent on the back of the hand, underneath a flap, so you can lift the flap and blow air into them, so your breath warms your hand.

I was all excited about them, but they weren't quite as toasty as I was expecting on the way back to the office (temp low 30s F). I didn't try them with liners, though. Anyone else have experience with them? Gimmick or actually helpful? I hope they'll be worth it. (Yes, I know, I'm supposed to ask for advice before buying something, not after :rolleyes: )

[The BikeForums Team]

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[2manybikes]

I just shelled out $40 for a pair of these (http://www.hammacher.com/publish/71877.asp) at a local sporting goods store. They have a vent on the back of the hand, underneath a flap, so you can lift the flap and blow air into them, so your breath warms your hand.

I was all excited about them, but they weren't quite as toasty as I was expecting on the way back to the office (temp low 30s F). I didn't try them with liners, though. Anyone else have experience with them? Gimmick or actually helpful? I hope they'll be worth it. (Yes, I know, I'm supposed to ask for advice before buying something, not after :rolleyes: )

It seems like a good idea. Sometimes you just have to try something to find out what the results will be.

Just some random stuff about cold hands...
One way to warm your gloves up if you have the time, is to put them under your coat for a couple of minutes. If you have warm pockets to put your hands in.

When it is well below freezing I wear leather, goose down lined mittens that I have owned since the 1960's. (yes, my mother sewed name tags in them) To warm up any part of my body I keep the bike speed the same and increase my foot speed. It warms my hands up, even if the mittens have cooled down to 15 degrees. I regulate my temperature on a long ride in the cold by the level of effort or speed of my feet.
I have never needed them, but mittens allow the use of chemical hand warmers too.

I also rode with a thermometer on the bike for many years, it helps you lean to wear the right clothing when you know the outside temperature.

[dnb_evol]

i saw some of these and it seemed to me that the gloves would eventually become cold as heck and unwearable due to the fact that you are blowing moist air into them from your lungs? It seems like the moisture would eventually turn to either frost or ice if outside in freezing temperatures for long periods of time. . .


I passed.

[GreyGoat]

oh man.. and to think for the same price you could have a picked up a pair of heated gloves...
http://www.plowhearth.com/product.asp?pcode=127

[JohnBrooking]

Good point, dnb_evol. I wondered about the moisture thing afterwards, too. I'll find out, I guess.

GreyGoat, thanks for the tip. But they do take batteries...

2manybikes, that's a great idea about the thermometer, I'll look for one. I've wished more than once that my odometer also had a thermometer in it. If you ever get up to Portland (or I to Boston), I'll have to buy you a drink (at least) for all the good advice you've given me on these forums in the last year. (Not to mention the Christmas lights, which it's getting time to start fixing up for the season!)

[2manybikes]

Good point, dnb_evol. I wondered about the moisture thing afterwards, too. I'll find out, I guess.

GreyGoat, thanks for the tip. But they do take batteries...

2manybikes, that's a great idea about the thermometer, I'll look for one. I've wished more than once that my odometer also had a thermometer in it. If you ever get up to Portland (or I to Boston), I'll have to buy you a drink (at least) for all the good advice you've given me on these forums in the last year. (Not to mention the Christmas lights, which it's getting time to start fixing up for the season!)

That sounds good to me. :)

You can buy any small thermometer, drill a hole in it somewhere use a small bolt and bolt it to a Velcro strap. glue a little piece of soft foam to the inside of the Velcro strap so you have something to compress with pressure to keep the strap nice and tight. Glue the foam over the nut or bolt head to keep it from scratching the bike. You can attach the foam with double sided carpet tape too. I found some small round cheap ones at Brookstone in a Mall. The back just pops off to drill a hole in it.

[ghettocruiser]

I think the "no moisture" winter clothing rule only applies to people who are standing around outside for long periods. Generally riding a bike in winter makes me sweat enough that the humidity of my breath would be negligible.

[The Selector]

I have them... they saved my fingers more than once... I usually carry 3 pair of gloves and these are the emergency gloves... they are good when you need warm gloves.. but don't blow into them too much or else they will get wet from the moisture in your breath. but they are very warm and the blow thing helps