Winter Cycling - Best gloves/mittens for sub-zero temp

My wife once got frostbite in both her hands, and since then, has been very susceptible to cold in her hands. We've experimented with a couple of gloves, and none of them have given remotely near the kind of insulation she has needed. Does anyone know of something good to wear to get through the winter?

https://www.foothuggers.com/shop/categories/WristHuggers/

https://www.foothuggers.com/shop/categories/Glove-Liners/

Maybe you are asking the wrong question.
http://barmitts.com/

https://www.foothuggers.com/shop/categories/WristHuggers/

https://www.foothuggers.com/shop/categories/Glove-Liners/

Maybe you are asking the wrong question.
http://barmitts.com/

What a great solution, and less expensive than the option I was looking at - Pearl Izumi's Barrier Lobster glove. I have neoprene gators skinz for my feet, and they work like a charm.

https://www.foothuggers.com/shop/categories/WristHuggers/

https://www.foothuggers.com/shop/categories/Glove-Liners/

Maybe you are asking the wrong question.
http://barmitts.com/
+1 Although I don't use pogies, I may this winter.

More on pogies:
http://lobstergloves.com/pogies.php

This has been covered a lot. There is a good chance you will have to experiment and test what works for you. At worst, you can buy new and sell almost-new on eb or cl.

For well below zero (F), Epic Designs pogies or Outdoor Research Alti-Mitts double mittens will do the best. They are both great for above zero but well below freezing. Both are "too warm" in the twenties or above, even for "cold" hands. These very-expensive products new, close to $200, and are made for peri-Arctic conditions, which translates into protection for near-Reynaud cold-sensitive hands above such temps.

Once you get above zero and particularly into the teens then many more options come into play. such as Michigan made "Moose mitts", ski gloves, lobster gloves.

If you keep your core-temp warm with good layering and arm sleeve coverage, your hands will require less warming. Depending on your conditions variability, you could very well want to have one or two, or several "kits".

Don't forget, chemi warmers can help your hands too. Some gloves even have pockets for these.

There is no single best product for everyone. There are manifold opportunities for you to experiment and discover what works for you and your riding conditions.

If you have highly variable conditions, like me from 90s to sub-zero, and riding from 45 minutes to several hours in winter, you may find that several "hand kits" are worth buying.

This just in. I ride a roadified Giant Rainier with cowhorn bars. Since my Gator booties are neoprene and keep my feet toasty, I called the Bar Mitts guy and asked him if Bar Mitts would fit a bar with ends on it (a Scott A2 cowhorn). He kindly offered to modify them and send them with the next shipment to my LBS. They are less expensive than the PI Lobster, and I am counting on them to do the trick. Will update this thread with results as soon as I have them.

My wife once got frostbite in both her hands, and since then, has been very susceptible to cold in her hands. We've experimented with a couple of gloves, and none of them have given remotely near the kind of insulation she has needed. Does anyone know of something good to wear to get through the winter?

If your wife has a previous frost-bike injury then defiantly skip the full-finger gloves. Lobster style mittens are good, buy a size up and toss on a pair of cheap polypro glove before fitting the mitten. Make sure your wrist and hand isn't constricted at all.

If you don't opt for pogies then be sure to get mittens which are wind resistant and water resistant. Even some of the better mittens will let wind sneak through the seams.

Snowmobile mittens are another option.

Full fingered gloves with pop tops, maybe even a liner under that but these pop tops have a zippered compartment where you can put chemical heaters if necessary.

An example...

https://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=403111&pdesc=Gander_Mountain_Mens_Pop_Top_Glove&cname=Ice-Fishing-Apparel&aID=504C4&merchID=4006&r=view

I've seen at Ace hardwear stores heated mittens, which are battery-operated. They also had battery-operated heated socks.

I was intrigued, but skeptical. Realistically, they probably make your hands sweat, but if you don't have too far to go maybe that wouldn't be that much of a problem.

And they were only $25. Probably because you'll also need to buy rechargeable batteries because I bet running a heater on AA batteries is like running a Hummer on the gas tank of my Honda Civic.

For well below zero (F), Epic Designs pogies or Outdoor Research Alti-Mitts double mittens will do the best. They are both great for above zero but well below freezing. Both are "too warm" in the twenties or above, even for "cold" hands. These very-expensive products new, close to $200, and are made for peri-Arctic conditions, which translates into protection for near-Reynaud cold-sensitive hands above such temps.




Now THAT is what I need. What is the comparable gear in coats, pants, and socks? Is there such a thing as windproof?
I do have Reynaud's. And at 23 years old I'm already losing circulation to my toes at the slightest chill. :-(
That's not conducive to winter riding. But if I can save up and get some good gear maybe I'll be able to maintain higher winter activity levels. :-)

Bergans Glove w/Porelle. Waterproof and warm. Nice in the range -15C to 0C. They may be a bit clumsy if you have little space for hands. For Christmas I want mittens where I can have my fingers warm each other when riding below -15C.

I have two pair of wool mittens knit for me and buy outer waterproof mittens for the wool liners. the yarn and labor cost for knitting cost me $20. a pair the outer mitten $14.

JusticeZero,

It's cold here in NW Montana, but not as cold as where you're at. This is my first year of trying to keep on the bike during winter (in the past, I've just stored it over the winter months). We had an early taste of winter in early October; our temps got down to zero and sub-zero for about a week and we had some snow. Add to that the pretty constant wind in the valley here, I found I couldn't get my hands warm even wearing 2 pairs of gloves. I'd been considering ordering pogies after reading threads here, but the cold snap motivated me to get the pogies ordered as part of my bike winterizing project. I've have them for a bit now and absolutely love them. I think your wife will too. I'm able to wear one pair of gloves and be comfortable. It also makes it easier to manage the bike not have so many layers on my hands. I am so glad that people in this forum had recommended them; I'd never heard of them before joining BF.