I use pogies, down to negative temps with a light glove underneath. My pogies are made to be used with bar ends or not. Heavier gloves if necessary, but normally just a light insulated pair of gloves. You are not attached to the bike with pogies, your hands slip in and out easily. I just bought some for my kid, if I felt there was a chance he couldn't get out of them safely, I would not have gotten him any. We always carry the instant heat packs anyway, you never know when you may need to slip one down the front of your sock (to warm the feet) or whatever. They can be placed inside the pogie, as someone pointed out before. My pogies are wind/water proof and fleece lined. They aren't too bad either for spring/fall riding when it's raining, worn without any gloves, keep my hands drying and warmer than any glove I have every purchases. I have never really found a "waterproof" glove, even neoprene or whatever they are that claim to be waterproof (but even wet, my hands stayed warm with them - in cool autumn weather).