Woodlore leather overmitts

[mark j lang]

I have had these about a year now (over two winters) I do a lot of ornithology work which requires staying still on wet cold hillsides for hours on end and needed something to keep my hands warm, and cheap!

Ive proofed them with Nikwax leather conditioner and so far they have managed to keep all rain out, although they do get damp at the end of the day, being able to remove the inners and outers does help drying time. They are a little cumbersome and the leather strap takes quite a lot of pulling to cinch tight, it might need a bit more greasing. warm over wool mitts they have kept my hands warm, even over warm down to about -10 deg centigrade. Over thin wool gloves improves the dexterity slightly but these mitts dont have the dexterity of gloves or other mitts. I felt like a clown yesterday very clumpsy trying to set map and compass in thick cloud! But you do get better and can remove the mitts quickly to do fiddly tasks with the mimimum of heat loss.

I think that these will last years my only complaint is that they are not available in a colour other than white! But good value and quite green to as they are army surplus, much better than buying new gore tex

 

[Chris the Cat]

With you there mate,
Mine have had two trips to the arctic with Ulfrotte Woolpower mits underneath.
I like that 'old school' off white colour !
Cheers.
Chris.

 

[forestwalker]

They are the old style Swedish army overmitts. I have one pair that I have had for a decade and a half, and one brand new unused pair.

I added 10 cm wide "cuffs" of poplin with a drawstring to my users; quite nice when digging shelters.