Im just curious what everyone wears to keep their hands warm both inside the bdub and out. Im looking for something thats fairly waterproof but still breathes.

I ship my deer hides to Uber Tanning Company and have choppers made. Deer leather is amazing; very water resistant and breathable. I wear wool mittens inside my chopper liners.

I like the kind with the mitten top that slips of, leaving your fingers bare. But that's for around town, daily life (great for buckling the little one into her car seat).

When canoeing we use Mountain Hardware Power Stretch Gloves. We usually trip in late August/early September - so we don't need heavy duty gloves. They keep my hands warm when temps dip into the 30's. They have a nice grip for paddling. Although they are not "waterproof", they are made out of heavy duty Polartec - and they allow your hands to breath. Fingers are seamless - stretch fabric. They are small enough to easily store in the pocket of a fleece jacket.

Uber Tanning. Nice. I have been looking at them for two years and haven't jumped yet. Was going to send two hides in this year to them but my brother wanted to tan the hides so I am waiting until next fall now.
We have a local hide dealer that trades gloves, choppers, cheap knives and such for hides that we have used in the past. Interesting thing I learned from him. All those deer hides go to China now.

So, in the Bdub. The fingerless sily nylon gloves that I bought at REI.
Otherwise leather choppers and gloves. Deer hide gloves with thinsulate and always nice wool liners for the choppers. Last couple years and still, I am using a pair of choppers I bought at some little shop at the west end of Ely. Moose hide. Wow, these things are great.
Would also like to add the moose hide mukluks I bought at Steger are pretty damned amazing as well.

quote nojobro: "I like the kind with the mitten top that slips of, leaving your fingers bare. But that's for around town, daily life (great for buckling the little one into her car seat). "

Sniper mittens??

Neoprene gloves for cold water paddling, or leather water resistant mittens if it's real cold. Mechanics leather/canvas gloves around camp.

Around camp for doing chores I use a pair of mechanics gloves. I need to get some of those neoprene gloves foe fishing and paddling in cold weather.

I use the light weight gloves to about 10° above zero when active, but switch to buckskin choppers with polar plus liners. Last winter I fell headfirst into some slush on shell lake. I was soaked to my elbows. The outer jacket and chopper shell froze instantly, but I stayed warm for the next few hours as we skied back to camp and collected the evenings firewood. I will not winter camp without choppers, but I prefer polar plus liners over wool. They dry quicker and I made them to grip the wrist so you do not need to Grip the mitts to keep them on.
Dan Cooke

quote walleye_hunter: "I ship my deer hides to Uber Tanning Company and have choppers made. Deer leather is amazing; very water resistant and breathable. I wear wool mittens inside my chopper liners. "

+ 1

I love choppers and they last FOREVER! I have been wearing choppers since I was a kid. My mom would take us to the trading post in Walker, MN, every summer to by a new pair as kids.

I lost one of my choppers last winter (a few doors down from my house) and was so bummed out.

I found it several months into winter, frozen into the road, stiff as a board from all the salt and people running over it.

Brought it home, washed it out, let it dry, worked the stiffness out, and it was as good as new!

OK, southern guy here, what the hell is a chopper?

quote fitgers1: "

quote nojobro: "I like the kind with the mitten top that slips of, leaving your fingers bare. But that's for around town, daily life (great for buckling the little one into her car seat). "

Sniper mittens??"

They are like this. Those are not the ones that I have. I have some simple knit ones that are pretty thin, and then I have a pair or much warmer ones. Those even have a little flip top thumb. But they are not great for in the snow, as snow can get inside the flip top part sometimes. Much warmer than most gloves, but you don't have to take them off to use your fingers. Very handy for car seat buckling, blowing your nose with a tissue, or using a handheld device with a touch screen.

Oh look, I found the warm ones that I own. These are really awesome. But like I said they are best for general winter wear; heavy playing in the snow would require a real mitten. But going out and about in the cold, to-from work, cleaning off the car, general being outside...they are the best. The pair I just linked to has a little magnet inside each glove that holds the mitten flap part back on the back of your hand when you have it open. Very nice.

I looked up the buckskin choppers...I think I need some. ;-)

http://www.duluthtrading.com Many well-designed outdoor and work items including gloves and mittens.

I always have a pair of moose hide choppers and liners in my car for "just in case of emergency".

I got them a few years ago, from Henry Held (RIP Henry) not long before his tragic drowning in Ixtapa, Mexico.

He was a good friend and a maker of great, long lasting products. Here is a link to his ad with the Ely Chamber of Commerce.

Henry Held

If you click on this, read and then click on "Home" and it will give you a bit more info on the family continuing his moosehide legacy.

quote VoyageurNorth: "I always have a pair of moose hide choppers and liners in my car for "just in case of emergency".


I got them a few years ago, from Henry Held (RIP Henry) not long before his tragic drowning in Ixtapa, Mexico.


He was a good friend and a maker of great, long lasting products. Here is a link to his ad with the Ely Chamber of Commerce.


Henry Held


If you click on this, read and then click on "Home" and it will give you a bit more info on the family continuing his moosehide legacy."

Thanks VN! That is exactly where I bought my choppers from that I wrote about in the comment above. Looking at the picture of the guy, I'm pretty sure that is who I bought them from. If I remember correctly, the person I spoke with did state it was his shop. I better take good care of the ones I have and get a replacement pair quick as the ones I have were probably made by Henry. I bought them in '09 or '08. Yes, RIP Henry. That is sad news that he is gone though.

quote nojobro: "

quote fitgers1: "

quote nojobro: "I like the kind with the mitten top that slips of, leaving your fingers bare. But that's for around town, daily life (great for buckling the little one into her car seat). "

Sniper mittens??"

They are like this. Those are not the ones that I have. I have some simple knit ones that are pretty thin, and then I have a pair or much warmer ones. Those even have a little flip top thumb. But they are not great for in the snow, as snow can get inside the flip top part sometimes. Much warmer than most gloves, but you don't have to take them off to use your fingers. Very handy for car seat buckling, blowing your nose with a tissue, or using a handheld device with a touch screen.


Oh look, I found the warm ones that I own. These are really awesome. But like I said they are best for general winter wear; heavy playing in the snow would require a real mitten. But going out and about in the cold, to-from work, cleaning off the car, general being outside...they are the best. The pair I just linked to has a little magnet inside each glove that holds the mitten flap part back on the back of your hand when you have it open. Very nice.


I looked up the buckskin choppers...I think I need some. ;-)"

I highly suggest buying your choppers from the Henry Held shop that VoyageurNorth wrote about. I have had a lot of choppers in my life and these are simply put, the best I have ever owned.