8:44 p.m. on February 21, 2008 (EST)
gscott
New Member
Joined: Feb 21, 2008
Posts: 1
Really cold hands
My hands have a really really bad reaction to the cold - I think I have Renaud's syndrome. Fingertips turn white, very painful. I've tried glove liners, mittens, expedition mitts, you name it. The disposable hand warmers work fine, but are kind of a pain in terms of slipping around and just all around being comfortable when holding poles for skiing or snowshoeing.... and when i take off the mittens to do something, my hands get cold again. So anyway, I found a Web site for heated gloves called Vaso (http://www.vaso.tv/northamerica.html) Can anyone tell me if these work and are worth the $$. They're very expensive - I've spent so much on gloves already, I hate to waste more! But I don't want to spend another winter indoors!
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1:34 a.m. on February 22, 2008 (EST)
Tom D
Moderator
Joined: Aug 10, 2002
Posts: 608
Re: Really cold hands
I don't know about those, but I have a pair of mitts made by Heat Factory. They have a small zippered pocket on each mitt that holds a chemical heat pack on the back of the hand. I have used the packs in their footbeds (like Superfeet insoles)and they generate a lot of heat for about 6 hours.
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9:17 a.m. on February 22, 2008 (EST)
Alicia
Editor in Chief
Joined: Mar 14, 2001
Posts: 436
Re: Really cold hands
Mountain Hardwear is putting out a heated ski glove for fall/winter 2008—the Red Savina Gloves. The lithium battery is supposed to run for 4 to 6 hours per charge and the glove heats more or less depending on how cold it is. But they’re very expensive at $300.
If heat packs work otherwise for you, I’d first try Tom’s more-affordable suggestion of using the gloves or mitts designed with a pocket for the packs.
It sounds like you’ve gone over all of this already, but just in case, here are a few thoughts: Do you make sure you’re not sweating in your gloves when they are warm and you’re moving? If they get sweaty and then you stop and are wearing wet gloves/liners that will cool you off even faster.
Do you bring along extra pairs of liners and gloves/mitts for rests or to adjust your layering system or replace any wet gloves? Make sure none of your layers, especially on your hands, constrict at all? Make sure your core, head and neck areas stay quite warm, so your extremities do too? Eat plenty to keep your metabolism up?
You may want to see a doctor for diagnosing Raynaud’s. Depending on the severity and form there are some medications, vitamins, and lifestyle changes one might suggest for you. I don’t personally know if they’d make a difference or not, but it might be worth looking into if you’re being forced to change your activities. You also don’t want to suffer any circulatory damage.
My uncle has Raynaud’s, and I also get very, very cold hands myself once I stop moving. I have to be vigilant and proactive about keeping them dry and warm and not stopping for long rest breaks in winter. I’m always the one swinging my arms and ready to get moving again. So I have a lot of sympathy for your dilemma.
Good luck.
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11:37 a.m. on February 22, 2008 (EST)
Re: Really cold hands
you should go to rbhdesigns.com they have vapor barrier linings for gloves and people with raynauds have quoted them saying it took care of the problem. They are expensive but they might just do the trick
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1:25 p.m. on February 22, 2008 (EST)
Alicia
Editor in Chief
Joined: Mar 14, 2001
Posts: 436
Re: Really cold hands
m0rpheu5111’s vapor barrier suggestion is seconded in the book “Secrets of Warmth” by Hal Weiss.
This is a 1992 book, so don’t go looking for a current edition, but it contains a few paragraphs about Raynaud’s in the “Dressing for Warmth” chapter.
The author, stating the obvious, says “one way of dealing with it is to keep the affected area as warm as possible” and mentions “using the super warm combination of layers listed previously (thin liner, vapor barrier, thick mitten, and waterproof outer shell).”
His other suggestions include: keeping the rest of you very warm so your extremities are warm too; making sure layers aren’t too tight; electronically warmed-mittens; and going to the doctor for help improving your circulation.
Vapor barriers or other options may be expensive, but ultimately you want something that works for you. And when your hands are turning white and in pain, you’re not going to care how much you did or didn’t spend. You’ll just want a system that works.
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4:18 p.m. on March 30, 2008 (EDT)
kpnitrl
New Member
Joined: Mar 30, 2008
Posts: 1
Re: Really cold hands
DON'T BUY THEM! Let me save you the hassle. I did buy them and tried them out over a 8 hour period. The gloves liners were subpar and kept my hands warm on occasion. It's like if the electrical current running to the finger tips, as explained on the website, shuts off. I had the hardest time getting a refund to.
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