Level Six mitts

[Lupe]

I'm stuck at the airport waiting for my delayed flight...so I'm going to take the time (and the free internet) to post a gear review of Level Six Mitts.

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I really love Glacier Gloves for most of my paddling - they are warm, not too bulky, and have excellent grip. However, below about 45/40 degrees and they start to not be warm enough for me. Last year I purchased the Level Six Mitts, but then it didn't get cold enough again for a good test.

Yesterday we paddled the Cadron and the temperature was in the mid to upper 30's. I was really surprised at how warm the mitts were. They are very thin, so dexterity and grip is great, yet the warmth is incredible. My hands were actually a bit sweaty most of the day. And even though these are mittens, I found I could operate my camera EASIER with these than with my Glacier Gloves on because the thin flexible material makes it very easy to feel what you are doing right through the mitt. I easily could turn on my camera and work the buttons to adjust settings and take photos with no problems. With the Glacier Gloves I sometimes don't press the buttons down all the way.

At lunch I took one mitten off to eat lunch. With my Glacier Gloves, once I take them off for lunch it can be very hard to warm them back up again (if ever). Cowper recently suggested putting a hand warmer pack inside the gloves during lunch so then they are warm when I put them back on...and that's a good idea I will probably use. But with the Level Six mittens, when I put the one mitt back on even though it felt freezing cold, it warmed right back up literally within 1-2 minutes. Again - very impressive!

I have tried pogies before and just don't like them: I fidget too much and don't like having to take my hands in and out, and I didn't find them that warm either. For others who really have trouble with cold hands who don't like pogies, these are a very nice alternative.

A note re safety: it is important that you feel confident you can still grab your skirt handle in the case of a wet exit with the mittens. I feel this would be no problem because of how thin and flexible they are...but it's important each person decide for themselves if they could present a problem.

I would say I am pretty senstive to cold hands. I think most people I know are not as cold sensitive, but I do know a few people (okay - just one) who actually has more trouble with cold hands than I do. So my guess is that for most people these will actually be TOO warm. But if you struggle with cold hands, I think these are a great option.

Anyway - it's not often I am this "wowed" by a piece of gear, so I just wanted to share my enthusiasm!

Cheers