Yeah, I get that—sometimes gloves just make things harder, especially when they’re soaked through. I’ve tried those waterproof ones but they’re so stiff in the cold, can’t really feel anything. Guess it’s always a trade-off between warmth and dexterity.
Guess it’s always a trade-off between warmth and dexterity.
- Been there. When I’m working outside in winter, I usually keep two pairs—one thin for fiddly stuff, one thick for when I’m just hauling or waiting.
- Waterproof gloves are great until you actually need to grip a tiny fitting or thread something. Then it’s like trying to tie your shoes with oven mitts.
- Sometimes I just go bare-handed for the tricky bits, then warm up quick with the thick gloves after. Not ideal, but better than dropping tools every five minutes.
- If you find any glove that actually keeps hands warm and lets you feel what you’re doing, let me know... been searching for years.
I get where you’re coming from with the glove struggle, but I’ve actually had a bit of luck with some of the newer insulated work gloves out there. They’re not perfect, but I’ve found a couple brands that strike a decent balance—enough warmth for short stints outside, and just enough grip and feel to handle valves or small fittings without taking them off every two minutes. They’re not cheap, but for me, it beats the constant swapping or going bare-handed in freezing temps.
One thing I’d add—sometimes it’s less about the gloves and more about keeping your whole body warm. If I’m bundled up properly, my hands don’t get cold as fast, even if the gloves are a bit thinner. Layering up, good boots, and a hat make a surprising difference. I used to think it was just about the gloves, but after a few winters of trial and error, I realized if my core’s warm, my hands last longer before they go numb.
I do agree, though, that for really delicate stuff, nothing beats bare hands. I’ve dropped more than a few washers trying to thread them with thick gloves on. But I try to keep those moments short—get the tricky bit done, then right back into the gloves. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than dealing with cracked knuckles for a week.
Curious if anyone’s tried those heated glove liners? I’ve seen them around but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. They look a bit bulky, but maybe they’re worth a shot for those long days outside...
Heated glove liners are tempting, but I’ve always worried they’d be too clunky for fiddly stuff. I tried a pair once—borrowed from my brother-in-law—and honestly, they were warmer than I expected, but I felt like I was wearing oven mitts. Maybe newer ones are slimmer? For now, I just keep a thermos of hot coffee nearby and swap gloves when my fingers start to freeze. Not high-tech, but it gets me through those early morning pipe checks.
- I hear you on the glove liners—tried a few brands, and even the “slim” ones made it tough to handle small valves or reset pilot lights.
- Swapping gloves works, but I started keeping those disposable hand warmers in my coat pockets. Quick fix if you’re mid-job and can’t stop for coffee.
- One thing that’s helped: I stash an old towel in my truck to dry off gloves between checks. Wet gloves are basically useless in the cold.
- Noticed the newer heated liners are thinner, but battery life is still hit or miss... especially if you’re out there longer than planned.
- Honestly, sometimes low-tech wins—nothing beats a hot drink and dry hands when you’re dealing with frozen pipes at 5am.
