The winter is coming. It's already cold in Chicago. I currently have some leather gloves and cheapie cotton gloves. Neither of which is good for photograph. The leather gives me next to no dexterity and the cotton gloves are too loose to feel anything.

I may head over to Walgreens (or Wal-Mart or Home Depot or some other place with cheap gloves) and just buy some cheap-o gloves and cut some fingers off. But, before I do that I was wondering if you all could tell me what types of gloves you wear.

And while we're on the subject of winter wear, what kind of jackets, coats, pants, etc do you wear out in the cold? I have a wardrobe fit for going to work and walking around downtown, but I find it far too restrictive to do anything the least bit active.

What weather are you intending to shoot in? I'm up here in Minnesota and i spend a lot of time shooting alpine skiing (hours on the hill with no break sometimes in subzero cold). There's quite a range of options depending on what you are going to be doing.

J.

Woolly fingerless lined with thinsulate.

JohnJ80 wrote:
What weather are you intending to shoot in? I'm up here in Minnesota and i spend a lot of time shooting alpine skiing (hours on the hill with no break sometimes in subzero cold). There's quite a range of options depending on what you are going to be doing.

J.

I was hoping to shoot either downtown Chicago, by the Lake or in the forest preserves. Downtown Chicago is notorious for having a grid-like organization of its downtown area, which can turn into wind tunnels from Lake Michigan wind currents (Though, contrary to some belief, "the Windy City" is more about politicians blowing hot air). I'd need something to cut the wind.

As for the forest preserves, they're cold and the trees can shield much of the sun.

I don't remember what they are called, but I use full wool gloves where you can fold back the fingertip section out of the way to expose your fingertips. I believe I found them in the hunting section of a sporting goods store.

Viking 'Nitri-Dex' for wet & cold, still allows full dexterity without having to cut off the fingers. Viking 'Thermo Mega-Grip' for when it gets far below freezing, less dexterity, more warmth. The vulcanized palm is grippy even when wet. I have used both types for both photography and working on aircraft outdoors, in temperatures ranging from 5* C and wet to -20* C and absolutely freezing. (For the Yanks that is about 40* to -4* F.) Best thing is is that they are dirt cheap.

kakomu wrote:

I was hoping to shoot either downtown Chicago, by the Lake or in the forest preserves. Downtown Chicago is notorious for having a grid-like organization of its downtown area, which can turn into wind tunnels from Lake Michigan wind currents (Though, contrary to some belief, "the Windy City" is more about politicians blowing hot air). I'd need something to cut the wind.

As for the forest preserves, they're cold and the trees can shield much of the sun.

Got it. I grew up in Chicago and moved up here after college.

I wouldn't sweat the glove thing. Just get the kind of gloves you would wear for winter in general, and then take them off when you shoot. If it is cold by Chicago standards, then get some thin synthetic glove liners and they should be just fine for even extended periods before you put your gloves back on.

Everyone gets all worked up about gloves, but few have experience in real cold (and therefore, don't really know what they are talking about). When I shoot ski meets, I might be shooting continuous for an hour or more in subzero temps. I just use good quality top end ski gloves and I'm able to work the camera controls if I'm careful and it works just fine. At temps between 30-40F if there is not big wind, you can go for considerable periods outside of your gloves with just bare skin.

For clothing, dress like if you were skiing. Use layers topped off with a gortex shell. That will keep you warm and allow you high mobility. One of the stretchy soft shells is perfect. For example at temps down to about 20F, I wear a long underwear top (expedition weight), a fleece layer and a heavy duty soft shell. If it gets colder than that, I change out the fleece for a thin quilted insulation (thinsolate) layer. Colder than than 10F, I switch out the thinsolate for a down sweater. Colder than 0F, I add back the thinsolate layer. Pants are windproof shells over expedition weight long underwear below 30 to 20, blow 10, I go to thinsolate pants. Use windchill for how you dress.

With this setup, I can stay out for up to 4 hours at a crack no sweat.

Often camera straps can be bothersome on gortex/nylon style jackets. For that, consider the Cotton Carrier. Works great in that sort of application.

J.

I shoot skiing for a living, and always take my gloves off to shoot. If you dress properly, and keep your core and your head warm, your hands wont have any issues for short periods of time.

brainiac wrote:
Woolly fingerless lined with thinsulate.

What I have/use exactly. It has a little fold over flap for the tips when you're between snapping. Also, as mentioned, I bundle my head with scarf/wool hat and generally have no need for a thick coat, which I find obstructs movement during shooting.

If you aren't too concerned about the macho man look then ladies wool knit gloves are an option, though stay away from the fashion design type. I use some black ladies wool knit gloves work and I can continue to use the controls without taking the gloves off. I've used them in -20C weather with strong north winds.

And as others say dress in layers.

mtbakerskier wrote:
I shoot skiing for a living, and always take my gloves off to shoot. If you dress properly, and keep your core and your head warm, your hands wont have any issues for short periods of time.

+1

J.

Layer, layer, layer: Poly underwear overalls, thin fleece turtleneck and underpants, and a wicking undershell will do miracles. They will be as thin as a single layer of thick pyjamas and you can wear anything on top that you want so you don't look over-the-top expedition-dressed.
I have worn these layers down to -20 in Toronto and I look like I am dressed casually for much milder weather.

In terms of gloves, I am bald so even with a hat I find I lose enough heat off my head to get my toes /fingers cold.
The best trick I have found was a thin set of thermal gloves under a flip-up set of mitts.

I wear a thin pair of tight neoprene and leather gloves for most of the winter. If it's very cold (-30c) I'll generally switch off to thinsulate-lined wool mittens with a flap that exposes the finger tips.

Dress warmly and layer and you won't have too much trouble with your extremities getting cold

For gloves I always bring a pair of Under Armour gloves (about $20 from a local sports store). They're very thin and have excellent movement. (closest thing I've found to having nothing on) I can still feel the AF-on button and everything else through them. They are also thin enough to fit through the hand strap on a 1D if you don't have it set too tight. They have a "grippy" part on the palm section and a fleece type of top on the other side. I originally discovered them after years of searching for a glove I can easily use American Sign Language in without significantly hindering my movements. This is one of only two gloves I've ever worn which meet that challenge despite trying many, which means it translates similarly for camera use.

They're not the warmest thing ever made but I find them perfect in most situations for me. They also fit in the camera bag or pocket without being bulky.

Polypropylene head to toe then add layers of fleece and/or wool. With an outer shell to STOP the wind and/or rain.

kakomu wrote:
And while we're on the subject of winter wear, what kind of jackets, coats, pants, etc do you wear out in the cold? I have a wardrobe fit for going to work and walking around downtown, but I find it far too restrictive to do anything the least bit active.

Carhartt

When you look for a pair of gloves, DO NOT get tight gloves. Get slightly looser gloves, and whenever you need to warm up, slip your hands into a larger mitten or your pockets. If that's not enough, get chemical hand warmers Good grief...you're only in Chicago. I'm in Alaska and it's a toasty 18 degrees right now...it really starts to get fun at -30 with a -65 degree wind chill photographing the World Ice Art Competition. Anyway...I wear Carhartt too. It's warm and tough.

P.S. I forgot to say why not to get tight gloves. Tight gloves will constrict your blood flow, which will not make you any warmer.