I wanted to fly my kite today but when I looked at the thermometer it was -10c or 14f. To cold I thought, but I went anyway. After 15 minutes with my 2m kite my finger tips were ice numb.
Those that fly in the winter, what type of gloves are you using. I'm trying to avoid heated gloves or anything that produces heat through a chemical reaction.

there have been a few discussions gloves on here and there are more links posted within the discussion thread

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=20385

I usually take a second pair of gloves or mitts and keep them tucked inside the top of my coat that way you'll have a warm pair to switch over to if the first pair get damp or the cold is creeping through
(I generally start with my gortex gloves from MEC)

I wear MEC Sorcerers which I originally bought for downhill. Only issue is the dangly cords for tightening the cuffs can try to snag the lines while untwisting handles preparing for launch. They are too warm for -10 if you are riding, but then I just remove the outer shells and let them steam off.

I got mine as seconds and regret it... the price was spectacular and they are super warm and comfy BUT if your hands are sweaty and you pull the liners off they will try to pull the fingers of the liner inside out. Something dislocates inside and then its a #@%$#! to put them back on... I've about had it and plan to stitch strategic spots to try to fix them. Don't buy the seconds, get the real deal.

I wear Swany™ gloves «gaffer» model. http://www.swanyamerica.com/

5mm XCEL Drylock...





:D

the open palm mitts (which i use for water) are the ones to go with.

the compression/isolation with a fingered reduces heat retention.

a LOOSE fittiing glove for snow is different they work...

but for water the mitt is the #@%$#!ZZ

Snowmobile gloves thick on the back of the hand and thin on the palm so you can feel the bar.

I wear warm dry mittens over a pair of thin warm dry fleese gloves. And warm snowpants with layers of warm jackets all topped off with a warm fuzzy hat. You could also hang any pocket warmer around your neck down far enough to hang near your belly... toasty warm! Keeping your "core" warm goes a long way toward keeping your fingers warm. You also have to find a way to relax your grip on the handles or bar , its hard to do unless your hooked in. Having a death grip on the bar or handles will almost always result in cold hands.

Lots of choices, but the reviews for many of the gloves posted vary from poor to excellent. The biggest complaint was the liner coming out of the glove when taking them off or try to get the gloves on if the hands became wet.
I'm off to MEC to see what they have.

I actually use ice fishing gloves made by "ice armour". Warm, not too thick, water proof, reinforced fingers for wear and they have a gator around the wrist so snow doesn't get up your jacket sleeve or in your glove. Not to bad price wise incase you loose one. I'm a stickler on the liner not comming out either. Had a VERY nice pair of gortex gloves one time that the liner came out with my hands and I never could get the fingers put back in right. They were never the same after that. It all comes down to personal preference, everybodies hands are made different.