Stay Warm and Dry this Winter Season
Winter, is the coldest season of the year. It is known to have an intense drop in temperature and icy weather. The lowest temperature that ever happened was in Alaska, USA dated way back on January 23, 1971, the temperature dropped to negative 62 degrees Celsius at that time.
Winter is regularly a hard time for humans, it can bring life-threatening health conditions, and the most known condition is hypothermia.
Hypothermia happens when the body temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius, this can happen in just minutes of being exposed to a cold environment and chilly wind. Hypothermia is associated with frostbite, this condition is the freezing of the skin and tissue.
At a brighter side, hypothermia and frostbite can be avoided. To do this, keep all your skin covered and dry during the cold winter weather. You may have winter shoes, a winter jacket, but if you go outdoors in a cold weather without protecting your hands is not advisable.
Gloves are made for hand protection, there is a variety of gloves thus it is difficult to choose the winter gloves that are right for you and that suits with your taste. However, be sure to put in your mind that before you consider the fashion style of the gloves, be mindful of what material the glove is made of.
Look for a winter glove that has at least two to three layers, most especially if you are planning to use it for outdoor activities.
The inner layer of the glove should remove the moisture, provide enough insulation that can trap the warm air inside the gloves, and the outer layer of the gloves should be waterproof and wind-resistant.
Winter gloves that provide most of the exceptional warmth are those made from cashmere, goose, fleece, or wool. However, if you are concerned with the hand performance, there are gloves that are made out of spandex or polyester, however, this kind of materials do not provide insulation.
With the various styles, fabrics, and durability level, choose the best winter gloves that are preferred for your winter activity.
How do we choose the best winter gloves?
Some glove manufacturers do not place the temperature ratings or insulation values on the winter gloves. Thus, it is a challenge for those buyers to choose the right winter gloves to prevent hypothermia and frostbite.
Choose a glove that has multiple layers
There are gloves that are not appropriate for temperatures below negative 2 degrees Celsius. Winter gloves that are constructed with two layers have a knapped fleece inside the layers and a nylon on the outer layer, this kind of glove can handle a negative 5 degrees Celsius cold. Moreover, a winter glove that is constructed with three layers, has a middle layer and a nylon inner layer.
For personal preferences, I recommend the winter gloves constructed with four layers. Its outside layer is synthetic leather and waterproof membrane, meanwhile the inner layer has fleece insulation and nylon inner layer.
Find a glove with the best moisture management.
Our palms give out more sweat, water regulates heat faster than air because of its greater density. The layer next to the hand should not be made out of cotton, which can be the worst material for a winter glove. Cotton absorbs the sweat and moisture, it's a bad thing holding the water next to the skin, and however, some winter gloves are made of cotton.
Polypropylene and wool are the best material for the layer next to the skin, it prevents moisture and keeps the skin dry.
The outer layer is important, select the best one.
The best winter glove has a dense outer layer that blocks the wind, it can contribute 14 degrees Celsius of warmth in still conditions and 28 degrees Celsius in windy conditions.
Fingertip linings say a lot to the insulation of the winter gloves.
There are winter gloves that are inadequately designed on the fingertips that allow heat to escape which results in heat insulation.
Did you know that our fingers are most susceptible part of the hands? They do because fingers do not have major muscles that can regulate heat. Thus, it gets cold quicker than the other parts of the hand.
Find a winter glove that has a fully wrapped lining at the sides of the fingers, with no heat leakage points.
After knowing the construction feature and materials of winter gloves to be able to discern which the perfect winter gloves is, let us know the types of winter gloves available in the market.
Fleece Gloves
- This kind of glove offers a superior warmth with its tightly knit synthetic fibers, the weight of the glove is equally proportional to the warmth that it gives off. However, the thickness of the gloves can affect the hand coordination and finger dexterity. This kind of glove is not waterproof and is not wind resistant, thus it is only best for light activities under the moderate cold environment.
Liner Gloves
- This kind of glove is knitted tight fittingly, but it is also stretchable. It can provide warmth and comfort for moderate and high-energy activities. Liner gloves are waterproof and wind resistant, unlike the fleece glove, it has the ability to be worn in a light weather or be paired with another glove for an extra insulation. It quickly dries off and prevents moisture.
Soft Shell Gloves
- This kind of glove is lightweight and waterproof, it can provide a sufficient amount of protection from water, wind, and snow. An exceptional warmth is provided by this glove, it can be used in low to moderate activity levels in cold environments and low temperatures.
Insulated Gloves
- This kind of glove is made to preserve heat inside the gloves, it is made with synthetic fibers. The outer layer of the insulated gloves is waterproof and breathable. It is popularly used in extreme winter conditions.
When picking the perfect pair of winter gloves should suit the needs of the user, it is important for the gloves to perfectly fit on the hand of the buyer. First, check the fingertips, your fingertips should almost touch the end of the winter gloves. The reason to have a little space allowance is to leave a tiny air pocket around the fingers to trap warmth.
Next, you have to evaluate the overall fit of the winter gloves. It should be comfortably fitting without restricting or compressing the performance of the hands. Lastly, check the dexterity of the winter glove you have chosen, evaluate whether you can manipulate your hands easily while wearing the winter gloves.
Winter gloves are basically sold in four sizes, ranging from small, medium, large, to extra-large. Remember that wearing skin-tight gloves can make the hands colder by restricting blood flow and circulation.
After the service the winter gloves have provided us, we should take care of our winter gloves. Winter gloves can harbor germs and bacteria, thus it is a must to clean it more often. Here are some summarized procedures on how to clean your winter gloves based on the material it is made of.
If you are using a leather winter gloves:
- - Use an oil-based soap, it can remove the stains on the outer layer of the gloves.
- - After the winter gloves have dried, use a microfiber cloth to polish it.
- - To clean the inner layer, use a baking soda and cornstarch. These ingredients can absorb the foul smell of the winter gloves.
If you are using a wool-type winter glove:
- - Use a warm water, and drop a small amount of gentle dish soap or hand soap.
- - Let the winter gloves soak in the warm water for a few minutes to allow the soap to work its way on the gloves.
- - Drain the warm water, lay the gloves flat on a flat surface and use your fingers to press out the water absorbed by the gloves.
- - Place the winter gloves in a towel, and roll the towel up to press the remaining excess water out of the winter gloves.
If your winter gloves are made out of cotton:
- - You can wash your winter gloves in a washing machine with a cold water.
- - Do not dry it to prevent the winter gloves from shrinking.
- - If there are visible spots on the winter gloves, use a spot cleaner and a brush to work out the stain.
- - You can also wash it with an oxygen bleach, it can save the color of the gloves and at the same time protect it.
If you use Suede winter gloves:
- - Use a suede protecting spray before wearing it.
- - Dry clean the winter gloves with a cleaner that will work on a suede material.
Care for your winter gloves and it will last! Keep warm and dry over the winter season to prevent hypothermia, frostbites, flu and other serious health problems. Do not be afraid to go outdoors and have fun. You can still enjoy outdoor activities, just be sure to bring your winter gloves.
At the end of the day, you have to choose the appropriate winter gloves for you. Look for a glove with a good balance of dexterity, insulation, and waterproof. The right winter gloves can make all the difference in keeping your hands dry all over the winter season.
You should be aware that each of us has different shapes of our hands, however, some of the manufacturers do the same feature over their glove lines—big or small palms, long or short fingers, and the like.