Greetings Hikers,
In the world of hiking keeping your hands and your feet warm are a vital key in the quest to having a successful hike. While your hands and feet, arms and legs, are not as vital as keeping your core temperature under control – a situation the vast majority of sul/xul hikers rarely face – the necessity of keeping ones hands and feet warm goes a long way towards the overall well-being, pleasure, and adventure, of being outdoors.
The Black Rock Gear Undermitts are perfecting for helping you keep your hands warm throughout most of the climates and conditions that most of us, all but those who go into the most extreme environments, face each and every time we go out.
For many years a lot of people have been using gear made by Black Rock Gear to keep their core temperatures as stable as possible. They have been the manufacture of the highly popular – and always in demand – Black Rock Hat which has been used pretty much around the world by those going out for a day hike to those hiking the highest mountains in the world. The Black Rock Hat gram for gram (19-25 grams / 0.67 – 0.88 ounces) is very likely the best down hat on the market and one or two of them are almost always in my backpack.
My Glove Layering System:
As a hiker in the Northern regions of California I encounter cold ocean wind, rain forest rain, and high mountain snow over the course of a year hiking. Having a good hand layering system has proven to be important to me.
The Black Rock Gear Undermitts provide the perfect mid-layer glove for the colder temperatures, both while hiking and while sleeping.
For when it is wet or snowing or I need a few degrees of extra warmth, I slip on the Mountain Laurel Designs eVENT Rain Mitts, probably the best high breathable, light weight, waterproof gloves on the market.
And for base layer (next to skin) I use the PossumDown gloves (in the usa) which are warm, comfortable, amazingly light weight, and can stay relatively warm if they do happen to get wet – just keep them away from flames, they will vaporize.
Put together, these three products will give you great hand protection for 4 ounces.
Overall Rating:
After having used the Black Rock Gear Undermitts for two winters I would rate the Black Rock Gear Undermitts at a “highly recommended” level.
I am 100% convinced that the Black Rock Gear Undermitts are the best goose down undermitts on the market. They have enough durability to handle multiple thru-hikes for those who are thru-hikers and probably a life-time of use for the weekend hikers out there. At around 38 grams these are worthy of being in your backpack.
Final Thoughts:
If you are looking for something to be able to keep your hands warm, than you need to keep an eye out on the Black Rock Gear website for when these awesome Black Rock Undermitts are available.
And remember, I would highly recommend also picking up the PossumDown gloves (for next to skin layer) and the Mountain Laurel Designs ‘eVENT Rain Mitts (for hard shell weather layer).
– Abela
In accordance of USA Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255: I hereby declare that I am a Sponsor of Black Rock Gear. The Black Rock Gear products mentioned within the content of this review were purchased by myself and were not supplied to me free of charge, or in exchange for services, by Black Rock Gear, unless otherwise mentioned. As of the time of publication, any other product(s) mentioned within the content of this review is free of endorsement(s) between myself and the manufacturer(s) and meets all FTC 16 CFR.255 compliance requirements.