I bought a pair of your Hybrid Mitts recently and I’ve used them numerous times over the past few months. I planned on using them only while standing around, doing camp chores, hiking when it's "really" cold, and maybe belaying. I have a few pairs of "action gloves" I use for more active times. The first time I used the mittens was while climbing a 14,000' peak in Colorado during one of the coldest days of the year. The wind was screaming and the temps were well below -10F. I began the day hiking in my action gloves, but as the day wore on, my hands just started to freeze. Luckily, I had my RBH mittens in my pack. I took them out of a very cold pack (I had been out for about 6 hours before I put them on), and within five minutes, my hands began to re-warm. I just could not believe how quickly my hands warmed up.
I've used them several times while ice climbing, though not during the actual climbing. Again, I use an "action glove" that gives me more dexterity while I'm climbing so I can do things like place ice screws, and keep my RBH mittens in the bag so I can warm my hands while I'm belaying or waiting for the next pitch. They have been wonderful every time I've used them. I did try climbing an easy mixed pitch with them on, but they were too bulky to climb rock and ice securely. I did use them while climbing a steep snow field, and they are fine for handling a mountaineering axe. One thing I was surprised with was how well I could belay with them. The dexterity isn't optimal but it's not bad for such a warm mitten.
Over the weekend, a friend and I did a technical route up Longs Peak in Colorado. The temps were moderate for winter on a fourteener, but still dropped below zero at night. As is often the case with winter camping, my hands got too cold and I had to stop to re-warm them. I usually have to put them on my belly and wait for a while, essentially doing nothing in the meantime. I decided to try putting my hands in your mittens instead. Several times, I still had to put my hands on my belly to re-warm them but quite often, I was able to get my hands warm again just by putting the mittens on my hands. It allowed me to keep working while my hands re-warmed. By the end of the trip, I just left them on while I was doing camp chores (as much as possible).
One day, my wife forgot her warm mittens, and soaked her action gloves. I gave her my RBH Designs’ mittens and within minutes (after the warming pains went away), those mittens were her new best friend!
Mark Bryan
Denver, CO
I've used them several times while ice climbing, though not during the actual climbing. Again, I use an "action glove" that gives me more dexterity while I'm climbing so I can do things like place ice screws, and keep my RBH mittens in the bag so I can warm my hands while I'm belaying or waiting for the next pitch. They have been wonderful every time I've used them. I did try climbing an easy mixed pitch with them on, but they were too bulky to climb rock and ice securely. I did use them while climbing a steep snow field, and they are fine for handling a mountaineering axe. One thing I was surprised with was how well I could belay with them. The dexterity isn't optimal but it's not bad for such a warm mitten.
Over the weekend, a friend and I did a technical route up Longs Peak in Colorado. The temps were moderate for winter on a fourteener, but still dropped below zero at night. As is often the case with winter camping, my hands got too cold and I had to stop to re-warm them. I usually have to put them on my belly and wait for a while, essentially doing nothing in the meantime. I decided to try putting my hands in your mittens instead. Several times, I still had to put my hands on my belly to re-warm them but quite often, I was able to get my hands warm again just by putting the mittens on my hands. It allowed me to keep working while my hands re-warmed. By the end of the trip, I just left them on while I was doing camp chores (as much as possible).
One day, my wife forgot her warm mittens, and soaked her action gloves. I gave her my RBH Designs’ mittens and within minutes (after the warming pains went away), those mittens were her new best friend!
Mark Bryan
Denver, CO