Alice Smellie has teamed up with Polyco, which makes industrial- grade gloves for the construction, utility, oil and gas industries, and put a selection of gloves to the test.
A 1998 study showed our hands are almost two degrees colder than men's
Women are more prone to feeling the cold in their fingers
The Mercury is hurtling towards zero like an out of control sledge, and it’s time to invest in gloves.
Women are more prone to feeling the cold in their fingers. A 1998 study showed that our hands are almost two degrees colder than men’s, on average.
This is partly due to the hormone oestrogen, which makes our peripheral blood vessels constrict more in the cold, so blood flow to hands and feet is slowed.
Alice Smellie, pictured above, has teamed up with expert Brett Wakeley at Polyco, which makes industrial- grade gloves for the construction, utility, oil and gas industries, and put a selection of gloves to the test
Hands can be harder to keep warm than the rest of the body. When the ambient temperature drops, blood is redirected to the core at the expense of extremities such as hands (and feet). And, as we age, circulation may become less efficient.
All this prompted me to team up with expert Brett Wakeley at Polyco, which makes industrial- grade gloves for the construction, utility, oil and gas industries, and put a selection of gloves to the test.
We took an image of my hand in a glove using a FLIR thermal imaging camera. This showed how much heat was escaping and therefore how insulated my hand might be. Body heat shows up as yellow — the brighter the picture, the more heat is escaping.
I measured the glove’s inner temperature at the tip of my index finger with a 231-214 Thermapen 3 Air Probe Thermometer, (£62.40, thermometer.co.uk). Then I plunged my gloved hand into a bucket of ice cubes for two minutes and measured the air temperature at the same place again to see how quickly the cold had penetrated and by how many degrees the temperature had plummeted.
Sock Shop Heat Holders, thermal gloves, £10.99, sockshop.co.uk
CHUNKY BUT COSY
Sock Shop Heat Holders, thermal gloves, £10.99, sockshop.co.uk
thick gloves with a cable knit pattern made from a thermal yarn with polyester and acrylic. The lining is a plush, fur-like polyester which — they say — maximises the amount of warm air next to the skin.
BRETT SAYS: Thermal gloves should harness your body heat to trap air and maintain warmth. If your skin is in contact with the fibres within the gloves, then you’ll probably be trapping plenty of warm air.
TEST: My fingers look like sausages, but the brushed lining is cosy. The cuff is snug, though not tight. When I clutch a few ice cubes, my palm feels chilly after a few seconds and cold spreads gradually out to my fingers. It’s never unbearable, but the temperature drops 5.2 degrees, from 24.2c to 19c, and too chilly for comfort. 7/10
When I clutch a few ice cubes, my palm feels chilly after a few seconds and cold spreads gradually out to my fingers. It’s never unbearable, but the temperature drops 5.2 degrees, from 24.2c to 19c, and too chilly for comfort
UGG Australia Shearling Bow Gloves, £120, very.co.uk
THE UGG EFFECT
UGG Australia Shearling Bow Gloves, £120, very.co.uk
Tan suede finish gloves with a luxurious sheepskin lining and a pretty bow.
BRETT SAYS: Sheepskin is highly water resistant and offers insulation in the form of both the leather and hair fibres within the glove, which trap air. It will feel warm, but you may well lose dexterity.
In the ice, it’s a full 30 seconds before I feel the cold. Though I grip a handful of ice, my fingers remain warm. The temperature drops only 2.7 degrees, from 23.6c to 20.9c, with scant heat loss from my fingers and palms
TEST: UGG boots are famously warm, so their gloves have a lot to live up to. And they do the job admirably. In the ice, it’s a full 30 seconds before I feel the cold. Though I grip a handful of ice, my fingers remain warm.
The temperature drops only 2.7 degrees, from 23.6c to 20.9c, with scant heat loss from my fingers and palms.The only negative is the short cuff, which is cold around the wrist. If they were longer — and less expensive — they’d get full marks. 9/10
Woolovers Unisex Cashmere gloves £29, woolovers.com
ELEGANT BUT CHILLY
Woolovers Unisex Cashmere gloves £29, woolovers.com
There’s nothing as comfortable as 100 per cent cashmere gloves. Slim-fitting and luxurious.
BRETT SAYS: Cashmere is very fibrous, with lots of extremely thin strands of hair woven together, so it has good insulation properties. Although it’s generally considered to be warm, expense means it’s often thin — you pay by weight with cashmere. Thicker cashmere would mean less air escaping.
When I plunge my hand into ice I can feel the cold instantly; after 60 seconds it’s uncomfortable and after two minutes almost unbearable
TEST: These slip on like a sexy nightie, though the cuffs are quite loose. When I plunge my hand into ice I can feel the cold instantly; after 60 seconds it’s uncomfortable and after two minutes almost unbearable. The thermal imaging camera shows heat escaping from my freezing hands like the sun emitting rays, and the temperature has dropped an excruciating 6.2 degrees, from 23.5c to 17.3c.
Beautiful, but maybe best for driving, not dog walking.5/10
Karrimor Windproof Ladies Gloves, £4.99, sportsdirect.com (reduced from £19.99)
ELASTICATED WINDPROOFS
Karrimor Windproof Ladies Gloves, £4.99, sportsdirect.com (reduced from £19.99)
Pretty aubergine gloves with an ‘elasticated waist’ to stop draughts swirling around the bottom of your hand. They also have a fleece-lined inner and silicone palm for better grip. Made from 98 per cent polyester and two per cent elastane.
BRETT SAYS: The elasticated waist is trying to lock in the air, and fleece creates what’s called a ‘loft’ of fibres, to trap the warm air between hand and glove. The outer layer is windproof — the weave is so tight you probably couldn’t even blow through it, and silicone has good grip.
TEST: They look childish, as though they ought to be attached to my coat with elastic, and I can feel the seams ridged against my fingers.
My hand gets cold, but not burningly so, and when I take it out, I find the temperature has dropped 4.2 degrees, going from 22.9c to 18.7c. There appears to be a lot of heat lost from my palms in the thermal image
My hand gets cold, but not burningly so, and when I take it out, I find the temperature has dropped 4.2 degrees, going from 22.9c to 18.7c. There appears to be a lot of heat lost from my palms in the thermal image. Brett suggests it’s probably because that’s the hottest part of the hand to begin with. 7/10
Warmawear Dual Fuel gloves £19.99 (reduced from £59.99), primrose.co.uk
THE TECHY ONES
Warmawear Dual Fuel gloves £19.99 (reduced from £59.99), primrose.co.uk
Polyester gloves with carbon-fibre heating elements running through the seams of the fingers and two zipped pockets: one for a disposable heat pack, which activates once exposed to the air and generates heat, and another into which you plug a nine-volt battery to heat the elements. There is an on/off switch. Artificially warmed gloves, though — isn’t that cheating?
BRETT SAYS: For treks in cold environments where you need to stimulate warmth rather than simply maintain it.
Alice tries polyester gloves with carbon-fibre heating elements running through the seams of the fingers and two zipped pockets: one for a disposable heat pack, which activates once exposed to the air and generates heat, and another into which you plug a nine-volt battery to heat the elements
TEST: These are chunky items, and even more so with a heat pack (bought separately) and a battery. But there is a lovely warmth spreading through my hand. I can feel some chill after a minute in the water. But, unsurprisingly, the temperature within has barely dropped — only 2.2c.
I can feel some chill after a minute in the water. But, unsurprisingly, the temperature within has barely dropped — only 2.2c
My fingers don’t feel remotely cold. The glove alone appears to show a fair amount of heat escaping (we shot without batteries on), although my fingers are clearly well protected. The heat pack feels like too much effort, though I may rethink in January. 8/10
Lovarzi Wool Gloves, £16.99, amazon.co.uk
WOOLLY THOUGH NOT WONDERFUL
Lovarzi Wool Gloves, £16.99, amazon.co.uk
A pair of thick grey 100 per cent wool gloves — and there aren’t that many pure wool gloves out there.
BRETT SAYS: Pure wool is less common because of cost and itchiness. Wool fibres form tiny air pockets that trap warmth. It can also be saturated by up to 60 per cent of its own weight before feeling wet, though it’s not waterproof. Wet wool actually conducts the cold.
The camera shows heat escaping from my hands like a pulsing warm fire, and the temperature drops an uncomfortable 5.6 degrees, from 23.3c to 17.7c
TEST: With a slightly scratchy but comfortable feel, they fit beautifully. Yet after 90 seconds in the ice my hand is agonisingly cold.
The camera shows heat escaping from my hands like a pulsing warm fire, and the temperature drops an uncomfortable 5.6 degrees, from 23.3c to 17.7c. Less of a drop than the cashmere gloves, but that’s probably because it’s a thicker material. 6/10
Barbour Lady Jane Gloves, £39.99, julesb.co.uk
LEATHER VS WEATHER
Barbour Lady Jane Gloves, £39.99, julesb.co.uk
Classy black gloves that are made from 100 per cent leather with a Barbour tartan trim and pure polyester (not fleece) lining.
BRETT SAYS: Leather is basically skin, which is good at keeping in the warmth. Don’t have gloves too tight or hands will get cold. Leather comes in myriad thicknesses, quality and prices. Try before you buy.
TEST: Soft, pliable and close fitting. The polyester lining feels as plush as velvet and the cuff unfolds halfway up my forearm.
I feel an icy shock as my hand hits the ice, and then gradually more chilly over the two minutes, but nothing goes numb! I’m impressed, although the thermometer shows that my hands have dropped 5.5 degrees, from 23.8c to 18.3c
I feel an icy shock as my hand hits the ice, and then gradually more chilly over the two minutes, but nothing goes numb!
I’m impressed, although the thermometer shows that my hands have dropped 5.5 degrees, from 23.8c to 18.3c.
The thermal image shows a warm glow of my body heat oozing into the atmosphere, which is rather a shame as they are very comfortable otherwise. 7/10