Warm mittens?

I recently got a pair of MHW Compressor mittens. My thought was they could be a lightweight over mitt  to be pulled over thinner gloves for breaks, descent etc. Unfortunately the thumbs are very slender, so you can’t wear anything more than a thin liner underneath them.  On their own they are not very warm.

I thought the BD Superlight mitts seemed like a warmer, slightly beefier option, but then I read they have a separator for the index finger. I have poor circulation, so looking for true mittens.

Any other similar options, with a fairly lightweight shell, articulated design and synthetic insulation?

And then the other option is the beefier category of mittens.

OR Altimitts are pretty well known, how do the BD Absolute Mitts compare? Any others similar? 

 I own a pair of BD mercury mittens, super warm and pretty spacious inside, you can also separate the shell from the insulation pretty handy if you need to dry them.

Kinco mittens are really warm and affordable, but a bit bulky. Farmers like them for their durability and warmth, that’s how I came across them, at least. 

+1 for the BD Mercury mitts, they are excellent. Dexterity is reasonable, the leather palm is durable, and the fleeced liner on the is inside is luxuriously cozy. 

Can’t go wrong with either Alti mitts or kincos 

+2 for the BD Mercury Mitts!  They're very warm, leather seems somewhat durable belaying, fit well, etc.

I also own OR Alti Mitts.   They never leave the house.  The Mercury Mitts are in the pack on every ice climb. 

What's the use case, temp range, etc? I use the CAMP overmitts ( skimo.co/camp-drymitn) for ski touring down into the teens/single digits F. They don't have any insulation but are very spacious so you can wear a thicker but still dextrous fleece glove under them.

+3 for BD Mercury Mitts. The liner does have the separate index trigger finger. If I'm using a single rope and don't need belay dexterity these are my go to belay and emergency mitts for down to 0F. I have a pair of Mtn Hardwear Absolute Mitts, which are in the same category as OR Alti Mitts. I only bring them if expecting negative F temps and this is generally not technical climbing.

I also own the CAMP drymitin and those get good usage for wet/windy outside endeavors that aren't climbing since mine don't have a leather/durable palm.

The Kincos have separated fingers and for me are no warmer than gloves of the same materials.

Uninsulated shell mitts + wool or fleece mitts  + liner gloves for normal cold multi day trips. Moisture management is really key, and this is the only solution I’ve found that stays dry over several days.

Alti mitts or equivalent in addition for extreme cold.

Mix and match (alti inners with uninsulated shell, or alti shells over gloves) for single day trips.

I love my Mercury mitts. 

I love my Mercury mitts. 

fwiw i have the BD super lights and have never used the trigger finger; i just treat it like a normal mitt with all my fingers in the main 'compartment' and theres plenty of room. 

Charles Iguana wrote:

+2 for the BD Mercury Mitts!  They're very warm, leather seems somewhat durable belaying, fit well, etc.

I also own OR Alti Mitts.   They never leave the house.  The Mercury Mitts are in the pack on every ice climb. 

Why do you not use the Alti’s?

Hestra makes some really warm mittens (but they are not cheap.)

https://www.hestragloves.us/army-leather-expedition-mitt-black-light-brown

Tjaard Breeuwer wrote:

Why do you not use the Alti’s?

Because the Mercury Mitts are so much better!  (At least for my needs.)
With the BD's I can belay, unscrew a locker, grab a jacket zipper pull, swing tools on a cold top rope, etc. And they're warm for me if the temps dip down to single-digit F and I'm somewhat active.
With the OR's I can hold an ice axe and that's about it. They may be warmer and leather may be a bit thicker, but the flexibility/fit is way off.
I wear a L/XL in gloves, have a L in the BD and downsized to a Med in the OR. The OR thumb is snug but the finger area is too sloppy, it's like the finger section is too long and when you try to curl your fingers they curl inside the mitt unless you're grabbing onto something.
Love my OR Illuminator gloves but not the OR Alti Mitts. Spend $120 on the BD instead of $200 on the OR.

EDIT:  I have the prior gen of both the BD and OR mitts.  Just tried on the newer BD and OR models at REI.  The new BD does not have the trigger finger which helped with dexterity.  :(  The new gen OR mitts are sized diff.  I'd prob move to a L or XL now, and the finger section seems shorter but it's just as clunky.  Perhaps it's just me...

A step above mercury’s in dexterity are the baker mitts from OR. I sized mine large enough to fit over my liners.   Effectively a 3 layer system.   Though the pile layer isn’t very durable.  

 Very warm setup for me and dexterous enough. Wouldn’t want to lead real ice with them but could do low angle, place some screws, handle ropes etc.  

I doubt you’ll use absolute/alti level mits bad dexterity and warmer than most need 

Black Diamond Super Light Mitts

I think the super lights are a step above mercury mittens. I wouldn’t get spooked off by the finger. I love mine, had them for a few years now. And so light you definitely don’t hesitate to stuff them in a pack.

Kai Larson wrote:

Hestra makes some really warm mittens (but they are not cheap.)

https://www.hestragloves.us/army-leather-expedition-mitt-black-light-brown

Do you own them?
The one thing that sounds interesting about them is the statement that the (unlined) shell has fleece insulation in the thumb. Since the thumb is always on its own, I have long thought that gloves/mittens need more insulation on the thumb than the rest of the hand.

Is it true, do they have insulation in the shell in the thumb?

If so, is the thumb still wide enough? The design looks tapered, so I worry that when you add thick liners, it would get tight. This is often a problem with thicker gloves/mittens.

Dachstein mittens!