I'm thinking mid 40s...

I'd say mid 30s.

Never. Ever. I carry thin liner gloves on EVERY hike. I am a cold blooded female - a thin hat and gloves can make the difference when the weather shifts.

I'm in the never camp. Even in the 40's the wind on peak can freeze out your hands pretty good especially with trekking poles. That or rain can really chill the hands. Besides they are like a built in pot holder for cooking so even if they aren't used for warmth they have other uses.

I'm with Sarah and Greg in that pretty warm gloves (for warm weather) only cost you maybe 32g, and when the wind blows I at least need SOMETHING. I was out recently at 55ish when I was darn glad my windshirt has cuffs that fold over into mittens, and this morning Denver weather was 40 with a 28 wind chill factor and it's not even a little bit windy by our standards and raining besides. I hate having to hike with my hands in my pockets...
Have fun,
Steve

Any temperature, I'm always forgetting the dang things. Oh wait you mean on purpose? My hands get pretty cold and miserable so I try bring them if I'm expecting it to get in the low forties or under. Since I usually I forget I end up using my sleeping socks.

i'd take em no matter what, even if it was a tropical hike.

If it's a long distance trek, I'll leave them at home if the lowest expected temperature is around 25°F. If I'm car camping I guess I'd bring them if I expected the temperature to drop below freezing.

I would leave gloves home if temps stayed at 50° or higher.

Never anymore. A pair of light weight liner gloves don't weigh that much. I also always take a thin hat as well. I went on a trip to Grayson Highlands several years ago. It was the first weekend of summer. Temps were in the mid 70's in the parking area. It dropped into the upper 20's at night. I swore right then that even in August I would always take a light weight pair of gloves and a light weight hat.

That trip was also when I purchased my first Montbell UL Inner jackets. They had just come out and Sundog outfitters in Damascus had them in stock.

mid 40's

I only take insulative gloves to trips where I expect consistent at or below freezing temps. However, I take a UL jacket if I'm expecting night time temps below the mid-40's, and it has pockets.


That being said, I have found myself carrying a pair of thin leather driving/roping type gloves more and more often, for various other purposes, and they'll serve in most temps above freezing if I ever got cold.

I always carry a a set of Thermasilk glove liners. Old(er) age has hurt my circulation some, so I wear them up to about 50 degrees. They're also good for picking up a hot Heinie can, buckwackin' through the greenbriar, etc.

Wouldn't leave home without 'em.

Stargazer

My favorite hiking is PNW and N Idaho mountains, esp. at or near timberline--colder weather, wind and rain always likely. In fact, 40-60 F temps in high summer is part of what I love about hiking. Thin gloves and beanie are light and multi-use, so they always come with me.

Never. I have enough experience in real mountains to know that a storm can always blow in. At least in the areas I hike in.

Never. I always carry a pair of 90% bison/10% nylon gloves. The pair weigh in at 58 grams and they shed snow, stay warm when wet and they even work great as pot holders. I guess that makes me one more cold-blooded old person on the forum ;)

Another cold-blooded female here, who has learned over her life span (becoming rather lengthy) not to put a great deal of trust in the National Weather Service! The gloves and warm hat always come with me, and I can count only about 4-5 trips over the years when I haven't used them!

A pair of thin liner gloves and a lightweight fleece beanie don't weigh that much.

Edited by hikinggranny on 05/12/2011 14:05:25 MDT.

I was thinking - even in the summer I use my hat and gloves. I usually sleep in them and have them on while I make breakfast, break camp and in the evening as well. At least for me...once the sun goes down it gets COLD in the mountains here, especially when above treeline. It might be 70-80* during the day but often is barely above freezing at 7 am!

I always take them on every trip. They are part of my standard kit, along with a down or synth. vest or jacket. I usually sleep in my hat, sometimes my jacket, rarely do I use my mittens.

I view them, the same way as my first aid kit. Something I always include, and hopefully will not need. However if I lived in a southern state I may reconsider.

My 3-season gloves weigh 1.5 ounces, so I generally always take them. The only time I can recall not having them was when I was backpacking in the Grand Canyon...something like ~90 degrees