Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

These are a real find. I was waiting for the BPL Gear Shop to get them back in stock and am glad I waited. My partner got a pair of gloves from another New Zealand supplier and although they are great they are just a bit thinner than the BPL PossumDown gloves, and I wouldn't trade mine for hers.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/possumdown_gloves.html



I would photograph them to show what they are like but they are black and will not photograph well enough to justify the effort.

First thing I notice about them that gives them a 5 rating is the softness and comfort, the picture at the Gear Shop really does not do them justice. They are so comfortable and immediately warm and warming that it is a pleasure to own and use them.

We will have to see how durable they are, but they appear to be very "strong" gloves that will last with care. Don't know about how they will handle hot pot handles yet, and may not even test them because they are so warm, so comfortable, and lightweight enough that I don't want to damage them.

This product is worth the price and a try if you are looking for a glove for freezing, near freezing, or sub freezing temperature.

Rating: 5 / 5

I was interested in the level of warmth provided by an overmitt and wool liner combination and did some cold weather testing of hand gear for the last three days, since the temperatures in Michigan were conducive for my test parameters. My last test of three was with ULA Equipments Mist Overmitt over PossumDown Gloves. The test was conducted on an overcast day with the temperature at 24*F and a wind chill of 17*F. I walked with hiking poles and a 12lb day pack with the overmitts and gloves on for four miles. I would evaluate this combination for warmth on scale from 1 – 10(warm) at 8. The only noticeable cold areas were at the ends of my fingers and that was when I was walking into the wind. This multi use light weight combination is the best of my testing and would recommend it to anyone interested in keeping your hands warm as well using the mitts as rain hand gear in summer weather and to increase PossumDown Gloves durability.

Rating: 5 / 5

In fact these gloves are so good I always "baby" them a bit, even though it is unnecessary. The gloves work well in cooler and wet weather and I use them with trekking poles in cooler conditions.

The other good thing about the gloves is that they are sized for different size hands and as a result my big hands do not feel compressed like some other gloves make them feel.

As I have said they are the best and have lasted me well over a year, and when I need to I will replace them with another pair, in the same size.

Rating: 5 / 5

Comfortable and warm gloves.

The XL have ample room for my big hands.

Strangely, the thumb is about 1/2 inch longer than necessary.

At the base of the thumb there is a tiny separation forming that can only be seen when fully extending my thumb away from my palm. It's not enough to justify less than a 5 rating to me.

Rating: 5 / 5

During winter hiking my hands are always my weakest point. If my hands get cold at all they hurt as if they're constantly being hit by hammers, and I don't like that very much. I've tried a lot of combinations of gloves and had read about the Possum Down gloves, so I purchased a pair. Turns out it was the right thing to do.

On a recent hike the temps were just below freezing, so not very cold, but the conditions were freezing rain. I started out with Mountain Hardwear fleece liners for my hands which were sufficient until they absorbed so much water. I put the possum downs over them and my hands began warming immediately. Throughout the day the freezing rain was dripping all over but the possum down gloves continued to keep my hands warm even though the gloves were sopping wet. If I made a fist the water would pool up and I could shake it off.

The end result is that my hands were warm the entire trip, with the gloves wet or dry. I was a happy hiker.

When first receiving the gloves I was concerned about longevity, but they seemed to hold up well in the wet conditions and also in the dry conditions.

These are really great gloves.

Rating: 4 / 5

I used these gloves on my CDT hike. Ultralight hiking is all about tradeoffs, and these gloves were a good compromise. Under normal cool conditions, say to just below freezing, they were quite warm. They were fine in somewhat colder conditions if it was dry.

In my experience, however, when it was raining and windy and cold the gloves soaked up water and my hands got cold. My fingers were wearing through the gloves in several places by the end of the hike too, but hey, I was out for five months!

Good gloves for moderate conditions. For colder and wetter conditions and for long wear I'll use different gloves.

Rating: 2 / 5

I used them last week in the Sierras for a day hike in the snow. They were very warm but they got a hole (Left hand) about two hours into the hike. I was using trekking poles and a hole started (worn fabric) between my thumb and finger. I have large hands and ordered the Large size. This was my first hike with them and I was not happy. I am sure the Possum Down is warm but maybe the Possum Down is not suited for use with trekking poles.

Rating: 4 / 5

They're light, but the only thing I didn't like about it was that it caught too much debris. It's very hard to clean, as the care instructions tell me to not really wash it normally.

It kept my hands warm very well for its weight.

Rating: 5 / 5

I have been wearing these for two years. They are very warm and comfortable for their weight and do not stink up. Before them I'd tried several different kinds of gloves, such as polipropilene and fleece. I'm on my second pair now after the first developed some holes after a few months of on-trail use.

With the new pair, I don't use them with trekking poles. They'll wear through too fast. Also, for rain I use MLD rain mitts or at the very least lightweight wind mitts.

The immediate warmth of these gloves is remarkable. I'll buy another pair after these are done, despite the price and durability limitations.