28 December 2007
Trigger-finger mittens, sans trigger
Posted by todd under: Gloves; Reviews .
When it gets too cold to commute in my thin-type ragg-wool gloves, I switch over to my Army surplus trigger-finger mittens.
From about 40 degrees down to about 30 degrees, give or take, I wear the wool liners by themselves. When it gets colder than 30 (or so) I wear the liners inside the mittens.
I like the extra dexterity I get from having the index finger out there by itself. And I like that the mittens’ cuff goes up over the forearm — that’s one less place the wind can get in.
Do the chicks dig ’em? Well, let’s put it this way … they’re not exactly stylish. But you can’t have everything.
You can get the mittens here for $25 plus shipping, or check your local Army surplus outlet (I got mine at a place near Winchester, Ky., that’s now closed.)
I used the long string for a while before I got tired of it and took it off. The string ties to the end of each mitten and goes up one sleeve, across the shoulders, and down the other sleeve — just like the string on little kids’ mittens. I have been wearing the mittens for a couple of winters now, and they are holding up well.
(Ironically, the mittens are no good for shooting — the index finger is too bulky to fit in the trigger guard on my SKS rifle.)
In fact, I almost ALWAYS wear one (while riding a bike anyway). (On the other hand, if YOU don't want to wear a helmet, I have no problem with it.) I don't remember what happened on this particular day. Fortunately for all of us it makes for a less-nerdly picture. My exceptionally talented professional photographer friend Charles Bertram took this photo.
I asked my 6-year-old son, Caleb, an avid bicyclist and artist, to draw a bike for me. I think he did a great job!
