For those passionate about winter landscape photography, challenges arise not from technical issues with equipment but from keeping one`s body warm enough to have a successful photo session. Indeed, having full function and feeling in one`s fingers is just as crucial as wielding the perfect camera setup.”
There was a time when I barely endured taking 5 shots at the summit of Teide Volcano, about 4000 meters high with a spectacular panorama. I bought Thinsulate thermal gloves that claimed “Fine fabric that keep your hands warm and comfortable”. However, it took less than half an hour before I lost all sensation and mobility in my hands and I was forced to return to shelter much earlier than anticipated.
Therefore, I decided I would be better planned for future trips. I spent more money on the North Face GTX gloves which are waterproof and constructed for subzero temperatures. They functioned completely for those two things, but just wasn’t quite what I required for Arctic photography.
While cozy inside the gloves, they restricted movement of my hands, which is inefficient for a shoot requiring repeated removal and replacement for warmth and work.
Then I commenced exploring various other brands aimed at photographers working under harsh conditions, and I came upon The Heat Company. When I notified them about my experience with gloves from other companies, they elected to send us a pair of their HEAT 3 SMART model so we could try them and share our insights. This enables us to freely communicate our opinion about their flagship product, gloves designed specifically for German and Austrian military forces.
Table of Contents
UNBOXING
The following items were contained in the package we received from The Heat Company:
- 2 pairs of HEAT 3 SMART gloves in separate wrappers
- Two packages with five sets of toe warmers that last 8 hours each.
- 2 packs containing 10 pairs of handwarmers (12h duration)
- 1 pack containing 10 pairs of bodywarmers (12h duration) accessible at this link.
- P rotective conditioning to preserve the leather of the gloves.
They made us aware that the Heat 3 Smart gloves and handwarmers are the perfect mix to ensure hand heat and liberty of movement. Because of this, they gift a set of warmers with all buys of their gloves.
the HEAT company GLOVES FEATURES
The Heat Company gloves comprise 3 main sections: liner, outer shell, and hood.
A standout feature of the backpack is the “Heat Layer System” which offers the best insulation against cold temperatures along with maximum comfort through various combinations of interior and outer layers. To endure even colder extremes, one can include an additional “Polar Hood” over the lining and outer shell.
The gloves tested in this assessment are the Heat 3 Smart, where the inner gloves and shells are sewn together, unlike the others described above. This model can be combined with a Polar Hood cover if preferred, although we do not recommend this for photography purposes.
FUNCTIONALITY
At an initial view, the Heat 3 Smart gloves may seem unusually large and you could question how comfortable they are when employed with a camera.
Welcome news! The gloves contain zippers on both the front and back allowing full finger freedom while still offering a thinner yet warm coverage.
The unzipped part of the mitten ties up like a hood to the back of the hand with magnets to keep out of the way during a shoot.
For the thumb, the operation is somewhat different. It employs Velcro to connect in the same place on the backside of the glove as the magnetic components. *Note: In the last 2018 version the Velcro was replaced by a new magnet.
MATERIALS
The material seems highly durable, with well-crafted seams and few weak points.
The inner glove is made from a soft and warm Polartec® Power Stretch ® PRO TM material that is comforting against the skin. It also enables total hand mobility, even for actions such as pressing a small camera button, due to its flexibility. The material shields from wind gusts while permitting breathability simultaneously. Pairing it with the mitten creates a water-resistant combination.
The mitten is made from a stretchy Microfiber material and leather on the hand palms (as greater traction is needed for the camera). It is water-resistant while still being breathable. It includes a Primaloft Gold insulation filler that allows for up to 95% heat retention. Other characteristics include:
- Silver fabric for using all touch screens
The palm side of the glove contains a full goat leather material for added warmth and grip.
3. Primaloft filling guarantees optimal warmth
4. The elastic mitt permits total freedom of hand motions
5. The flap on the thumb also allows for optimal warmth and motion when necessary
6. The mitten finger flap allows for optimal warmth
7. Additional 4 oz Primaloft for further insulation
An extra pocket on the backside of the mitten keeps the hand warmer (and other items like keys etc.) in place.
9. A safety strap with an elastic wrist band prevents the gloves from falling off
Field testing
Both the mittens and inner gloves allow for easy donning and removal without needing assistance from others. Their insulating capabilities are superior to any gloves tested prior. Despite their naturally large sizing, they are remarkably lightweight.
Your fingers can start to perspire after an extended walk with them on, but they are breathable and the humidity is not retained.
With the mittens on, it is impossible to handle most tasks, like using your camera and inserting handwarmers it to prepare for a photoshoot.
REMOVING THE MITTENS
A great feature is that we can unzip the openings to let our fingers out without having to remove the mittens. With that, we can handle any tasks that necessitate mobility of the fingers. In addition to using them during photo sessions, we also employed them to control our drone without any issues.
The attachment system on the back side the mitt was quite straight forward and reliable, using both Velcro for the thumb and magnet for the remainder of the fingers. In a brief period I had the ability to switch between warm and cozy hands inside the mittens and hands capable of operating a camera outside the hood.
ease of USE DURING THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SESSIONS
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The inner glove is quite warm and insulating even without the mitten. With the addition of the handwarmers I put in the glove pockets, my hand was able to stay warm during the photo shoot.
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PUTTING THE MITTENS BACK ON
I did encounter minor problems while attempting to place the mittens back on my hands. Most of my fingers slipped easily back into the mittens except for my thumb, where the fabric of the gloves tended to spill outside the thumb of the mitten upon insertion, making it impossible to close the Velcro fastener.
After several sessions, the best thing that worked for me was using the other hand to push the glove back inside the mitten before closing the Velcro. *Note: In the last 2018 version this was amended by changing the Velcro for a new magnet.
Mastering the zip fastener can pose some challenges at the beginning but gets more straightforward over time.
SUMMING UP
The Heat 3 Smart gloves stand apart for their removable mitt system. T he gloves are highly insulating, with or without the mittens , rendering them suited to sub-zero conditions.
With the mitten taken away, the glove is very stretchy and adaptable so it can be applied in activities where exact motions of the fingers are essential, such as photography.
Opening the mitten is very quick and effortless, however, closing it requires a bit of practice.
Compared to other similarly priced, heavy duty insulating gloves that do not allow as much mobility, this is decidedly worth the cost. You can also use the discount code capturetheatlas18 to get 10% off on any of their products.
My opinion overall: this is an essential product if you want to enjoy photographic activities in the Arctic and other extreme cold conditions.
