Instant Heat Disposable Hand Warmers

XT-850 Premium Photography Gloves

I bought these a couple of months ago but wanted to provide my thoughts after I had actually used them in the field. Exceptionally well thought out design and construction. I didn't think I would use the third flip up tip, but I'm finding it gives more feel on the zoom ring. I love that they are waterproof after sitting in the rain for hours. I have only had water resistance before, so it's a game-changer for me. Do they actually keep your hands warm? Absolutely!!! With a wind chill of around 5-6oC, I shot for hours and my hands were warm (not hot). I suffer from Raynaud's syndrome and for the first time in years I did not have numb, painful fingers!!!! The inclusion of a pocket for hand warmers is SUCH a good feature that most gloves do not provide. I tried them out with cheap handwarmers, just to see how much difference they would make ... and I was VERY impressed! The zip closure is a good idea. I can't imagine any conditions, that I shoot in, where my hands will not be comfortable. I have now bought the Optex hand warmers for the really cold, wet and windy days. The fact that they last for a whole days shooting is great. Some observations that might help: at first I found the gloves a bit bulky and stiff ... BUT I would suggest wearing them and opening/closing your hands BEFORE your first shoot in the field. They have become much more pliable so that I can wrap my hands around the camera mush more easily/comfortably with the "bulky/stiff" feel gone. I found that, for me, sometimes I felt like I wanted slightly more finger exposed to "feel" the camera a bit more. So I now pull done the finger material just a little and I'm happy with that. Because my hands are now warm, I didn't really feel that my finger tips suffered at all which is SUCH a relief after years of pain and numbness. If you are looking for superior photo gloves, I would highly recommend these. Warm, comfortable (after initial stiffness), waterproof and the bonus of having a pocket for handwarmers when the temperature really drops (Australia). I was looking at gloves made overseas until I came across OTEX ... an Australian company. Support has been brilliant. Informative and personalised which, sadly, is not always the case with other businesses I have dealt with.