Bushwalk Australia

I'm stuck for a while with this stupid dodgy hip and spending too much time on-line and being non productive so?- >>>>

I was never really happy with the liners added to my old Helly_Hansen pile mittens so today I ripped them and made a minor but very effective change.
I ironed some of the Vilene to the back of the Tricot insert and added a small scrap to join insert and mitten together
Mittens really do need more insulation on the back side but sometimes using two layers is cumbersome.
The thin layer of Vilene really makes a difference and is so easy to use.
These were and are a good close fit when used right side out but not much room inside for liner gloves, reverse the and they are much bigger, H-H W-knit pile is very thick, and then plenty of room for the slick easy sliding Tricot insert.
My old Scottish "Hand-Bags" died last week as I was waxing them so a new outer for these will be needed but as I said in another thread somewhere i have a pair of deerskin palms to use for that. These are too warm for Australias normal winter conditions but these are headed for my "Bucket List" gear stash when finished
These fit perfectly into the US Army ECW sledging mitten insulating shells
My Outdoor Research High Camp also fit inside the Sledging mittens so I think I'm well covered for the Arctic temperatures

And adding a windproof shell with deerskin palms, just because it seemed a shame not to use the salvaged hide from an old pair of mittens.
I'm hand stitching because I find it relaxing

Well I just have to say that the modification is seriously warm and now far too warm to use here in Australia.
The wind resistant outer is keeping the bubble of warm air in place without restricting hand movement. It is warm enough not to need the softshell gloves as liners, just the UL liners are enough, the layer of Vilene is as warm as the softshell on the back of the hands but there is more feel on the palms this way.
To me they feel as warm and more dextrous than the OR Altimate which is a seriously warm mitten

However

They do not work inside the big mitts, I cannot hold onto anything as the layers of leather seem to work against each other. This doesn't happen with the OR 3 finger gloves so I don't know what is happening here. Looks like I now have a good back-up pair of mittens.
Everybody should have spares I guess
Back to stage 2 and start again