Outdoor Research Cornice Mitten

I finally got to use my new Cornice Mittens this weekend. I was on a solo Snowshoe backpack up in the Rattlesnake Wilderness of Northwest Montana. After pushing up hill over a eight-hour day this old man was not only beat but getting cold. As I pulled out the Cornice Mittens and slipped them on I notice that they appeared well made and the fact that I was able to handle gear was also a big plus. Well in no time at all my hands were warming up. One less thing to worry about and I was able to get camp set up with no more worries about cold hands. Good gear to say the least

These are pretty nice mitts -- very warm, seam taped and nice construction. I haven't had them too long, but they seem built to last too. A couple of complaints: they don't provide much dexterity (even for mitts, which I don't expect to have much). This was especially the case with the included liner, but I had better luck using thinner liner gloves (which is nice with these -- you can use any kind of liner you want). But with the included liners I could barely do anything with them on! The other thing is that this might improve as they break in and the materials get softer and more flexible with time. My other major complaint is that the gauntlet part of the mitt is a bit small and it was quite difficult to stuff the cuff of my bulky winter jacket into the glove for a good seal. This is especially hard because once one glove is on, it is nearly impossible to adjust the second one due to the reduced dexterity! A low bulk jacket will be fine, but not for a heavy insulated parka (which is generally what you'd be wearing if you've got these mitts on!) Bonus: warm as hell and well made

These things are toasty. I went up the hill on a rare sub zero day and found them so warm I actually had to take them off a few times to cool off. They're really thick but if you're on your snowboard it won't bother you at all. I would say they're perfect if the material/leather on the palm were a bit thicker or more durable. I'd buy them again without hesitation given the price/warmth.