I don’t hibernate in winter. I’m out and about my business even when the temperature drops below zero (that’s zero Fahrenheit, not Celsius). Sometimes I walk. Sometimes I ride. But I’m seldom enwombed in a climate-controlled shell. Which means I have to dress in a way that makes the most of my internal fires. Wool, down, and fleece are the keynotes of my winter wardrobe, layered as the thermometer dictates. And this works admirably to keep my body core comfortable warm. My extremities aren’t quite so well served, however, and my hands are a particular trouble-spot. That isn’t surprising. Fingers need to be kept free of bulky insulation to do their work, but their high surface-to-volume ratio makes them vulnerable to rapid heat loss. The solution to this problem? Layering. And more often than not, my hand’s first line of defense is a pair of Manzella Silkweight Windstopper gloves:

They have grippy textured palms and fingers, a fleecy interior, and reflective accents (good on the road, but not so good if you’re hoping to shoot pictures of wildlife). Best of all, they fit me like…well…like the proverbial glove. They boast several helpful little touches, too: a D-ring and snap-link that make clipping the gloves together easy (and put an end to frantic searches for a missing glove hidden in the depths of my pack), along with webbing loops sewn into the cuffs. These are especially handy on the trail, when I have to remove my gloves for some reason. A cord tied to the loops and threaded through my sleeves insures that the Windstoppers will still be with me when I next need them.

Of course, the Windstoppers alone aren’t enough in really cold temperatures. When the mercury drops below 45 degrees or so, I pull a pair of thick fleece gloves right over them. Then, when I need to free my fingers for fiddly work—using a camera, say, or scrolling through the menus on my GPS—the heavy fleece gloves come off again. But the Windstoppers stay put. And they live up to their name. Provided I do what needs to be done quickly, my fingers remain comfortably warm.

So far, so good. But one of the unhappy consequences of accelerated product development cycles—not to mention manufacturers’ growing tendency to confuse fashion with function—is the short shelf-life of many products. By the time I’ve bought something and used it long enough to form an opinion about it, it disappears from the stores. Imagine my delight, then, when I discovered that Windstoppers are still available, even though I got my pair three years ago. So if you’re looking for a first line of defense for your own fingers, why not check out Manzella Silkweight Windstoppers?

Related Articles

• • Backcountry Photography: Out in the Cold—First Steps
• • Backcountry Photography: Out in the Cold—Down the Trail
• • Cold Comfort: Outdoor Research PL 400 Gloves
• • Cold Comfort: Keeping Hands Warm When Cycling

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Ah, spring! It’s good to see the roads losing their veneer of ice and the rivers running free again. But it’s not all blue skies and balmy breezes. Spring is a soggy season in this part of the world. Clinging mantles of fog lie long in the valleys, while cold rain falls as fast (and as often) as the rivers rise. And though I wouldn’t go quite as far as T.S. Eliot in branding April “the cruelest month,” I have to admit that the weather isn’t always kind. Wet and windy — those are the key words. Which isn’t a good reason in itself to stay indoors, of course. Most cyclists, canoeists and kayakers soon realize that if they wait for perfect weather, they’ll almost never go out, so they learn to cope. Good rain gear helps. It keep us dry and warm. But it’s only the start. Our stuff needs protection, too.

Shutterbugs have the hardest time. Water and electronics just don’t mix, and electronic circuits are the heart and brain of modern digital cameras. We’ve pretty much thrown off our old dependence on film, but a new addiction has replaced it: We’re now hooked on batteries. And a few drops of water in the wrong place can stop us in our tracks. Luckily, passing showers pose little threat to all‑weather photographers. Just tuck your camera under your jacket. Then, when you want to capture a shot in a swirling drizzle, unfurl your umbrella. But good as these stopgap solutions are, they’re still stopgaps. If you want to make certain you won’t miss opportunities, you’ll have to keep your camera out and ready at all times. Moreover, if you’re hoping to photograph wary wildlife, you don’t want to be waving an umbrella around, even if the wind isn’t blowing half a gale. So you’re left with a stark choice. Protect your camera and risk losing that shot of a lifetime. Or keep the camera handy and leave it to the uncertain mercy of wind and rain. (Owners of waterproof cameras will be feeling justifiably smug here, but not all good cameras are waterproof, and even when a camera body is advertised as “weatherproof,” the lens you attach to it may not be.) Is there a solution to this conundrum? Yes, and it’s surprisingly simple. Make a custom camera cover…Read more…

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The doldrums. Most shutterbugs hit the creative wall sooner or later, and it can be discouraging. There are many causes for this affliction, but what’s the solution? First of all, relax, you’re not the first to suffer this malady, nor will you be the last. If you can’t bring yourself to pick up the camera, don’t. Take a break from photography for awhile. Don’t even think about picking up the camera. Do something different. The yearning will return. Sometimes, however, you can reawaken the magic of photography by setting assignments for yourself, challenges designed to focus your efforts on specific techniques or subjects. Here are some suggestions:

• • Take only one lens on every shoot—and use a different lens each time
• • Shoot from a different perspective (down low one day, up high the next)
• • Photograph shadows
• • Photograph reflections
• • Look for contrasts
• • Seek out striking textures and patterns
• • Design shoots around themes: Motion, Quiet, Color, etc.
• • Search out subjects that will make good studies in black and white
• • Exploit techniques like bokeh (deliberately leaving areas of an image out of focus)…

That’s just a start. You’ll find a longer list, with examples, in “Are You in the Photographic Doldrums?” Invent exercises for yourself. Shoot different subjects than you normally do. Go wild! Before you know it, the magic will have returned, and you’ll be right as rain.

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