Hi everyone,

Does anybody knows where I could find these types of mitts? Apparently buffalo wool mitts are warm down to -40 and duffel mitts are also very warm as they are not knitted. Campmor used to have Dachstein boiled wool mitts in medium size but they have none now.

Thanks
Frankie

I've found some stores in Europe that carry them. 16 pounds seems to be the going rate on the British sites. You probably don't have to pay the Value Added Tax that is added into the price of all (most?) goods. Of course you could get hit with a small customs fee too.

Please let us know if you find a source that you had a good experience with, plus let us know how the mitts are.

I would try a trapper's supply store or an Indian art store from a remore area like Yellowknife, Inuvik, Iqaluit or Whitehorse

Hmm, I think that I recall that Eastern Mountain Sports also used to have boiled wool mittens.

Not much help, just my brain rambling on.....

Frankie, www.ragweedforge.com If you look at Ragnar's page of links you will find Judy Kavanagh who makes custom muclucks.She is canadian and can probably help you find someone. Are the dachsteins gone from Campmor forever? These were a seasonable item and a steal for the price. I almost bought a Dachstein sweater in the mid 80s and even then choked at the $ 300 price!

The Dachstein boiled wool mitts are listed at: www.cndoscotland.com/paramo/mitts.asp

Quiviut-"buffalo wool" is warm, but not so much warmer than wool that you need to go to great lengths to find it. Alpaca and Llama are also warmer than wool, and readily available in North America.

The mitts almost certainly are knitted, it's just that they are then "felted." (another term for boiled wool - which may or may not involve "boiling"). It draws in, shrinks and "mats" the fiber, making a very dense and warm fabric. Anyone who has ever accidentally put a wool sweater or socks in the washing machine will be familiar with the process.

In your area there are likely quite a number of craftspeople who have spinning wheels, spin their own yarn, and know how to felt clothing items - a somewhat simple process. You might want to check into it, support your local fiber farmers and artists, and maybe save a few bucks as well.

I have been a handspinner for about 10 years now, and have made yarn out of everything from sheep's wool to Alpaca and Llama and even dog and long-haired cat fur! I have done some felting, and NO, I'm not interested in taking orders! It's strictly a fun hobby for me.

Thanks for the info. Actually Qiviut is the Musk Ox wool. I have found this: http://www.isn.net/~minimill/store/

I may contact them. I'm really curious to try exotic bison wool mitts and other products. But of course I have in mind of using them as insulation under leather outer mitts which really break the wind and offer a good protection.

Hi Chris, I have found her website: http://jumaka.com/moccasins/index.html I may contact her.

I don't know if Campmor stopped selling them but they have been absent from their website for a couple of months now. I may contact them too...

Frankie

I have found http://www.americanbuffaloproducts.com/products/products_fashion.php

but the price is not right, at $140 for a pair of one size fits all knitted mitts...

Frankie

Frankie,

My wife is a knitter and spinner and could make you something similar. I would recommend alpaca which you can get in a wide variety of natural and dyed colors, and would be less expensive. Alpaca is very warm, and stays that way even when wet. She made me a pair of socks that I have been very impressed with.

If you are interested, PM me and I will let you know how to get in touch with her.

Greg

Hi, I'm new here, but I've lurked for a bit. A google search on Dachstein pulled up this post.

The original company making Dachstein mitts, gloves and sweaters is still around. The site is in German, but you can get a rough translation via bablefish. http://www.lackner-wolle.at/aboutus.htm

I came across this site one day making boiled wool gloves and mitts. http://www.ortovox.com/content/en/products/sportswear/classic-wool/

However, the best bargain I have come across recently is for the military surplus version of a Dachstein sweater. This fellow is selling them on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/AUSTRIAN-COMMANDO-SW...4QQcmdZViewItem

The price is a steal. I have a Dachstein cardigan sweater I found in a thrift store and the fabric and construction is identical to the surplus version. The ebay seller also has a web site and sells similar gear. I bought my sweater via his web store. On the web store he has Austrian zip front sweaters which appear to be the same material as the pullover variety. http://www.northdoorway.com/ProductInfo.aspx?id=3714902

The seller was very nice to deal with, I had to return my sweater for a larger size. I may wind up buying the zip front style as well, they look too nice and the price is right.

I have one pair of those Ortovox mitts and they are even heavier wool than my Dachstein's. REI used to sell these but I have not seen them in quite some time.

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the offer. I have found out that bison wool is about 6 times as expensive as alpaca wool. To make large adult mitts I would need something like 140 yards. I've seen a yardage of 120 which cost $60 in bison wool. I'm wondering which one is the warmest between alpaca and bison.

Yes maybe I could buy the yarns and custom make them by a good knitter who would make it to my own measurements and maybe even make trigger finger mitts.

Frankie

One of the easier things to learn to sew is mittens. Many places
have patterns and you can buy heavy wool duffel cloth. If you
wash it well before cutting, it will felt even more and thicker.
Use a couple of zig zag stitches or sew them by hand. Simple
hats are easy too.

I have found a source for wool duffel:

http://www.macpheeworkshop.com/

This thread is basically becoming my bookmark because the bookmarks on my browser is too full and is a mess.

Frankie

The Canadian site Northdoorway that JustMeAgain posted has a page of gloves: http://www.northdoorway.com/Catalog.aspx?categoryid=7785

Wool mitts, and one with a trigger hole.

Sue

Thanks for the link Susan. I would prefer trigger finger mitts with a full separate finger as seen here, but in alpaca wool it would be great:

I have these Duray 70% wool 30% nylon trigger finger with a heavy duty pair of trigger finger work gloves:




I would have prefered longer cuffs with elastics or adjustable straps to keep out the snow as on the military version, but they were cheap.

Frankie