I got an Amazon gift certificate for Christmas, and decided I wanted to get a couple pairs of really warm winter gloves for my trip to Europe the following month.

It's hard to tell by reviews whether or not a pair of gloves is ACTUALLY warm when people say, "I haven't worn it outside yet, but they're warm when I tried them on in my house!" That doesn't actually give an accurate description of whether or not these will stand up in cold weather in the slightest.

Firstly, the open thumb idea is really stupid and I am amazed I haven't sewn it shut yet, because it's not useful and it's very annoying, since the thumb is the only finger left on its own, not snuggled up with the other four fingers under the mitten part.  I don't know why I keep thinking fingerless "glittens" are a smart idea - your toes and fingertips are the first things to get cold outside, so why make a warm pair of winter gloves and then not cover up the fingertips?

I have been wearing these all winter with a secondary pair of fleece-lined knit gloves underneath them (Double-Layered, Super Warm Unisex Gloves with Extra Long Cuff, Black) but did not take into account that since it's a sweater-like knit, it will constantly get caught on velcro and anything else with small hooks.  I have been commuting all winter (and always) on my bicycle, and it's aggravating to have to take off my gloves to put my (velcro-closure) bike lights on to try to keep these gloves in good condition.  I would say wearing these alone in weather below 35F is not smart, especially if it is windy.

The velcro has been staying alright - only one of the squares is loose.  I will probably take off all of the velcro pieces, because, as I said, putting velcro on knit is a moronic idea because it will only snag.  The cuffs are a nice length, and even after having been stretched out, they go back close to their original shape.  I also had trouble keeping the mitten part over the fingers sometimes - the velcro should be on the palm to keep the whole glove closed.  I don't understand the purpose of the suede-like palm; it hasn't enhanced the grip on my handlebars at all, though maybe in a car it makes a difference.

So in short: If you live somewhere that gets below 35F with wind, don't buy these because they will not keep your hands warm.  If you have a thin pair of liner gloves to go underneath them.  Also, my hands are average sized for a lady, my fingers aren't stumpy, but I always feel like a clumsy idiot when I wear these because they're so gargantuan.  I could likely sew up the fingers and they wouldn't be too terribly short - they come up pretty high so that just my fingernails are showing.