Something I didn’t really think about for a long time in my photography was what to do when the weather turns for the worse. In the early days I’m ashamed to admit I was a bit of a fair weather photographer, tending to find something less damp to do if the weather was bad, but the more time I managed to dedicate to wildlife photography (and the more I invested on waterproofing myself!), the more I realised that I couldn’t always dodge the showers and needed to be able to keep my camera safe when the rain came in.

I previously tried two other options, Initially I tried a fancy camera/lens cover that included arm holes on the sides to make operating camera controls easy, a large plastic ‘window’ at the back so you could still access the viewfinder and screen without having to leave an opening, a zipped opening underneath for attaching to a tripod, and had the option of adding an attachable lens cover for larger lenses. Unfortunately, for all the clever and fancy design, the whole thing was unfortunately a bit unweildy to add and remove from the camera, not to mention took up a lot of space due to the rigid velcro attachment point around the lens end for the optional lens cover, so I found I never used it. I then tried a cheap generic camera/lens cover which solved the problem of bulk as it packed down into a neat little pouch as it essentially boiled down to being a tapered tube of waterproof material with elastic around the lens end and a drawstring around the camera end, so easy and simple to add/remove. This worked OK with smaller lenses and having a rear opening rather than a window never caused a problem, but it was nowhere near big enough for larger lenses, was made of a material that rustled a lot (never wanted with wildlife photograpy), and was limited in practicality by it’s design as it made operating camera/lens controls awkward.

Eventually, following a recommendation from a prolific wildlife photographer, I took a look at the Wildlife Watching Supplies website and spotted their all in one camera and lens covers. They aren’t a world away in design from the cheap tapered waterproof tube design one I had before, but some subtle, and less subtle changes make all the difference and make it a fantastic product that I never leave home without.

Firstly it it a much better shape, yes it’s essentially still a tapered tube with elastic on the lens end and a draw string on the camera end (so like the one I had before, is simple and easy to add or remove and takes up little room), but the camera end tapers out to a MUCH wider shape, making it much easier to get a hand in to operate the camera, although the draw string still allows the opening to be closed up sufficiently if you need to step away from the camera and ensure it stays dry. While obviously slightly more awkward than not having anything over the camera, the extra width of the opening means I never find myself struggling to use the camera controls while the camera is covered. In addition, a fairly long stretch of the bottom seam is fastened with velcro, so can be opened as much or as little as you like to create an opening for attaching to a tripod or getting your other hand in to operate a lens zoom etc. Ingeniously this also comes with a ‘blank’ half of velcro that can be used ‘as is’ or cut to size to attach to one side of the seam and prevent all or part of the velcro from sticking, thus creating a semi-permanent opening without having to constantly unstick it from itself, a simple addition but one that makes it much easier in use

As with most of Wildlife Watching Supplies’ products, the cover comes in a variety of patterns, it also comes in three varieties, single layer, dual layer reversible, and triple layer (for colder temperatures). I personally have the reversible cover in Advantage Timber pattern, meaning it also has a plain olive green colour on the inside which you can use instead if you want a more subtle cover, although on a relatively small product like this, I don’t feel the camoflauge pattern looks too out of place in general use to tend to stick to that. That said it is always nice to have the camoflauge pattern there so as not to make the camera stand out when working in the field, and having it in this pattern also means that even if the weather is clear and dry, it provides a handy way of disguising your camera and lens setup from the more astute wildlife out there when paired with suitable other camouflage

Finally the material it is made from, while fully waterproof, is much sturdier and doesn’y rustle badly as the gore-tex like material of the thing I had before did, so I have no qualms about using it in the field in all conditions, or from a noise perspective.

The only downside, and this is an observation of inevitability rather than a flaw with the product, is that with something like this, there cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ solution and as such you need to choose a cover that best suits your array of lenses. I initially ordered one to fit my 70-200mm F2.8 lens thinking it would probably be OK for my slightly larger 150-500mm lens and would be the best compromise, as I expected the next size up would be too baggy, but found that the fit was a little too snug on my 150-500mm lens after all. In the end I ordered the next size up, compared them for size, and found the larger size to be spot on for my 150-500mm and still absolutely fine for my 70-200mm, so sent back the smaller one. Wildlife Watching Supplies were extremely helpful and co-operative over this, couldn’t fault their customer service, but the point I’m getting at is that if you have a range of lens sizes, you’re probably better off going for a cover rated to fit your largst lens and deal with it being a bit baggy for smaller lenses, or buy a smaller one for casual small lens use

This was the first product I bought from Wildlife Watching Supplies, having had to limit my spending to items I had a justifiable need for rather than the dozens of ‘wish list’ items I’d earmarked, but suffice to say, this alone sold me immediately on the quality and usefulness of their products and my wish list remained saved for future reference. They’re not the cheapest around, but you really do get what you pay for, if you want quality products that will last, Wildlife Watching Supplies are your best bet by far

The end of lens cap/cover, it nicely pairs with the all in one camera and lens cover I reviewed previously to protect the end of your lens from the elements when not actively in use, and comes in the same array of plain and camouflage patterns so you can have a matching set.

Now you might argue what is the point in this if you already have the rest of the lens covered and you have a perfectly good lens cap, and to a certain point you’d be right, but there are advantages to using one of these in the field

Obviously the camouflage pattern means it stands out less, but admittedly this point is relatively moot as you’ll need to remove the cap to actually take photos anyway, so any minor advantage gained from it will be lost as soon as you start shooting, the all in one cover is the main camouflage element.

It is however much more convenient to remove and replace when you do start and stop taking photos if using a lens hood (as I imagine most people would), as rather than having to reach around the front of the camera into the hood to remove the manufacturer’s cap (which I for one find incredibly awkward unless you turn the camera to face you, and you don’t run the risk of catching the end of the lens with the edge of the cap as you fumble around trying to remove/replace it), you can simply peel it off and stretch it back on again as required. When setting up my gear for a day’s shooting, if the weather is questionable I often have my camera already in the all in one cover with this over the end instead of the standard lens cap as it is a quicker and easier way to get started, even in good weather I sometimes favour this over the normal lens cap to save fumbling

Coversely though, if you aren’t using a lens hood, I’d personally stick with the normal manufacturer’s lens caps, as they clip into place sitting just off the front of the lens, whereas this cover would touch the glass if used without a lens hood, which wouldn’t be a problem unless you’ve manahed to get the inside dirty, but I always try to avoid anything touching the end of the lens if possible

Nothing much else really needs to be said, it does exactly what it’s meant to and pairs well with the excellent all in one camera and lens cover to give your camera and lens all the protection it needs and yourself the best convenience possible

Many wildlife photographers use padded/neoprene camouflage leg wraps on their tripods to give them padding and camouflage, and while these are a great idea, they don’t address the problem of adequately camouflaging a whole tripod if the legs are extended, as they only cover the top leg section.

Wildlife Watching Supplies’ tripod leg sleeves solve this problem, a simple idea but very effective, they comprise a long, loose fitting camouflage sleeve long enough to cover the length of all but the largest of tripods. My Manfrotto 055 CX3 stands at head height to me fully extended (I am 5’8″) and the sleeves all but cover the entire leg length, only falling a couple of cms short, but I rarely actually use the tripod at full extension as I need to shorten the legs slightly to bring it to eye level when I’m standing up.

A simple velcro fastener at each end of the sleeves allow you to wrap them around the leg on itself and fasten it in place. Now essentially the sleeve is held in place at the top by the friction of being wrapped around the leg, so if you have a tripod with a smooth finish and you wrap the sleeve around the top of the main leg section then the sleeves can unavoidably slip down, I solved this problem by simply attaching the sleeves above the leg angle adjustment levers, they have never slipped since doing so and also offer some protection from the elements to the levers. The bottom is a non issue, you just secure the sleeves above the tripod feet and gravity keeps them in place up against the feet.

The material itself is very lightweight, it needs to be in order to be able to bunch up enough so as not to be awkward when the tripod is collapsed. As I use a Manfrotto tripod, the legs are adjusted by lever locks, and these are easy to operate through the sleeves due to the lightweight nature of the material, obviously you can’t see exactly what you’re doing but if you’ve ever adjusted a tripod in your life then you’ll be able to feel what you’re doing, you just have to be careful not to catch the material in the lock when you close the lever. I cannot comment on how easy it is to operate twist lock legs such as Gitzo tripods through the sleeves as I have never used one, but I suspect it is just as easy.

The only limitations with the material being lightweight is that it’s not waterproof (but is quick drying), and isn’t foolproof in protecting your camera from elements, so while they will prevent the worst of any dust or dirt from getting to the tripod’s leg mechanisms, if you’re going to be working in conditions such as on a beach on a windy day, you will want to take additional measures to prevent sand and salt getting in, as I found when I took my tripod with me to Donna Nook. Next time I plan on using bin liners and electrical take to proof the legs!

Not a lot else can really be said, these are a simple design but not one I’ve seen anywhere else and of course are up to Wildliw Watching Supplies’ usual high standards. They do exactly what they need to and won’t break the bank

Many photographic backpacks these days come with included or often inbuilt (i.e. physically attached to the bag in a stow pocket) waterproof covers, a great idea as any outdoor photographer is liable to get caught out in the rain at some point or another, but these manufacturer solutions typically suffer a couple of flaws in my opinion

Firstly, many manufacturers seem to insist on making such covers bright obvious colours (silver seems to be popular), not an issue for casual applications but pretty glaring and unhelpful for a wildlife photographer on the move. Even the more subdued black ones often have a massive bright coloured brand label on them which is just as bad.

The second gripe for me is specific to inbuilt covers, imagine you’ve been caught out in a downpour, just got home happy that camera bag and contents are nice and dry, then you remove said bag and it dawns on you that you’re going to have to leave your whole bag in the bathtub or other suitable place to dry off, because the cover doesn’t detatch from the bag. Standalone waterproof covers are in my opinion vastly more convenient, as when you return from a wet day out, you can simply strip them off and hang them up to dry and chuck your bag wherever you please

Plenty of outdoor companies make cheap standalone waterproof covers for rucksacks (indeed I own one bought for my casual camera bag), however in my experience, while perfectly effective, they are all fairly thin as they are designed to be as compact as possible when not in use and are not necessarily designed to take a beating that one attached to a wildlife photographer’s bag could take in the field

Not so with Wildlife Watching Supplies’ reversible rucksack cover, it maintains the same basic design (I fail to see how you could design it any differently really) of a shaped waterproof sheet with an elasticated drawstring around the edge to adjust it to fit any rucksack within a reasonable range, but it is made from a much thicker and more durable material than any similar product I’ve seen, so I have no concerns over dumping it on thistles or rough ground as needed. I’ve not yet managed to damage mine in the slightest and I do tend to just dump my bag wherever within reason. This does of course mean that it doesn’t fold down to as compact a size as thinner covers, but depending on your bag and your needs, you may find it worth leaving on your bag semi-permanently. I most regularly use a rear entry backpack, so rarely need to access the front of the bag and can access all my gear with the cover attached (the rare occasions that I need access to the front it is easy to peel the cover partly back to access what I need), I often just leave it on my bag so I am not caught out or left fumbling to get it on in a hurry if the weather changes

It also comes in several plain colours or british DPM camouflage pattern, so you can pick a colour to suit your needs, be it casual or subdued, I personally favour the simple muted Olive Drag colour (unfortunately the ‘Shadow Grass’ camo pattern pictured and which I own the smaller version of for my smaller bag does not seem to be available any more). Also useful, with the reversible cover, it comes in your pattern of choice on one side and day-glo yellow on the other, so if your needs change and you actively want to be visible, you need only invert the cover and you’ll stick out like a neon snail! The rucksack cover does come in a single colour option as well if you prefer

Another great accessory from Wildlife Watching Supplies, seemingly such a minor item but one that has become an almost permanent addition to my kit bag

A very handy and versatile bit of camo is the leafcut scrim material. Wildlife Watching Supplies stock a variety of different types and variations of camo material and I must admit at first I found the wealth of options a bit confusing, but after a very informative e-mail from Kevin Keatley following my request for guidance, I eventually bought a 3m x1.4m sheet (a popular and handy size in the words of their website) of this material and while I haven’t used it much, it’s been well worth having at a relatively low price

As well as being realtree camo pattern, the leafcut design of this material that you can see in the opposite image gives it a 3D effect, making it blend in to rural terrain very well. On first inspection I was concerned that the ‘leaves’ themselves would be prone to tearing as they are only held attached by a very small amount, but the material is surprisingly strong and I’ve not yet managed to rip any. Despite this surprising durability, the material still folds down to a relatively compact size, my 3m x 1.4m sheet easily folds down small enough to comfortably fit in the large back pocket of my photography jacket. The abundance of leafcuts in the mateiral also means that if working in windy conditions where the material would be likely to blow away, you can easily stake it down if needed, not what the cuts were designed for (and in fact a larger piece with designated corner loops is also listed) but an option if it were needed

I nearly bought a bag hide (something that is still on my wish list) before purchasing the scrim material, but eventually decided this would be a more versatile investment. It can in fact be made into a makeshift bag hide with some application of clamps of cord through the leafcut holes, although given that it is not designed spefically for that purpose it doesn’t hold shape as well so is best suited to such usage only when you aren’t going to be moving much. Other useful applications include draping over car windows when using your car as a hide, lying flat over yourself when working at ground level or draping between bushes to create a screen

The material is obviously not waterproof as it is full of holes, but I am assured by the experts at Wildlife Watching Supplies that is is extremely quick drying, I have not yet tested this theory but I am confident that it is correct as the material feels closer to a waterproof type finish than an absorbant one so I can’t imagine it would get too saturated.

Ultimately this material is only as useful as the way you apply it, however it is great camouflage, versatile (assuming you buy a large enough sheet of it), strong and relatively compact, so can be put to great use

Coming Soon, when I’ve had a chance to field test it

Without a doubt the best jacket for outdoor photography I’ve ever seen, pricey certainly, but no more so than an equivalent from other leading brands like Paramo and there’s nothing else out there designed so specifically for the Outdoor photographer.

Covering all the basics, it is fully waterproof, breathable, has more pockets than you’re likely to be able to fill (the largest pockets are huge!) and is overall top notch quality (Stealth Gear themselves advertise a 5 year guarantee on all their products, now that’s confidence!). Now, the specifics that make it so versatile, especially for wildlife and general outdoor photographers. No it’s not camo, so if you really want to be as invisible as possible to your subjects then you may be put off. However, it is a nice subtle, natural, green colour, which for the majority of subjects is more than adequate. I’m not an expert in the art of fieldcraft, but as far as I’ve been able to gather, most animals will be no more aware of your presense in neutral colors than camo if you apply good fieldcraft, and those that can pick you out are likely to do so whatever you’re wearing, so in those cases a hide or camo netting is necessary anyway. The one huge benefit to being plain colours over camo as well, you can happily use it for casual outdoor wear as well without feeling a right plank! Just as importantly, the outer material is micro suede so is quiet, you won’t rustle like a bag of leaves wearing it so aren’t going to scare away every animal with a sense of hearing.

Pockets pockets and more pockets, handwarmer pockets, various small-medium general pockets and inside a phone pocket and memory card organising flap are all present. Then there’s the two main pockets on the front of the jacket, they’re huge and come with removable padding to protect whatever you put in there if you want to put delicate lenses etc. in there. If the default size still isn’t big enough, they bellow out by unzipping them so you can fit even more in there. As an experiment, I took the (fairly bulky) padding out of one of the pockets and with it fully expanded I could comfortably fit my Sigma 150-500 lens in there and still securely close it with the attached press studs, I’ve even seen a picture of somebody successfully sitting 2 yellow pages in there (the newer smaller ones, not the old giant ones, there’s a limit!). Personally I prefer to remove the padding from these pockets as it’s quite bulky and stiff and I find the pockets more versatile without, I tend to use them to keep my hat, gloves etc. within easy reach instead. I have also used one of the pockets bellowed out to store the arms of the jacket when I was using it in vest mode (more on that in a minute) but wasn’t sure what the weather would be like later in the day and might need them. However theoretically there’s no reason why, if you’re not packing enormous telephoto lenses, you couldnt’ leave the camera bag in the car and just travel with camera, lens and accessories dotted around the various pockets of the jacket. The front pockets are also, uniquely, not fully attached to the jacket, they are firmly attached along the top but are then secured with single press studs at the bottom. The theory here is that you can lift the pocket up and pass the waist straps of a camera bag underneath so you can still use the pocket to it’s full capacity, however in my experience, waist straps pass comfortably clear of the top of the pocket so it’s a bit of a non issue, however it’s still handy having them designed that way as by not being attached fully to the jacket, they more easily shape to whatever you put them in and it makes general movement easier if you’ve filled them

Padding is present in the shoulders and elbows, the elbow pads I find very useful when I’m lying down to get low shots, saving my elbows from getting bruised on hard or lumpy terrain, the shoulder pads are designed to make heavy camera bags or shouldering a tripod more comfortable, however I find they make the jacket feel a bit too bulky and make putting a backpack on and off quite awkward, so I prefer to remove them

Now, another unique feature, the zip off arms. You’d think this would create a weak point as far as waterproofing is concerned but those clever bods at Stealth Gear thought of that, the joint uses a waterproof zipper with a flap over the top to ensure it stays waterproof. being able to zip off the arms makes it an exceptionally versatile jacket, as soon as the weather gets warmer and drier you can just remove them and make it noticable lighter, so you can still take advantage of all the pockets but have significantly more breathability and make it viable to use in Spring/Autumn. There are also vents in the arms to further aid the breathability of the jacket when they are attached.

Unfortunately, by virtue of being such a heavy duty product, even with the arms zipped off, in the height of summer you’ll still proably find it a bit on the warm side, so when it’s shorts and t-shirt weather, you’ll likely be hanging it up until Autumn. I have only 1 real complaint, one I’ve found with this and other Stealth Gear products, that there tends to be a lot of run off excess cotton at various stitching points, so you may find yourself spending quite a while checking all the seams and cutting off any excess cotton to make sure it doesn’t snag. I’ve never found any missing or weak looking seams though so no worries about the structural integrity, just a bit of a messy finish to the stitches at places.

All in all, a pricy, but highly versatile jacket for most seasons that I nearly always take with me if I’m going out for a day, I don’t consider it quite as essential as the Stealth Gear photographer’s trousers, but I don’t think an Outdoor/Wildlife photographer could ask for a much better jacket for situations where you want to be able to pocket loads of extras and not have to worry about what the weather might throw at you

The Extreme Photographer’s Trousers 2N are probably my favourite Stealth gear product to date, and that’s saying something as I am a huge fan of their products in general. I actually consider these trousers almost as essential a part of my photography kit as my camera itself for a number of reasons

As with all stealth gear clothing the overall quality of the trousers is stellar, I have gathered from a retailer that an earlier version of them did have some QC issues with the side seams in some cases (indeed I had to return a pair due to this) but the 2N version eliminates any such issues with double stitching (I don’t think double actually does it justice, suffice to say there’s no way it’s going to go without some serious abuse!) in vulnerable areas and they are extremely durable, Stealth Gear themselves offer a 5 year guarantee on their products which gives you an idea of the confidence in the durability! The outer material mostly comprises a micro suede finish to prevent excessive noise, essential for stalking wildlife, while areas more prone to abuse are teflon coated for strength. Beneath the outer material throughout is Stealth Gear’s ‘Air-flow Max’ liner which keeps the trousers completely waterproof but still highly breathable, this lining also protects all of the many pockets on the trousers, so anything you store in them will also stay perfectly dry whatever the weather throws at you. Aiding in the breathability, zipped vents on each side allow you to increase air flow when the weather warms up so you can still stay comfortable

As with the rest of Stealth Gear’s clothing range, they are not available in camo, but as mentioned in my Jacket/Vest review, I don’t consider this a problem, with correct fieldcraft and use of hides where applicable they shouldn’t prove counter-productive and they are a neutral enough colour to be sensible for casual use as well, I use mine all the time in colder months for general outdoor activities

Despite the all round ruggedness and waterproofing, one of the main reasons I love these trousers so much is the built in knee pads. As a wildlife photographer (and indeed I’m sure many other forms of photography) you invariably spend a lot of time on your knees to get down to your subject’s level, something that, depending on the terrain, can quickly leave you with severely aching knees. No longer is that a problem with these trousers, shaped foam knee pads (the shape being a sort of elongated X) wrap around your knees and provide much needed relief for hard ground and/or general long amounts of time on one’s knees. The previous version of the trousers had unshaped and thicker, more resistant foam in the knees, so at first I was a little disappointed in the new softer pads, however I have come to appreciate the difference, as they are lighter and more breathable (the old ones could make your knees really hot when sitting down, e.g. when driving) and with the access to remove them now on the outside of the trousers (removing/replacing them in the old version was via an internal pocket which was a pain) it would be easy to buy a slab of thicker foam and cut your own pads to fit if you really wanted more protection

The trousers also come equipped with an array of useful pockets. two standard side pockets and two back pockets akin to those you’d find on any pair of trousers are complimented by various others. A small zipped pocket above each side pockets I have found ideal for storing a lens cap or other small items, they even have a metal ring built in to clip keys etc. on if you want added security. just Below both side pockets is another zipped pocket, this one much larger, running a fair way down the length of the thigh, the right hand of these also has internal organiser pouches for something the size of a phone and a couple of pens. Finally the two leg cargo pockets, on the previous version of the trousers a fairly standard cargo pocket, but with the 2N trousers much more flexible. Both have zips running down the side that when unzipped, allow the pockets to bellow out to about twice it’s starting capacity, easily big enough to fit a standard DSLR and a standard zoom, or anything of similar size. 2 elasticated loops in each pocket also make them great to hold a lens, flashgun or similar sized object securely, and removable padding for the outer edge of the pocket (as well as fixed padding in the bottom of the pocket) mean it’s perfectly feasible to have a number of accessories easily and safely on hand without having to root around in your camera bag all the time. I don’t often use the pockets in this manner, but it’s nice to know that if I do want to cut down on the weight on my back, I have plenty of options available to me

The one big downside to the trousers is actually a product of how good they are. Much like the Jacket/Vest, they are so heavy duty and well made that despite their breathability, they are simply too much for hot weather, so when the summer sun comes out, you’ll struggle to remain comfortable in them. I have found that even in mild/warm weather they can be a touch hot if you’re doing much walking, albeit they vents help keep things bearable and you’re generally then glad of the warmth once you reach your destination and are going to be static for a while.

My only other concern is Stealth Gear’s decision to utilise metal zipper pulls in this incarnation for increased strength, a good idea in principle, but the zip pull designs are a bit too ‘dangly’ for my liking, meaning they rattle a bit, especially the ones on the cargo pocket zips, less than ideal when you’re trying to be quiet. I have found the latter can be dramatically improved by simply getting hold of some fabric tape (I got a roll of Webtex ‘military’ fabric tape in olive green to match the trousers off ebay for about £6) and wrapping a length around the zip to prevent metal rattling on metal. With this modification I find that, while noticable when you walk normally in a quiet environment and listen out for it, if you are moving slowly the rattling doesn’t seem noticable so isn’t an issue

Despite those minor points (well nothing’s perfect), these trousers really are one of my favourite bits of kit, I use them all the time not just for photography, but for all manner of outdoor use. They’re not cheap, but in my opinion really are worth every penny. I have also heard rumours that Stealth Gear have a summer range in development which is something I eagerly await as that would fill the summer gap that is left by the heaviness of these

A long standing problem of mine has been, how to keep my hands warm and dry but still able to operate my camera. I suffer quite badly from cold, numb hands in cold months, making keeping them warm while still maintaining enough finger dexterity to operate camera controls pretty tricky. Previously the best option I’d managed to come up with was lightweight snowboarding gloves (warm but just about thin enough to be able to operate a shutter) with fingerless woven gloves over the top, which did the job, but wasn’t ideal

There have been gloves out for a while with a similar idea of having the finger and thumb with a flip off cover to keep them warm when not in use but available with maximum dexterity when needed, but all the ones I have ever seen have either been fingerless gloves with a mitten like cover, or have been fleecy, which may be warm, but is not particularly wind or water proof. Equally I’ve just never been 100% convinced about something that flips off on the basis that it could snag and come off when you don’t want it too or worse pull off by virtue of not beign fully attached. Stealth Gear’s solution, rather than having something that flips off the finger and thumb, is to have a small ‘porthole’ in the the middle of stretchy mterial (it looks like neoprene but I’m not sure) over the finger and thumb that you can push through to access your camera, then simply retract again once you’re done, arguably this does mean that there’s always a hole that the wind could whistle through, but no more so than a seam on a flip off finger cover and also has the benefit that you can push through as much or as little as you want of the tip of your finger/thumb to access the controls you want, so gives you more control over how much you expose yourself to the elements

Naturally the gloves are made from the same waterproof, breathable material as the rest of Stealth Gear’s range of clothing, so they’re highly durable and resistant to the elements, they are not excessively thick and have a grip pattern on the palm to make sure you don’t lose grip of your camera. They have a warm lining, but only time will tell whether they will prove warm enough alone to keep my hands from going numb in the middle of winter, I have proved however, that while a good fit, there’s enough room in them for me to fit a pair of fingerless woven gloves on underneath them, so that should solve the problem if need be.

My only gripe is regarding the wrist strap on the gloves. For a start it feels a bit short, I ony have relatively thin wrists but on my hands, the strap is quite near the end of it’s available length unless I make sure I pull my sleeves back, when it would be nice to be able to leave my jumper sleeves under the back edge to create a better warmth seal. It also has no elasticity (the main cuff of the gloves does) so once secured, taking the gloves off again does require the wrist strap to be undone every time, something I find I don’t normally have to do with other gloves, this is a double edged sword though, it’s less convenient to take them on and off, but then again does create a tighter warmth seal around your wrist when you tighten them properly each time. Finally there is a bit of a design flaw in that the hook side of the velcro is facing outwards, so unless you have thin enough wrists to get the strap to fully cover it, some will be exposed so could catch on things, as my pair keep doing on the inside of my jacket pocket when I shove them in there in a hurry without carefully ensuring the velcro meets up. These are relatively minor issues though and not something that causes me any real problems, only a minor anoyance. This observation is something I have fed back to Stealth Gear and hope they will improve on for future development.

My gripe with the wrist straps aside, this really is a fantastic pair of gloves and is the best solution I’ve yet seen for the all weather photographer who wants warm hands and quick and easy access to their camera controls