I go out into the land no matter how cold...just not as far. I'm a photographer and the hands take a beating. I also use ski/trekking poles....which can make the hands cold. No way I would ever be without expedition mitts. My favorite ones are down-insulated. When I sometimes fall through the ice I will toss the gloves onto the ice to keep them dry while I work my way out. If the hands freeze into uselessness I could die. I use insulated deerskin gloves to work the camera...can sometimes get away with heavier gloves. All the gloves go inside my parka next to my chest when not in use...that way I always have warm gloves when switching back and forth. I carry four pairs of gloves. Thin cloth gloves to sacrifice (get wet/dirty) doing necessary repairs, lacing, etc. Insulated deerskin for general travel. Heavier insulated gloves. But always the expedition mitts for ultimate survival.