I purchased this glove set as part of an ongoing process of finding the best solution for photography in bad conditions. Photographers are notoriously picky and, as with evaluating photography bags, there's likely no perfect product. But this system comes close, with some caveats.
The work glove components are really solid for handling a camera. I am able to use most of the dials and buttons easily and accurately. The leather surfaces provide a good grip, unlike the normal liner gloves that fill the equivalent role in some other multi-part systems. I disable the touch function on my cameras, but the gloves should prove handy to those who don't; they certainly are helpful when checking my phone. (I didn't initially grasp that there was capacitive function in the shell gloves too, which is a real bonus.) The work gloves are also fantastic for scrambling up scree slopes or over boulders, or fighting through bramble thickets, and the knuckle guards are more than just cosmetic. The main shortcoming here is the lack of weather-resistance: the gloves get wet through quickly, and are only partly effective in stopping wind. In lower temperatures this can become uncomfortable, and the leather leaches dye into my hands when worn wet for very long.
The shell/puffer gloves are quite comfortable and warm. They are also seemingly waterproof. The material is more rugged than it initially appears (but not as tough as the work gloves). The pull loops make hauling them on over the work gloves significantly easier than in some other systems. However, the textured palm only goes so far, and handling expensive electronics feels a little iffy. Another downside is that the clasp used to connect the pair together is way too fiddly to use in cold weather. It's a little frustrating that using the system requires you to remove the outer gloves frequently (unlike say, a hinged mitten system) but makes stowing them an additional task. Something as simple as a loop of elastic to twist around the wrist could allow the user to pop the gloves off rapidly while keeping them attached and close by.
The temperature rating is an interesting question. My guess is that the stated lower limit refers to both gloves worn in a static situation. The work gloves alone feel comfortable for me to wear indefinitely without the shells in temps down to the mid 40s (F), in dry-ish conditions. Assuming a decent amount of activity, the addition of the shells allows toasty - even sweaty - wear into the low 20s. I've found I can still take the shells off for long periods of time in the 40s-20s range if I'm keeping busy and the air is reasonably still. Once in the teens + windy conditions, I start feeling a bit of a chill in the fingertips and try to avoid removing the shells for very long. At single digits with wind, the gloves still function at an "emergency" level (minimal to no shell removal). Once in negative digits + windchill, they start becoming painful and I start losing dexterity after 20-30 minutes. This is honestly an astounding range for a product that could easily have been hampered by compromises. Although it's clunky to completely remove part of the system, the payoff is maximized strengths for both components, instead of one glove that can't fully meet either temperature or handling challenges. As a Minnesota resident, I've tried a lot of gloves, and these are actually among the warmest I own!
Overall, I would rate the work gloves as arguably essential for people who need to do complex/dexterous tasks in moderate conditions. Similarly, the shells are great for people whose workflow in very cold temps allows them to wait and then do those tasks in rare, short bursts. My one-star reduction relates to the design decisions that make it more difficult to stay warm/dry AND shoot/work at will. Otherwise, great system. Worth considering at full price, and a must-buy when on sale.
