Paddling in 35 degree air on 40 degree water, what paddling glove will give the best mix of comfort and feel: 1) 2 mm neoprene (like Glacier Gloves, $30) 2) 3 mm neoprene (like Thunderwear, $30) 3) paint stripping gloves over fleece liners (like Home Depot, 79 cents). My paddle is an unfeathered Werner Little Dipper. I intend to also use the gloves while canoeing and frostbiting (sailing) under similar conditions, so pogies are not the answer. Ken Cooperstein *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
Kenneth Cooperstein wrote: > > Paddling in 35 degree air on 40 degree water, what paddling glove will > give the best mix of comfort and feel ...SNIP... I have tried various types of paddling gloves. My favorite pair by far is a pair of Glacier Gloves (I forget which model--they make several) that has strongly pre-curved fingers (this makes a huge difference) and raw neoprene on the outside (i.e., they do not have a nylon laminate on the outside). The raw neoprene grips extremely well and does not seem to have the problem of evaporative cooling that nylon covered gloves can have--the raw neoprene does not absorb any water. I find that these gloves do not cause fatigue and provide suprisingly good paddle feel. The gloves are also waterproof (they don't leak at the seems). These gloves have really been a pleasant surprise. As always, YMMV. I haven't yet tried the rubber paint stripper gloves-over-fleece idea, but it seems like a really good idea, especially since at the end of the day the fleece liners would dry out out easily (should they become damp from sweat), whereas neoprene gloves take a long time to dry when the inside becomes damp. I think that I'll give it a try. Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
> Paddling in 35 degree air on 40 degree water, what paddling glove will > give the best mix of comfort and feel ... I have tried various gloves and can't stand any of 'em; I like feeling the paddle with my hands and think that I get a better grip that way. Soooooo, when it's really cold, I use pogies. If you haven't seen these, they're more-or-less mittens that go around the shaft of the paddle and close with velcro; you then just put your hands in them and they're nicely cocooned in there with the shaft. They come in various models, including ones with fleece insulation and sunlight-absorbing coatings. The good part is that it's really easy to pull your hands out and do things with your unencumbered fingers. The bad part is that getting the second pogie on when your other hand is already inside the first one requires creative use of your teeth. ---Rsk *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
I find fleece lined pogies to be the best in comfort overall. But there are problems with this. --When it is real cold out, the shaft of the paddle feels cold against the bare hand when first paddling for the first few minutes. I know of someone, Gail Ferris, who has done a lot of Arctic paddling who stuffs foam in her paddles to avoid just such cold conduction. --If you do fall in the water, you have bare hands to deal with self-rescue, getting sprayskirt back on. I can, probably because of my hot Latin blood, handle several minutes of cold water immersion and exposure on my hands and still tie a knot. But I don't rely on this in real cold conditions and wear a lighter pair of neoprene gloves under the pogies. The key with any neoprene gloves is that they should be flexible enough to allow you to pick up a quarter off of a table. If not, then they won't be up to dealing with a self rescue. Go with a lighter, less stiff pair if you can't do the quarter trick. Even lighter stuff will give you sufficient protection. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
I also like pogies, since I require that my fingers are unencumbered for a different reason than the feel of the paddle. I always wear glasses, and have you ever tried to spit on the finger of your neoprene glove and then wipe it on your lens? It doesn't work, but I find that the bare finger method provides the cheapest and most effective anti-fog available. On another note, Thu, 5 Feb 1998, Rich Kulawiec wrote: <snip> > The good part is that it's really easy to pull your hands out and do > things with your unencumbered fingers. The bad part is that getting > the second pogie on when your other hand is already inside the first > one requires creative use of your teeth. For this reason, I prefer to use stiff neoprene pogies made by Snapdragon in Seattle. These are quite easy to insert that last hand without any dental gymnastics whatsoever. Kevin /--------------------------------------------\ /---------------------------\ |Something there is that doesn't love a wall | Kevin Whilden | |That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it | kwhilden_at_u.washington.edu | |And spills the upper boulders in the sun | Dept. of Geologic Science | |And makes gaps that even two can pass abreast| University of Washington | | -- Robert Frost |(206)543-1975(w) 632-5140(h)| \--------------------------------------------/ \---------------------------/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
I have found that raw neoprene gives me the best connection with my paddle. If I use gloves with an outer layer of nylon, they slip too much. (Of course the raw neoprene ones do not last as long). For folks who are into the surf or ww, you might watch out for this. For general paddling it is not that big of a deal. As far as thickness goes, I prefer thin ones even in crunchy water, for they allow me more movement. I realize, though, that folks with poorer circulation prefer thicker ones. Cheers, Richard Culpeper culpeper_at_geocities.com Kenneth Cooperstein wrote: > Paddling in 35 degree air on 40 degree water, what paddling glove will > > give the best mix of comfort and feel: > > 1) 2 mm neoprene (like Glacier Gloves, $30) > > 2) 3 mm neoprene (like Thunderwear, $30) > > 3) paint stripping gloves over fleece liners (like Home Depot, 79 > cents). > > My paddle is an unfeathered Werner Little Dipper. I intend to also > use > the gloves while canoeing and frostbiting (sailing) under similar > conditions, so pogies are not the answer. > > Ken Cooperstein > > *************** > *********************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > ******************************************************* > ******************* *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
Hi, Ken -- Certainly the thicker neoprene glove will be warmer, but sacrifice some *feel* for the paddle. I doubt a 2mm neoprene glove will be sufficient for 35F when wet and in any wind (especially when frostbiting). Again, if your frostbiting activities have you clutching rough sheets you will want to be sure the palms have a coating to prevent them from wearing out too soon. The Paint stripping gloves over fleece liners sound like maybe not enough warmth, but for 79 cents, give it a try and give us a report. >///:>Chris Hardenbrook<:\\\< Sunny Southern California Kenneth Cooperstein wrote: > Paddling in 35 degree air on 40 degree water, what paddling glove will > give the best mix of comfort and feel: > <snip> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net ***************************************************************************
With leather boots, I use crumpled newspaper. It should also work with gloves. The newsprint sucks the moisture out of the leather without adding heat, Christopher G. Madden maddencg_at_earthlink.net ----- Original Message ----- From: WhiteRabbit Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Winter gloves for sea kayaking Do not use a hair dryer or any heat source to dry leather. You will be sorely disappointed in what is left of your gloves. Wet leather is best dried slowly. Blot out excess water with a towel or chamois. Stretch to shape and let air dry. Drying in a breeze is good, direct sunshine is not. The waterproofing is a good idea. I like NixWax. Robert *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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