Don Dimond wrote: >There are some paddlers who like wearing pogies so that >they can feel their paddle shafts with their hands. It >helps if your paddle is made of wood for your hands will >warm up the wood. Fiberglass paddles will have an air >pocket inside the shaft that can rob heat from your >hands. Yesterday I paddled in 50-ish degree weather with strong winds, with a water temperature about 50 degrees. I used pogies from the outset of the trip (with my carbide paddle) and enjoyed the feel of my paddle in my warm hands. The problem came when I had to tow someone who hadn't paddled in strong winds. Had to get my hands out of the pogies to deal with my tow belt and, once the paddler was hooked up, I didn't find (create?) an opportunity to get my hands back into the pogies. Had the same problem later, when another member of the party capsized in confused waves. I was just a boat length away, and the rescue went like a practice session, but my hands got *cold.* I agree that the paddle is easier to hold, easier to control with bare hands under the pogies. But my greatest need for warm hands will be those times when I won't be able to keep them under there. Anyone got a suggestion for a really flexible pair of neoprene gloves with a good grip? Bob Volin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Volin wrote: > > Don Dimond wrote: > > >There are some paddlers who like wearing pogies so that > >they can feel their paddle shafts with their hands. It > >helps if your paddle is made of wood for your hands will > >warm up the wood. Fiberglass paddles will have an air > >pocket inside the shaft that can rob heat from your > >hands. I didn't notice this post before. Gail Ferris who is quite the winter paddler (and now lives in Greenland) suggested to me, among a whole slew of cold water tips, that one fill the shaft with foam. This is certainly possible with a two piece paddle. The only thing is watch out that it is foam that does not absorb water as water does get into paddles. > > Yesterday I paddled in 50-ish degree weather with strong winds, with a > water temperature about 50 degrees. I used pogies from the outset of the > trip (with my carbide paddle) and enjoyed the feel of my paddle in my warm > hands. SNIPPED > I agree that the paddle is easier to hold, easier to control with bare > hands under the pogies. But my greatest need for warm hands will be those > times when I won't be able to keep them under there. Anyone got a > suggestion for a really flexible pair of neoprene gloves with a good grip? I will no doubt get some arguments on this, but the best neoprene gloves I have found are not the fancy $50-60 Gale Force ones that paddle shops often push but rather the cheaper $20 ones you can find (Bob, locally at Ramsey or Campmor) that are meant for fishermen. The neoprene is not ridiculously thick and passes Bill Lozano's test of being able to pick up a coin from a table with them on. They are highly textured and give good grip. Supposedly with real heavy duty wear they will fall apart but mine haven't. You can wear them inside a pair of wind or shell pogies (i.e. without fleece) for real cold days to give you the best of both worlds...the warmth of pogies with the cold protection of neoprene when using your hands for something other than paddling. I also have a set of ridiculous looking neoprene gloves that are decently flexible. I say ridiculous because the palm and fingers are covered with little Body Glove logos made of up of grippier material. Can't remember where I got them. But go for those cheaper neoprene ones I mentioned. Get them on the large side. You want flexibility. If the neoprene is too tight you will start get hand cramps from holding a paddle. I made that mistake early on with some neoprene gloves since passed on to my wife. 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 - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Volin wrote: > > I agree that the paddle is easier to hold, easier to control with bare > hands under the pogies. But my greatest need for warm hands will be those > times when I won't be able to keep them under there. Anyone got a > suggestion for a really flexible pair of neoprene gloves with a good grip? > I wear these http://www.uscav.com/Shop/ItemDetail.asp?stk_code=WA17044 when the weather/water is cold. When it gets COLD, I have a pair of neoprene fishing gloves from Bass Pro Shops. The USCav gloves are 1 mm neoprene and very flexible. The others, which I think are called Aleutian (as if!) are thicker, but still give adequate control. You lose a little, but paddling with bare cold hands you lose some control, too. If anyone wants a really thick pair, I have some NRS gloves I've only used once that I'd like to part with. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> I agree that the paddle is easier to hold, easier to control with bare > hands under the pogies. But my greatest need for warm hands will be those > times when I won't be able to keep them under there. Anyone got a > suggestion for a really flexible pair of neoprene gloves with a good grip? Keeping my hands warm has been, and continues to be my endless search. Last winter I used cheap neoprene gloves which worked fairly well, _except_ when paddling into the wind. At that point I'd pull the pogies out of the deck bag and attach them to the paddle. This kept my hands warm and I still had the gloves on in case I needed to pull them out of the pogies. What didn't work well, is that I paddle with a Greenland stick. Pogies are a kludge at best on a Greenland paddle, and limits your stroke possibilities. I've spent over $150 looking for the right glove combination this year, but still haven't found the right combo. I'm thinking of a neo glove covered by some sort of mitt when paddling into the wind. I think this should allow me to use sliding strokes and braces, yet be able to pluck them off when needing the finer dexterity of the neo gloves underneath. Someone mentioned long rubber gloves tied off to make them water proof. This might help me since my gloves are often wet from the water running down the paddle. I don't know. I'd appreciate hearing what other Greenland paddle users use in the middle of winter. Woody *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Robert Woodard wrote: > > > Someone mentioned long rubber gloves tied off to make them water proof. This > might help me since my gloves are often wet from the water running down the > paddle. > Long rubber gloves are amazingly warm. I used some during a river cleanup recently. A couple of winters ago I tried dishwashing gloves over poplypro glove liners on a February trip (in North Georgia, which of course is not that cold, maybe 40F). I had to take the liners off pretty quickly. Don't bother tying them off to make them waterproof. Perspiration from your hands will make them very wet inside, even in cold temps. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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