Re: [Paddlewise] Gloves- was Hypothermia Table

Nick wrote: Any thoughts/comments on appropriate hand protection? Pros/Cons 
etc.

I stopped using pogies when I started using a Greenland style paddle. I then 
gravitated towards a myriad style dive gloves, and not having liked any of 
them due to glove surface texture, seam chafing, on/off ease, I settled on a 
pair of gloves from Kenai, Reno, NV. They are a 2mm neoprene/nylon liner 
glove with only a slightly grippy surface. Kenai-4890 aircenter cir., reno, 
nv 89502. They make an "Aleut" version which includes a velcro band on the 
wrist portion which tightens it to ones garments. I found the velcro too much 
of a bother, as the "Kenai" was tight enough to limit ingress. Additionally, 
the seams leak anyway so why bother?

The key to the "Kenai" gloves is that I can easily put my spray skirt on and 
maintain good dexterity for other tasks. I use a tight fitting Bushsport 
spray skirt on a Nordkapp Jubilee kayak. The stern portion of the cockpit rim 
is recessed and any loss of manual dexterity is immediately noticed. The 
waters of Puget Sound range from the high 40's to low 50's year round. The 
gloves are stretchy and as such, are easy enough to put on, that I did it in 
3-4 foot seas on a crossing from Anacortes to Friday Harbor a couple weeks 
ago.

The down side is that they will probably last a couple of seasons at most. 
They are thin and one spill on slick tidal rocks may tatter them. They cost 
me $25.00 USD. They also take in water and hands stay wet, though warm. They 
will fit over the gaskets of my dry suit or dry top, limiting ingress. Hands 
emerge prunish and soft enough to give a good "swiss army manicure" at the 
end of the day.

I like pogies only as long as I am staying dry and not rolling, sculling or 
bracing. Extended paddle grip sculling or Pawlata rolling are also mildly 
inhibited by pogies. (That is my take and paddlers such as Nick, with better 
technique than I, may report better results.) Of course pogies come in many 
styles and not just the cordura and pile "limo's" I like so much. I agree 
with Nick, in that a paddler using pogies, suddenly finding immersed hands 
will fare better because the hands were kept warm all the while until 
immersion; as opposed to the person carrying, but not using gloves until 
needed. My guess is an ungloved/pogied paddler loses dexterity quicker in 
cold waters because he/she started with hands quite cooler than they would 
have been were they using pogies/gloves. Therefore, pogies seem to me to be a 
very good choice in most conditions, especially if you do not like gloves. 

2 cents contributed humbly, Rob G






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