Re: [Paddlewise] Cold Hands

From: Erik Sprenne <sprenne_at_netnitco.net>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 21:40:18 -0600
Aaron White worte:
> So against your request my recommendation would be to give
> pogies another chance.  They need to be neoprene, the nylon type
> strike me as near useless.
>
Agree with giving pogies a second chance, but beg to differ about nylon
pogies being useless.   I have three variants on pogies - all nylon or
nylon-shelled, and for me none are useless - but offer different
conveniences.  As previous posters have commented, there is great
variability in a person's hands' ability to withstand cold conditions.  I'm
blessed with very good circulation, and typically do not have problems with
cold hand most of the time - which may be one of the reasons that nylon
pogies work for me.

Most of the important things for maximizing hand warmth have been commented
upon:  warm clothing to maintain core temperature, minimally restrictive
wrist gaskets to not impede circulation to the hands, hand covering that
sheds water to protect from evaporative cooling, food in the tummy for fuel,
and adequate hydration to help transport the heat effectively.

The one thing that hasn't been commented on is the idea that paddling in the
winter often must be of a different tempo to 'keep the fire burning'.
Summertime paddling can be more casual, but the winter paddler must paddle
with more of a purpose to be burning fuel to generate warmth.  As the hands
and feet are the first to feel cold, the level of activity and the
corresponding level of clothing worn should work together to help the
paddler find that point of equilibrium where s/he is warm, but not
overheated  (with due consideration also given to the weather/water
conditions, the likelihood of capsizing, etc., etc.).

To be sure, the ramifications are different for the sport paddler out for a
two hour paddle than for the winter touring paddler, but the bottom line is
that both need to keep moving!

Play Hard,
Erik Sprenne

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Received on Tue Feb 11 2003 - 19:40:28 PST

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