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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Glove gripes
Posted By: Jay Doorly
Date: Thursday, 23 October 2003, at 2:32 a.m.
I tried some Seal Skinz waterproof/breathable gloves and found them both leaking badly after 2 hours of paddling. When I returned them to the store I was told I was the only one to have a problem with them. I felt that the action of hard paddling simply wore out the goretex-like membrane.
I switched to some Warmers TS Titanium neoprene gloves with precurved fingers when my hands got too cold for the 1/2 finger gloves I was wearing. 30 minutes later I found my hands were so sweaty and pruny and COLD that it was much more comfortable to use the 1/2 finger gloves again. I can't really explain this since neoprene is supposed to fit tight, but I know from winter mountain biking that tight gloves are cold and you have to have an air gap so you wear gloves a size or two larger than you need.
Now, about grip. If the glove to paddle shaft interface is slipery you will have to hold the paddle tighter. This means more flexed muscles and effort expended. The two pairs of aformentioned gloves looked like they would afford a good grip, and are promoted as paddling specific. However, in the arena of grip they do in fact suck.
So, are my efforts to paddle throught the winter to be thwarted? Have I mortgaged the house to buy a genu-ine gore-tex dry suit with contrasting colored horizontal zippered fly and booties in vain? Will I ever climb through the elastic neck of my fuzzy fleece union suit?
Maybe. After buying gloves for $30 and up, and being thoroughly dissatified. Things are looking up. I just bought some South Bend Cold Weather Fishermans gloves. I got a pair just a little too big, and they have a fleece lining, a nylon outer layer laminated to 3mm neoprene except the palm area which is a grippy raw neoprene, the fingers have a bit of pre-curve, and you can choose black or camo, and they cost $12. Now, if the water will just remain in a liquid state, and I don't chicken out when I feel how God awfull fridgid...
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