Two words - Thompson's Waterseal (or a cheaper knockoff at Home Depot).
I've used it for years on hiking boots and leather parts of paddling gloves.
Works great!

Stu Weinberg


"Sharon C" wrote in message
om...
Yup. Yet another tired question to rehash... I did check the
archives for relevance (to previous paddling glove posts).

I purchases a pair of paddling gloves recently. They're predominantly
neoprene, with heavy palm patch and overlying neoprene rubber grips.
The palm patches are leather - these aborb and hold water like a
sponge. I seem to always manage to get my gloves wet - wringing wet.
And it takes many hours for them to dry (unlike the rest of my nylon
clothing that dries in a jiffy).

Is there anyway to waterproof the leather so that it remains pliable
from repeated soakings? Having read about the cheapie Wally World
neoprene hunters gloves (or weight lifting gloves or bicycle gloves -
all of which have leather palms with the same problem with wet leather
palms), I'm tempted to give up on these aqua gloves - but I'd like to
see if there's anyway to solve this problem (better living thru
chemicals)! Anything on the market that would water proof and give
additional gripe at the same time (resin maybe??)


Paranthetically..

SC
Sunny Central Washington

I am using Wall-Mart water sport gloves made of 1mm neoprene and
Amara leather (palm area).

They cost $9 and work great for padalling in worm weather.

They come in heavy duty and light (light is what you need), red and blue.
They don't hold water for long, the back is mesh, fingers are neoprene and
palm is leather.

Before plastics, vinyls and gore-tec sailors foul weather gear was
oilcloth. I don't know what kind of oil was used for it but you can use mink
oil to waterproof the pads of your gloves.
Oil and water don't mix. Since the leather is soaked to capacity with
oil ....... should stay supple too.
I haven't tried this (with gloves) so it may not work but I have mink
oiled leather work boots and hunting boots. The only drawback was that the
boots don't breathe and if you wear the same boots over and over without
giving them a chance to dry out they will get green and funky.
Robert 'knotbob' Smith

Before plastics, vinyls and gore-tec sailors foul weather gear was
oilcloth. I don't know what kind of oil was used for it but you can use mink
oil to waterproof the pads of your gloves.
Oil and water don't mix. Since the leather is soaked to capacity with
oil ....... should stay supple too.
I haven't tried this (with gloves) so it may not work but I have mink
oiled leather work boots and hunting boots. The only drawback was that the
boots don't breathe and if you wear the same boots over and over without
giving them a chance to dry out they will get green and funky.
Robert 'knotbob' Smith