In message
"muzz" wrote:

I was out in the wind agian today which was great fun the other day. After
only 20 minutes my hands were numb with the cold. Need advice on what gloves
to buy so that I can keep coastal paddling during the winter.

I'd say you have two choices.

Pogies are the usual ones. If you haven't seen them, they are fixed to the
paddle shaft, and you slide your hand in through the wrist tube. Most fix
with Velcro, so you can also attach them while you are wearing them. They
keep the wind off, and there are also fleece lined ones, which provide
insulation.

True gloves are more of a problem, as most are made, in this fashion
conscious world, of brightly coloured double lined neoprene. The
disadvantage is that the material isn't wind or waterproof, and worse, it
increases the surface area several-fold, increasing evaporative cooling.

I got some jet-ski gloves from a mail-order shop in Brighton which are
smooth-skin neoprene, thus windproof, and low surface area. You just need to
make sure they are large enough, or they'll restrict circulation. Not cheap
either, but I like them.


--
Alan Adams

http://www.nckc.org.uk/

Alan Adams wrote:

Pogies are the usual ones. If you haven't seen them, they are fixed to the
paddle shaft, and you slide your hand in through the wrist tube. Most fix
with Velcro, so you can also attach them while you are wearing them. They
keep the wind off, and there are also fleece lined ones, which provide
insulation.

Though they're remarkably warm even without the liners. Mine are
unlined and I've never been cold in them.
They work very well, but it can be a bit bloody awkward to do things
like scratch your nose.

True gloves are more of a problem, as most are made, in this fashion
conscious world, of brightly coloured double lined neoprene. The
disadvantage is that the material isn't wind or waterproof, and worse, it
increases the surface area several-fold, increasing evaporative cooling.

Good ones I've had recommended to me are smooth neoprene but the palm
and base of the fingers are cut away, so you've actually got a direct
hold on the shaft.
I've found Sealskinz waterproof breathable gloves are okay /if/ they
don't get soaked, at which point they get very gold.

You might try marigolds and see how you get on with them keeping the
wind off. It'll only cost pennies for the experiment.

A pal of mine just worked at hardening his hands to cold, which
ultimately worked though took time. I'm working on this and my hands
don't suffer as much as they did, but I still like the pogies in my back
pocket.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/