Cold Hands
 

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.

--
Muzz
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Cold Hands
 

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/

Cold Hands
 

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/

Cold Hands
 

"muzz" wrote in message
...
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 use paddling mitts. They are neoprene mitts with an open palm so that you
have contact with the paddle. They have a Velcro wrap around the wrist.

If you wear them they work exactly like a wet suit and give a protective
warm layer. However, if you flip them off when they are wet they are bloody
cold when you put them back on - they soon warm up again though.

Ewan Scott

Cold Hands
 

I use pogies all year round.
My web site is http://pages.ivillage.com/mcgruer ; Here all year round
means ice, ice bergs, snow and freezing spray.
Pogies are dandy alone for me but I need gloves when I get ashore . My
hands get wet under the neoprene pogies but they remain warm.
I recommend pogies but I have friends that prefer gloves and you do
need them once you get off the water

Cold Hands
 

Cheapskate's way: thin poly glove liners under dishwashing gloves. When
i use these my hands get too hot after an hour or so.

If you buy neoprene, don't go too thick. You lose a lot of finesse on
the paddle while the 3mm of neoprene squishes.

Pogies are surprisingly warm, until you swim. Then you've got nothing,
and your hands lose mobility in about 2 minutes.

Steve Cramer
Athens, GA, USA

Cold Hands
 

Cold Hands
 

For example,
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Sear...s&cat=40003707

Cheap ones are about as warm as expensive ones, but don't feel as good.

Steve

Cold Hands
 

Steve is right. Pogies are OK Till it is time to swim.
I sea kayak almost exclusively: So swimming, while it happens, is not
common.
You likely have to loose your gloves to get a spray deck back on anyway
and pogies actually hold the paddle so you don't have to grip it as
much when you paddle.
I like the pogies but have a zip lock ( sandwich bag.) for dry gloves
when I get out.It is under the front hatch.
I still preffer pogies
Alex

Cold Hands
 

Cold Hands
 

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.

This advice is WW related where your hand are regualrly in and out of
the water.

First of all - pogies! Don't get gloves or mits. I never felt properly
connected to the paddle with gloves on.

Secondly - get "Suzy 40 Below" pogies, I hope you can still get them as
they work brialliantly. They're little more than a nylon bag with a
reflective silver lining. The water runs through them very easily and
quickly as there is no cuff seal, but as there is no liner they start
to heat you hands up again very quickly. They're also very easy to get
hands in an out of, you can paddle iwth your hand out and just stick
them back in for a warm up.

I tried others, both neoprene and nylon with fleece linings, but found
that they held water and so could be a little heavy and took much
longer to heat up once re-immersed. I found the same problems with
gloves.

Cold Hands
 

urchaidh wrote:

First of all - pogies! Don't get gloves or mits. I never felt properly
connected to the paddle with gloves on.

The mitts with the open hand solve that particular problem fairly well,
and don't suffer from the pogie's over-connection problem! ;-)

However, they're not nearly as warm. You choose, you lose...

Secondly - get "Suzy 40 Below" pogies, I hope you can still get them as
they work brialliantly. They're little more than a nylon bag with a
reflective silver lining.

I can't remember what mine are and that name doesn't ring any bells at
all... but the overall description fits mine and I've been very pleased
with them: much warmer than I'd anticipated.

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/

Cold Hands
 

urchaidh wrote:
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.

This advice is WW related where your hand are regualrly
in and out of the water.

First of all - pogies! Don't get gloves or mits. I never
felt properly connected to the paddle with gloves on.

Secondly - get "Suzy 40 Below" pogies, I hope you can
still get them as they work brialliantly.

Yup, already seen them on Scottish Paddling Supplies website, I'll try to
get them next time I'm down in Aviemore first though as they were also
listed in one of the other linked shops.
I'll give the marigolds a go first though :-)


Muzz
http://highlandmist.blogspot.com
http://www.geocities.com/tripdogmonkey/index.html

Cold Hands
 

In message .com,
urchaidh writes
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.

This advice is WW related where your hand are regualrly in and out of
the water.

First of all - pogies! Don't get gloves or mits. I never felt properly
connected to the paddle with gloves on.

Secondly - get "Suzy 40 Below" pogies, I hope you can still get them as
they work brialliantly. They're little more than a nylon bag with a
reflective silver lining. The water runs through them very easily and
quickly as there is no cuff seal, but as there is no liner they start
to heat you hands up again very quickly. They're also very easy to get
hands in an out of, you can paddle iwth your hand out and just stick
them back in for a warm up.

100% underscore this - 40 below pogies are one of the best bits of kit
I've ever bought - I've NEVER had cold hands using them, they're far
stiffer (hence easier to get hands in and out) than other lesser nylon
pogies, you've got real "hand on paddle shaft" grip (none of this
neoprene nonsense), and it's near trivial to pull your hands out and
paddle "naked" for 5 mins then put them back on. All told, a great bit
of kit...
--
David Pearson

Cold Hands
 

urchaidh wrote:


First of all - pogies! Don't get gloves or mits. I never felt properly
connected to the paddle with gloves on.

Do get gloves. My old Gul gloves with neoprene back and washleather palm
works a treat in freezing conditions, giving good grip and feel.

Don't know if anything similar is available now though.

--
Eiron

I have no spirit to play with you; your dearth of judgment renders you
tedious - Ben Jonson.

Cold Hands
 

Muzz I have no idea if they are the same. I have never encountered
paddle mitts.
My pogies are all neoprene ( I have a few pairs ) the velcro around the
paddle shaft and have a loose fit at the wrists to slip in and out of.
I leave them on the paddle and put the paddle in the car so they are
suspended and dry on their own.

Cold Hands
 

urchaidh wrote:
I tried others, both neoprene and nylon with fleece linings, but found
that they held water and so could be a little heavy and took much
longer to heat up once re-immersed. I found the same problems with
gloves.

I'd agree. Plain nylon pogies are best (I have a very old Palm pair).
The 'fleecy' liners just hold water so make them colder.

The really useful part is that that they keep the wind off.

--
Conor O'Neill, at home in Bristol, UK

Cold Hands
 

Conor O'Neill wrote:

I'd agree. Plain nylon pogies are best (I have a very old
Palm pair). The 'fleecy' liners just hold water so make
them colder.

The really useful part is that that they keep the wind
off.

Had a go with plain old marigolds with a flock lining the other day. Cold to
start with then warmed up when I did, they will suffice until I organise
some suzy pogies.


--
Muzz
http://highlandmist.blogspot.com
http://www.geocities.com/tripdogmonkey/index.html