Hi all, now that winter is rapidly drawing in and the days are getting colder I need to invest in some decent gloves. Went out last Sunday for 4hrs, no problems at all aprart from my hands.
At the mo I have a pair of Gul Titanium gloves which are a snug fit and while they keep my hands warm for a while I find the tips of my fingers going numb and also my hands are getting tired quickly.
This is my first year of windsurfing and first winter. I have been advised to go for either the Gul dry gloves or mitts (either open or closed palm)

anyone any advise

Ta

Keith

Personally I can't wear gloves to windsurf in and have tried all sorts, including plain old marigolds which lots of people swear by. I do have a pair of palmless Gul neoprene gloves which are just about bearable, but find that no gloves at all is the best solution.

Al.

I use marigolds although not perfect they keep a bit of chill of fingers. I've got a pair of the palmless mitts too but didn't feel comfortable in them last winter maybe cos I wasn't used to them maybe give them another try ........If i can find them


befs

yep - marigolds - and tuck 'em into your suit - then get a velcro strap & put that round yer wrist - it stops any water getting in your glove and down the arm of your suit. U may not need the tape if you have nice tight wrists already.
I'd advise turning the gloves inside out too, so they're not bright pink.

One thing to bear in mind is that I used to find the wearing of gloves impossible because I would get really bad cramps in my forearms. This was due to the fact that the gloves reduce the feeling you have and so you end up gripping the boom really tightly. as my technique improved, this was less of an issue, also helped by the fact that neoprene became more flexible and therefore presented less of a restriction problem... So, although I can now sail Ok with gloves on, I still prefer not to use them.

Everyone is different though, and if marigolds work, then they have to be the best bet due to the low cost!... You can get them in black these days as well, but I think the pink ones look best!!!

Al.

Keith,

The best way to keep your hands warm this winter is to get on a plane and go somewhere hot!

No, seriously though, the palmless mits are good, but buy them a little big, cut the palm out a little bigger and if the finger bit is stitched between one of the fingers undo it as one finger will get cold. All they do really is keep the wind of the backs of your hands. I don't wear any (I maybe tempted this winter though!), but a lot of friends tell me this is the best way.

Dunks

Thanks for all your replies, can you really keep you hands at a decent temperature just using marigolds? do you wear anything underneath?

Might give it a go Sunday if the forcasts are correct

Thanks again

Keith

www.vdubs.freeuk.com

Most of us don't wear any gloves at all and still keep our hands at a decent temperature.... It does get a little painful sometimes if the air temp is less than 0¬?C.... Actually, sometimes it hurts A LOT, but most of the time its fine.

Al.

That is hardcore Al! I think the lowest temp I've sailed in is 9C and my hands got a bit numb from the cold water along with the wind chill. I was sailing on the mouth of a river so the water temps a bit colder than the sea. Im havin a cut off temp of 8C. anything below that an it will be unenjoyable

Last winter had a day at Brog -12c with the windchill and water temp of around 4c
Didn't sail for long that day


befs

I have had days here where the windchill made temps around minus 16¬?C... The water is always fairly warm though, but those ballistic NE's in the estuary are when it gets really cold... I think it was last year that I had to soak my board in the sea as my footstraps had frozen into a solid mass of ice whilst on the roof of the van.

Al.

I can't wear gloves. Best way to keep hands warm is towear a hat or helmet. I recommend a gecko helmet, I get too hot in neoprene hoods even in a Scottish January sail. I don't normally notice I have my gecko helmet on but my hands have been warmer since I started wearing it as protection from my board and kite boards.