Really good sailing gloves wanted.

[Red Panda]

I do a bit of whitewater kayaking, in the winter. I normally prefer not to wear gloves, but I've been trying out a pair of these Peak open palm mitts which allow you to get your fingers out easily to do fiddly tasks, while still keeping the wind off.

Otherwise, for really cold watchkeeping, winter motorcycle gloves. I've an old pair of Hein Gericke lobster gloves which, by having only two "fingers" on each hand, are much warmer than normal gloves. You have to take them off to do anything fiddly, but again as they don't have normal fingers, they're easier to put on again even with wet hands.

 

[Halo]

Get some disposable hand warmer pads. They last ages and fit inside thermal or waterproof gloves as appropriate.

 

[dunedin]

So why were your crew forbidden from using it when crossing an icy North Sea? Some excuse about electrickety usage IIRC.

Skipper’s perogative, as skippers fingers are more delicate (by avoiding hard work) - crew are tougher (or replaceable, or just brought such good gloves?).

 

[Iliade]

Since nobody has brought these to the fore yet I felt (IGMC) that I should:

https://www.climbers-shop.com/1377025/products/dachstein-mitts.aspx

Actually they pair surprisingly well with these sea boots:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/2235621182...-oAiVRMm9Ye5XUCnK0bKNTEBZkWNBLmxoCUd4QAvD_BwE

 

[Iliade]

Get some disposable hand warmer pads. They last ages and fit inside thermal or waterproof gloves as appropriate.

They stop working when wet though. GHIK?

IF you can keep them dry they are superb but they must have access to air or they stop reacting (i.e. no jiffy bag to keep the water out.) I pair them with electrically heated gloves (better, but batteries run out too quickly for reliable safety) and down mittens for high altitude stuff.

We also use down sleeves (https://windsriders.fr/produit/manchons-parapente/) The down would be hopeless, but the concept works.

A minion making endless cups of kye helps too...

 

[bigwow]

I see you've tried sealskinz but did you try the sub zero variety?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I pair them with electrically heated gloves (better, but batteries run out too quickly for reliable safety)



A minion making endless cups of kye helps too...

A common question when members of BAS were giving talks was "What about electrically heated clothing?". The answer was that there wasn't a reliable source of power sufficient to run them, and in any case human metabolism generates quite a lot of heat - around 500 watts, more if working.

 

[MM5AHO]

I see you've tried sealskinz but did you try the sub zero variety?

The ones I had were called "weatherproof all weather cycling glove" I tried sealskinz, but they took an age (>48 hours )to dry after getting wet through (despite claiming to be waterproof). The largest size available was a bit tight for me, and so when wet, I could not get them on again.

 

[thinwater]

Everyone in a damp climate should either build or buy a boot drier. I even use it for sodden sneakers in the summer.

I'm surprised no one has come up with a clever version for boots. Tiny market, I suppose.

 

[thinwater]

The ones I had were called "weatherproof all weather cycling glove" I tried sealskinz, but they took an age (>48 hours )to dry after getting wet through (despite claiming to be waterproof). The largest size available was a bit tight for me, and so when wet, I could not get them on again.

Years ago, Gore-Tex over-gloves were popular with ski mountaineers, because they were easy to dry. They can be hard to find now, but you can wear practically anything under them, so a pair of shells and a stack of knit gloves should keep you warm and dry indefinitely. Mine came with Pitards leather fingers and palms, so they grip and last.

But mostly I use low-end ski gloves, carry several pairs, and trash them when they get bad. Works better for me.

 

[Applespider]

Agree with those saying that several pairs of varying weights might be best solution. I have 4 depending on weather and temperature. I also have 4 pairs for cycling - one of which only works when its below 5C, otherwise my hands sweat and get cold.

If you're not doing anything too dextrous, I'd recommend lobster-style gloves. They're a cross between gloves and mittens - a thumb and then two 'bigger' claws, each of which takes two fingers. It's surprising how much warmer those two fingers keep each other compared to gloves - and how much you can actually do with them on. I got mine for cycling originally but they migrated to my sailing bag.

 

[awol]

I have a knitted garment I picked up at WHYW - not too good at keeping hands warm.

 

[Mike k]

Thin silk liner gloves keep my hands warm under wet ski gloves, motorcycle gloves, Gill helmsman gloves, everything except neoprene fishermen's with fold-back finger tips. Aye, I have a lot of gloves on board!

total agreement I did lots of research because I too suffer from cold hands, pure silk inner gloves ( and socks) work for me covered over with a sealskinz glove. Available on ebay by Jasmine Silk

 

[tudorsailor]

I sail from about April to October, and it's not really hot in Scotland, and I do quite a bit of night sailing. My hands get cold.
I have yet to find a decent warm, waterproof glove.
I've tries various (but not all) gloves marketed for sailing. Fingerless, fingered, cuffless, cuffed, said to be waterproof, and even those obviously not. I've even tried some not claimed to be any good for sailing (like for example Sealskinz), but so far have yet to find a "good" glove. They get wet inside making them hard to get on/off, and when wet make my hands feel colder that when they're bare.

Have you found any really god sailing gloves? If so what?

I sail in the Med. I am looking for a glove suitable for hot weather and protection - so the opposite of the OP
So I would like fingerless, quick drying and thin on the back so that my hands do not get too hot! But robust on the front for pulling on sheets and furling line

TudorSailor

 

[RJJ]

Don't think there's a silver bullet here.

For cold when you're sitting around or helming, I would go with ski gloves or mittens. I bought a pair of Gill helmsman gloves when I did the Southern Ocean a few years ago and they were good but I think ski gloves from Decathlon might have as good for 1/3 the price. They don't dry easily; maybe get two pairs and rotate them if you are doing long offshore; do the old army trick of putting them in your sleeping bag.

If you need more dexterity and grip then winter dinghy gloves are good. You'll see them in any boat park through chilly weekends. But they aren't that warm; they are good dinghy sailing when (1) you are in a dry suit (2) you are always on the move.

That said, maintaining your core temperature is actually the best way to keep your fingers from going numb. Maybe another layer or two would help...and on a related topic, peel off those layers when working hard and replace them when static so your core isn't surrounded by clammy sweat.

Finally, regarding warm weather - that's easy to find fingerless or long-finger fake leather gloves at LDC, wetsuit warehouse or Amazon.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Tribord stuff is well thought of and reasonably priced especially in France. So these are probably worth a shot. Two year guarantee as well. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/offshor...FhxG0y1wvnYbbBS9vc4rbm6g8OvYZ3fBoCHJEQAvD_BwE

 

[thinwater]

The problem with gloves and boots is not just warm and waterproof, it's getting them dry!! I use a boot drier for both, some times in the summer and frequently, sometimes daily, in the winter.


Does anyone know of a 12v version, or one that is designed to use on board? Could also dry the insides of foulies. It would be nice if it took the dampness outside, but that's probably asking too much.

The 12v fan is easy. Computers. Heat is more difficult, but even without heat just getting air into the fingertips should help... but not so much if the air is cold and near saturation. The cabin would have to be well heated.