Re: Cold Water Gloves

[Thefish1971]

Hey guys,
Have been a little bit busy finishing up school, but was able to get about five dives in this past weekend at Mermet. First time there, really cool place. My brother lives in Boston, so Im thinking about doing some diving up there my next visit. He told me the water temp is in the high 40s so I guess if I can handle Mermet, I could handle the diving in Boston. I was wearing a 7mm wet suit and was pretty good, except for my hands. Went down to the 85 ft training platform, saw the railroad car, ambulance, plane ect, by the time I surfaced my fingers were numb. Had to have my buddy help me off with my fins. Any thoughts on a good pair of gloves. This was my first time here, and I really enjoyed it, want to return, just need a good pair of gloves. Thanks for the help.
Rob

[theskull]

Henderson Duratex Dry Glove, 5 mm--not REALLY a dry glove, but a thick neoprene glove with a wrist seal so it is almost dry. Excellent glove, can also put a little warm water in it before you don it for better performance.

DUI Dry 5 Wrist Seal Gloves--REALLY a dry glove, with its own wrist seal so it can be worn with a wet or dry suit. Add a lightweight liner and your hands will be warm AND dry.

I haven't seen anything other than these 2 options that will keep your hands comfy for extended dives in 40 F water. OTOH, as long as you have some dexterity and strength, there is nothing wrong with numb fingers, at least they don't hurt!

theskull

[MgicTwnger]

Assuming you're using wet gloves, look for a 5mm with a long gauntlet and a velcro strap. The idea is to minimize water circulation. Pouring in warm water just before the dive dosn't hurt, either.

[kent_1848]

Henderson Duratex Dry Glove, 5 mm--not REALLY a dry glove, but a thick neoprene glove with a wrist seal so it is almost dry. Excellent glove, can also put a little warm water in it before you don it for better performance.

theskull
I just bought these gloves, I'm glad to hear a good review. I posted this on Scuba Board, and didn't get any response before I purchased them. They seem to be a pain to don, any suggestions on how to make them easier? I bought these b/c when I did my deep dive specialty at Beaver Lake I couldn't feel my fingers afterwards.

[DeepDiverBob]

I have found any water at all in the gloves helps them slide on better(except dry gloves, of course). I have ripped every pair of gloves I have ever owned trying to put them on dry.

[MgicTwnger]

I just bought these gloves, I'm glad to hear a good review. I posted this on Scuba Board, and didn't get any response before I purchased them. They seem to be a pain to don, any suggestions on how to make them easier? I bought these b/c when I did my deep dive specialty at Beaver Lake I couldn't feel my fingers afterwards.
Mix up some suit snot: 1/2 cheap hair conditioner, 1/2 water. Works great for wetsuits, too.

[kent_1848]

I've heard of using an old bottle with very little dish soap left in it and filled with water, but was hoping for something better than something called "suit snot"...that sounds so nasty! If you hadn't called it that, I could probably give it a try, but now I'm not so sure :) I just need this for my gloves, as I wear rash guards and my suit slips right on over those.

[DeepDiverBob]

my LDS has something called Suit Juice. I have no idea what is in it.

[steve2281]

Deep See (not misspelled) 5mm Titanium is a pretty nice wet glove. $21.95 from Leisure Pro makes it the best deal I have found. Excellent velcro strap system allows you to get them tight even if you have small wrists.

[theskull]

I just bought these gloves, I'm glad to hear a good review. I posted this on Scuba Board, and didn't get any response before I purchased them. They seem to be a pain to don, any suggestions on how to make them easier? I bought these b/c when I did my deep dive specialty at Beaver Lake I couldn't feel my fingers afterwards.

They are difficult to don. Since the wrist seal is a dry-suit type seal, you can either spray them with some diluted baby shampoo or powder them with some unscented talcum powder to make them easier to slide on. You could also use a little liquid silicone spray, although this is a no-no around a drysuit since it can make the next wrist seal replacement an ugly task.

theskull

[Atlaua]

They are difficult to don. Since the wrist seal is a dry-suit type seal, you can either spray them with some diluted baby shampoo or powder them with some unscented talcum powder to make them easier to slide on. You could also use a little liquid silicone spray, although this is a no-no around a drysuit since it can make the next wrist seal replacement an ugly task.

theskull

I don't know anything about how either product effects latex, but I do know from my triathalon days that we liked two really well. In a triathalon, you don't really care how long it takes to get into a wetsuit, but you want to get out really really fast.

Some people used body glide. The more experienced use PAM because it's a heck of a lot easier to just spray yourself down than to use a stick.

Neither are silicone or petrolium based and both are very safe for neoprene. But I have no clue on latex.

Talc works great for latex, but if you plan to fill the gloves with water, forget it, you'll just have paste. Don't use baby powder, the smell good things are definatly bad for latex. Plus baby powder is really 99.9% corn starch. Again, I don't know if pure corn starch is ok for latex, but if it is, it would be the cheapest and easiest to get of the dry methods...

James

[MgicTwnger]

I've heard of using an old bottle with very little dish soap left in it and filled with water, but was hoping for something better than something called "suit snot"...that sounds so nasty! If you hadn't called it that, I could probably give it a try, but now I'm not so sure :) I just need this for my gloves, as I wear rash guards and my suit slips right on over those.
I've tried most of the methods mentioned in this thread and suit snot works as well as or better than any of them. Call it anything you want. How about "Miss Manners' E-Z-Glide Wetsuit Lubricant and Conditioning Solution"?:0903:
And what are "rash guards"?

[recman21]

I've tried most of the methods mentioned in this thread and suit snot works as well as or better than any of them. Call it anything you want. How about "Miss Manners' E-Z-Glide Wetsuit Lubricant and Conditioning Solution"?:0903:
And what are "rash guards"?

They guard you against getting a rash..........:eek:

Just kidding! 50% baby Shampoo + 50% water is whats in my bottle. I have some 5mm Parkway gloves, long cuffs and with Shark-Skin In and a velcro strap. Very warm including fingertips which my old gloves always let get cold.


steve

[kent_1848]

And what are "rash guards"?
5oz "skins" that keep you from getting a rash. If you've ever had one, you would think these were the greatest invention ever. Same concept as a thin pair of socks under your regular socks will keep you from getting blisters. Really helpful under board shorts, and they help you slide right into your wet suit.