Glove recommendations

[ChrisJHC]

I find that I only use gloves when racing. Short-fingered mostly.
When cruising, I’ll occasionally use them for warmth and take them off when I need to do something manual.

[JPA Cate]

I don't wear gloves any more. They tend to get salty and forever moist., and if it is cold, then they leech out any warmth in your hands. In my simplistic view, I'd rather grow calluses...which, unfortunately do the same, freeze your hand.

Biologically, one's hands and feet are supposed to release heat, so your interior doesn't overheat, but by golly, cold hands and feet can make me bloody miserable!

Ann

PS. I use a hot mug of water to warm my hands on watches.

[George_SD]

Fingerless
Velcro strap on the wrist
Not leather, but some synthetic variant
Padding on the palm with good heat insulation (in case line is going quickly through the glove.)

I get mine from HomeDepot - inexpensive, work well.

[Bobby Lex]

Originally Posted by thinwater

I started testing a selelction of gloves just after I posted on this thread 3 years ago. My opinions changed a bit.


(amended from my last post)



Warm Weather

• Gill Pro or Championship, 3-finger. The Pro is a bit stiffer but protects more and lasts longer. Backing is softshell, so they are almost 3-season. Total redesign just 2 years ago, so old reviews are wrong. Love these.
• Ronstan Sticky Race, 3-finger finger (means thumb and index are free).
• Harken Black Magic 3-finger.

Cool weather (40-50F)

• Musto Pro. Nope, did not wear well and stayed stiff.
• Gill 3-season. Nope, not much warmer than the Gill Pro.
• Heat packs can help. Yes.
• Mountain Hardware Gravity Gloves. Windblocker fleece with high quality leather palm. But they don't make them anymore.

Cold (<40F)

• Gill Helmsman. A total redesign, you can actually sail with these now! Very warm, waterproof, and more dexterous than any insulated ski glove.
• Ski gloves. Have to take them off to do anything, so take something else too. Only for guests.
• Various coated gloves for very wet. I like insulated double coated Hyroflectors for the kayak, better than any kayak glove.

+1.

The point is: when considering what kind of glove you want/need you have to know what is your purpose? A work glove is best suited for hand-hauling a muddy anchor chain, but not for trimming sheets. Fingerless, leather-palm gloves are great for trimming sheets, but won't keep your hands warm in cold weather. And so on and so forth.

Depending on what sailing conditions you expect to encounter and the type of sailing you do, you probably need more than one type of glove in your arsenal.

Bob

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

I don't wear gloves any more. They tend to get salty and forever moist., and if it is cold, then they leech out any warmth in your hands. In my simplistic view, I'd rather grow calluses...which, unfortunately do the same, freeze your hand.

Biologically, one's hands and feet are supposed to release heat, so your interior doesn't overheat, but by golly, cold hands and feet can make me bloody miserable!

Ann

PS. I use a hot mug of water to warm my hands on watches.

This is a lot of what I like about the new Gill gloves:

• Synthetic (don't stay wet)
• Soft shell back (wind proof--the 3-finger version is somewhat warm)

In my cases it's not calluses, it is the pressure on tendons. Perhaps some of this has to do with a lot of rock climbing.


In fact, a common contractors cure for cold hands when they must work with bare hands, is to over dress a bit. Carharts. Then the heat goes out the hands. Or the Maine figure of speech, "If your hands are cold, put on a hat."

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Bobby Lex

+1.

The point is: when considering what kind of glove you want/need you have to know what is your purpose? A work glove is best suited for hand-hauling a muddy anchor chain, but not for trimming sheets. Fingerless, leather-palm gloves are great for trimming sheets, but won't keep your hands warm in cold weather. And so on and so forth.

Depending on what sailing conditions you expect to encounter and the type of sailing you do, you probably need more than one type of glove in your arsenal.

Bob

^^ Yup, always several pairs at hand, each for a purpose.


I've also always felt that people who say they can't work in gloves have not learned to. In chemical plants and refineries you work with gloves. Ice climbers wear gloves all day or they lose fingers, including tying knots and clipping ropes. It is a matter of type, fit, and practice.


Some people are hooked on going barefoot. Go figure.

[hpeer]

For cold weather gloves I buy what the fishermen wear.
Rubber coated, long gauntlet, insulated.