Water and air temps are on the cool to cold side half of our 4-5 month season. About a month where my old hands do not tolerate the cold anymore. 13C air temp is the limits for my hands. The spray and windchill is an issue. Spring it is also the 10C and colder water. Tried a set of NP 3mm gloves. Did not like them. Next on the list. Open palm mitts. The option of flipping the covers off without having to dink around removing them is a plus. Looking at Yak Kayak and Ion 2.5s. Any experiences and opinions?

With the open palm mittens there is a pocket for the finger tips were cold water tends to collect. It is fine on large sails and boards when one is always out of the water, but not on wave gear. It works at around 10?C (for me in waves) but below that it doesn't really work, as the finger tips get too cold each time your hands dip into water.

The best option I've found is to get finger gloves and then cut them open (with a pair of scissors) in the palm to suit you choice. This gives a better protection of the fingers as each finger is still surrounded by neoprene, and are not as exposed to the cold water when sailing in waves. This works for me down to around 2?C air-temperature, I rarely go out in temps below that these days.

It is also important that the main body is kept really warm, as once the body gets cold then the blood flow to the extremities is reduced and the fingers will quickly get cold.

Open palm mittens help with wind chill but not really otherwise. In flat water blasting however wind plays significant part in temperature equation. I've managed with Prolimit Open palm mittens Xtreme until 2c in 20kts. Some people wear thin latex gloves of dish gloves under for extra warmth but I've never bothered.

I use ION open palm mitts during the winter in the UK. I don't actually put my fingers tips into the slots, I just let them sit loosely on the back of my hand (if you get what I mean). It massively cuts down on windchill when blasting, and I can put my fingers in quickly when I'm stationary for a quick warm up.

I cut the palm out of some xcel 3mm gloves as I couldn't use them for more than a few minutes before my forearms died and it's working great. Been our in 6degree air temp and 8degree water aNd it's fine as long as I don't spend to much time swimming

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mark62 said..
I use ION open palm mitts during the winter in the UK. I don't actually put my fingers tips into the slots, I just let them sit loosely on the back of my hand (if you get what I mean). It massively cuts down on windchill when blasting, and I can put my fingers in quickly when I'm stationary for a quick warm up.

Same for me - seems to work fine for me unless air temp is really low (< 5 C)

Work on body warmth then fingers will resist better. I did have two pairs; one open one and one fully closed for hardcore sessions!

The grip on the palms will wear down that's when you can cut and buy another pair to stay closed :)

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WaveMuppet said..

mark62 said..
I use ION open palm mitts during the winter in the UK. I don't actually put my fingers tips into the slots, I just let them sit loosely on the back of my hand (if you get what I mean). It massively cuts down on windchill when blasting, and I can put my fingers in quickly when I'm stationary for a quick warm up.

Same for me - seems to work fine for me unless air temp is really low (< 5 C)

1+

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mark62 said..
I use ION open palm mitts during the winter in the UK. I don't actually put my fingers tips into the slots, I just let them sit loosely on the back of my hand (if you get what I mean). It massively cuts down on windchill when blasting, and I can put my fingers in quickly when I'm stationary for a quick warm up.

Having exactly same practice. Thumbs in, other fingers out 90% of time. Few additional tips: 1) Having mitten wrist straps very loose helps with grip exhaustion 2) Good harness technique allows freedom to actively move fingers while blasting. That helps keep them warmer vs. tightly griping.

Same comments from me re open palm glove as above. Fingers and thumbs out of the slots usually and having the top of the hands covered makes a big difference. If really cold, fingers in.

I also second the comment about keeping the body warm. Got a drysuit a couple of years ago and it helped with the hands.

What hasn't been said (and I assume experienced cold weather sailors know) is regardless of hand coverings, go for a couple of runs then come back in and warm the hands. Maybe a couple of times. Once the circulation is up, it helps alot. If you wait too long, the process is increasingly painful and slow. Of course, this has its limits.

Now here's something new (to me). Citrus fruit. Heard about this last summer in a nutrition podcast. I'm just heading into the colder part of my (year round) season so yet to put it to the test. So pack an orange to eat before you're next cold session and see if it helps.

It's meteorological spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Astrological Spring begins on March 21st up here. More blue water visible. Couple weeks ago ice out to the horizon. Started thinking about trying out a set of open palm mittens again. The Ion 2.5s are still out of stock at the shops I purchase gear from. The February deliveries never showed. Now scheduled for May. Maybe. More supply chain issues. Ended up placing order for the Mystic version. Anyone with opinions about the Mystic Star 3mm Open Palms?

Hope is they will reduce the windchill, cold spray issue of discomfort/pain. The heavier suit is plenty warm for 10C water and air temps. Hands die before the feet or body chill. Too many years of cold days road, mtn bike and nordic ski racing have done the damage. Hot core, hot feet, but fingers that look like a cadaver's . Then the defrost pain when the blood starts flowing.

I went to the local workman shop got some 3mm neoprene gloves and then cut them up with scissors and Stanley knife. Trick was to buy a size smaller then I would normally wear. Water temp is 12c and air temp can get down to 2c. Only issue I have is during my season I have to readjust my gloves as sometimes they come off my fingers. The left hand attempt stays on longer but I the neoprene is a little bit inflexible. Ideally I would want the right hand side glove but with the left hand side cuts.
Also left hand glove is easier to take off which is good when trying to get the extention off the mast base.

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OldGuy3 said..
It's meteorological spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Astrological Spring begins on March 21st up here. More blue water visible. Couple weeks ago ice out to the horizon. Started thinking about trying out a set of open palm mittens again. The Ion 2.5s are still out of stock at the shops I purchase gear from. The February deliveries never showed. Now scheduled for May. Maybe. More supply chain issues. Ended up placing order for the Mystic version. Anyone with opinions about the Mystic Star 3mm Open Palms?

Hope is they will reduce the windchill, cold spray issue of discomfort/pain. The heavier suit is plenty warm for 10C water and air temps. Hands die before the feet or body chill. Too many years of cold days road, mtn bike and nordic ski racing have done the damage. Hot core, hot feet, but fingers that look like a cadaver's . Then the defrost pain when the blood starts flowing.

I sail in the UK all year and have the Mystic Star 3m which I love. One reason of choosing this was the availability of different sizes. It's a perfect fit, tight enough but not too tight. For as long as the sailing is enough of a workout I can stay out for hours.

Whatever mitts you choose definitely put some washing up gloves under them, world of difference with almost no penalty.

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Grantmac said..
Whatever mitts you choose definitely put some washing up gloves under them, world of difference with almost no penalty.

That sound like a dam good idea. Have to remember that for the next winter season.

the NRS Maverick 2 mm gloves are nice, do not let water in, but wrists gets tired after an hour from having to bend the fingers, but that was first time I used them and only time this year, short winter. Palms and fingers have a textured coating on top of the neoprene, feels durable, if I did see wear would coat with Seam Seal, that stuff is really durable.

The Neil Pryde 3 mm Armor Skin gloves are popular here in N.E. USA. Seem to minimize arm fatigue.
www.neilpryde.com/products/armor-skin-glove-3mm-w9ha0f415

Haven't tried cutting out the palms yet.

The only "closed" gloves that has worked for me (in Sweden) are the DaKine cold water mittens. They are thin enough in the palm to avoid cramps, while still being warm enough even at freezing temperatures. I've had to cut them open around the wrist though, they were to tight for me there (got cramp). I have used them down to about -3C and that still work fine. The boom gets all covered in ice though at these temperatures...

I actually use the 5 finger Sea Soft Ty Pro 3mm gloves. They are very warm, flexible and comfortable. The 5mm ones are too stiff, but the 3mm are perfect.

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Sandman1221 said..
the NRS Maverick 2 mm gloves are nice, do not let water in, but wrists gets tired after an hour from having to bend the fingers, but that was first time I used them and only time this year, short winter. Palms and fingers have a textured coating on top of the neoprene, feels durable, if I did see wear would coat with Seam Seal, that stuff is really durable.

The thing about these gloves is they are 100% rubber coated neoprene, that eliminates evaporative cooling, which is the main concern when out of the water. Looks like I will be using them again, the need to bend the fingers to grip the boom means my wrist muscles get tired, and it feels like an ache on the underside of my wrist just below the palm, but that took an hour to happen the first time I wore them, regular use should eliminate that problem. And unless the fingers of a glove are pre-curved to the diameter of a boom, any neoprene glove is going to initially cause fatigue.

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That's another reason why I love these gloves because they are pre curved. My hands and wrist are never tired out.

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Henners said..
I went to the local workman shop got some 3mm neoprene gloves and then cut them up with scissors and Stanley knife. Trick was to buy a size smaller then I would normally wear. Water temp is 12c and air temp can get down to 2c. Only issue I have is during my season I have to readjust my gloves as sometimes they come off my fingers. The left hand attempt stays on longer but I the neoprene is a little bit inflexible. Ideally I would want the right hand side glove but with the left hand side cuts.
Also left hand glove is easier to take off which is good when trying to get the extention off the mast base.

Thanks, might try this before investing in the ION ones.
btw do you have two left hands ?

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mark62 said..
I use ION open palm mitts during the winter in the UK. I don't actually put my fingers tips into the slots, I just let them sit loosely on the back of my hand (if you get what I mean). It massively cuts down on windchill when blasting, and I can put my fingers in quickly when I'm stationary for a quick warm up.

Yep. These have my vote. Use them the same way

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mark62 said..
I use ION open palm mitts during the winter in the UK. I don't actually put my fingers tips into the slots, I just let them sit loosely on the back of my hand (if you get what I mean). It massively cuts down on windchill when blasting, and I can put my fingers in quickly when I'm stationary for a quick warm up.

ION open palm mitts are awesome! Another option is Mystique open palm mitts.
And finally, if you really into winter sailing at frigid temperatures, the solution is an Ianovated wetsuit with hand warming system. The design is genius. During my last sesh I sailed for 2 hours at +3C and my fingers were not cold at all. Ian Smith, the designer, is a really nice guy to communicate with.
ianovated.co.uk/

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Ben1973 said..
I cut the palm out of some xcel 3mm gloves as I couldn't use them for more than a few minutes before my forearms died and it's working great. Been our in 6degree air temp and 8degree water aNd it's fine as long as I don't spend to much time swimming

When in the past I used gloves for cold season windsurfing I usually started using them before even the glove season started so I could take them off any time. It helped to train myself and get prepared for the glove season. It is not even training the forearms but controlling the squeeze on the boom. In the gloves there is no feedback and we feel like loosing the grip and squeeze more, then more, and more. This is a downhill chain reaction. In 15 min the forearms are gone. So, the control is more important than the forearm strength. Now, I do not use gloves anymore but open palm mitts which work much better.

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UglyBird said..

Ben1973 said..
I cut the palm out of some xcel 3mm gloves as I couldn't use them for more than a few minutes before my forearms died and it's working great. Been our in 6degree air temp and 8degree water aNd it's fine as long as I don't spend to much time swimming

When in the past I used gloves for cold season windsurfing I usually started using them before even the glove season started so I could take them off any time. It helped to train myself and get prepared for the glove season. It is not even training the forearms but controlling the squeeze on the boom. In the gloves there is no feedback and we feel like loosing the grip and squeeze more, then more, and more. This is a downhill chain reaction. In 15 min the forearms are gone. So, the control is more important than the forearm strength. Now, I do not use gloves anymore but open palm mitts which work much better.

Interesting UglyBird thanks, will try your technique for fingered gloves soon.

Dish washing gloves are definitely worth a try.

Only used the open Palm mitts twice. Relative to gloves tried. Like them. Reduced the usual pain and discomfort from cold air windchill significantly. Also, the discomfort from the cold water spray. keep the thumb always on. Easy to flip off and on the finger cover if needing the feel of bare hands. Bit useless for warmth if submersed in the cold water. Fingers do have a chance to warm up vs. just get colder and numb.

Let me spill my two cents in some badly-structured fashion...

I only have ION Claw Gloves. They are awesome but I find I sail like 3 times better without them LOL doing bump-jump/waves as I like sailing very actively working/moving the sail all the time.
Open palm mittens I never tried :( but I did cut fingers on the palm side in some old 1mm gloves long time ago... it helped but they got much colder. Claw Gloves are pretty expensive plus I use them for spearfishing so no cutting anything out..

Claw gloves are prebend but I wish they pre-bent them more so it would be tough to un-fist the fingers. Maybe I need to take them to the gym and put them on when doing any back/front cable pull exercises to get used to the wider grip.

So my perceptions are these:

1. I sail much less in winter so not used to sailing in gloves. Generally hate sailing in them
2. I guess any glove creates/adds to the diameter of the boom and tires forearm/wrist muscles much quicker. I'm not a rock climber
3. Maybe using a bit shorter harness lines with gloves may help also building muscles trying wider grip exercises in the gym may help

Actually will try wearing them in the gym and see what happens.
I also noticed the effect of being generally warmer last time I sailed in +6C air and +6C water without gloves in hooded ION seek select wetsuit. Somehow my fingers weren't cold which I found surprising... I bet if I sail in say +2C, it will be a different story..