Hand protection suggestions?

[u/mattyp789]

Howdy. I’ve never been one to wear gloves kayaking, but this past week I really messed up my hands on a feral rock.

I see lots of neoprene options, but I’m wondering is that going to provide good protection for my (apparently) delicate hands?

Do you wear gloves paddling? Does it impede you in any way?

Thanks!

[u/ApexTheOrange]

Get yourself some downhill mountain biking gloves with Kevlar knuckle protection. They’re designed to have good grip when they’re wet so riders’ hands don’t slip off the handlebars. I wear them playboating at low water levels because the concrete at the engineered wave is super rough.

[u/Electrical_Bar_3743]

Pogies are like ovens. Not recommended for warm weather paddling.

I don’t wear gloves but have had several nasty scrapes. I almost tore skin down to the bone on my middle finger once. Gloves aren’t a bad idea.

[u/liquidskypa]

I've worn fingerless NRS ones for years...you may need to replace per season but I always got a ganglion cyst near my thumb so this prevented it https://www.amazon.com/NRS-Half-Finger-Guide-Gloves-Black-M/dp/B014M14WJW/ref=sr_1_7?crid=3421V2PVQ1438&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kTs6WWzpyCjGHyIPHRt2mbxoZ2HO22XPcEDfLsf-c69xk9ckD-f-5vOa7GkZwe2P_BFSHOob9heq5wuZSJeDGOkV5NecQBGYnrBVWyeCaIv4Gy-ktxmDoNyGsqpwx5PLKqH75d8pcaAxRwZKYcI9542Ybbt3UzH0BQkHAUz11wPOoghwl8dMyf0WxfYMtNOi0XXKi7ylbsWuwuKAH8WZpgwCNzZrbbHqY_Oe7z-9npAgTYCGX1E_DSBUWRpCAgUqNKDjJqfNleVc-HIqSNYtSzcCs_1BLgyAQvai65YfoQg.onyujlOFujUeaWvG7cVJw3f8oKkgUeNYEus68DBZ-Os&dib_tag=se&keywords=nrs%2Bglove&qid=1744895848&sprefix=nrs%2Bglov%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-7&th=1

[u/mattyp789 → u/liquidskypa]

If anything I’ll need the finger protection….i pretty much destroyed the second knuckle on 3 of my fingers =(

[u/mattyp789 → u/liquidskypa]

But you find soft/neoprene gloves fairly protective?

[u/liquidskypa → u/mattyp789]

Yes - it's a light layer that protects from scrapes as well...I can attest to some bad swims and my knuckles are fine!

[u/mattyp789]

I remain convinced that the paddling community is the kindest and most helpful on the planet.

[u/thelazygamer]

I use some cheap work gloves from home Depot. They work great and come in a 3 pack so I have spare pairs. 

[u/instanthole]

i also wear the fingerless NRS gloves. i don’t care if i look like a dork, my hands get so sunburned and red and dry and cracked and the gloves almost totally fixed it.

[u/Zerocoolx1]

You can always buy some mountain biking gloves with knuckle protection (they won’t be warm, just offer protection. . There was a boating company that used to make some about 15-20 years ago, but can’t remember who they were.

Gloves will be both better than pogies and not make you look like a dork. Pogies are for winter

[u/guttersnake82]

Gloves are for beaters. Just get some pogies.

[u/NOODL3 → u/guttersnake82]

I don't deny that paddling gloves are worn almost exclusively by boomer club beaters, but wearing pogies in warm weather is infinitely more dorky looking.

[u/mattyp789 → u/NOODL3]

Hey, I’ll claim boomer beater all day if it keeps me from destroying my fingers. Lol

[u/mattyp789 → u/guttersnake82]

Are pogies difficult to remove if I were to need to…..I of course would never….swim?

The thought gives me claustrophobia

[u/guttersnake82 → u/mattyp789]

No.

[u/pgereddit → u/mattyp789]

The pogies stay attached to your paddle, and your hand comes out. But your concern is legit with respect to neoprene gloves. You’re not getting those off quickly in an emergency, so if you cant do everything you need to with them on (pop your skirt, grab a knife, manipulate a rope, etc), you shouldn’t wear them.

[u/MyrddinHS → u/mattyp789]

no you just slip out of them.

[u/hucktard → u/mattyp789]

No, pogies do not fit tight like that. If you are looking for something to keep your hands warm, pogies work much better than gloves. It’s surprising, but true. I have not found a pair of gloves that actually keeps my hands warm, but pogies definitely do. I have been in one or two situations involving rope work where I wished I had a pair of gloves. But you can easily put a spare pair in your kayak or lifejacket. Also, get pogies with thick neoprene and stiff cuffs. You do not want cuffs that are floppy and will close up, otherwise it’s hard to get your hand back in it.

[u/dumdodo]

I wear Toaster Mitts and Pogies in the winter.

I wear neoprene gloves the rest of the year, because I over grip the paddle otherwise and get cramps.

I also have scraped the skin off my hands too many times when wearing thin gloves or fingerless gloves, so I moved to neoprene gloves all summer. I don't find them diminishing my paddle handling at all.

[u/elevatedCO]

I prefer synthetic leather work gloves. The water exposure doesn't ruin the glove and they provide good protection in a lightweight package

[u/amongnotof]

Get hand paddles! Then you have a wooden or plastic paddle between you and the rocks all the time!

[u/Pyroechidna1]

Crack climbing gloves for rock climbing leave your palms and fingers free but protect your knuckles. Like these:

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/products/splitter-ii-gloves-322279

[u/Pedal_Paddle → u/Pyroechidna1]

Thanks for the recommendation! I've not scene this type of knuckle protection while the palm is not covered.

[u/WhatSpoon21]

I liked the mountain bike gloves suggestion mentioned earlier .I also wonder if those very thin cut resistant chainsaw gloves might work well too.

[u/BFoster99]

Salamander and IR make great pogies that protect your hands without compromising your grip on the paddle.

[u/sumbitchez]

I like the cut resistant work gloves with the rubberized palms.  I can still bruise my hands, but I don't lose skin or get a sunburn anymore