ChickenD!ken wrote: ↑Mon Nov 20, 2017 8:41 pm
jeromeL wrote: ↑Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:47 pm
ChickenD!ken wrote: ↑Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:26 pm
Nice. Completely agree with you, JeromeL that glove choice is tougher and matters more than your feet. Can’t really use 6mm on your hands anyways. I use ION’s 3/2 claw gloves and don’t feel fatigue either (presumably the pre-curve does a lot here?) but could do with more protection from the wind. Mittens do sound like the consensus choice. Anyone try open palm mittens with heavy windchill protection? I know ION does a pair but I’ve not tried them. Wondering how good they would hold up in January when the air temperature really plummets..
Just bought same glove you don't feel like the smooth skin on glove is slippery on the bar, maybe depends on bar? I have a best GP bar...
My only experiences with Best has been used gear (redline bar) that got me going a few years ago. So can’t say I’m knowledgable on Best bars of today. I wasn’t kiting in winter months then either. Too expensive to cover that much time on the water. You really need at least 5/4 with all the add-ons between Oct/Nov to Apr/May here.
The grip on the ION claw gloves is fine for me except for the lack of windchill. I don’t suffer the forearm fatigue, thankfully, but my fingers get pretty stiff these days I have to say. Or maybe November is just a bitch this year, I don’t know. I use a Sensor 2S now which is very light, EVA grip and the least friction I’ve gotten from any bar I’ve used. Mittens feel like they will be annoying with the lack of fine motor function, but it sounds like I need to give it a try. You said you tried all options, do you think there’s a considerable gain from using mittens over 3-fingers?
Everyone is different, I'm pretty good with cold hands, I'll rather be slightly cold in my 2 or 3mm than use 5mm, as long as I retain feeling I'm good. Last winter I was able to stay away from mittens except for one session and avoided freezing conditions. (Went of vacation last 2 weeks of jan) and skipped kiting in feb.
2 years ago I did a -5C / 25F session with 3 fingers glove and didn't keep my index warm, I lost total feeling and felt some burn so I went back in. So I replaced 3 finger with full mittens.
So yes if you are planning on doing some extreme cold session then go full mittens, if you just want some comfort and don't plan on going too extreme then 3 finger is probabaly way to go to keep a bit more dexterity to set your lines and such...
Anyway here is my cold session 2 years ago, it's fun to do once to test bottom end of gear but won't don't plan on doing it much, anyway usually where I'm at you can do it once in jan but after a few days water gets too cold and ice up, last year wasn't too bad, some people kited through the whole winter with full mittens.
https://youtu.be/uEQdy6KeVIQ