Winter is well and truly upon us! As the water temperature drops gloves are a must for cold water surfers. We all want to get the most enjoyment out of our surf sessions and stay warmer in the water for longer. There’s nothing worse than a freezing cold case of claw hand and ending a session early resembling something from dawn of the dead. If you find yourself in a near hypothermic condition after each surf its probably about time you treat yourself to some decent kit! Luckily for you, we get our fair share of icy waves here on the east coast and have it covered! We have the best range of brands here at Secret spot to help keep you stoked throughout the cold winter months.
Fits like a glove!
It’s important to pick the right glove or mitt for you and get the correct size. They need to ‘fit like a glove’ so to say. Try a few pairs on in store or at least check the brands size guide – if your’re buying them online from us, we are happy to exhange your gloves, so dont worry if your’re unsure! They want to be fairly tight. Gloves that are too big make paddling more difficult and defeat their purpose of warmth.
When it comes to choosing boots and gloves its not worth scrimping. You get what you pay for and you want a brand that uses good quality neoprene and has good seals, so blindstiched, liquid seals or taped, keeping them water tight. Nobody really likes having the extra weight of gloves so pick a trusted brand that delivers lightweight, flexible and durable gloves and do what they say on the tin!
Which thickness?
We have a selection or 3mm, 4mm and 7mm gloves and mitts to choose from. If it’s a lightweight Autumn/early winter glove to take the chill off, go for the 3mm but if you tend to feel the cold or your looking for something for the depths of winter go straight for the 5mm -7mm range. Quality thermal lining makes a big difference too! Fortunately, with the huge expansion of surf technology in the past decade our chosen brands have cracked it when it comes to warmth.
When it comes to choosing boots and gloves its not worth scrimping. You get what you pay for and you want a brand that uses good quality neoprene and has good seals, so blindstiched, liquid seals or taped, keeping them water tight”
Gloves or mitts? It’s a personal preference!
5 Finger glove With the five finger glove ever finger is individually wrapped in neoprene, with thick neoprene this can feel a bit bulky so the lighter 3mm glove may be a better option in this style. On the upside you have a lot more freedom of movement and grip with these gloves.
Mitts Mitts are renowned for being super toasty. All your fingers are tucked up cosily together. Retaining more of your body heat. I would bring out the mitts on those frosty days every time. Obviously with all your fingers wrapped up together it limits freedom of movement. You can’t pick your nose in mitts! But many say that mitts aid a more powerful paddle stroke which Sounds good to me!
Lobster claw The 3-finger mitt could be the perfect balance between mitts and gloves for you! You could argue ‘what’s the point in having one separate potentially chilly finger?’ but it gives you a wider range of movement and grip. Which can make all the difference for simple tasks like locking the car or putting your leash on.
3mm Alder Enzo Glove – £25.99
We love these gloves! They’re super lightweight and comfortable with cosy fast drying fibre fleece lining. If you want stretch and flexibility you will not be disappointed! They feel like a second skin, yet the double lined palms are both durable and grippy. Our best budget buy at only £25.99!
3/2mm RipCurl Flashbomb – £39.95
You can’t go wrong with the new improved flashbomb neoprene. Which makes them incredibly warm and comfortable. They are 3mm throughout the whole glove and only 2mm on the cuffs making them feel lightweight. The have excellent seams and really stick to your hands. Another blinder by RipCurl!
4mm Alder Spirit fast dry mitt – £26.95
The plasmas one of the most popular and mot talked about mitts here on the east coast! This mitt is our top pick of the year yet again and not without good reason. It’s a great budget buy yet holds up against high end contenders Its fast-drying lining makes that second surf of the day more appealing. They’re extremely popular with our local cold-water rippers and are already flying off the shelves!
5mm Xcel infinity 3 finger mitt – £47.95
Excel are certainly experts when it comes to warmth! Their mitt features 100% ultrastretch neoprene with a tighter weave for less water absorption and durability. The have premium quick dry lining and are certainly popular amongst our locals! They’re a snug and comfortable fit with long cuffs keeping them in place and are Taitex sealed, glued and blindstiched, keeping them water tight. Xcel are one of the most trusted brands on the market for durability and warmth. They tick all the boxes for us!
5mm Oneill Psycho tech mitt – £39.95
We love Oneill’s new technobutter neoprene! Its soft on the skin, windproof and incredibly lightweight. The fluid seam welds are durable and comfortable. These are one of the best fitting mitts we’ve tried to date. With oneill’s firewall lining and extra grip on the palms they get top marks from us!
Patagonia R3® Yulex® gloves – £55
These gloves are designed to keep you comfortable in the winter cold. Made with neoprene free 85% Yulex®?natural rubber/ 15% synthetic rubber the meet the rigorous standards for performance, durability, warmth and sustainability. An all round excellent glove! Patagonia promise any damage due to wear and tear with their wetsuit warranty. We think they’re the bee’s knees and love what Patagonia are doing!
Xcel 7mm drylock mitts – £64.95
Guaranteed to keep your precious paddle hands toasty all winter! Xcel have gone above and beyond with this years drylock range. This is the super hero of mitts! The 7mm mitts now feature Celliant technology, which reverts your body heat back to your hands, keeping you on top form in the water. The drylock wrist seals lock water out. They have an awesome contoured 3D fitting design as well as being wind proof and incredibly durable. A must have for surfers in freezing cold temperatures.
We hope this guide has helped you guys choose which is the right glove for you this season! Remember, you are always welcome to head to either of our stores for a chat and some advice – or give us a call on 01723 585585. We are a surf shop run by surfers and are always happy to share our knowledge with you 🙂
