Stoney Cove - Wed 16 Jan

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by sailorbuoy

(2) Ebay special thinsulate booties.... not impressed... size small but still couldn't persuade them to get into my drysuit boots without great effort... feet were warm through.... you will see these soon on the adverts forum....

What sort of boots have you got on your drysuit.

I tried some DUI thinsulate booties on at the weekend and the first time I tried them and I am sure I tried for about 15mins I thought there was no way they would go into my turbosoles - So I gave up.

After being told not to be stupid (thanks Clare ) I had another go after diving when I was a little more relaxed and they went on just fine, no idea what was wrong the first time.

Try them again without the stress of a new bit of kit.

[sailorbuoy]

Originally Posted by ShinyD

I guess it depends on the physical makeup of the person using them and the type of drysuit

And Shiny does have considerably longer arms than I.....

R

[sailorbuoy]

I have "normal" rubber bootees..

Originally Posted by Fiona

Try them again without the stress of a new bit of kit.

Probably a good idea.... but they've gone now to be replaced by some loverly new Xerotherms artic ones....

[endoman]

Originally Posted by ShinyD

Sorry Bill, I have to disagree here - especially with your rather sweeping final sentence. I have the same gloves in 3mm and 5mm and they zip up just fine over the drysuit seal. I don't notice much water around my hand until 5-10 minutes into the dive.

I guess it depends on the physical makeup of the person using them and the type of drysuit, but mine are just fine and I wouldn't change them

Horses for courses and all that, but mine are far from useless.

I'd like to know if any one has got these to work with a membrane and latex seals?

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by endoman

I'd like to know if any one has got these to work with a membrane and latex seals?

I use them .... in fact having just worn out the thumb and finger I have bought a second pair. When I first bought them I had a Waterproof drysuit and they worked very well.

Then I got a membrane suit and the arms are a fraction too long so I have more material round the cuff than is ideal. Initially I asked my buddy to help do the gloves up for me but after a little perseverence I manage to do it myself now. The key is to pull the two ends together, with the thumb/forefinger then use the other fingers to pull the zip up

I notice sometimes they do come undone but it's not caused me a problem yet.

I think they are warmer and easier to don plus get reasonable flexibility over the other solutions I have tried.

I will go for dry gloves with zip seas but that's gonna need a suit alteration and I can't find the time to do that at the moment

HTH
Mal

[endoman]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I use them .... in fact having just worn out the thumb and finger I have bought a second pair. When I first bought them I had a Waterproof drysuit and they worked very well.

Then I got a membrane suit and the arms are a fraction too long so I have more material round the cuff than is ideal. Initially I asked my buddy to help do the gloves up for me but after a little perseverence I manage to do it myself now. The key is to pull the two ends together, with the thumb/forefinger then use the other fingers to pull the zip up

I notice sometimes they do come undone but it's not caused me a problem yet.

I think they are warmer and easier to don plus get reasonable flexibility over the other solutions I have tried.

I will go for dry gloves with zip seas but that's gonna need a suit alteration and I can't find the time to do that at the moment

HTH
Mal

I might give them another go then, I have no dexterity at all with the 5mm neoprenes, I supose it comes from working all day in very thin gloves and using touch as a major part of the job.

[sailorbuoy]

Originally Posted by fatlaz

I reccommend the ndiver 5mm stretch gloves. 5mm but with the dexterity of a 3mm glove, and warm to boot!!

HTH Ben.

And how right you are!!!!! Bought some, chopped the wrists down a bit and used then in't'sea on Sunday - perfect. Stretchy, easy to use and warm.

Job Done. Thank you

[yazzyfooty]

I have always disliked 5mm gloves due to the loss of dexterity so therefore used 2mm Northern Divers reef gloves and last winter I used 3mm ND stretchy gloves, but my dives were cut short to about 30/40 minutes due to cold hands. My buddy bought a pair of 5mm ND stretchy type but didnt like them so gave them to me. I have worn them on my last few dives and they are keeping my hands warm for dives of just under an hour in temps of 6 degrees and I am getting used to how they feel, but I will be so glad to get back to my 2mm in the summer.

[XeN]

I use RalfTech Power Gloves 2.5mm all year round - I have no idea what they do to make them so good but my hands are warm every dive.

As an experiment on my last dive at Stoney a couple of weeks ago I put 1 pair on top of the other, effectively making 5mm gloves.

I did not feel any water against my hands until about 20 minutes into the dive.

My one and only gripe about them is they do tend to wear out rather quickly (well for me at least).

I can't recommend them highly enough.

[sailorbuoy]

OK i've got hold of some snaps from the Stoney trip - what surprises me is that I seem to be quite head up - despite the rolling forward feeling - gives me a bit more confidence to have another go and try Mal's archy-back thingy...

Any other thoughts?