So I'm pretty tired of freezing my fingers off and still looking for a solution. "Winter" gloves don't help. I even did DIY heated grips. But they only help in touring and in the city i have to hold my fingers on brakes and clutch as I'm lane splitting most of the time. So the wind quickly cools off my fingers and the grips.
So i heard that people in extreme colds use diving clothing and i thought maybe i could use diving gloves for riding. I have seen some "Cold water 5mm neoprene gloves" and wandered if i could use them for riding.
Now the pro's i see:
Possibly warmer
Cons:
Lack of crash protection
Sweat not evaporating ( but i doubt i sweat at all at freezing temperatures );
I have also crazy idea of cutting the fingers off the diving glove and after putting them on, put a normal motorcycle glove on top.
So anyone tried something similar? Or have any ideas? Please post. Thank you.
If you do, I'd consider them only as liners. Get some (the 5mm type) and then go see what size gloves fit best with those on. I would absolutely not use them as a sole riding glove.
See what happens when you crash with mesh gloves:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20659.0
If I will get new gloves which will fit over neoprene gloves, they will be unusable without each other, because of the size of the "liner". 5 mm is a lot. That's why i think to use only fingers, so i can maybe keep my old leather gloves, which are ok apart from freezing my fingers.
Quote from: domas on January 25, 2007, 12:59:59 AM
If I will get new gloves which will fit over neoprene gloves, they will be unusable without each other, because of the size of the "liner". 5 mm is a lot. That's why i think to use only fingers, so i can maybe keep my old leather gloves, which are ok apart from freezing my fingers.
The fingers on your leather gloves shouldn't have enough room for 5mm neoprene, especially on 2 sides. If you cut the fingers off, then your fingers are still going to get cold (they are the first thing to get cold, after all).
You might want to make the investment into heated gloves then. I think there is a DIY version floating around the web somewhere.
Neoprene gloves rock, Ive got a set of tactical gloves made out of it. they sell the neoprene liners on any military base as well. They also use them for flight crews it gets cold up in the sky. I would say go ahead and buy a set of winter gloves that fit over the liners and just use them for winter.
or like what was said above me invest in heated gloves.
what about a set of handguards? they would block the cold wind thats whistlin thru your fingers
Quote from: jordanearl on January 25, 2007, 05:15:04 AM
what about a set of handguards? they would block the cold wind thats whistlin thru your fingers
They help, but my fingers still get pretty cold even with them on.
For abrasion and some good amount of impact, but not quite in the same class as metal plates try fish scaling gloves over the neoprene. Fish scaling supposedly tears up your hands. The cords on those gloves are pure kevlar. Totally rip and abrasion resistant, but they let in air like a fish net ... so neoprene under it is the key ...
Cool.
Srinath.
I wouldn't recommend 5mm diving gloves. The neoprene won't give you any crash protection, and the gloves will really cut down on your hand and finger mobility. You'll be really, really clumsy wearing them, to the point where I doubt you'd be able to easily use the turn signals. Also, because they hardly breathe at all, I imagine you're finger will sweat pretty badly after a while. A pair of thin, tropical diving gloves might make a decent liner, though. Not sure.
(They're great in the Puget Sound, though. :icon_mrgreen: )
How long are you riding in the cold?
How cold is cold?
If you combo some nice winter gloves and Heated Grips and your fingers are still frozen... :o
The best combo you're going to get for your hands alone is:
Heated grips (or gloves)
Hard Guards (to keep some of the cold wind off your hands)
Good Winter Gloves (I like my Cold-Front Carbons for about 30 min in 35° weather... Scratch wears 'em with silk glove liners too)
There are tons of other threads about the Cold Front gloves... Just search on 'Cold Front Carbon'
They're not that expensive and they work pretty well (And yes, they break in and pack some... )
THEN... There are several threads on installing hand-guards on the GS.
One more thought... Maybe the rest of your body isn't warm enough... If your torso gets cold, the rest of your body (starting at your fingers and toes) will be WAAAY colder.
Try out a heated vest.... :dunno_white:
I don't ride for a very long time, I'm just a quick freezer. :dunno_white: .
Alpha why do you think that i would still freeze my fingers if I use only neoprene finger inserts? My gloves are generally ok for winter riding just they leak heat in the very fingertips. I could use smaller thickness gloves then maybe 2-3 mm.
Srinath where could i look for that fish scale of gloves? Fishing equipment store?
We don't have any military bases around but we have a military equipment shop with uniforms tents ans similar stuff. I will ask there for neoprene liners.
I thought about the hand guards too but somehow i still have a feeling they won't be my salvation.
I doubt we get the Cold Front Carbon gloves here in Europe but i will check for alternatives.
I left wiring myself in electricity wires as a last resort if nothing else helps.
Thanks for all the replies guys. You gave me a lot of new ideas. :thumb:
ive got the gerbings heated gloves.
they ROCK. they are warm as crap even turned off.
in fact, they dont get that hot because the alternator on my c50 isnt exactly the most powerful ting in the world, but tey stay comfortable. i dont even need a switch or thermostat, ive got em hosed right into the battery.
pricey, but GREAT.
I believe I bought my only pair of fish scaling gloves at walmart in Canada. but TRy them, then sporting goods places and then a Bass pro type place.
Cool.
Srinath.