sore hands

[GiLS]

Hi everyone,
Just few words to start, I am french, so sorry for my english.
I rox since since 3 years with a C2 rower, and I still have sore hands. I've tried gloves (a lot), then pads. With pads it is better but still few blisters.
So, I am always looking for something to save my hands.
I found gloves : http://www.thecrewstop.com/shop.html
or handles grips : https://oarsomegrips.com/rowing/indoor-rowing
Is somebody already try these gloves or grip.
Thank you for your advices.
Regards,
Gilles

[jag]

Concept2 has made different handles depending on which model erg you own. Maybe try a different handle if you are not happy with yours. Also, make sure you are not gripping too tightly - your fingers should be bent so handle is only touching your fingers and not your palm. Is your handle made of plastic or wood? Does it have rubber grips on the handles?

[bisqeet]

Relaxing on the recovery, and a monkey grip on the drive... Don't need to throttle it

Of you were gloves your hands won't get tougher...

[Balkan boy]

Try wrapping the handle with tennis racket wrap or a bicycle handlebar cork wrap or something of that kind.
This is what worked for me after trying many gloves.

[Cyclist2]

The products shown in your links don't impress me. Neither would work for where I feel friction on my fingers. But they must work for some people.

I use baseball batting gloves, several different types I've collected over time. I switch them around, as well as rowing with no gloves. The variation keeps the "wear pattern" different so that no one place gets blisters. I eventually get calluses, which I trim off occasionally. It seems to be a routine that all rowers find for themselves to keep their hands comfortable.

The biggest thing is how you grip the handle, as mentioned. Have a light "hook" grip, don't squeeze the handle. Relax the grip on the recovery (rests your forearms as well).

[Carl Watts]

Rowed for years with the standard Concept 2 handles and bike gloves.

Funny thing is about 6 months ago I stopped wearing gloves and have had no problems at all.

What I think it comes down to is the way in which you hold the handle. You fingers are kind of hooks and you do not grip the handle tightly. The result is a couple of areas where the skin has thickened up slightly but not to the stage of becoming calluses.

Maybe the hands adapt over time, used to get blisters as well. Not doing massive meters mind you, 40 minute sessions five times a week.

[G-dub]

Me too. I wore gloves for the first 2 years and still had hot spots. When I did row without gloves my hands got blistery. Now I don't wear gloves - just stopped one day - and I don't even think about my hands. And frankly there isn't really any more callus than when I wore gloves - possibly less?!.

Now that I think about it - I wonder if the fan blowing on me from the front keeps my hands dry? That's probable it.

[Ripples]

I use my Buff paddling gloves on my erg. http://buffusa.com/buff-products/gloves ... light-sage

Don't grip my kayak paddle or my erg handle tightly; I think its friction that starts the callus development. The gloves keep my hands in decent shape.

[GiLS]

Thanks for advices, one is sure is that my grip is too strong maybe due by the pads. I will try a lighter grip, and forget shopping!
I've started with a C model with wood handle, and change the handle but same.
Regards,

[Anth_F]

Definitely agree with it being how you grip the handle.

Had the blisters in the past but it never bothered me enough to think about using gloves etc. But now from experience and picking up useful info on here, i row with a much more relaxed grip and have zero issues... + the fact my hands have toughened up too over time.

[bisqeet]

I have used these for a couple of years: http://therxreview.com/review-rogue-mec ... Rx+Review)

pfff... get yourself some oven gloves :p

[GiLS]

Dear Sirs, I've tried a session without gloves "bare hands" with the softer grip I could. The first 30 mins was very nice. But the last 15 was very hot and blisters again. I've ordered some "oarsomegrips" designed for the rower C2 D I'am waiting for the delivery, and inform you if it is better or not.
If not I'll order this book :https://www.rowperfect.co.uk/product/ro ... njuries-2/
But at this time, tape is the only things that work for me!
Regards,

[bisqeet]

hadn't really thought about it before, but on the recovery i usually have no force on the handle whatsoever...
i also, move my grip, rotate my wrists every now and a again to elleviate any pressure.

I also rotate my thumb from a "normal grip" to an action man style monkey grip.
holding it normal hurts or distracts me after a while... (failing to negotiate a steep decline corner on a mountainbike - titanium rods and screws in both wrists).

I also do it in OTW, let the scull just sit in the crook between thumb and forefinger. with enough downward pressure to clar the water and just push forward - easier to do with those new fandangled self feathering sculls. old skool would probably have you ejected from the boat :p

[Parky]

After years of soft, easy office work, and even more years of washing up, my hands have gone really soft. I blistered easily, even only rowing 3 or 4 days a week. Now rowing 6 or 7 days a week I still find the best thing for preventing blisters is to cut down a pair of memory foam insoles to the width of my hand. They mould easily to the shape of the handle and I don't get any blisters at all. Give it a try.

[Donnie]

I finally switched to the wooden handle and it solved the blisters. Still have some calluses but hands don't hurt near as much. Worth a try and not too costly either.