just27 wrote:
Darryl: Got any recommendations for warm-weather gloves to use on the river? (Clutching onto the raft, more than actually rowing ... )
Chris. There are three things I take on wilderness trips for blister prevention or blister care on hands, and expect to keep on paddling.
1) For prevention: If someone in my group develops a hot spot, I carry a lightweight pair of fingerless biking gloves made of nylon, polyurethane, and some cotton with stretchy mesh back, rough and tough non-leather palms for good grip, and velcro wrist adjustment strap. They seem to survive wetting and drying cyles just fine. Actually if you purposely keep them wet, they can have an evaporative cooling effect and if this is something you'd be looking for, pick a pair with more cotton in them.
2) moleskin with adhesive back to cover a developed blister
3) a couple wraps of vet wrap bandaging tape (horse leg wrap, or look for the more expensive people version of this in the drug store band-aid section) over the moleskin to add a tough new surface for the finger or palm and to distribute the load away from the blister. Vet wrap can also be used on hot spots to prevent a blister.
I suspect they will not want you to have cotton clothing (jeans / T shirt) on the water - it takes a long time to dry and the chilling it causes can be dangerous when the sun goes down. But take a cotton bandanna to tie around your neck. When you get too warm take it off, soak it in the river, and tie it back on your neck and it will go a long way to keep you cool. You can do the same trick with a cotton hat. A trade off between wearing all synthetic clothing (dry the fastest with little cooling affect) and wearing some clothing that cools would be wearing dense cotton twill - like the typical men's work pants or shirts. These dry much faster than jeans or T shirts, but when they dry they still give that cooling affect. And I recommend wearing synthetic underwear on the water when you know you will be frequently wet. Cotton underwear takes forever to dry out when you're wearing it wet and can be most uncomforable! Hope this helps.
Darryl
