Why wear gloves?
It's a question of both comfort and safety. Like all parts of the human body, hands are sensitive to the cold. You'll enjoy winter sailing longer with a good pair of gloves, rather than protecting your hands in the pockets of your watch jacket.
And it's also a question of safety on board. On a sailboat, a sheet or halyard can cause serious burns. The same applies to a fishing line, or when using a windlass, so it's best to protect your hands.
What are the different glove models?
Mittens, or short-fingered gloves these are ideal for protection against damage caused by a mooring line, sheet or fishing line. The palm is reinforced with a layer of leather for excellent protection, and the free ends allow easy manoeuvring. Suitable for use on sailboats, motorboats and fishing boats, but only in warm weather.
Gloves with two fingers cut off our new mittens: they take on the characteristics of mittens, with good palm reinforcement, while providing better protection against the cold. Only the forefinger and thumb are left free, to ensure precise maneuvering.
Long-fingered gloves they offer excellent protection against the cold or impacts, but are less efficient when maneuvering. They can be made of neoprene for a light sailing program, or of three-layer fabric for long offshore voyages.
Neoprene gloves neoprene: with optimal thermal qualities, they are ideal for surfing, paddling and kayaking. Due to neoprene's brittleness to line scratching, they are not recommended for use on sailboats.
Merino gloves: to be used for winter sailing on boats with little exposure to waves. Note that this type of glove features tactile fingers for continued use of a GPS or laptop screen.
How do I choose the right glove size?
To calculate your glove size, follow these steps:
- Select your dominant hand: If you're right-handed, use your right hand, and if you're left-handed, use your left.
- Use a tape measure: Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your palm, usually at the finger joints, without overtightening.
- Take the measurement: Record the measurement in centimetres.
- Refer to the size chart: Consult the size chart provided by the glove manufacturer or retailer. Transfer the measurement obtained on the chart to determine your glove size.
