Dry Gloves

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Kevin

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Location
Blackburn, England
Are dry gloves worth buying ?

Do these gloves keep your hands warm as well as dry and are there any other manufacturers other than Hydrotech ?



 
Kevin, depends on the dry gloves. I have a set of the DUI dry gloves with the latex seal. They leak worse than wet suit gloves.

If you get the type with a set of rings then you might have more success. I am going to look at a set of gloves/rings from Si-Tech at DEMA later on this month.

DUI may have something similar, but I have not checked on it and have not seen them on their website.

Good Luck.

Ron


 
Dry gloves can work quite well if installed properly (at least the ring style). We have some dry glove rings that install on either latex or 1/8" neoprene wrist seals that keep your hands nice and dry. Since the glove is latex or PVC (commercial), you also need an "under glove" for warmth. The glove liners that come with our set work fine for me in Northwest waters, but many I have talked to have invested in some of the REI snow glove liners (around $25).

Since the gloves are installed over the wrist seal, they can be a closed system causing uncomfortable hand squeeze if not worn properly. Most glove systems come with funky little coffee stirrer straws to fit under the seal to allow air to flow into and out of the glove. But, I prefer to wear my glove liner under the wrist seal for that. While the seal is restricting air movement, it doesn't stop it all together so it is easy to warm your hands by raising them to allow air to enter. On ascent, it easy to get rid of excess air by lowering them.

I will caution you that installing glove rings on a latex or neoprene seal will stretch the seal at the junction point. You need to keep the seal clean and lubricated to prevent premature deterioration.

Dry glove systems run around $100. For me, at least, it is well worth it.

Just my $.02

Ray Contreras
http://www.ossystems.com
 
Ray,

How is Ossystems doing in your territory? Do you guys have anything new coming out for DEMA?

Mario :D


 
Hey everyone

While we're on the topic of dry gloves. Does anyone on the board have any experience (good or bad) with Xerotech dry gloves from Helios. I've seen them advertised and the fact that they don't appear to require rings is intriguing.

Just wondered if there were any opinions.

Cheers

bio guy
 
I have a pair and like them alot. I have never had a problem with them and the seals have held up for the past two years that I have used them. I do all coldwater diving and they keep my hands warm Most of the time. I have the latex seals without rings and would recommend them. You have to fill them with air on the surface though befor you go to depth not only for the squeeze factor but also the insulating aspect. I use those disposable heat packs in mine which works quite well. jeff.
 
Yep. I picked up a pair about a month ago. They have been amazing in the cold water so far. I don't even want to look at my old neoprene gloves anymore. I picked up the heavy blue ones with the insulation "fuzz". Apparently they are available in models ranging from lightwight with no insulation to heavy with insulation (Diff colours too). I know you can go with a ring package for them, but after having zero problems with the latex seals, I can't see myself converting them. I have heard of divers putting a small piece of a coffee stir stick through to connect the suit to the gloves for equilization, although filling the gloves at the surface seems to work.

Jeff, one question. Have you used the kevlar overgloves available for them. I dive in zebra mussel infested water, and am seriously considering them.
 
Hey Bio guy!

No I have not used the kevlar overgloves, and actually have not even heard of them. The only ones that I have seen are the yellow ones that look sorta like work gloves and I dont think they would fit concidering the amount of air you have to put in the xerotech's at the surface. I have punctured mine a few times and just use some aqua seal to patch them up. You mention using some straws for equalization but using both latex seals for me they would leak. Also you have the same gloves that I have which are the blue commercial grade. And one more point I found was that if you put some talc powder on them and push the seal inside the glove, the next time you go to put them on all you have to do is push your hand inside the glove, with the talc on they slide right in. At that point pull the glove back off as far as you can without removing the seal from your wrist and pull up on the seal to let air in once you push the glove back on your hand it is more that full of air and by the time you get down about 25ft or so they are already compressing. thanks for your input and if you find anything out about those kevlar gloves let me know If they are made for the application in question I would also be interested in a pair.

Happy diving! Jeff Greatlakes Diver
 
Jeff

I found a website for helios right around the time I purchased my gloves. They had a list of the full line of gloves, including kevlar overgloves specifically made to fit their gloves. My dealer was supposed to enquire. I'll let you know as soon as I know anything. I'll have to search for that site again, since the one I bookmarked doesn't seem to be working. I know the yellow kevlar gloves you are refering to. I use a similar design for diving rapids, when the water is warm enough. You definitely don't get any nasty cuts, but they aren't large enough for drygloves and have little or no insulating value. I haven't used the coffee stir method since I have latex on both sides as well. I've been using a similar method with the talc to fill the gloves with air, and your right, it works well.

This review of the gloves does mention the kevlar overgloves.

http://divermag.com/archives/june99/xerotech_jun99.html

Anyway, thanks for the info, I appreciate it. I'll let you know when I know more.
 
You can also check out UK Diving's Nordic Blue dry gloves @ http://www.nordic-blue.com - They also have the fleece liner (actually, you can change the liner for different types of diving.) I picked up a pair and have done some work with them. Great gloves all around.

Eric
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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