![\"\"](\"https:\/\/get-the-nack.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/Kokotat-Pogies.jpg\" "\\"Typical")
<\/a>“For the most part once you Velcro them in place on the paddle shaft that is where they will remain. If you capsize and need to make a wet exit you will first need to remove your hands from the pogies as an added step. If you wet exit your hands will not be protected from the cold which means you must get back into the kayak quickly before your hands become too cold to function. Simple solution to that is don\u2019t capsize. The best pair I found are manufactured by Palm. The tag inside reads \u201cXP150, xtra performance specialised white-water sports\u201d. They have a 100% nylon shell and a removable fleece lining. They are blue and black. They are so warm I have seldom needed the fleece lining and I paddle all year. Unlike most they have a long cuff preventing water from running down into them. I purchased them online from an English kayaking company but I don\u2019t remember the name of the company. Reed, another well known English kayaking company, might carry them.”<\/p>\n
“I have tried a number of gloves none to my satisfaction. I settled for a pair of Aqua Lung Thermal Flex 3mm gloves. They are made out of neoprene and nylon.\u00a0I purchased them in a SCUBA diving shop. Since they are made for scuba diving they rely on water to seep through the neoprene and warm up to keep your hands warm. They are not great for paddling but I can get by. The fingers are pre formed in a bent shape making it easier to hold the paddle and less strain on my fingers since I am not fighting to bend the neoprene. They have little rubber dots on them for better grip. But they are not perfect for kayaking; just like all gloves once your hands get wet they are hard to put back on. I have never found a pair of gloves which are ease to put on once my hands are wet. At some point you will need to remove your gloves while paddling and your hands will get wet. Gloves make wet exits harder if you have a tight spray skirt. I have never tried it but maybe the hand warmers they sell for skiers gloves would work.”<\/p>\n
Steve agreed with Colin and added,\u00a0that while my hands will get wet, they will stay warm. I have neoprene pogies from Warmers that I bought from Captain Kayak and nylon ones by NRS that I picked up at Eastern Mountain Sports. \u00a0Both work well. Some folks have tried wearing light gloves under their pogies to address the issue of their hands getting cold when dealing with a rescue but I wouldn’t recommend that. You can’t really wear gloves with them because they may make it difficult pulling your hand out quickly if you have a problem. Like needing a free hand to release your spray skirt while you’re upside down.<\/p>\n
If you stop on shore for a rest or lunch you will need something else to put on your hands to keep them warm. For that I use a pair of wool gloves. They’re warm, easy to get on and they are unaffected by wet hands.<\/p>\n