I always use gloves for windsurfing and windfoiling, first pair started to show wear after a year, so coated parts with Seam-grip, helped make them last but did not do it soon enough. Got a new pair of gloves and seam griped before using, really like them, and now super durable. I only put a very thin coat on the new gloves, so very flexible, no finger strain holding boom. Do not want Seam-grip to soak through because it will make the inside rub on your fingers and cause blisters, so just a very thin coat initially, and then a second coat in high wear areas after the first coat dries.
Now I also seam-griped the side panels for each finger, because the fabric will tear at the seams, just need to use plastic film to keep fingers separated until dry. At first the bottom of one finger was too tight, and had to remove one glove while on the water to avoid getting a blister, when I got back to shore looked and saw the seam had dried rolled over with the seam-grip, carefully separated with a knife and then finger fit good with no tightness at the bottom, as was the case with the glove before coating it.
New gloves before Seam gripping
Old gloves with after thought gripping on left (note torn side panels on the index fingers and thumbs), new gloves after a couple of uses on right.
Or you can just get a set of Ronstan STICKY RACE GLOVES
www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=CL740L
www.ronstan.com/marine/range.asp?RnID=258a
Been using these for years, last a long time and use less energy gripping the boom.
Make sure to ask for the sticky gloves as the standard ones line near identical
Select to expand quoteelmo said..
Or you can just get a set of Ronstan STICKY RACE GLOVES
www.ronstan.com/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=CL740L
www.ronstan.com/marine/range.asp?RnID=258a
Been using these for years, last a long time and use less energy gripping the boom.
Make sure to ask for the sticky gloves as the standard ones line near identical
Hey elmo, from the description on the Ronstan website they sound just like the new gloves I got, double layer synthetic leather palms that wear out over time!, versus my old Seamgrip coated synthetic leather gloves that I have not seen to wear significantly on the Seamgriped areas after several years of use
From the Ronstan website for the Sticky Race gloves (only one glove shown on website):
www.ronstan.us/marine5/range.asp?RnID=258a
Gloves
FEATURES Synthetic leather for maximum durability, minimum stretch and shrinkage Double aramid stitched in high wear areas Double thickness palm and fingers for protection and grip Hook-and-loop wrist closure/adjustment Low cut wrist band for free movement and ClearStart? watch visibility and operation Mesh panels for flexibility and comfort Sizes XXXXS - XXL
Mine I replace after +3 years, not because of wear but because the velcro gives out
Select to expand quoteelmo said..
Mine I replace after +3 years, not because of wear but because the velcro gives out
The original velcro on my 6 yr old Gill gloves is still good!
Select to expand quoteSurferKris said..
Why do you need gloves?
I think they wear them when they drive to the beach in their Volvo's. 
Select to expand quoteelmo said..
Mine I replace after +3 years, not because of wear but because the velcro gives out
Velcro gloves
I didnt know you are a New Zealander elmo. 
Or is that why Mrs elmo shaves off all her fur.
Select to expand quoteSurferKris said..
Why do you need gloves?
I don't like to wear them but i have to because otherwise i have bleeding under my calluses, then it gets painful and effects my performance.
I don't care if it looks nerdy or "not cool", its not a fashion show.
I understand that you lose a lot of feeling of board with boots, and problems getting in/out of straps, so i don't use boots unless my feet freeze, but i don't feel any loss of connection of boom with slim gloves.
Any reason (other than not looking cool) why so many people against gloves then?
Select to expand quoteSea Lotus said..SurferKris said..
Why do you need gloves?
Any reason (other than not looking cool) why so many people against gloves then?
I don't think there is a particular reason for it, just most windsurfers don't see any need for them. Sailing gloves are generally about saving your hands from abrasion, mostly because yacht/dinghy sailors generally have to handle lines (ropes) all the time. Gripping a boom you don't really slide your hands around much, or have to handle lines. and boom grip is generally plenty to save your hands when they're just sitting on it. That is of course unless you're doing a lot of windsurfing over a longer period of time.
I guess now I think about it some more, I do rely on being able to feel when/where my hand has made contact with the boom through a gybe, or when I've grasped the outhaul line properly to pull it on/let it out. You do lose some dexterity wearing gloves.
Select to expand quoteSubsonic said..Sea Lotus said..SurferKris said..
Why do you need gloves?
Any reason (other than not looking cool) why so many people against gloves then?
I don't think there is a particular reason for it, just most windsurfers don't see any need for them. Sailing gloves are generally about saving your hands from abrasion, mostly because yacht/dinghy sailors generally have to handle lines (ropes) all the time. Gripping a boom you don't really slide your hands around much, or have to handle lines. and boom grip is generally plenty to save your hands when they're just sitting on it. That is of course unless you're doing a lot of windsurfing over a longer period of time.
I guess now I think about it some more, I do rely on being able to feel when/where my hand has made contact with the boom through a gybe, or when I've grasped the outhaul line properly to pull it on/let it out. You do lose some dexterity wearing gloves.
Subsonic, issues I have are:
1) in waves, getting kit/foil into deeper water requires me to handle the board, also grab board when doing an Easy Beach start, and my finger tips were getting a little raw from the non-skid surface on the board. In Florida waters you want to avoid getting abrasions at all costs due to the flesh eating bacteria!
2) I also will pick up rocks in my path into water and through the water, those rocks are covered with little barnacles that can cut your fingers and feet too.
3) And in Florida, gloves provide protection from the sun, it is pretty intense.
4) In Winter they help keep my hands warm without going to neoprene gloves, most of the time. Neoprene gloves do require extra finger exertion to hold the boom, so try to avoid them.
Minor affect on dexterity for me (thin coat of Seam-grip), maybe more of an affect on touch/feel, though I am used to it after years of using gloves.
I think using gloves are much harder on the forearms, and I don't have any problems with blisters (because I'm not using gloves).
By not using gloves the skin will become strong enough on its own, so just take it a little easy the first few times until your hands are hardened enough. I only wear gloves in the winter, for added warmth, but even then I try to use open palm ones for as long as possible.
I find that wave sailing/riding is the hardest on the hands, the constant shifting of the hand-positions wears on the skin more than straight line sailing does.
With shoes I'm the other way around, I always wear them for protection (and warmth) now. I once cut my foot badly, had to have five stitches and couldn't sail anymore that summer...
I never had any blister problem, its the opposite, my problem is hard calluses which stay almost all year, i shave them regularly as per advices i got from seabreeze forums which helped a lot. I need cushioning to avoid calluses digging into my flesh under pressure (just below fingers), i only do b&j and wave sailing so i am unhooked quite a lot, but problem is not the friction, its the pressure. I found that if i don't wear gloves i can sail less before purple dots appear under the calluses.
Its not so important if i sail few days, but if conditions are good for more than a week it gets worse every hour on water not having time to recover/soften.
I olso agree long finger gloves reduce dexterity but short finger and slim ones (snug fit) don't in my opinion. I prefer to use cheap short finger biking gloves with slight cushioning at that spot, they get destroyed very quickly though.
Select to expand quoteSurferKris said..
Why do you need gloves?
For the same reason some people needs kites
Select to expand quoteSea Lotus said..
I never had any blister problem, its the opposite, my problem is hard calluses which stay almost all year, i shave them regularly as per advices i got from seabreeze forums which helped a lot. I need cushioning to avoid calluses digging into my flesh under pressure (just below fingers), i only do b&j and wave sailing so i am unhooked quite a lot, but problem is not the friction, its the pressure. I found that if i don't wear gloves i can sail less before purple dots appear under the calluses.
Its not so important if i sail few days, but if conditions are good for more than a week it gets worse every hour on water not having time to recover/soften.
I olso agree long finger gloves reduce dexterity but short finger and slim ones (snug fit) don't in my opinion. I prefer to use cheap short finger biking gloves with slight cushioning at that spot, they get destroyed very quickly though.
the advantage with the gloves I use is the two short fingers (index/thumb) do allow you to feel the boom directly, but rest of fingers are protected, also good for adjusting downhaul and outhaul. Yes, agree, you want the gloves to fit snug without being tight, and then dexterity is good.
Select to expand quoteSandman1221 said..
I always use gloves for windsurfing and windfoiling, first pair started to show wear after a year, so coated parts with Seam-grip, helped make them last but did not do it soon enough. Got a new pair of gloves and seam griped before using, really like them, and now super durable. I only put a very thin coat on the new gloves, so very flexible, no finger strain holding boom. Do not want Seam-grip to soak through because it will make the inside rub on your fingers and cause blisters, so just a very thin coat initially, and then a second coat in high wear areas after the first coat dries.
Now I also seam-griped the side panels for each finger, because the fabric will tear at the seams, just need to use plastic film to keep fingers separated until dry. At first the bottom of one finger was too tight, and had to remove one glove while on the water to avoid getting a blister, when I got back to shore looked and saw the seam had dried rolled over with the seam-grip, carefully separated with a knife and then finger fit good with no tightness at the bottom, as was the case with the glove before coating it.
New gloves before Seam gripping
Old gloves with after thought gripping on left (note torn side panels on the index fingers and thumbs), new gloves after a couple of uses on right.
I have been using Showa Atlas 370 Nitrile gloves for years. They work great, almost a second skin, last 1.5 seasons, and cost a dime.
Select to expand quoteduzzi said..Sandman1221 said..
I always use gloves for windsurfing and windfoiling, first pair started to show wear after a year, so coated parts with Seam-grip, helped make them last but did not do it soon enough. Got a new pair of gloves and seam griped before using, really like them, and now super durable. I only put a very thin coat on the new gloves, so very flexible, no finger strain holding boom. Do not want Seam-grip to soak through because it will make the inside rub on your fingers and cause blisters, so just a very thin coat initially, and then a second coat in high wear areas after the first coat dries.
Now I also seam-griped the side panels for each finger, because the fabric will tear at the seams, just need to use plastic film to keep fingers separated until dry. At first the bottom of one finger was too tight, and had to remove one glove while on the water to avoid getting a blister, when I got back to shore looked and saw the seam had dried rolled over with the seam-grip, carefully separated with a knife and then finger fit good with no tightness at the bottom, as was the case with the glove before coating it.
New gloves before Seam gripping
Old gloves with after thought gripping on left (note torn side panels on the index fingers and thumbs), new gloves after a couple of uses on right.
I have been using Showa Atlas 370 Nitrile gloves for years. They work great, almost a second skin, last 1.5 seasons, and cost a dime.
Good to know duzzi, thanks, guess I could just cut off the thumb and index fingers to 3/4 finger, having an open index finger and thumb really helps to drain the glove, and with a foil board they get submerged just setting up to board.
I used to put seam grip directly on my hands, stops blisters and improv3d grip but now I just take liquid latex baths. Don't even need a wetsuit anymore, when it gets colder I just take 2baths a day for that extra layer
^^^^
You could also use it as deck grip . It would have a better finish than truck inner tube .
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..
^^^^
You could also use it as deck grip . It would have a better finish than truck inner tube .
if you covered the deck with the latex from new then the deck grip wouldn't wear off so quick, is it UV stable or would it yellow?
On another note, I'm wondering if I should shave all my body hair off to help the latex stick to my skin better? At the moment I only get a couple of days before it starts to flake off. Oh and if you want to try it make sure you make a couple of small holes in the latex around the end of your p..s and a..e hole or next time you try to relieve yourself it gets very messy.
bump bump bump! Ben has joined Imax and now both are hiding! I mean if you can not think of anything useful to say, why should I bother reading your comments?
Sounds like some Breezeers are going soft. Harden up.l only wear gloves when it's Icey.
Select to expand quoteSandman1221 said..
bump bump bump! Ben has joined Imax and now both are hiding! I mean if you can not think of anything intelligent to say, why bother reading your comments?
Select to expand quotegavnwend said..
Sounds like some Breezeers are going soft. Harden up.l only wear gloves when it's Icey.
Try grabbing a barnacle covered rock and throwing out of your put-in area, you can, but it can also easily shred your finger tips! I throw a lot of rocks out of the way on low tide, so I do not step on them or hit them with my foil wing at high tide. And if it is mid tide and I step on a sharp rock going out, I reach down and grab it and throw it away, gloves really help when you can not see the rock you are picking up off the bottom of the bay.
Select to expand quoteSandman1221 said..
Try grabbing a barnacle covered rock and throwing out of your put-in area, you can, but it can also easily shred your finger tips! I throw a lot of rocks out of the way on low tide, so I do not step on them or hit them with my foil wing at high tide. And if it is mid tide and I step on a sharp rock going out, I reach down and grab it and throw it away, gloves really help when you can not see the rock you are picking up off the bottom of the bay.
Everytime? Do they crawl back?
Select to expand quoteSandman1221 said..duzzi said..Sandman1221 said..
I always use gloves for windsurfing and windfoiling, first pair started to show wear after a year, so coated parts with Seam-grip, helped make them last but did not do it soon enough. Got a new pair of gloves and seam griped before using, really like them, and now super durable. I only put a very thin coat on the new gloves, so very flexible, no finger strain holding boom. Do not want Seam-grip to soak through because it will make the inside rub on your fingers and cause blisters, so just a very thin coat initially, and then a second coat in high wear areas after the first coat dries.
Now I also seam-griped the side panels for each finger, because the fabric will tear at the seams, just need to use plastic film to keep fingers separated until dry. At first the bottom of one finger was too tight, and had to remove one glove while on the water to avoid getting a blister, when I got back to shore looked and saw the seam had dried rolled over with the seam-grip, carefully separated with a knife and then finger fit good with no tightness at the bottom, as was the case with the glove before coating it.
New gloves before Seam gripping
Old gloves with after thought gripping on left (note torn side panels on the index fingers and thumbs), new gloves after a couple of uses on right.
I have been using Showa Atlas 370 Nitrile gloves for years. They work great, almost a second skin, last 1.5 seasons, and cost a dime.
Good to know duzzi, thanks, guess I could just cut off the thumb and index fingers to 3/4 finger, having an open index finger and thumb really helps to drain the glove, and with a foil board they get submerged just setting up to board.
Actually I never really had a problem with the glove non draining. The whole top is some synthetic fabric and the water just goes through (I guess). They are not really warm, although plenty so in spring/summer and I also use them through the "winter" in San Francisco when it gets down to 50-45F/10-7C.
Select to expand quotegavnwend said..
Sounds like some Breezeers are going soft. Harden up.l only wear gloves when it's Icey.
Be a man and don't wear wetsuit, grow some body hair, when its icey drink a bottle of whiskey, when its hot don't use sunscreen, sun will harden your skin up, don't wear hat, bald head is more manly when its red, booties for boobies, but gloves are the main testesteron killer, keep them away from your sons, yeeha hard man, but don't sail alone, others can't see your manlyness then, but then you are a pssy, big dilemma, confused cowboy, better chase some sharks, don't be soft.
Select to expand quoteSubsonic said..Sandman1221 said..
Try grabbing a barnacle covered rock and throwing out of your put-in area, you can, but it can also easily shred your finger tips! I throw a lot of rocks out of the way on low tide, so I do not step on them or hit them with my foil wing at high tide. And if it is mid tide and I step on a sharp rock going out, I reach down and grab it and throw it away, gloves really help when you can not see the rock you are picking up off the bottom of the bay.
Everytime? Do they crawl back?
Not every time, but maybe every other time I find 1 or 2 rocks in my path (use different put-in places), but maybe 2-3 times a year I find a bunch of rocks when I am there at low tide, happens after a big storm with lots of onshore waves that expose rocks in the sandy bay bottom.
I put-in anywhere in a ~25 yard section of the beach, and walk out into the water probably 30-40 feet from shore, so a relative large area to have free of rocks.
