Gloves
Complete sailing clothing also includes functional sailing gloves that have to fulfil the special requirements of water sports. Long-lasting durability, resistance to salt water and moisture as well as a good grip and non-slip properties are paramount. Gloves for sailors should also protect the hands from injuries and cold. A high-quality glove that offers reliable protection against water and feels good to wear must be elaborately designed and manufactured.
Sailing glove materials
This is why the right combination of particularly efficient materials is important for sailing gloves. Amara®, for example, is a highly abrasion-resistant synthetic leather that remains soft, supple and dimensionally stable and dries quickly. Kevlar® is used for reinforcements in areas that are subject to particular stress. Sailing gloves made of neoprene, such as those offered by water sports specialist Gill, are waterproof and extremely warm.
Neoprene is often used to seal the cuffs at the wrist. Gloves made of soft softshell with a membrane lining, which are waterproof, breathable and windproof, also provide excellent protection against the weather and cold. Elastic stretch fabrics in sailing gloves provide the necessary freedom of movement when working with ropes and sails. The full mobility of the fingers is particularly important when tying knots. The back of the hand should also be elasticated.
The functions of good sailing gloves
The fit and comfort of dinghy gloves and offshore gloves are optimised by ergonomically pre-shaped cuts. Wide Velcro fasteners on the wrist and trim cords on the cuffs allow straight gloves for yacht sailors to be perfectly adjusted. Quality manufacturers specialising in water sports and marine products such as Compass, Musto, Gill and Henri Lloyd offer a wide range of products, from dinghy gloves to winter gloves with innovative insulation.
On some sailing gloves, you will usually find the leather in roughened form as suede or suede leather. It is used in the palms up to the fingers. The leather increases the grip of the gloves and retains its non-slip effect even when wet.
The touchscreen finger: Sailors also need to use touchscreens. That's why the manufacturers of modern sailing clothing have also thought about the use of the latest technology. Some sailing gloves are therefore open at the tip of the index finger so that this finger can operate a touchscreen despite the glove.
Finding the right model
If you want to buy the right sailing glove, you should first consider the main area of use. Is cold and moisture protection more important or is the priority grip and protection of the hands when working with sheets and halyards? Short fingers like the dinghy glove provide more dexterity, and even thin lines can be handled well and safely with the non-slip palm. With long fingers, the sensitive fingertips are well protected from cold and impact. Reinforcements on the fingers are particularly useful when working with heavy ropes such as mooring lines or anchor cables. Sailing gloves with fold-down fingertips are also available.
The right size of glove is extremely important for comfort and safety. A glove that is too large and slips is not only inconvenient and unsafe to grip. It also insulates less. A sailing glove that is too tight not only restricts freedom of movement, but also impairs blood circulation in the hands and wrists.