Winter swimming gloves

If you love open water swimming regardless of the weather, wind and season, then winter swimming gloves are a great investment. On this page you'll find some of the best neoprene winter swimming gloves on the market. A pair of winter swimming gloves will help keep your hands warm and still give you the best freedom of movement so you can swim unhindered..

Avoid freezing hands when swimming

A pair of winter swimming gloves is essential if you want to enjoy open water swimming in the winter. As the hands are one of the parts of the body most exposed to the cold, it's important to protect them properly, otherwise you could risk frostbite, which is very painful.

A pair of neoprene gloves for winter swimming also helps to maintain dexterity in the hands, which is a problem when they get too cold. This can make it difficult to swim and pull through the water the right way. And once technique is compromised, you will start to compensate with the rest of your body, which can lead to repetitive strain injuries.

As soon as the body is exposed to cold temperatures, it will automatically keep warm around vital parts - like organs - which means it reduces blood flow to the arms and legs. Including the hands and feet.

Therefore, you can't just get the heat back into your feet and hands by swimming faster and getting your heart rate up. This can also overload the body as it can lead to cramps.

As you can see, going without gloves for winter swimming is a lot more hassle than getting a good pair. Not only do they keep your hands warm when you're in the water, they also make it easier to climb up and down the ladder on the jetty as you're sure to have a firm grip.

What a good pair of winter swimming gloves should do

A good pair of gloves for winter swimming should preferably be made of neoprene, with a thickness of between 2.5-3 mm. You can easily choose thicker if your hands get really cold, but this will come at the expense of their mobility. Therefore, it's a bit of a balancing act and depends a lot on your personal requirements and needs.

Neoprene gloves for winter swimming with a thickness of 2.5-3 mm are a good balance between thermal insulation and freedom of movement. However, a 5mm thickness is recommended if you swim really long distances and spend a lot of time in the water.

It's an advantage if the glove joints are glued together and then blind stitched. They should also have a good closure around the wrist to keep water out. Both help to minimise water flow and increase thermal insulation.

Find the winter swimming accessories you need

If you're an avid open water swimmer during the cooler months of the year, we would also recommend getting neoprene socks and a neoprene hood. Both fulfil the same function as neoprene gloves for winter swimming, keeping the most exposed parts of your body warm while you swim. And if you need all the pieces anyway, why not take a look at our neoprene set here.

Also remember to have a neoprene glue so you can patch any cracks and holes. Over time, equipment made from neoprene may eventually wear out and start to crack the fabric without a hole appearing. Here you can prevent the small crack from turning into a large tear with neoprene glue. That way, you won't have to change gloves all of a sudden.

You should also be aware of your own safety when swimming in open water. Especially in the winter, you can quickly blend in with the dark water, which can create some dangerous situations. And if you swim with a neoprene hood, it's not possible to use a colourful swimming cap. Instead, you can equip yourself with a sea bag/swim buoy. Then you're sure to be seen in the water.

How to properly take care of neoprene

Like so much other swimming equipment, salt and chlorine water can be a bit of a killer as they put a lot of wear and tear on the materials. That's why it's also important that you rinse your neoprene winter swim gloves thoroughly after using them in fresh water.

Once you've rinsed them well, hang them up to dry, but preferably not in sunlight as it has the same abrasive effect as salt and chlorine water. You also need to make sure they are completely dry before you put them in the drawer. Otherwise, fungus or mould will grow on the gloves.

Buy your winter swimming gloves here at Watery.ie

When you shop with us here at Watery.ie, you can be sure that the quality is top notch and of course at the best price. That's why we also have a 100% price match, so you can get your winter swimming gloves of the highest quality at the best price. In addition, there are of course a number of customer benefits included in the deal:

• Free shipping on orders over 79€
• 3-5 days delivery
• Our customer service is ready all weekdays from 8 AM to 10 PM.

So there's no excuse not to get fully prepared for winter swimming, and you'll find all the equipment you need here at Watery.ie.