sp4rky-m4rky Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 What is everyone wearing to keep warm through the winter? What hoods, wetsuits/drysuits, boots and gloves do you recommend? I swear there must be a thread on this already but I cant find anything... Quote
shemKSW Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 Im in mid west Wales. So winter temp around here is normally between 3-6 degrees depending on open sea or river mouths. I normally wear a good pair of boots, a blind stitched and sealed 5mm steamer and if Im riding in lagoons and not likely to take a swim Ski mits. I havnt work gloves this year yet, normally start after Xmas, and yes I do wear normal neoprene mits rather than gloves as I find them warmer, but ski gloves work a treat and keep the wind chi out I do have a dry suit, (ocean rodeo) but I never found it as good as comfortable as a wet suit. Quote
Blast Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 I do have a dry suit, (ocean rodeo) but I never found it as good as comfortable as a wet suit. Same here....wore some new booties today for the first time, sooo warm! Not wearing gloves till it's baltic Quote
coffeewhiteone Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 Boots are a good question, I've always had trouble with my feet and bindings. Put boots on and its ten times worse. Any suggestions on which boots slip in to bindings rather than getting your foot halfway in before getting to grippy to get in any further. Socks any better? Quote
conor Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 been wearing a thermal rash vest and 6mm wetsuit. think i'll wear a hood and gloves now. boots if i really have too. I don't have a car so i can't get too cold as i wont be able to warm up till i get home. been mildly hypothermic several times and it's not fun I have socks and i don't think i'd rate them. they roll around too much. i'm not sure there is anyway around having shitty boots or socks unless you go strapless or bindings. Quote
sp4rky-m4rky Posted December 11, 2011 Author Report Posted December 11, 2011 Great to see lots of people replying. What style boots are people wearing? I tried some 5mm sailing boots but hated the lack of feel, not that you get much feel without them when your feet go numb. I have been looking at some 3mm boots with separated toes... Quote
jimmy6 Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 I've lived on Anglesey for a few years and kite all year round. 6mm Mystic steamer and a neoprene beanie (never liked hoods) are the way forward for me. I can highly recommend ATAN 3mm boots - they're the best thing to riding barefoot I've found and I've yet to have cold feet in them. Gloves are more of a problem - I'm fairly happy with my Mystic cure 3mm gloves, but do tend to get cold after a long time on the water - especially if it's really blowing. Any thicker than 3mm and I find them uncomfortable on the bar. If you have to walk home from the beach, try a neoprene hoody. Mine's made by NPX and I find it great for the long walk home after a cold session. It's kite-specific too (has a cut out for your harness) so I suppose you could wear it on the water if you really felt the need. But seriously - ATAN boots are the bomb! Quote
CWB Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 5mm steamer n hood 3mm neoprene glove. Toasty dude Quote
Blast Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 2nd the Atan boots if your after real thin ones, just tried the Mystic Vulcanic boots for the first time today, real toasty and super comfortable too! Quote
Jack1988 Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 ok so far this winter ive bought new gloves and boots my wetsuit is an oneill epic not sure what thickness..might be 3/2, no it is 3/2 just checked, its still bloody warm!! They do a 5/3 epic 2, i will get it when it gets too cold for the 3/2 but tbh ONEILL are absolutely incredible and i do believe that the 5/3 will take me out in the coldest of waters, i really do rate Oneill. My boots are absolute ovens full on winter ones as i have boots for winter only and they are warm as you like, they are absolutly incredible. i used to have some pscycho boots but they got nicked by some hamworthy poledancer now i wear the super normal toed oneill heat RT 5mm and its the best!! HEAT means heat they are brilliant!! My gloves are not so warm!! they are ONEILL 2mm FLX Gloves..now they are flexibal and very good for kitesurfing but they are a lil cold tbh infact you can imagine with kitesurfers hands not under the water all the time or rarely under the water they get very cold, the movement is great but if you want super warmth you need the 5mm Psycho sl now they will be toasty as ya like even if you cant hold the bar lol. Ok so this stuff is a well priced and the best you can get tbh. thats why i went down this root. Quote
doggy Posted December 11, 2011 Report Posted December 11, 2011 5/3 with thermal top on the cold days, still not completely freezing here so yet to crack into boots, gloves and hoods......... hate wearing them so will hold off for as long as possible! I have the Gul Viper boots and they are great, comfy warm and good movement. The Atan ones are bloody good though, you get the best board feel of any boot but not as durable on stones. I use a Mystic metallite thermal top, it is awesome, blocks the wind as its slick skin inside which is a huge benefit for kitesurfing! My brother uses a GUL Evotherm top with hood, it has a really soft fleecy lining and is super comfy. Quote
bartiebat1599968741 Posted December 12, 2011 Report Posted December 12, 2011 Atan boots here too!! 3mm Mistrals. I tried the ion socks for a bit & they were great til about 3 wks ago then I realised they weren't wind proof & it was cold on the water, so went back to Atans. Someone one here mentioned Rooster sailing poly pro socks, so wearing them too - makes it easier to put your feet into soggy 2nd day boots - ew! (c'mon, I'm a girl!!) & stops my feet being cold afterwards which to be honest is where I struggle the most; actually on the water is fine. Have a fleecy oneil thermal long sleeve rashie which is my fave bit of kit this year. In the past I just wore a rashie with a long sleeved rashie hood & again it was afterwards I suffered, but the fleecy stuff takes any moisture away from you immediately & gives you a big fleecy hug instead Gloves - 3/2 ion neos which I thought were ace, til I got finger burn for the 1st time this wknd & was back to cursing them! Quote
Dragnfly Posted December 12, 2011 Report Posted December 12, 2011 I have: 3mm atans (non splitty) and would buy them again. Never had cold feet and easy to get in straps. Mystic gloves - shit. £10 neoprene beanie with chin strap from decathlon. It's OK, but I might upgrade to a hood. Quote
lucie8uk Posted December 12, 2011 Report Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) Anyone know if the 3mm Atans work ok with Cabrinha Syncs? Have found a lot of boots just don't work properly with them! Edited December 12, 2011 by lucie8uk Quote
Maro Posted December 12, 2011 Report Posted December 12, 2011 Under a 5/3 I use a long sleeve thermal rashy with hood, stops the back flush being so cold. 3mm boots and 2mm gloves if it's proper cold. Quote
guitar_guro Posted December 12, 2011 Report Posted December 12, 2011 Great to see lots of people replying. What style boots are people wearing? I tried some 5mm sailing boots but hated the lack of feel, not that you get much feel without them when your feet go numb. I have been looking at some 3mm boots with separated toes... I use 3mm billabong boots meant for surfing, they've got a split toe to try and give you as much feeling as possible and they seem to work fine with straps, definitely don't go any thicker than 3mm though Quote
flatfour Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 Anyone know if the 3mm Atans work ok with Cabrinha Syncs? Have found a lot of boots just don't work properly with them! I`ve use Atans with Cabrinha Synchs, they are a tight fit and more rubber than neopreno so fine :-) Quote
Rich_A Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 ION Strike 5/5 with o'neill long sleeve thermal rash vest. The vest makes getting changed by the car bearable as under that i am barely damp. ION ballistic boots split toe they keep the toes lovely and warm and good for the walking over shells. Yet to buy gloves but i think santa may be getting me a vest with integrated hood. Quote
scillonian Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 another + for the atan...ive got the split toe barefoot feel ones and they feel as close to barefoot as ive ever had in boots and wetsuit socks. only drawback of the atans is the price ...not the cheapest and they dont half stink unless you wash them out regulary.. wetsuit 5-4 mini zip snugg wetsuit....just awesome ! toasty.... fleece lined...with a rashie underneath. hat i got a £10 neoprene beanie this is the secret to cold water riding...get that head covered. gloves (i need some more) but i always go for the thinnest i can find so look for a 1.5-2mm set....i have found any thicker and i get awful forearm cramp where you try and grip the bar but the gloves slip and slide over the bar and around your hands. i think my last ones were FLX (o neil i think) Quote
Jack1988 Posted December 13, 2011 Report Posted December 13, 2011 another + for the atan...ive got the split toe barefoot feel ones and they feel as close to barefoot as ive ever had in boots and wetsuit socks. only drawback of the atans is the price ...not the cheapest and they dont half stink unless you wash them out regulary.. wetsuit 5-4 mini zip snugg wetsuit....just awesome ! toasty.... fleece lined...with a rashie underneath. hat i got a £10 neoprene beanie this is the secret to cold water riding...get that head covered. gloves (i need some more) but i always go for the thinnest i can find so look for a 1.5-2mm set....i have found any thicker and i get awful forearm cramp where you try and grip the bar but the gloves slip and slide over the bar and around your hands. i think my last ones were FLX (o neil i think) Im in two minds about the Oneilll FLX Glove, im wearing 2mm ones and comfort and flex isnt the issue..my issue is that sometimes they are cold as ice and sometimes they are warm..i was thinking maybe i should fill them up with warm water before i put them on lol Quote
Plumbing007 Posted December 14, 2011 Report Posted December 14, 2011 hi, Nice post.Thanks for sharing with us. Quote
Maro Posted December 14, 2011 Report Posted December 14, 2011 People on here have mentioned in the past something about putting their hands in cold water first, then warming them up (I think), then going out for a sesh with no problems. Quote
Blast Posted December 14, 2011 Report Posted December 14, 2011 Yup I've tried this and know a few mates who do this every session, it works too. Pesonally I prefer a thin pair of neoprene gloves once it gets that cold! Quote
Jack1988 Posted December 15, 2011 Report Posted December 15, 2011 Cheers guys, will try this, today was the final straw.. My hands were on Fire out there about 20 minutes before the end of my sesh, i couldn bare it any longer, plus the wind dropped off, i didnt get the full extent of the agony until id landed the kite and taken the gloves off, i was jumping around owing and ooing for about 5 minutes whilst the blood went back in my hands. agony..havent felt that pain since i used to fly static on me blade ina frosty gusty winter field! Such a weird thing though, after the agony is gone my hands dont usually get cold again even if i went back in the water without gloves, im sure we discussed it on here somewhere before...oh well. Will try this method next sesh. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.