Been thinking about buying some gloves to keep my hands warm and thought about trying to buy a pair of the old ‘webs’ gloves from the 1980’s that were supposed to help paddling. Does anyone know of a supplier and/ or are there any opinions on whether or not they actually worked. Thanks.
Don’t do it. Just get regular ol’ gloves, man. Instead of using a paddling aid, just try to get one extra day of paddling in per week - even if there’s no waves. You’ll get stronger.
An outboard motor would help paddling too, but that doesn’t mean you should use one on your surfboard…
peace.
I bought mine for warmth but love the extra paddle power.
I bought mine at Val Surf in Valencia CA (http://valsurf.com/).
I did not see them online but I’m sure you could call. I think Waveline in Ventura also has them. I have seen them with either licra or neopream on the back of the glove. For winter warmth go for the neopream backed gloves. That is what I have. The others should provide some warmth but would be more for the web. Oh yeah mine are full fingered. They were about $15 I think. Bought them last winter.
The fine print on the label says " builds upper body strength". They will do a number on your shoulders and arms until you get used to them. You’ll get extra thrust on take offs in mushy conditions, but they will eventually become a crutch and you’ll paddle like crap without them. Rip Curl makes some regular 1 mm gloves that are nice, and also check out dive shops. Don’t carry your board with dry gloves, it may slip away.
I have been using H2O gloves for many years now. I use the open finger series to reduce the strain and weight. As mentioned above these will create some joint/muscle stress until you build up to them. I do have some full fingered winter gloves but the weight too much (especially after a long session).
One added advantage is the gripping capability when you are trying to pull the nose or tail through the face.
Definitely a plus for those with short arm lengths 
I go through a set every other month or so. I was thinking of making use of “Shoe gu” in the areas where they break down (thumbs and palms).
JohnF
Web Gloves?
If you want warmth, then Oneiel, Rip Curl. etc etc all make a lightwieght glove. 2mm or 3mm.
If you want paddling power, go to the gym. Or how about this idea…surf more. See my motto below!!!
Drew
Quote:
I have been using H2O gloves for many years now. I use the open finger series to reduce the strain and weight. As mentioned above these will create some joint/muscle stress until you build up to them. I do have some full fingered winter gloves but the weight too much (especially after a long session).
One added advantage is the gripping capability when you are trying to pull the nose or tail through the face.
Definitely a plus for those with short arm lengths
I go through a set every other month or so. I was thinking of making use of “Shoe gu” in the areas where they break down (thumbs and palms).
JohnF
Most of my boards paddle poorly, so I use the full fingered H2O gloves year round (I’m too cheap to buy both a full-fingered and an open-fingered set). A number of years ago a friend and I measured the static thrust of various swim fins, bare feet, bare feet with (soft) booties, hands, and webbed gloves. The webbed gloves (alone) produced about a 35 lb static thrust paddling in a burst mode. The highest thrust achieved with swim fins alone (DuckFeet) was about a 27 lb static thrust. Hence the addition of webbed gloves has the potential to more than double my peak total thrust when paddling and kicking to catch a wave (however, for me it’s often sufficient and more convenient to paddle with only one hand as the other is holding onto and guiding the board).
Perhaps because I paddle only on take-off, I didn’t/don’t have any problem with arm muscles or shoulders. However, in the beginning I did have some intermittent elbow pain/soreness if I was surfing regularly. This problem subsequently disappeared.
I also got tired of quickly wearing out the thumbs, selected finger tips, and the palms. A few years ago, during the winter (when the surf was more consistent) I was typically wearing completely through the thumbs in about two weeks. I tried “Shoe Goo”–as you suggest–once in the distant past. But I found that it becomes stiffer, harder, and brittle as it ages.
Since then I’ve developed a coating that remains much more flexible and has the added advantage of a better grip than neoprene. With it, I’ve used the same pair of gloves for almost 2 years and they’re still going strong (with one minor touch-up in the areas of greatest abrasion, and to repair a couple of short segments of the original sewn seams that failed). If you’re interested in checking it out, PM me and I’ll treat a pair of your worn gloves for only the cost of shipping (and some subsequent feedback on what you think of the coating after you’ve used them for a while).
mtb
I use the old BOZ wetsuit ones when it’s cold, there fully webbed in the fingers. I love using them, I love paddling circles around everything in the water except the dolphins. Yes they will put stress on your rotorcuff, scapula, tendions etc. But if your are presently on a weight training regime, you will be amazed how frickin fast you can move a chunk of foam. Here’s a little secret for bigger Cal waves: 7’6"-8’0" board, 10ft leash, webbed paddle gloves. Get in fast, get often, get out of danger.
Yeah, they look goofy. Call me goofy when I’m already up and surfing and flying past you on your belly, I don’t care.
-Jay
Word of caution on using webbed gloves. These will put a heavy strain on your shoulder rotator cuff muscles which can result in tendonitis, bursitis, impingment syndrome(swimmer’s shoulder), etc. if you use them too much or paddle incorrectly (yes, there is a right and wrong way to paddle). They are especially dangerous when you first start using them. All the above problems come on slowly, in most cases, but once they develop they are a bitch to get rid of and can keep you out of the water for a long time.
If you use them, start slow, using them only part of the time and pay attention to your paddle stroke. Avoid internal rotation and over extending. Some people never have problems, others end up in the doctor’s office
All the competitive swimmers reading this will know what I’m talking about.
I used to wear them, and not sure why I stopped. Maybe it was the minimalist in me (that is; too cheap or lazy to buy another pair) or maybe I bought into the purest mumbo jumbo too far.
Anyway, there’s no question that they work. Try using them for a month and then stop - it will feel like you’re trying to row a boat with chopsticks.
Best,
Herb Bean
I used gloves for about a year, but not to keep my hands warm. Rather for protection from coral cuts (I was living in the South Pacific) as well as added paddling power in larger waves.
Problem was, after a while I became too dependent on them. I felt weak and naked without gloves on, even in smaller surf.
But definitely the biggest drawback to wearing gloves is that you totally lose that incredible tactile sensation of running your fingertips ever so lightly across the smooth glass face of the wave as you scream through the barrel. That is such an integral part of surfing (for me) that the added amount of paddling power gained through wearing gloves is completely negated by its loss!
Quote:
I used gloves for about a year, but not to keep my hands warm. Rather for protection from coral cuts (I was living in the South Pacific) as well as added paddling power in larger waves.
Problem was, after a while I became too dependent on them. I felt weak and naked without gloves on, even in smaller surf.
But definitely the biggest drawback to wearing gloves is that you totally lose that incredible tactile sensation of running your fingertips ever so lightly across the smooth glass face of the wave as you scream through the barrel. That is such an integral part of surfing (for me) that the added amount of paddling power gained through wearing gloves is completely negated by its loss!
well then that brings me us to the webbed gloves that only go halfway up your fingers. Increased paddle, less strain on shoulders and you can still feel the wave with your fingertips. Who makes such a glove?
As I mentioned above, H20 has a light weight open finger glove. I have also seen a brother with just a band across the 4 fingers 2~3 inches in width. This leaves the fingertips and palms open. Wish I knew the product name. Heck, maybe it was home brew?
JohnF
I wore webbed gloves for several years. Wrist problems as well as shoulder. Too much of a trade off for me, I can do without extra injuries…
Most guys who resort to webs and oversized boards are the kind of guys who like to sit way, way outside and try to claim waves by starting to paddle really early and then hopefully being the first to stand up. This is very uncool. Closest to the peak/curl should always trump “first up” every single time. And it does for me when I’m in the water: any surfer I see with webbed gloves joins the ranks of the walruses on the 4" thick, 10+feet boards and loses all wave priority in my book.
I’m a really mellow, easy going guy. I do not get in fights. I do not yell at people. I only weigh 150 lbs. so I wouldn’t be good at intimidation even if it were in my nature, which it’s not. But paddling early and often, using an oversized board or fancy paddling aids, does not get you a wave to yourself when I’m in the water. And eventually you may find yourself in front of me, or others, enough times that someone is going to get frustrated.
So please leave that stuff at home. And realize that in most wave conditions, there should never be a need to paddle more than two strokes a side before standing up. No need to sit so damn far out there. Thank you.
i recently started using these H20 web gloves, and all i can say is that they wear me out before im ready to be done. Not to mention they kick my shoulders ass, hard. I feel way more in control with bare hands, or regular gloves. So, i have about 3 pair that are fairly used, if ya want them, send me postage and ill give you a pair…but i agree with jus about everyone, hardly worth the pain, or trouble, but give it a go if you must- peace
Caleb
Well, I’ve been reprimanded for painting with a broad brush in my anti-web glove rant. Apparently gloves are not only used by out of shape wave-hog, thick-boarded Walruses who sit way outside and try to claim waves by paddling early, but are also apparently used by at least one kneeboarder who is surely a swell guy. He uses the gloves because he surfs vehicles that just don’t have much paddling power and needs something to even back the score a little. Sounds reasonable. Though I’m reminded of what all the longboarders tell me when I happen to be on a shorter board and look like I’m unhappy at them getting all the waves: 'you should surf a board more appropriate for the conditions, guy." But I never much liked that comment and won’t use it on our kneeboarder friend here.
I see one kneeboarder for about every 10,000 surfboarders I see (figure 50 boards a day, 200 days a year, and one kneeboarder a year), so I didn’t mean to purposefully lump the gloved-kneeboarder in with the others, it was just that they are such a small blip on my radar screen that I didn’t even think about it.
Sorry.
The finger slip on’s are branded as “claws”.
The guy makes them and a butt lease plug that’s also supposed to pretty good.
As far as gloves…
Buffalo Keaulana has used them for years, last time I saw him he had the claws on… Less bulk and stress I guess.
Alot of the real old ex beachboys use them like Grant… 60-70 years old…
And if I remember right both Mark Foo and Glenn Winton used to use them alot on the northshore.
I’ve used the fingered and half fingered H2O’s and they do put alot of stress on the arms… It is a good way to get back into shape or hurt yourself. The claws just add some slit webbing between your fingers so most of your hand is clear and won’t stay warm. There was and is times when you need them, luckily I don’t anymore. But if I missed hitting the surf for 2-3 months I’d use them again on the first go out…
People under estimate the amount of effort paddling out and against the current takes. You only truly stay in paddling shape by paddling or swimming in the open ocean… There’s the Vasa but I’ve never actually seen someone using it.
This fatboy has had the pleasure of taking many a musclehead body beauty gym rat/ex-star athlete into the surf only to watch them flounder and go in exhausted feeling like they want to puke. Always get a kick out of that somehow when you know you’re 20-30 pounds your prime weight and still doing it…
generalizations ARE all alike.
I used to wear them in the winter, because my hands were cold.
PS kneeboarders are still pretty common where I surf.
MaraboutSlim. I agree entirely with your web-glove comments.
We have one guy here who uses them regularly, others come & go. This guy is a perfect example of everything you illustrated earlier.
I am sure there are many nice people who use em…unfortunately I haven’t met one yet.
Sorry people. I’m with MaraboutSlim on this one…