Hands and feet.

[Mk2James]

Hi guys. Im still new(ish) to the surf scene and i am a cold water surfer, usually im ok with the cold but now and again me feet mosty, sometimes my hands get really cold when surfing. I try to move around as much as i can but sometimes it can get hard. I do wear 5mm gloves and boots, i think i need to invest in a tighter fit pair of boots but in the mean time does anyone have any tips for keeping my hands and feet warm?

[BaNZ]

5mm gloves! wow, where do you surf?

I guess with your feet, you can have those surf socks. So you have two layers, socks and boots.

[drowningbitbybit]

If you're surfing in the brutally cold and you've already got gloves and boots on, concentrate on keeping your core warm. Add a 2mm thermal rashie (the ones with the fleece work well) underneath your wettie, and get a hat/balaclava if you're not already using one. If your core is warm, then your body won't drag the blood away from your hands and feet and they should stay warm.


Or move somewhere warmer.

[Jester]

I've heard it said that the kidneys are the bit to keep warm as all your blood gets pumped through there so make sure your lower back is nice and toastie.. You can get these heat wrap things to go inside your wetsuit I think.

I've got bad circulation and your hands and feet just get cold at times Nowt you can do but push on through. Or paddle like a demon everywhere and go for every wave an get the blood flowing!!

[zebroo]

There are some really good 7 and 8mm boots out there. I've used Alder and Xcel ones, both proper toasty warm in the North Sea.

I find decent 5mm gloves are fine. They need have the sharkskin type stuff to make them wind proof as well as waterproof, I find.

Fit is important, if they are too big more cold water will get in. You also end up with water sloshing around and weighing you down.

A kidney belt also makes a huge difference as mentioned above.

[Dwight]

You can always get a drink to keep yourself warm