Surgical gloves as cold weather gear

[Desolation Angel]

One of the nurses at the hospital I work at rides and told me to wear latex surgical gloves under my leather gauntlets to keep my hands warm in the 30-40 degree temperatures that are the norm right now.  I haven't tried it, yet, but she says they are big heat retainers and will even make your hands sweat.  So, no more numb fingertips.

Anybody tried this?  Does it work?  A big box of these gloves is relatively cheap.

I'm gonna try it.

[Swamp Rat]

Very bad advice! The whole idea is to keep moisture away from your body because it conducts temperature extremely well. When was the last time you saw thermal undies boast of retaining water? No, they speak of the ability to wic moisture away from your skin. trapped air is a far better insulater than is moisture for sure. Also, latex is a cumalative toxin to some people. You could go years wearing them with no problem and the one day you put them on and your skin turns red and itchy, your face starts to get puffy, then you find yourself unable to breath easily and ...WHAM!...anaphylactic shock.
  Just 2 very valid reasons not to use them.

[mike]

I guess if she says it does, I dunno yeah maybe.  I have too many doubts to try it though...
Ask for a couple pair next time you see her and give it a try, nurses have access to thousands of those things, they're everywhere for employees to get quick access (exam rooms, supply closets, front desk, nurse stations, etc)....

I'd ask her what gloves she wears over them to keep warm hands, it may be the outer riding gear gloves doing the actual job.   And what knd of rides does she do (short commutes or pleasure long rides -how long?, etc.)

I wore latex exam gloves at work for almost 5 years, when I worked at a lab supplier for medial and industrial firms.  I just never remember them being a thermal insulator while in the labs.  They do not breathe that's fer sure, and your hands can sweat in warm conditions while you work due to not being breathable (like a PVC raincoat does).  The only thing I see wrong with the theory is that riding glove liners need to wick moisture away from your hands to keep them warm.  If you collect sweat inside the liners from sitting in a traffic jam, then openup to 30 miles on the open road, it can't be cmfortable with cold sweat surounding your hands doing 70-80mph.

Give it a try..  Who knows, maybe it does work...


I've always used glove liners.
Silk liners ($9) with vented Leather gloves in the summer, and Polar Fleece ($16) with unvented leather gloves for the cold months.

Both the silk and fleece are breathable, so they do wick moisture away from the hands.

Here's some from Ridegear----> http://www.ridegear.com/store/category/Glove_Liners.html


Let us know if you get a chance to try the latex gloves, it is a different concept; and cheap too...
 

P.S.  I just saw Brian's post..  He thought the same thing on moisture.  A puffy swollen face and difficulty breathing is a typical severe allergic reaction people have who are allergic to latex.  But, you have to be allergic to it, to happen...  I worked with a new employee in an industrial lab that was allergic to latex.  The lab required a latex hood, breathing mask, goggles, and Nitrile goves (chemical resistant).  She put on the hood, was itching shortly thereafter... A little later she couldn't stand it and pulled the hood off-->man! she looked like she stuck her face in a hornet's nest and was sent to the emergency room immediately before it escalated into shock...  Bad stuff, but ou have to have the allergy, people not allergic won't have a reaction (unless its chafing or a irritation rash)...  

[JayRo]

The only reason I could see for wearing latex gloves is if you are going to check your riding partners prostate at each gas station.  
Brian is completely accurate in his comments.  
When I was in the Army, old timers used to talk about a type of cold weather boot that they issued out.  From what I understood, you pumped them up with air, that is why they were also called mickey mouse boots.  But your dogs couldn't breathe in them so there were many cases of trench foot.  
I think they amputate for that.  I am in no way saying that if you wear latex gloves for any length of time you better start looking for some handlebars that will accomodate wrist stumps, but it is something to think about.

[B12Teuton]

It may keep the wind off your skin on a short ride, but I wear them to wrench on cars/bikes and even this time of the year my hands get clamy and wet in them.

I don't buy it.

[Cruisecontrol]

As soon as you start to sweat it becomes very slippery inside the gloves so you may have problems with brake / throttle control or just the ability to hang on.
I had a pair of silk inner gloves that I used to wear when it got cold and I found they were great for retaining heat.

[97RedBird]

I carried them during < 40 degree ride that was raining and they worked okay as to keep my hands dry from the rain, but they were wet from the sweat.  This was on a short 1 hour ride.  I will never use the latex gloves again.

[speedytriple]

i have used them before. they work ok to keep heat in unless you start to sweat. then they do have a chilling effect. i went with silk glove liners i got at a sporting goods store they work great and are almost as thin as latex ones.

mike

[Tundrahog]

When I was in the Army, old timers used to talk about a type of cold weather boot that they issued out.  From what I understood, you pumped them up with air, that is why they were also called mickey mouse boots.  But your dogs couldn't breathe in them so there were many cases of trench foot.

Old Timers??? Damn I'm only 36 an I wore them!  

V.B. (Vapor Barrier) boots were great out in the Alaskan tundra, so long as it was at least 10 below, and you didn't run around too much.  Even then we had to change our socks a lot, or our feet would be swiming in a pool of sweat.

I guess the latex gloves would be OK for short rides.  Go out and buy a decent pair of winter riding gloves, your hand will thank you.

[JayRo]

Old Timers??? Damn I'm only 36 an I wore them!

You see, I'm only 32 so I stand by the old timers crack.
Just kidding, I seemed to be in the desert my entire military career so I never even set eyes on those V.B. boots.

I just got a decent pair of gloves off of QVC or HSN.  The wife is always watching those damn channels.  I called the cable company when I was at work to see if they can delete those two channels from my service...  They wouldn't take me seriously.
Well, the gloves are pretty cool....or warm.  They are not leather but they are waterproof and windproof.  They also have these inside type pockets for those cheap little heating packs that you can get at the drug store that stay hot for several hours when exposed to air.  They are not thick like ski gloves, and they only cost 19 bucks.
For the price they work pretty well.

[KX5000]

Old Timers??? Damn I'm only 36 an I wore them!  

Ouch, me too! In the Navy


My nephew wears them under his gloves dirt riding, he says they are great because they keep water/mud off your hands. I don't think he ever wore them on the street. I guess the layer of water in a wet suit doesn't keep you warm when you go SCUBA diving?? although there isn't any wind then.  
If I ever get my jetting problem figured out I'll try them, but I usually wear a pair of ski gloves and have warm fingers even on rainy cold nights.

[chevsuz12]

Old Timers??? Damn I'm only 36 an I wore them!  

I guess the layer of water in a wet suit doesn't keep you warm when you go SCUBA diving?? although there isn't any wind then.  
quote]

The wet suit does keep you warm, to a point.  But once the water temp gets too cold, you need a dry suit.

[B6mick]

Can not say I would like the idea either. I to use them when wrenching, and gee they can be pretty horrid after a short time. Sweating in them in cold weather sounds pretty nasty, kinda reminds me of one me mum reckoned was a great idea, putting your feet in plastic shopping bags before sliding the boots on. They got just as wet sweating as they would in the rain, problem was it didn't rain and it was to keep me feet warmer. That didn't work either, with the sweat and the wind chill, its a little wonder I didn't end up with frost bite.

[scooter trash]

I use ski gloves. They are 5 layers, waterproof, formed to fit around a ski pole, and after riding several hours in 30 degree weather my hands are sweating. Price: on sale $25.00.  

[ratbike05]

I tried the latex gloves during my rider safety course because it was cold and raining.  What a mistake!!  My hands were ice cold and soaked to the bone.   I won't be doing that again!