Paddleboarding on the Thames: To have or not to have, Cold Fingers

You know the temperature has turned and winter has settled in when you find yourself suffering from dead digits or frustratingly frozen fingers after paddle boarding on the Thames. But it does not have to be that way. So the question is … Gloves or Mittens

Clearly it’s a personal choice, but there are some key things to consider:

• Dexterity If having flexible fingers and the ability to manipulate your digits is important then clearly gloves are it for you. Wool; cold and squelchy if it gets wet, neoprene can be cold, as its not the best insulator unless its also wet! synthetic will retain some warmth even when wet

• Warmth As children the default was mittens because they are easy to put on and WARM! Both construction and material have an impact on how well your hand coverings perform in keeping your fingers frost free

• Waterproof, water resistant, basically staying dry Well one option is not to put your hands in the water, a sure fire way to keep them warm and dry! The other is to have a water shedding coating on your mitt or glove

• Cost It does not have to cost a lot. Raid the ski box, the charity shop, Decathlon, TK Max, Aldi or Lidl

New is nice, but old it better, particularly if you decide that mittens are for you. New mittens might be snuggly warm, thicker and so a bit more difficult to hold your paddle.

Look for ones with a waterproof coating. Whether you're paddle boarding on the thames, the sea or on a lake, you might be concerned that you might drop them in the water. Sew on a loop of elastic enough to go round your wrist to prevent accidental dunkings.

Our recommendation:

A low cost mitten with a waterproof coating. The low price means the insulation is thin enough to allow for reasonable dexterity, but still keep your fingers warm.

Ready to brave the elements and try paddle boarding on the thames? View our schedule here.