In a perfect world waders and waterproof glove/gauntlets never leak.
As proof that the world is imperfect my new gloves leaked the very first time I wore them!
(In retrospect, I should have leak tested them before I depended on them for a very cold water hunt, but after all, they were brand new!!!!!!!!!!)
[attachment 155422 PicsfromFuji33WP027Large.jpg]
The weakest part of these gloves is where the sleeve attaches to the glove proper.
The long seam along the sleeve is also at risk, but isn't as easily damaged as the other seam. (The seam around the glove at the wrist is stretched and pulled every time the gloves are put on, during use they are stressed and then again when the gloves are removed.)
If the seams are not very well re-enforced they will fail, as in be pulled apart or leak, or both!
The pair shown were poorly assembled and obviously not tested for leaks as I only used them for a short while before realizing I had a wet (beginning to be very cold) hand in the 39Degree F water I was hunting in.
[attachment 155424 PicsfromFuji33WP033Large.jpg]
This seam is not well assembled and rough. On filling the glove with water I found a leak where the wrist and sleeve seams joined. (An especially likely place for a leak.)
After completely forced air drying the glove I sealed and re-enforced all the seams so that I would be able to use them on the next outing and not have to send them back for replacement.
In the future I think I may just seal and re-enforce all the seams as a precaution.
[attachment 155425 PicsfromFuji33WP029Large.jpg]
When I had leaks in the past I learned that a product called "Shoe Goop" in any of its many variations will patch waders, gloves and even plastic kayaks very well.
[attachment 155425 PicsfromFuji33WP029Large.jpg]
It can be diluted slightly with Toluene to improve its penetrating qualities and is very strong, flexible and completely water-proof!
The only issue I have with "Goop" is that with some flexible plastics it doesn't;t stick well unless the surface to be treated is very slightly scuffed to allow the glue to "grab" the material.
(Beware, it doesn't take much "scuffing" to wear completely through most of these plastics!!! as I found out the hard way!!!)
My left arm is my digging arm and the left glove is always the one to fail first. As a result I end up with more right hand gloves than lefts which is annoying.
Its a good idea to carry a spare pair along when hunting cold water to insure dry hands.
I wear a pair of wool GI glove liners inside the gloves and it's a rare day that my hands are so cold that I can't hunt as long as the water stays out.
I hope this information may save someone the possibility of a wasted day which could have been spent hunting!
GL&HH Fellow Hunters,
CJ
As proof that the world is imperfect my new gloves leaked the very first time I wore them!
(In retrospect, I should have leak tested them before I depended on them for a very cold water hunt, but after all, they were brand new!!!!!!!!!!)
[attachment 155422 PicsfromFuji33WP027Large.jpg]
The weakest part of these gloves is where the sleeve attaches to the glove proper.
The long seam along the sleeve is also at risk, but isn't as easily damaged as the other seam. (The seam around the glove at the wrist is stretched and pulled every time the gloves are put on, during use they are stressed and then again when the gloves are removed.)
If the seams are not very well re-enforced they will fail, as in be pulled apart or leak, or both!
The pair shown were poorly assembled and obviously not tested for leaks as I only used them for a short while before realizing I had a wet (beginning to be very cold) hand in the 39Degree F water I was hunting in.
[attachment 155424 PicsfromFuji33WP033Large.jpg]
This seam is not well assembled and rough. On filling the glove with water I found a leak where the wrist and sleeve seams joined. (An especially likely place for a leak.)
After completely forced air drying the glove I sealed and re-enforced all the seams so that I would be able to use them on the next outing and not have to send them back for replacement.
In the future I think I may just seal and re-enforce all the seams as a precaution.
[attachment 155425 PicsfromFuji33WP029Large.jpg]
When I had leaks in the past I learned that a product called "Shoe Goop" in any of its many variations will patch waders, gloves and even plastic kayaks very well.
[attachment 155425 PicsfromFuji33WP029Large.jpg]
It can be diluted slightly with Toluene to improve its penetrating qualities and is very strong, flexible and completely water-proof!
The only issue I have with "Goop" is that with some flexible plastics it doesn't;t stick well unless the surface to be treated is very slightly scuffed to allow the glue to "grab" the material.
(Beware, it doesn't take much "scuffing" to wear completely through most of these plastics!!! as I found out the hard way!!!)
My left arm is my digging arm and the left glove is always the one to fail first. As a result I end up with more right hand gloves than lefts which is annoying.
Its a good idea to carry a spare pair along when hunting cold water to insure dry hands.
I wear a pair of wool GI glove liners inside the gloves and it's a rare day that my hands are so cold that I can't hunt as long as the water stays out.
I hope this information may save someone the possibility of a wasted day which could have been spent hunting!
GL&HH Fellow Hunters,
CJ