I swore by my old drysuit gloves for years, but a cold snap in Duluth changed my mind

Last month on a harbor inspection job, the water temp hit 34 degrees and my usual gloves just weren't cutting it. My dive partner lent me a pair of his heated mitts, which I always thought were overkill. My hands stayed warm for the full 90 minute dive, and I could actually feel the bolts I was checking. Has anyone else made a switch like that for cold water work?

3 comments

3 Comments

olivia_chen352mo ago

My uncle dove the Great Lakes for 30 years with standard 3-finger mitts and never complained. He said relying on batteries is just asking for trouble mid-dive. That warm feeling tricks you into staying down too long and ignoring other cold signs. I tried heated socks once and spent more time fussing with the wires than actually working. Sometimes the simple gear you know is better than complicated tech that can fail.

terry_shah172mo ago

What changed your mind about heated gear?

stellafisher23d ago

Wait, 30 years in the Great Lakes with standard mitts? That's insane to me." I mean, maybe it's just me but that sounds brutal-I get cold just thinking about that water. "I tried heated gear once and it made my dives so much more comfortable, but I totally get how it could be a distraction if it's not reliable.