Does anyone else have trouble with blisters from long flatwater paddles?
I have a recurring problem on one hand - right in the middle of my palm, over the top of the tendon that connects to the middle finger I've got a recurring problem of blister, callous forming, then peeling/tearing callous off (bleeds) and the pink skin under it reblisters. Feels OK till it gets wet, then aarrrghh!!
I'm using an ergo type grip which is super comfy.
Is anyone else having similar problem, how have you got around the problem? Gloves, tape, dressing the blister differently out of the water or ? I am thinking I'll have to try tape.
Had two weeks off the water (thanks to snapping my paddle at the Dump!), hand had completely healed up, 4km paddle this morning and it's blistered up again [}:)]
Please no 'toughen up princess' comments
is it the grip that is giving you the trouble? maybe try a paddle with out it? i wax mine for grip with surfboard wax
it's pretty simple "cement tablet"
try washing your hands in metho. it used to help when i was young bloke sailing dingy's. it really toughens your skin.
'
Try and get one of the new Quick Blade eva gripped T handles and swap it over with what you've got now.
DJ
i think you maybe should get someone to look at your paddling. for, say a 4 k paddle that shouldn't be happening so i'm thinking you might not be paddling correctly.if you can find a good oc paddler, they'll show you a good technique that makes paddling really good fun without pain
cheers
G'day Gemm
I think you may just need to harden up a bit. I’ve been SUPing for 5 years now so I think I may have a good encyclopaedia of knowledge yep I have done my homework. If you’re getting sore hands? For one thing you maybe just soft. Secondly get your hands on some scaffolding gloves & cut the tops of the fingers off, & throw the other types of gloves to the s##T house as you’ll be just pi##ing into the wind with them. Thirdly change your handle to a Quick Blade soft Eva pad grip. & finally C4 sell the soft Eva pad grip that goes around your shaft. If you’re still getting sore hands after all that Gemm the forum guys will chip in & buy you a nice little pink frock.
See ya in da ocean
DW
Ive done a few Murray Marathons paddling a K1 (404k - 5 days) and have tried and worn out quite a few types of gloves. If you need to wear gloves, the best I found where golfers gloves. They are super thin, so you dont loose the feel of the paddle, and most are made of a quality leather that wont wear out.
My 2 cents worth....
I agree with phil on this one . but if its any consulation your blisters will eventually turn into nice tough callouses.
If you're out there enough to get blisters on your hands you get the big green thumb from me.
Just keep paddling, have someone very experienced from any paddling discipline take a look at your paddle and how you're using it and correct any mistakes and get back out there.
The more you paddle, the better you get and the more you enjoy it.
I wonder if its the shiny smooth finish on the Kialoa's that keep my hands in good nic.. I paddle daily and I've never had any problems or nasty callouses.
Or.. maybe it the daily hand cream moisturizers that I use at work?..
DJ
DJ, do you have a manicurist that you can recommend ??? You're hands and nails looked to be in good condition in that last Pie Photo on the other thread !!!
(Dead Whales & Meat Pies Thread!)
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=66271
Thanks guys,
I might try taping across my palm and see if that helps. Paddling gloves look a lot like cycling gloves or weightlifting gloves of which I have oodles of pairs. In cycling we use golf gloves on the track too (they have awesome grip) but I don't think they'll be very nice in the seawater.
I don't know why I feel the need to justify myself here, but my reason for paddling in the first place is because I'm a competitive cyclist and after many years of that my core had got really weak and I was having shoulder problems from crashes. Since starting SUPing regularly, no more sore back on the bike, and can get milk out of the fridge without shoulders giving way. Plus I live at the beach so walk the board down, and it's fun :-)
So I'm chasing prone paddlers and kayakers up and down the coast going as quick as I can, not just leisure paddling and looking at the sealife ;-)
There's not many OC paddlers here to learn from, I've only talked to one who launches same spot as me!
I used to be a rower and callouses were part of the gig, but they'd form really fast and rarely open up or peel off. The palm one doesn't seem to be able to get a proper callous happening....
That girl reminds me of one of my old girlfriend Annie had the best looking chest so I got A##L ANNIE sprayed on my first ever SUP
Hey Gem,
I'm a rower and rowers always get shocking blisters.
The best way around blisters is trying to get some nice callus' forming. Some people have skin that will form callus' eaiser than others. I know a few rowers who's hands tear up all the time.
However a few things I have learnt (from my experience and others)
- Try not to pop your blisters, while they may pop during a session it's best to leave them be. If you get a few blisters intact after a session let them sort them selves out. After a while the fluid will drain back into your hands and they will form callus'.
- Don't use moisturiser, if you keep applying cream to your hands (including stuff like Paw Paw) they will keep going soggy and ripping up. If you leave your hands to thier own devices they should form callus'.
- Gloves are useless, they get wet, loose grip, then they start to rub between oar and hands, giving worse blisters than before. (and you don't look as cool)
- If you need some protection use tape. The stuff you get from phamacies, elastoplast or something. Use it sparingly though, if you use too much it will start to roll up or unstick.
Hope that helps!