We have always heard that the heat goes to our heads and, without being all a lie, it is not entirely true either. Our extremities are the parts of the body that suffer the most from low temperatures, especially the hands in the case of runners. The best solution to insulate them from the cold and protect them is to purchase special running gloves. It should be noted that not all athletes require this accessory, either because of their body temperature or the weather that surrounds them.
We have always heard that the heat goes to our heads and, without being all a lie, it is not entirely true either. Our extremities are the parts of the body that suffer the most from low temperatures, especially the hands in the case of runners. The best solution to insulate them from the cold and protect them is to purchase special running gloves. It should be noted that not all athletes require this accessory, either because of their body temperature or the weather that surrounds them.
Why is its use important when it is cold?
Not protecting our hands from the cold has quite negative consequences. I'm sure you too have experienced that feeling of tightness and dry skin. Redness and inflammation occur when we are exposed to cold or humidity for a long time. And it can occur both in the hands and in the ears or feet, of course the covered parts will have less risk of suffering from low temperatures.
This is because we have many nerve and sensory endings in our hands, so it is normal for them to be more sensitive to cold. Experts recommend the use of gloves when the thermometer shows values below 5 degrees.
Despite being small, the muscles of the hands have a fundamental role so that our fingers can move perfectly. In addition, since they are not especially large, they have a different blood circulation and temperature than the rest. That is why it is normal for your hands to feel cold during the first minutes of training, even though the rest of your body has warmed up.
What types of gloves can we find?
There are thousands of types to choose from, but without a doubt it should have two basic characteristics:
- Offer thermal protection and impermeability.
- Allow freedom of the fingers when flexing them.
As we said before, each person has different qualities, but gloves must indisputably be used below 5º.
As for the materials and technical characteristics, we will find light, thick, thermal gloves and thicker and more extreme ones (thought of in the snow and in the mountains). It goes without saying that the typical wool gloves will only serve you to accumulate humidity and cold.
Imagine that you want to buy some gloves, but without specifying a type of climate or meteorological condition; your best option would be one of the type windstopper. They are light, waterproof in case of rain or snow, and windproof. It has proven effectiveness even in temperatures close to 0 degrees; and, in the event that the temperature is below 0º, there are materials such as Gore-Tex that will help you keep warm. In addition, many of these usually contain a thick thermal padding with fibers that can withstand up to -20º.
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See offer on AmazonChoose your size well
Gloves also have sizes, and it is quite important that you choose the one that best suits your hand. Just as you wouldn't run with shoes two sizes smaller, or with large tights, the same thing happens with gloves.
If you use ones that are too small or large, forget that they fulfill their correct functionality. The ideal is to go to a store to try them, but if you are going to order them online, measure your hand and pay attention to the manufacturer's measurements. A glove has to be comfortable, so our fingers should not touch the tip of it. There should be more or less half an inch left over.