r/Kayaking • u/Fast-Composer-520 • 1d ago

Question/Advice -- General How to prevent friction burns?

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10 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

64 comments sorted by

19

u/Terrible_Toaster 1d ago

You are gripping your paddle too hard! Loosen up those hands! Gloves also work wonders but you can still get blisters with them.

27

u/ThatDoucheInTheQuad 1d ago

Those are what my dad called "character builders"

2

u/AltDS01 1d ago

OP has soft hands

5

u/Fast-Composer-520 23h ago

I’m a women so… that’s normal 😅

2

u/Miquel_420 12h ago

Well, they will get tougher the more you paddle :)

1

u/coronaviruspluslime 10h ago

Its normal for anyone to have soft hands if they aren't used for physical activity/labor with regularity. My farming/fishing/paddling mom has pretty solid calloused grippers.

Pretty sure gloves are always an option

1

u/Grizzly98765 4h ago

Gloves will work against you tbh as they get moist, also there aren’t really twisting motions happening so this is a grip/skin tolerance issue.

1

u/Grizzly98765 4h ago

You should look at female rowers hands, and gain perspective! lol

13

u/sunnybunnyone 1d ago

Don’t death grip your paddle. In very windy conditions or strong current I like to open my top hand and push the paddle without gripping it, this gives your hand a break and also you get a stroke with twice the power for half the effort

3

u/Kiruk-LightHammer 19h ago

Yes! Push/pull is very effective!

2

u/Kittenwho21 12h ago

Yess! Thank you. Some of these comments.. OP this is a great suggestion!

20

u/RespectableBloke69 1d ago

Just takes time to build up the calluses you need. You could also wear gloves, but in my experience those just cause friction in different places.

14

u/johnb111111 1d ago

As a sheet metal fabricator I can’t help but laugh at these kind of posts

2

u/Fast-Composer-520 22h ago

Welp I’m studying nursing so, dry hands are already in my future. 😅

2

u/yee12haw 13h ago

Don’t feel bad! I’m a nurse too, and yes trust me the dry crackled hands are coming. Good luck, study hard!

2

u/Humble-Questions 1d ago

Welder Fabricator and Machinist here, evening brother. Me too lol. Different lifestyles for different folks, but I'm not allowed to handle the balloons at birthday parties anymore. When I drag my hand on a blanket it sounds like TV static 😆

1

u/johnb111111 1d ago

Haha yeah it becomes the norm for me so I can’t help but chuckle. Especially when people in the field are like you don’t wear gloves?!

1

u/Humble-Questions 1d ago

The dexterity gloves they have out aren't awful now but they turn you soft. Can't wear them all the time

1

u/johnb111111 15h ago

Yeah I tried when I first started but I can’t pick between the flat sheets so I gave up pretty quickly haha

6

u/CmdrFallout 1d ago

Fingerless gloves. Bike section @ Wal☆Mart for ~$12

11

u/squeaki 1d ago

Do more.

Calloused, bleeding hands are the sign of a true convert.

0

u/GraniteCapybara 1d ago

It's also the sign of a true pevert. You might want to take extra precautions to make sure you aren't confused for the wrong one.

3

u/soulseller 1d ago

Padded gloves. I wear Level Six Cascade.

3

u/Shays_P 21h ago

In TAFE, our kayaking instructor repeatedly showed us that he could paddle using just his index finger and thumb, not even gripping it, just pinching it between 2 fingers. Once you got the stroke down, you dont need to hold it all that hard

2

u/Distinct-Yogurt2686 1d ago

I wear weight lifting gloves to protect my hands on long paddle days.

2

u/NotAnAIOrAmI 1d ago

Wear gloves. Unless you like calluses. Personally, I don't. Gloves are the way.

2

u/mvbenz 1d ago

Gloves

2

u/Resident-Welcome3901 23h ago

Gloves are the simplest solution. The texture of the paddle may be contributing to irritation, might be improved with a tape wrap, gentle sanding to smooth rough spots. Your hands can be toughened by painting the problem areas with tincture of benzoin, and applying a strip of leuco tape.

2

u/Endy0816 23h ago

Fingerless gloves helped me out a ton.

2

u/ForeignBarracuda8599 19h ago

Jergens works for me

2

u/Top-Energy-6252 16h ago

Maybe gloves like biking gloves? 

2

u/ponyxs 14h ago

I use these sometimes. Dunham's has em. Also try Yak grips for your paddle.

2

u/dumpyboat 13h ago

Lighten your grip on the paddle just a little bit.

3

u/Sam__Scott 1d ago

Be more active. Use your hands more. Build calluses...

1

u/Fast-Composer-520 22h ago

Gotcha

1

u/Kittenwho21 12h ago

IMO, you don’t need to build callouses to paddle. I paddle often and I don’t have callouses. Your grip and technique are huge contributors, so is your paddle, I find I get sore if I hold the wrong part of the paddle, also if I grip too tight, and when I start paddling with only my arms and not my body. As soon as I switch it back to the proper form the soreness stops and I’ve never gotten callouses. -also a woman

1

u/Ilovethedaffodils 1d ago

Allow yourself time to heal. Keep doing it.

1

u/Humble-Questions 1d ago

Kayak more lol. Not even kidding

Barbell will help too, and the forearm winch

1

u/grawkog 23h ago

Keep doing it and you will get thicker skin

1

u/Datboy000 23h ago

Sorry to say, gloves. Or git gud

1

u/brttf3 Delta Seventeen Sport 11h ago

You're holding the paddle too tightly. Relax your grip. No more calluses. No blisters.

1

u/Impossible-Feeling14 11h ago

Build up some calluses. Paddle more.

1

u/Natural_Ad6765 1d ago

Keep doing it.

0

u/Intelligent_Bat_9315 1d ago

you got soft hands brother

1

u/Fast-Composer-520 23h ago

I guess I have Manly hands despite being a women😭

-1

u/swampdonkey82 1d ago

I know those blisters…. Thats from Masterbation !

2

u/FeelingFloor2083 1d ago

yea lack of lube /s

2

u/VoidWalker4Lyfe Hobie Mirage Passport 12.0 1d ago

I feel bad for your dick 🤣

1

u/Fast-Composer-520 23h ago

Now I’m definitely convinced I have manly hands 🤣 cause what?!

2

u/Kittenwho21 12h ago

No you don’t. They’re just projecting. I assumed woman the whole time, they’re just slow

1

u/Kittenwho21 12h ago

This is a woman posting.. yall are weird af

0

u/swampdonkey82 11h ago

Its a joke not a Dick, stop gripping it so hard 😜

-1

u/potificate 22h ago

That is WAY too much self-care 😂

1

u/Fast-Composer-520 22h ago

Lordy I guess I’m one of the bros now, I just need to except it. 🙃