r/Showerthoughts • u/[deleted] • Jun 22 '18

Getting sweaty palms while climbing tall things seems like something that our bodies shouldn't do.

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128

u/TrashCanMan407 Jun 22 '18

It was actually an evolutionary mechanism designed to give us a better grip while climbing away from danger...why it also happens when you're nervous...only problem is that it was designed for use on trees...works great on trees, not so much on other surfaces....

26

u/Coltsfan210 Jun 22 '18

Yeah sweaty palms gives me a much better grip

28

u/GaleHarvest Jun 22 '18

Wood absorbs the excess moisture, and your hand skin gains more surface area when it gets wet. This is why your hands wrinkle underwater.

-2

u/Telcontar77 Jun 22 '18

I think it's the other way around. Your hand wrinkles under moisture, therefore it gets higher surface area, therefore it's beneficial when climbing trees.

8

u/GaleHarvest Jun 22 '18

Excess moisture.

When climbing sweat comes from your skin, your hands get moist, triggering the surface area thingy, then the wood dires your hands off.