It’s summer here in Georgia, which means it’s regularly 90+ degrees when I’m out skydiving. Sweaty jumpers pack together into the plane for 60 seconds of air conditioning upon exit at 14,000 ft, and we’re already sweating by the time we’re back on the ground.
Needless to say it’s not uncommon that I get looked at like I have two heads when I’m putting on my skull cap and gloves as I’m boarding the plane.
Now, any woman skydiver knows just how critical a skull cap is in ensuring that you’re not spending hours brushing out knots in your hair (or worse, cutting them out), after a day of skydiving – so not much justification takes place here…but gloves, in the summer, really?!
Let me just tell you, I’ve jumped with and without gloves and regardless how hot and humid the weather, they’ve proven to be a necessity. Here’s why:
Protection -
It never fails, the day I forget my gloves or think for one reason or another that they’re not needed, I end up injuring my hands. We’re talking scrapes, cuts and bruises here, nothing too serious, but enough to be annoying and usually leave me bleeding post-skydive. Rarely do I know exactly what happened – skydiving is sometimes a full contact sport, with fellow jumpers, the plane, the ground – but once I’m back on the ground I’m all “that stings, what the hell!”
This weekend proved to be no different, thanks to my altimeter for gouging my paw!
Grip -
Personally, I like having gloves for the added grip they provide. When you’re skydiving with others, there will come a time where you’re hanging outside of a moving aircraft with one hand on a bar keeping you attached to the plane while your fellow jumpers get set up to exit. With gloves, I have confidence I’m not going to slip off. It’s also nice to have gloves when it’s pull time so slippage isn’t an issue.
Warmth -
This probably goes without saying but gloves provide a nice barrier between your skin and the elements. My skydiving gloves are less “wintery” and more the type you’d find baseball players wearing (in fact, I picked them up from the baseball section of a sporting goods store if I remember correctly), but they still do the trick when it comes to weather protection – that is, unless it’s below freezing at altitude, but that’s an entirely different conversation.
Here in the South, it still gets chilly at altitude, even when it’s warm on the ground. And for someone who has circulation issues in her hands and feet, I don’t need to worry about my fingers going numb on a skydive.
It’s all what you’re used to -
Here’s what it comes down to – personal preference. If you want to jump with gloves, if that’s where you’re comfortable, you know what it’s like to grasp your hackey (we’re talking skydiving here people) and exit with (or without) gloves, stick to what’s comfortable. As a jumper who grew up at a dropzone in the North, it made sense to get comfortable wearing gloves – they were essential if you wanted to jump any time other than the dead of summer. In the end, only you can make this decision for you.
So tell me, do you wear gloves? Why, or why not?
And ladies – thoughts on the skull cap? Totally critical in my book!
Blue skies!
Ashley
Since moving to Florida from Iceland, my criteria for acceptable jumping weather has changed to “if I need to wear gloves, it’s too cold”
I do see the benefits of wearing gloves, but man, it feels nice without.
I really do wish I could go without gloves – it’s nice to have your skin in the air. Maybe one day I’ll be able to attempt again without injuring my tender paws
Hi Ashley.
As a newbie jumper who began jumping in the fall, I was used to wearing gloves and didn’t think much of it. Then the 90 degree temps rolled around and I foolishly ditched them….until last week. My no wind PLF left me with bloody knuckles and plucking what I can only assume were corn stalk splinters (????) Out of my hands. I’m with you…I’m going back to my gloves!
Gina – it’s amazing how much your hands get beat up in the sky…and sometimes on landing. I’d rather be a little warm with gloves on than worrying about the blood stains on my canopy when I’m packing it
I wear gloves year-round. I’m a dental student, so my career depends on my hands and I can’t risk any cuts or abrasions. It also makes my altimeter fit better.
I have a skullcap, but it feels awkward and I don’t wear it often.
Sylvia – I can’t imagine cuts and scrapes on your hands would go over well given your profession. I like that the ladies are trending as glove-wearers!
Ever since I did my first Tandem with Chucky at STF and he gave me an old pair of gloves to wear i have been wearing them (I’ve got new ones since then) on every single one of 70 jumps since then. For a beginning, rookie, low number jumper where the landings don’t always go where and when as planned, they have saved my hands and fingers on numerous occasions as well as extra grip on the outside of the plane and other jumper like you mentioned in the article.
I don’t have the hair that you ladies have, so knots and tangles aren’t a concern for me, (I do carry a pair of clippers and shears with me if you should happen to need them) however a brain bucket can save your butt from being knocked out in the event of a collision with the plane, or another jumper, in the event a jump goes to the zoo and you end up getting kicked in the head by another jumper as happened to me.
Great articles, keep them coming.
Blue Skies,
Aaron
Gloves are where it’s at, Aaron! Glad to hear more people consider them a standard part of their skydiving gear.
What gloves do you recommend for summer skydives?
I jump with baseball gloves in the summer. They allow me the grip I need without overheating my hands.