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Question:

Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator. I’ve seen pictures in RW of elite runners wearing shorts, singlets and cotton gloves in what appeared to be warm weather and have never understood. Is this a bit like the nasal strip; makes some people feel good? Is it for people who are used to really hot weather who find themselves running in brisk but not really cold temperatures? I wear polypropylene gloves for running when it’s below zero celsius because they still insulate when wet. I use cotton gloves for raking leaves. What am I missing? Fred "but it’s a DRY cold" in Calgary

Response:

I’ve seen pictures in RW of elite runners wearing shorts, singlets and cotton gloves in what appeared to be warm weather and have never understood. Is this a bit like the nasal strip; makes some people feel good? Is it for people who are used to really hot weather who find themselves running in brisk but not really cold temperatures?

They’re cheap and disposable when you get warmed up. BTW, it’s not the cold, it’s the lack of humidity. Before you buy.

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It’s my understanding that the cotton gloves are much cheaper than the Polyprop gloves.  When the runner starts, s/he is cold so s/he wears gloves. When s/he warms up, they simply toss the $2 gloves on the ground.  Ya just can’t do that with an expensive pair of poly gloves! — Curro 26.2 "Curro, Ergo Sum" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator. I’ve seen pictures in RW of elite runners wearing shorts, singlets and cotton gloves in what appeared to be warm weather and have never understood. Is this a bit like the nasal strip; makes some people feel good? Is it for people who are used to really hot weather who find themselves running in brisk but not really cold temperatures? I wear polypropylene gloves for running when it’s below zero celsius because they still insulate when wet. I use cotton gloves for raking leaves. What am I missing? Fred "but it’s a DRY cold" in Calgary

Response:

Why do runners use cotton gloves?

They’re often given free at races. They’re often only worn until the body gets heated up (In my case) They may even be discarded (along with a throw away tee shirt) after a few miles in long race. I wear polypropylene gloves for running when it’s below zero

That’s when I wear polypro glove too.

Response:

Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator. I’ve seen pictures in RW of elite runners wearing shorts, singlets and cotton gloves in what appeared to be warm weather and have never understood. Is this a bit like the nasal strip; makes some people feel good? Is it for people who are used to really hot weather who find themselves running in brisk but not really cold temperatures?

While running blood gets sent to where it is needed most (legs while running) from where it is needed least (hands). Reduced blod flow causes the body part to get cold. Hands don’t really sweat, well mine don’t, so cotton gloves do the trick. The hands also have an awful lot of blood viens near the surface and that also will reduce the temperature of the blood. I usually run those holiday 5k’s wearing shorts, a singlet and a pair of gloves. I wear polypropylene gloves for running when it’s below zero celsius because they still insulate when wet. I use cotton gloves for raking leaves. What am I missing?

Not missing anything, you’re doing what works for you. Fred "but it’s a DRY cold" in Calgary

Andy

Response:

Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator.

Fred or Susan: Funny, just this morning my doctor told me to wear gloves while running.  He thinks I may have a condition called something like "Reinhold phenomena."  I never heard of it.  I told him I had some numbness in my right fingers after a three-hour run on Sunday.  He thought my circulation was good, so I’m not sure what the gloves do.  He said the condition can be triggered by the cold…so I should wear the gloves.  I’m bad on medical topics and this looks like I don’t understand…and I don’t!  But just an odd coincidence upon reading your message. Ernie

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Wasn’t it Greta Waitze who used to wear them to wipe the sweat off her brow before it ran into her eyes?  She wore contacts during races. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator. I’ve seen pictures in RW of elite runners wearing shorts, singlets and cotton gloves in what appeared to be warm weather and have never understood. Is this a bit like the nasal strip; makes some people feel good? Is it for people who are used to really hot weather who find themselves running in brisk but not really cold temperatures? I wear polypropylene gloves for running when it’s below zero celsius because they still insulate when wet. I use cotton gloves for raking leaves. What am I missing? Fred "but it’s a DRY cold" in Calgary

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Try blowing so your hands stay dry . . — Ivo van der Putten http://home.worldonline.nl/~iputten

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Easier to wipe your nose with a cotton glove than a polypro one.   Joe  :) Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator. I’ve seen pictures in RW of elite runners wearing shorts, singlets and cotton gloves in what appeared to be warm weather and have never understood. Is this a bit like the nasal strip; makes some people feel good? Is it for people who are used to really hot weather who find themselves running in brisk but not really cold temperatures? I wear polypropylene gloves for running when it’s below zero celsius because they still insulate when wet. I use cotton gloves for raking leaves. What am I missing? Fred "but it’s a DRY cold" in Calgary

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Funny, just this morning my doctor told me to wear gloves while running. He thinks I may have a condition called something like "Reinhold phenomena." I never heard of it.  I told him I had some numbness in my right fingers after a three-hour run on Sunday.  He thought my circulation was good, so I’m not sure what the gloves do.  He said the condition can be triggered by the cold…so I should wear the gloves.  I’m bad on medical topics and this looks like I don’t understand…and I don’t!  But just an odd coincidence upon reading your message. Ernie

Could your doctor have meant :Raynaud’s (Ray . noze) disease, sometimes called the "cold hands syndrome?"  For more info try a search on Raynaud’s. Palmer

Response:

: Try blowing so your hands stay dry . . So that’s what ultrajohn meant in his "skull me dry" signature? —  Oleg

Response:

Could your doctor have meant :Raynaud’s (Ray . noze) disease, sometimes called the "cold hands syndrome?"  For more info try a search on Raynaud’s.

Thank you.  I did a search and found a lot of useful information on the web. I’m certain now that this is what my doctor was talking about.  I reallly appreciate your suggestion. Ernie

Response:

Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator.

Personally, I’ve never had my hands sweat enough to make a difference. And cotton is a hell of a lot cheaper than polypro or whatever, so it’s easier to replace them when my wife steals them for gardening.

Response:

Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator. Personally, I’ve never had my hands sweat enough to make a difference. And cotton is a hell of a lot cheaper than polypro or whatever, so it’s easier to replace them when my wife steals them for gardening.

Good point.  Ya, since they are cheaper than leather, if you warm up enough to be able to run without them, during a race, just leave them at a water stop or give then to a spectator because you can afford to by a new pair after the race.  I never thought of it that way. BTW  I wonder if the gloves that Khalid Khannouchi was wearing when he broke the world record are worth more than a pair of brand new ones?  I don’t think so. Thanks,         Roger

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BTW  I wonder if the gloves that Khalid Khannouchi was wearing when he broke the world record are worth more than a pair of brand new ones?  I don’t think so. Thanks,         Roger

I betcha that some one would pay money for them. Just look at all the lunacy that went with the McGwire home run balls. Andy

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Andrew, I think you just cast an oblique light on a valuable aspect of our sport. While I love baseball, (I think it is one of the five or six innately perfect games in the world.) most people cannot play it, or have any first hand understanding of it at the highest level. Thus, if you want to connect to the big redhead , or Hammerin’ Hank, or A-rod, you have to buy souvenirs. If I want to connect to Khalid Khannouchi (sp?) I put on my grubby old fleece, my water-absorbent cotton gloves :-p and my forty-two pound fat-guy training shoes and go out the door. I can do exactly what KK does! Of course, I can’t do it as fast, or as long, or as well, and I keep getting I betcha that some one would pay money for [KK's "race worn" gloves]. Just

look at all the lunacy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -that went with the McGwire home run balls. Andy

Response:

Why do runners use cotton gloves? I assume not for warmth as cotton would get wet with sweat and turn the gloves into a pair of clammy dishcloths. We Canadians are taught from childhood that wet cotton is a lousy insulator. Personally, I’ve never had my hands sweat enough to make a difference. And cotton is a hell of a lot cheaper than polypro or whatever, so it’s easier to replace them when my wife steals them for gardening.

Before Microfibre and polypro, when running in real cold weather (back east, or in the mountains), I’d use a pair of Wigwam wool socks as mittens. I had a big safety pin which I would use to pin the socks to the back of my running shorts when my hands got too warm or the weather warmed up.  That allowed me to put them back on should the weather turn cold again. — In health and on the run, Ozzie Gontang Maintainer – rec.running FAQ Director, San Diego Marathon Clinic, est. 1975 Mindful Running:   http://www.mindfulness.com

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