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Body Glove Excursion Dive Gloves
In 1953, a half century past, the Miestrell brothers, Bill and Bob, built their first wetsuit and became one of the first, if not THE first, manufacturers of wetsuits in the world. Eventually named Body Glove, this name became synonymous with quality dive (and surfing) wetsuits. Body Glove continues to revolutionize the diving business with the introduction of new models and neoprene fabrics.
A few years they introduced one of their most popular suits yet—the Excursion. Key to the success of this suit was a fantastic new material they named X-Flex, a super-stretch, compression resistant material that is ultra-comfortable with its form-fit body. It was truer than ever to Body Glove’s adage of “fitting like a glove.” In addition the material is lined with Platinum Glideskin for an even closer fit that is not only ultra-warm but extremely easy to put on. Add to this a very smart construction method and superb seam construction and Body Glove had constructed one of the finest wetsuits on the market that continues to be one of their biggest sellers.
With the construction of the Excursion suit, appropriate accessories, of course, followed, with the gloves high on the list. The Body Glove Excursion Glove takes the fine earmarks of their Excursion suit and applies them to gloves, with one large and important exception—Kevlar. Kevlar is that stuff they make bullet proof vests out of. Ultra-tough, yet flexible. Body Glove put Kevlar on the palm and fingertips of this glove. Now, of course you will not be stopping bullets a la Matrix, but if you are a serious lobster hunter, this glove can be VERY important in your equipment cadre. Odds are you will catch more lobster using this glove.
Here’s why: In California our lobster are called spiny lobsters because they have spines—sharp ones, mainly across their back at about the point you will be grabbing them. Ouch! While it is difficult to create a glove that will prevent all puncture wounds from lobster hunting (and have the glove still remain flexible enough to be useful), the Excursion glove comes pretty close. The less you get painful pokes, the less lobster you will drop. And Body Glove was smart enough to wrap the Kevlar around the finger tips making this glove also very durable.
Couple this toughness with the smart Excursion construction ideal, methods and materials, and you have an excellent glove for the rigors of California diving, in particular during lobster season. The back of the glove uses the same X-flex super-stretch material with Platinum glide inside for ease in donning the glove on and success in keeping your hands warm. Seams are triple glued and tightly blind-stitched on the outside only (if stitched on inside the seams would rub, pinch and restrict hand movement). An interesting and unusual feature of this glove is it has an anatomically pre-bent design.
It is cut and sewn so as to take on the shape of the hand in a normal relaxed position with a slight grip. The result is no strain fighting the glove. The gauntlet (open end) of the glove is long to overlap the end of a wetsuit arm (more warmth), and is trimmed with soft lycra seam tape for durability and comfort. Closure is accomplished with an easy, quick elastic velcro band.
The Body Glove Excursion Glove is available in sizes XS through XL, black only and 3mm only. For information, including a dealer near you, visit www.bodyglove.com online.