Armortex Gloves by Akona: Are They Worth the Price?


Armortex Gloves by Akona: Are They Worth the Price?

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Diving enthusiasts know you can’t just hop into the water with a wetsuit on and expect success. It’s all about having the right gear, and for many divers, Armortex diving gloves are one of the essentials.

You may have been scuba diving before or maybe you haven’t, but one thing is for sure, there are creatures and debris in the deep. You never know what you’re going to encounter. Every part of your body exposed holds a risk of injury. One prick of your finger can mean real danger when you’re in an ocean filled with critters who might get a little too curious about your blood. Add to that the risk of infection and finding a solid and well-made glove to protect your hands is a must.

If you’re looking for a new pair of diving gloves, you want to know that the pair you choose will serve your needs. The best gloves will protect your hands, and not wreck your ability to manipulate things as needed. Armortex may be the right choice.

Why Your Diving Gloves Matter

Even in warm water, diving gloves are important. The right diving gloves protect your hands, make important diving tasks easier, and are comfortable to wear for long dives. They protect you from the many unexpected dangers you might encounter underwater. Here are just a few of the reasons you should try to never dive without gloves.

They protect you from marine flora and fauna

The plants and animals that live underwater are among the most beautiful and strange in the world. One of the top reasons you might take up diving could be to get a closer look at these creatures. However, getting up close and personal with marine wildlife comes with its own danger.

Many underwater creatures have developed elaborate defense mechanisms, which often include biting or stinging. For example, a stationary plant that can’t run away from predators might discourage attacks with stinging leaves. Or there’s the soft, squishy jellyfish, which have long, floating poisonous tentacles to deter anyone from getting too close.

With Armortex gloves, you’ll have protection even from the bites of bigger and more powerful creatures of the deep. Most of the bites or stings you’ll encounter won’t be too dangerous. Still, even a small abrasion can be incredibly painful in salt water. Your gloves help ensure you’ll enjoy yourself for the entire dive.

They keep abrasions at bay

Similarly, diving gloves prevent you from getting painful abrasions from non-living things you might encounter.

Most underwater ecosystems contain lots of things that can cut or scrape your hands. There might be anything from rocks to broken glass to dead coral under the water. In some conditions, you won’t be able to see these hazards until you’re already touching them.

Of course, there are also sharp bits on some underwater animals. For example, you could run into a poke from a sea urchin spine. But many of the hazards to your hands are human-made, including sharp edges on the ladder you use to climb back up.

They keep you warm

The water doesn’t need to be very cold for your hands to go numb after a certain amount of time — and that time might be shorter than you’d think.

Even if the water feels warm when you first get in, it can quickly become chilly to bare hands. It might not be cold enough to cause any damage, but it can still be an uncomfortable distraction.

A good pair of dive gloves keeps you warm, without limiting the dexterity of your fingers too much.

They protect your skin’s moisture barrier

Spending lots of time in the water, especially salt water, can be incredibly drying to your hands. If you dive regularly or spend lots of time in the water on your diving excursions, your hands can pay a painful price.

Gloves protect your skin from the drying effects of water so that you won’t end up with cracked, chapped, or red hands afterward. Most diving gloves aren’t completely waterproof, but they’ll still protect you from the worst of it, especially the drying effects of salt.

How to Choose the Best Diving Gloves

Not all diving gloves have the same quality standards, and some designs are better suited for certain situations. Here’s what you should consider as you choose the best diving gloves for your needs.

Protection

Different diving glove materials offer different levels of protection. You’ll want to make sure yours are adequate for the places where you plan on diving.

When diving, your hands often become an extension of your eyes. Being able to reach out and touch the world around you makes the experience much more exciting. Your hands can also help guide you through murky or dimly-lit waters. However, without protective gloves, your hands become seriously limited.

Fabrics like Armortex offer superior protection without adding bulk. This way, your hands will be safe, but your mobility won’t be limited, so you can feel your way around a shipwreck or anything else you come across.

Insulation

Warmth is another important form of protection for your hands. The level of insulation you’ll need depends on the waters you’re diving in. However, keep in mind that temperatures that sound fairly warm can quickly make your hands go numb when they’re underwater.

If the water is below your body temperature (which is probably somewhere close to 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the water will pull the warmth from your body. The cooler water makes you feel cold faster than if you were above water. You might not always need gloves in the air that’s below 98 degrees, but water at those temperatures often requires them.

Comfort

It’s also essential for your gloves to feel comfortable while you dive. Ill-fitting or uncomfortable gloves will create another distraction from your experience, even if they protect your hands well. Some gloves might be hard to get into, but make sure they feel good once they’re on.

Fit

You might think the tighter the glove, the better the fit. But diving gloves that are too tight can break at the seams, creating tiny portals where water can get in. And, of course, gloves that are too large also let water in where they gap around the wrist. Reinforced wrists can help cut down on water transfer, too.

Mobility

The more mobility you have with your hands, the more fun you can have on your dive. The ability to move your hands is also an important safety consideration. If you have enough mobility, you’ll be able to operate your diving equipment if you need to in an emergency.

Make sure you can change your gauges, adjust your straps, and get water out of your diving mask as needed with the gloves on. You’ll probably also want to be able to write things down on your underwater writing slate.

Different styles of gloves exist which offer more mobility, but you have to balance mobility with warmth. A five-fingered glove in a thin fabric is the most mobile, but a three-fingered glove helps your hands retain warmth. A mitt is the warmest option, but has the lowest dexterity, since you can’t use your fingers individually.

Durability

Finally, you’ll want to be sure your diving gloves will hold up well to repeated use. Durable gloves might cost a bit more up front, but they also last longer.

What Is Armortex?

If you want a pair of diving gloves that meets all those requirements, Armortex is a great choice. The high-tech Armortex material meets all of the above demands.

What makes this durable fabric so unique? It’s an industrial textile designed for ultimate strength, durability, and protection. The material resists cuts, abrasions, punctures, and more. In these gloves, Kevlar fabric is blended with synthetics like neoprene and nylon to make the most durable, functional diving gloves around. This material resists everything from fire to cuts and is made using Kevlar, which makes bulletproof vests bulletproof. The worst things you can encounter under the water won’t stand a chance against Armortex.

You can also find different Armortex gloves to meet your specific needs. Some use an all-Armortex design for ultimate protection, while others place the ultra-strong fabric only where you need it most, such as on the palms. You can find designs with more stretch or more stiffness, so you can balance the protection you need with the mobility you want.

Where to Find Armortex Diving Gloves

Right now, Akona Adventure Gear is the top resource for Armortex diving gloves that will protect your hands completely.

Although there are other makers of high-quality gloves, Armortex offers a level of protection unmatched by other materials. Akona sells other glove styles and provides recommendations for what kind of glove is best suited to different types of dives. While the brand started as a maker of dive bags, Armortex gloves are one of the top products Akona offers now.

Are Armortex Gloves Right for Your Dives?

Amateur divers and those who only go on low-impact dives in clear, warm water might not need Armortex gloves. But as soon as you start putting your hands in situations where they might come into contact with threats, like cold water and sharp objects, you’ll want complete protection.

No other glove material protects your hands like Armortex. While they cost a little bit more, many divers find it’s well worth it. How can you go wrong with what is essentially Kevlar gloves? You’re investing in keeping your hands safe from injury, and your gloves will last far longer than most diving gloves will.

Have you tried Armortex diving gloves, or will you be making room for them in your dive bag in the future? Let us know in the comments!

Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson, a scuba diving enthusiast from San Diego, has spent over a decade exploring the underwater world across the globe. Sharing his passion through captivating stories and informative articles, Jack aims to inspire others to embark on their own scuba diving adventures and uncover the ocean's hidden treasures. Follow Jack on Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, and Facebook or email him at Jack@diving-info.com

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