RoLock System Dry Gloves - any good?

Rob Dobson · March 22nd, 2006, 07:38 PM

I bought some latex sealed dry gloves a few months ago and they are *lovely* and *dreadful*.

Lovely at 25m when they are compressed and useable whilst keeping your hands nice and toasty. Dreadful to put on, hopeless on the surface and in shallow water. I've only managed one decent dive in them and if I'd gone much deeper they would have crushed my hands with the squeeze.

I tried running hollow tubes from my suit into my gloves to equalise the air space but I just managed to flood the gloves and the suit.

So I have been looking at the proper ring type system but don't like the idea of permanently attaching the glove rings to the suit. Then I came across the RoLock system and wondered how this worked and whether or not it was any good? Anyone out there used it?

**neilh** · March 22nd, 2006, 09:03 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson)

Dreadful to put on, hopeless on the surface and in shallow water. I've only managed one decent dive in them and if I'd gone much deeper they would have crushed my hands with the squeeze.

I tried running hollow tubes from my suit into my gloves to equalise the air space but I just managed to flood the gloves and the suit.

There's a definite knack to putting them on and once you've got that they're not too bad at all. I use a length of bungee rather than a tube - it still allows the gloves to equalise, but means if you get a leak it only wicks into your undersuit rather than flooding in

The key definitely seems to be getting your drysuit and glove seals totally flat. Any bumps or wrinkles and you'll get a wet hand.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson)

Then I came across the RoLock system and wondered how this worked and whether or not it was any good? Anyone out there used it?

Tell you soon - there's a few of us lining up to relieve knackers of some of his stock

Gareth Burrows · March 22nd, 2006, 09:34 PM

My new protec explorer arrived today, so i plan to fit a set of rolocks to it later this evening when I can work up the courage. Will be using them this weekend, so will let you know ho I get on!

Solu · March 22nd, 2006, 10:01 PM

To help equalize the pressure, just wear a cut sock under the latex-seal. Much easier than a rope or tubing, and you don't loose the "socks" as easily as a small pice of tubing.
http://dir-diver.com/en/equipment/drygloves.html

I use this method, and it works well!

I use the Viking bayonet dryglove-system, bought from dyk-brand:
http://www.dyk-brand.se/download/new...ingbayonet.pdf

wilbo · March 22nd, 2006, 10:01 PM

watching with interest..

mstroeck · March 22nd, 2006, 10:35 PM

I tried to take a DIR-F last weekend (got sick and couldn't clear my ears, had to go home...). Prior to taking the course, I also thought ring-type systems were the "proper" type. Now, well, I'm not so convinced anymore.

I have the CheckUp system on my suit. My instructor (Achim Schlöffel) had simple gloves with latex seals on his. I now think that's the way to go. I find the rings on my gloves awkward. They make getting in and out of the harness a little more difficult, get in the way when I'm clipping stuff, I might have to take them out when I'm traveling and they stretch the latex seal they're installed on way more than I'm comfortable with.

The first thing I did when I came home was getting rid of those rings and ordering "proper" ;-) gloves. I'll wear fingerless gloves or just a plain old sock to equalize them. Your milage may vary (a lot).

March 22nd, 2006, 07:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rob Dobson (Online) Chillin' with the ninjas Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford Posts: 536	RoLock System Dry Gloves - any good? I bought some latex sealed dry gloves a few months ago and they are lovely and dreadful. Lovely at 25m when they are compressed and useable whilst keeping your hands nice and toasty. Dreadful to put on, hopeless on the surface and in shallow water. I've only managed one decent dive in them and if I'd gone much deeper they would have crushed my hands with the squeeze. I tried running hollow tubes from my suit into my gloves to equalise the air space but I just managed to flood the gloves and the suit. So I have been looking at the proper ring type system but don't like the idea of permanently attaching the glove rings to the suit. Then I came across the RoLock system and wondered how this worked and whether or not it was any good? Anyone out there used it? Last edited by Rob Dobson; March 22nd, 2006 at 07:40 PM. Reason: two a's in managed!

March 22nd, 2006, 09:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gareth Burrows(Offline) Chimp 2 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Horsham, West Sussex Posts: 369	My new protec explorer arrived today, so i plan to fit a set of rolocks to it later this evening when I can work up the courage. Will be using them this weekend, so will let you know ho I get on! __________________ Garf Amusing and Clever Signature under construction.

March 22nd, 2006, 10:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
wilbo (Online) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 878	watching with interest.. __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

March 22nd, 2006, 10:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
mstroeck(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 156	I tried to take a DIR-F last weekend (got sick and couldn't clear my ears, had to go home...). Prior to taking the course, I also thought ring-type systems were the "proper" type. Now, well, I'm not so convinced anymore. I have the CheckUp system on my suit. My instructor (Achim Schlöffel) had simple gloves with latex seals on his. I now think that's the way to go. I find the rings on my gloves awkward. They make getting in and out of the harness a little more difficult, get in the way when I'm clipping stuff, I might have to take them out when I'm traveling and they stretch the latex seal they're installed on way more than I'm comfortable with. The first thing I did when I came home was getting rid of those rings and ordering "proper" ;-) gloves. I'll wear fingerless gloves or just a plain old sock to equalize them. Your milage may vary (a lot). Last edited by mstroeck; March 22nd, 2006 at 10:38 PM.

March 22nd, 2006, 09:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
neilh(Offline) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson) Dreadful to put on, hopeless on the surface and in shallow water. I've only managed one decent dive in them and if I'd gone much deeper they would have crushed my hands with the squeeze. I tried running hollow tubes from my suit into my gloves to equalise the air space but I just managed to flood the gloves and the suit. There's a definite knack to putting them on and once you've got that they're not too bad at all. I use a length of bungee rather than a tube - it still allows the gloves to equalise, but means if you get a leak it only wicks into your undersuit rather than flooding in The key definitely seems to be getting your drysuit and glove seals totally flat. Any bumps or wrinkles and you'll get a wet hand. Quote: (Originally Posted by Rob Dobson) Then I came across the RoLock system and wondered how this worked and whether or not it was any good? Anyone out there used it? Tell you soon - there's a few of us lining up to relieve knackers of some of his stock

March 22nd, 2006, 10:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Solu(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Titusville, Florida Posts: 14	To help equalize the pressure, just wear a cut sock under the latex-seal. Much easier than a rope or tubing, and you don't loose the "socks" as easily as a small pice of tubing. http://dir-diver.com/en/equipment/drygloves.html I use this method, and it works well! I use the Viking bayonet dryglove-system, bought from dyk-brand: http://www.dyk-brand.se/download/new...ingbayonet.pdf