Over
TESTCENTRE
Hand in ( dry ) glove
V4 Dry Glove Ring System
COMPANY : NORTHERN DIVER TEL : 01257 254444 PRICE : £ 85 WEB : WWW . NDIVER . COM
Separating some divers from their money can be compared to removing a limpet from a rock . So when a new product is described as being 33 % smaller than the original , you can almost anticipate that sharp intake of breath .
However , in the case of Northern Diver ’ s V4 Dry Glove Ring System I ’ d advise them to take a closer look at what ’ s on offer before snapping shut the padlock on those wallets and purses . The Wigan-based manufacturer ’ s previous version of their dry glove system had a lot going for it . It was lightweight , simple to fit , with an excellent locking system and unlike some - suitable for both neoprene and latex seals .
Its one drawback was the size of the two matching components – one at the cuff side and the other at the glove . While I found the V4 ’ s predecessor incredibly easy to use , it would be true to say that alternative dry glove systems were significantly less bulky .
This slimmed-down and relatively inexpensive successor should prove an interesting proposition to divers who prefer a more compact product . The system consists of two tough plastic locking modules , three colourcoded rings , a pair of inner fleece gloves and Ansell Extra rubber gloves . There ’ s also a tube of sealant and a small brush , which are required when fitting to neoprene cuffs . The fitting process is very simple : choose a ring size that suits the material and thickness of your drysuit cuffs . The red ring , being the thickest , is best used with latex ; the thinner grey ring is more suited to neoprene seals . The intermediate blue ring gives you the option to fine-tune the fit .
You simply insert the ring of choice ( in my case , grey for neoprene ) on the inside of the cuff . You can use a couple of plastic drinking bottles – of the sort found littering our beaches – as a means to support the cuffs . I then marked either side of the ring on the exterior of the wrist seal with a marker pen .
To ensure a good seal I applied several coats of the supplied sealant , allowing the specified drying time , then slipped the male and female locking modules in place , either side of the ring . If fitting to latex seals then you can ignore this step .
I hand-tightened the two components before finishing off the process via the large plastic ‘ spanner ’ supplied for the purpose . As the gloves come ready-mounted , it was then simply a case of matching the arrows on cuff and glove modules and twisting to lock .
Diving in a water temperature of 9 ° C , I was impressed with the thermal abilities of the comfortable , stretchy inner gloves ; the combination allowed almost as much dexterity as bare hands .
Everything stayed securely in place throughout my series of dives with the system , while removing the gloves inbetween dives and at the end of play was equally as easy as donning them . A quick twist , a gentle pull and Bob ’ s your uncle ! As the cuff itself retains its ability to seal direct to the skin whenever you feel like going gloveless then the drysuit ’ s integrity remains . Removing the system for transferring to another suit for instance , is also quick , easy and not damaging to the seals in the least . NH
SCUBA SAYS
Slimmer and much less intrusive than its previous version , Norther Diver ’ s V4 lockable Dry Glove System proves less is more when it comes to keeping your hands dry , comfortable and warm .
Tooled-up
Divers Multi Tool
LOMO WATERSPORTS TEL : 0141 2217674 PRICE : £ 10 WEB : LOMO . CO . UK the years I ’ ve acquired a multitude of spanners , screwdrivers and Allen keys , which I cart around in a box with me whenever I ’ m out diving . Not so bad when you ’ re kitting up on dry land , but if I wanted to take them on a dive , I ’ d probably be able to lose a few kilos on my weight belt .
In my experience it ’ s always just prior to entering the water when someone has a problem , needs to switch a hose over or desperately needs a screwdriver . Lomo
Watersports ’ compact Divers Multi Tool is the equivalent of a Swiss Army knife for divers .
This compact , stainless steel doohickie can be slipped in a dive bag or into a BCD pocket for instant access . While it won ’ t cover every eventuality , there ’ s an array of spanners , Allen keys , flathead and Phillips screwdrivers - even what looks like a hoof pick - to choose from .
These all fold flush into the Multi Tool ’ s handle to avoid any sharp edges . For just a tenner it ’ s a small price to pay to save a dive . NH
SCUBA SAYS
Lomo ’ s stainless Divers Multi Tool could make the difference between making a dive or sitting things out at the surface
62