Viking Bayonet Dry Gloves

[MNDiver]

I have used several different dry gloves and can say without a doubt, that for me, dry gloves really make a huge difference. 

I use a bayonet style ring system/glove (SI tech) permanently installed on my recreational dry suit.  Like the previous post said, you can replace the wrist seal yourself in just a few minutes.  And since they pack small, I can carry spares in my save a dive kit.  I like the SI Tech quite a bit and have only had to replace the "blue smurf" gloves once and got them for $8 at Fleet Farm.  I have never put a hole in the blue glove, just wore the finger tips smooth after a few years.  They have flooded, usually because the blue gloves slips out of the glove end of the bayonet system.  They are held in place by a plastic ring that compresses the glove.  Over time I have found I need to "re-seat" this seal.  Even flooded, the gloves are quite warm.  The biggest problem I have with them is that I have LARGE hands and I have to squeeze my paw into the glove. It is not easy sometimes. The main reason the gloves come off the ring is my big hand pushing the ring and glove apart.  They are well made, have not broke them yet after several years of use and the only maintenance has been to buy replacement o rings after a few years.  Two thumbs up on this system...(if you have normal size hands).

I have seen another ring system that compresses together that seems to have a larger ring opening and uses the same blue gloves.  I think they are the Diving Concepts rings.  Would like to try, but since my rings are glued to my suit, I need to get another dry-suit first. ;D 

I have used the OS system rings and found them hard to take apart after a dive. The gloves also sealed on the inside of the glove to the ring so all the gloves had to be smooth inside.  This ruled out all lined gloves and made it necessary to buy more expensive gloves.  It became enough of a problem that I just got different rings.  The big thumbs down on the OS Systems...

On my Viking HD dry suit I use the Viking rubber ring and the pull-over Viking gloves.  Again, the rings are permanently attached to the suit, so I can change the wrist seals anytime I need, it really only takes two minutes. The there are several benefits to this system.  They are really fool/bomb/idiot proof. When the gloves are brand new, it takes some help to get them on.  Once the rubber has loosened up a bit, they are no problem.  I like that I can wear almost any thickness glove I want under the rubber glove. Even with really thick liners on, getting my big hand in the glove has never been a problem.  Only down side to this system is that the gloves themselves are pricey to replace when you tear them (say on a sharp piece of glass).  Since the cheapest I have found them is about $35, it can really add up.  I have tried lots of other "rubber" gloves, but the viking seem to be the best compromise between cold flexibility and toughness.  I even tried "Line mans electrical gloves" and once they got cold, they became too hard to move comfortably.  I am pretty sure the Viking are made by Goodyear.  So if anyone out there knows the size 12 part/model number from Goodyear, please let me know.   I want to by a dozen pairs.

I have never had any dry glove "blow off" or pull off my suit.  I am sure it happens, but I have just never seen it happen.  On general shallow muck dives I just put the glove on and go.  On deeper dives I put a pice of O2 tubing under my wrist seal letting air go into and out of the glove.  This way I don't get a squeeze from the glove.  On the odd occasion I flood a glove, I just pull the O2 tube out, and the rest of me stays dry. 

I highly recommend having your ring system permanently attached to your suit so you can change your own wrist seals.  This has saved my bacon more than a few times. 

Whatever you get, make sure you can get your hand in and out easy enough and you can lock it all up to your suit without too much difficulty before you buy.