NRS Mambas

Comments about NRS Mambas:

When the temps get below forty, my paddling gloves just weren't enough. This allowed me to keep on paddling despite the cold.

Comments about NRS Mambas:

Easy to put on and off and amazingly keeps my hands nice and toasty in 30 degree weather with 45 degree water and winds. I have full confidence that they'll do just as well in colder temps. If it is too warm out, a quick dip of the pogies into the water and everything cools down nicely without getting cold. I had my doubts, but I'm a believer now.

Comments about NRS Mambas:

I bought these on the recommendation of a dealer in Colorado who maintained that no gloves were truly waterproof and warm for winter paddling, and that Mambas (which he called "poggies") were the only way to go. Having experienced these and a lot of gloves now, I think he was right. The Mambas attach to the paddle shaft with velcro closures and they shield your hands from the wind and cold, but they don't necessarily keep water out. Surprisingly, they're quite warm in very cold weather, and they allow you excellent control of the paddle because you're actually gripping the paddle shaft without a layer of rubber between your hands and the shaft. They stay attached to the shaft, so you can easily withbraw your bare hand from the poggie to operate a camera or GPS where manual dexterity is required, then replace your hand into the shielded environment of the poggie again. I have used these in conjunction with Maverick waterproof gloves, and keep one or the other under my neopreme spray skirt while using the other. The Mambas are superior for warmth and for long-distance, straight paddling in the cold, and when you need to frequently remove your hands to fiddle with a camera, GPS or binoculars, however a slight disadvantage is that they remain attached to the paddle shaft, which makes it awkward to stash the paddle in a paddle keeper while they're still attached. The Maverick gloves are better for lesser-cold conditions, but are better suited to things like launching and landing, though they're harder to frequently get on and off. Each has its place, however the specialized Mambas are by far the warmest way to paddle long distances in the wind and cold.

Comments about NRS Mambas:

My hands get cold easily, and thought I would need gloves underneath. Gloves not necessary.

Service and delivery comments:

Delivery prompt

Comments about NRS Mambas:

I was looking for the very warmest pogies I could find. I'm convinced that these are probably that.

HOWEVER, my big hands found it hard to enter the pogies (i.e., it was a little tight for them). I found that I had to use the provided strap in my teeth to pull my hands into the pogies. That tightness probably adds extra warmth, but it is awkward to enter unless you have smaller hands.

Also, because of the thickness of the neoprene, these things are kind of heavy -- particularly when saturated. I lent them to a very light woman who was overwhelmed by their weight.

Ultimately, I sold these and now use the lighter weight NRS Motion Mambas. I find them to be adequately warm -- even when the water is near freezing and the air temperature isn't much warmer than that.