Best rein/glove combo for grip in wet/sweaty conditions?

[Badger]

I love the feel of Soft Grip reins, with my second fav being Eventa Rubber Reins, but neither of them are giving me adequate grip when they get wet from lots of sweat or when my gloves are sopping from rain—those babies just slip right through my hands like eels and it's not allowing me to get the job done when I'm running down to a skinny and need a half-halt to go through, etc.

I've used SSG All-Weather gloves, the new SSG Digital gloves, and crochet backed leather-palm gloves. I hate a lot of bulk like the pimple grip gloves can add. I am looking for a supple and preferably not bulky rein/glove combo that will let me hold on tight through lather and rain. I have used the spray-on stuff that works like saddle tight, and it helps at first but doesn't last an entire ride.

(Soft grip: http://www.bitofbritain.com/Nunn_Finer_Soft_Grip_Rein_p/175.htm)

(Eventa: http://www.bitofbritain.com/Nunn_Finer_Eventa_Reins_p/0084.htm)

I will keep my beloved Soft Grip reins for dressage, but after being disappointed with them in two sweaty gallop sets, one rainy outdoor stadium lesson, and yesterday's wet coyote run, their career for x-c and hunting is over. Same for the Eventa ones, they've let me down when it counted.

I don't know if the solution is new reins, new gloves, or both, but I have GOT to get this solved asap. Do I have to go back to the big, bulky, stiff rubber reins with big pimples?

Which rein/glove combo doesn't let you down when the going gets wet or the reins get lathered?

[pinkdiamondracing]

Try adding the Neuman Tackified Gloves to the Eventa Rubber reins-- they work!!

[Hilary]

I've never liked the eventa type reins - because they don't stay grippy when it's wet, which seems to be about all of the time this summer (18 inches of rain anyone??).


I have a pair of Kerrits gloves which are incredibly grippy. They are thin and some kind of rubbery/tacky stuff. I actually can't wear them when I jump because I am not so good at slipping the reins, and they keep me TOO attached.

I can't remember the model/style but they cost about $20. I use regular rubber reins and with these gloves you don't slip, even when it's rainy or the horse is sweaty.

The only downside is that they don't breath so your hands sweat if it's really hot.

[Jazzy Lady]

Neuman's Tackified and Bobby's rubber reins. My reins don't slip unless I make them!

[KayBee]

I'm liking the Thinline reins, but I haven't tried many other varieties. It's been hot this summer and I've been able to ride gloveless -- even when my hands are sweaty, the reins don't seem to slip.

Haven't tried them in rainy conditions with gloves, though.

[TrakEventer]

I was in the same boat with the ThinLine reins until I rode in them, on cross country, and in the rain. NOT a good combination! I hadn't had any issues with sweat and schooling, but the rain plus the sweat made for VERY slick reins (even with Neuman's). I promptly returned them and utilized my 30 day money back guarantee! I never want to have that feeling on an Int XC course again!

[scubed]

I really like cotton reins with a rubber thread in them and the cheapo cotton gloves, nary a slip, even in some serious monsoons. Try these reins:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_X1-03044 or the really expensive version: http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0353&tid=shopz&CATALOG_CODE=1X844&EID=X1844001&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=45&zmap=X1-0353

[EventingChase]

I am going to disagree with TrakEventer on the thinline :) I have ridden in them in all sorts of weather including rain/sweat x-country and love them. I do not find them slippery at all even with just cloth gloves on and at home I gallop in them with no gloves.....

Different strokes for different folks! I think the reins provide excellent grip without being to bulky.

[yellowbritches]

Rubber reins and cotton string gloves. Very grippy.

Absolutely NO leather gloves (or leather reins, for that matter). Slippery in a heartbeat. I, personally, don't like the feel of fancy gloves like the Neuman's or SSGs. They are too bulky.

[Beam Me Up]

If you don't mind looking a little ghetto, these barn gloves
http://www.doversaddlery.com/atlas-equine-nitrile-touch-gloves/p/X1-39054/cn/2045/
are crazy grippy, especially right out of the package, and quite tough.

I wear them for both work and riding.

But not fashionable.

I only use rubber reins--for some reason the web ones really dig into my fingers galloping, but I do appreciate their less slippery quality.

[Robby Johnson]

I love the Charles Owen Red Line Reins, and have always schooled in those little cotton pimply gloves and competed in SSG's. I also really like my Beval camarel reins for grippiness.

[asterix]

I too have found the thinline reins really grippy -- although I don't think I've ridden in them in truly rain rain conditions. In winter, strangely enough, I can't keep ahold of them at all when it's really cold. Otherwise I love them.

[AUeventer]

I use the regular nunn finer pimpled rubber reins with the neumann gloves. i have NEVER had my reins slip

[saje]

Yellowbritches, do you have a picture or a source for your gloves? The only string gloves I know of have the leather palm and finger grips, and I have the same slippery rein problem as Badger.

I love the grip of the tackified gloves, but they are pretty bulky and so hot in the summer.

I may have to go back to the web & rubber woven reins, they really did work well until the rubber wore out where I usually hold them. Someone above mentioned that they are hard on the hands. I've fond a couple of different kinds out there (sorry, can't remember brands at the moment) and there's one that doesn't have the sharp edges.

I have fairly small hands so the standard old fashioned rubber reins don't work well for me, I get cramped fingers after a while. I love the Soft Grip reins tho!

[Dr. Doolittle]

I love my Roekles! (Have never known how to PRONOUNCE them, but what the hey...)

http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=2212

I have them in both black and in black and tan, and they apparently also offer a cross country model (which I haven't tried yet), but they are very lightweight and comfy, and *very* grippy. (I used to use Neumanns, but the grippiness of the palm material didn't last; they became slick after numerous wearings.)

I also use those "fabric web with interwoven rubber" reins that scubed mentioned; I have never had a rein slip with this combo. (And I have knobby, painfully arthritic knuckles, so hate having a lot of bulk in either glove or rein.)

[BAC]

Yellowbritches, do you have a picture or a source for your gloves? The only string gloves I know of have the leather palm and finger grips, and I have the same slippery rein problem as Badger.

Have you tried Horse Country in Warrenton, VA? I'm pretty sure they have real string gloves. Think their website is www.horsecountrylife.com (http://www.horsecountrylife.com) or something similar, I never seem to get it right.

Found them at Dover, here they are:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-39065&ids=240513400

[sch1star]

I don't like the Chesters so much because they don't seem to hold up against any kind of rubber rein with a pimple texture, but I do like their feel. The Roeckls xc glove mentioned above might be worth a try - says there is silicon woven in (nonstick cooking, sticky riding...go figure!). It's called the Mulberry:

http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=6859

[EventMum]

I love my Mac Wet gloves, I have really long fingers and they're the only ones that fit, and stay grippy on wet reins.:)

[broughton_sporthorses]

Roeckl's are fantastic. I think the US has different model names, but I love the "light and grip". They are so thin so you can feel the reins, but they are super grippy even when wet. And they look really good too.

[roki143]

I love my Mac Wet gloves, I have really long fingers and they're the only ones that fit, and stay grippy on wet reins.:)


I love them too! Although I wish they were easier to find over here, because I just lost the right glove this weekend during the mini bike ride from the trailer to the stall... very heartbreaking.

[CarolinaGirl]

Love the Neumans and they last FOREVER, my last pair just died about a month ago and had them for at least two years. I liked the Roeckl's, but they didnt' seem to last that long.