Cold-water divers in the United States are getting increased access to one of Northern Diver’s more specialised thermal products, with the company’s HydroTherm Rechargeable Heated Dive Gloves now being actively promoted in the US by American Diving & Marine Supply.
Northern Diver confirmed directly to The Scuba News that American Diving & Marine Supply (ADMS) is an existing Northern Diver distributor and is currently promoting the HydroTherm gloves to the US market.
The gloves take a different approach to conventional cold-water hand protection. Rather than relying entirely on neoprene insulation, HydroTherm incorporates powered heating elements across the back of the hand and fingertips, designed to maintain warmth while the gloves are wet and submerged.
According to Northern Diver’s technical specification, the gloves are constructed from 4mm superstretch neoprene with a thermal lining, internal seal ring and silicone-textured palms for additional grip. Heating is controlled using a magnetic touch on/off system, allowing the system to be operated underwater.
The system uses rechargeable 7.4V 2200mAh lithium-polymer batteries housed on the gloves, with an alternative arm-mounted arrangement also available. Northern Diver lists an average operating temperature of approximately 35°C and a depth rating of 100 metres.
Battery duration is quoted by Northern Diver’s current technical datasheet as more than 90 minutes, with an approximate recharge time of three hours. The gloves are available in sizes S through XXL.
That combination puts HydroTherm towards the specialist end of the cold-water equipment market, particularly for divers spending extended periods underwater where loss of hand warmth can become more than simply a comfort issue. Dexterity is important when operating valves, clips, reels, cameras and other equipment, and Northern Diver specifically identifies maintaining hand function in low temperatures as part of the rationale behind the system.
The company has considerable experience developing equipment for demanding diving environments, with products spanning recreational, technical, commercial, rescue and military applications.
Northern Diver supplied The Scuba News with current product and lifestyle imagery for the HydroTherm gloves and confirmed that it is supporting their availability through ADMS in the United States.
For American divers, the development provides another option at the increasingly sophisticated end of the cold-water exposure-protection market, where electrically heated equipment is moving beyond undersuits and vests to address one of the areas where divers often feel the cold first: their hands.
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