Blue waves good. Blue hands bad. Pull on a pair of Chestermans and you'll be good to bust out through the break all day.

These surfing-specific gloves are made with true 'skin' neoprene, the sought-after top and bottom layers of a neoprene sheet after it finishes curing. More durable but more expensive, the 'skin' is to neoprene what a vintage year is to wine.

Note that the Chesterman puts warmth above raw abrasion resistance; it's not recommended for paddling or cycling, where you need tougher palms.

• 5mm skin neoprene on the outside limits wind chill and evaporative heat loss.
• Polypropylene fleece linings increase insulation and add a warm cozy feel.