Best Tape for Rowing Blisters: How to Protect Your Hands
Rowing is tough on your hands. Repeated contact with the oar can create friction, hot spots, and blisters that make training and racing uncomfortable.
Athletic tape can help protect the areas of your hands that take the most abuse while still allowing you to maintain direct contact with the oar. For rowers, the best tape should stay in place, conform to the fingers and palms, and provide protection without creating a bulky grip.
Eucatape is a eucalyptus-infused cotton athletic tape designed with rowers in mind.
It can be applied directly to common friction points on the fingers and hands to help protect against blisters and irritation while maintaining feel and control.
What Causes Blisters While Rowing? Â
Rowing blisters are usually caused by repeated friction between the hands and the oar handle. During longer or more intense sessions, moisture, pressure, and repetitive movement can make certain areas of the hands especially vulnerable.
Common problem areas include the fingers, base of the fingers, palms, and areas where the oar repeatedly rubs against the skin.
A death grip on the oar can also increase friction. Good rowing technique, proper hand care, and protecting known hot spots before they develop into painful blisters can make a big difference.
What Is the Best Tape for Rowing? Â
The best tape for rowing should protect high-friction areas without interfering with your grip or feel for the oar. Look for an athletic tape that is flexible, durable, easy to tear and able to stay in place through demanding training sessions.
Eucatape is a cotton athletic tape infused with eucalyptus and designed for activities where hands take repeated abuse. For rowing, it can be wrapped around individual fingers or applied to specific hot spots instead of covering the entire hand.
Unlike rowing gloves, tape allows you to protect only the areas that need it while maintaining direct contact with the oar.
Eucatape for Rowing is available in multiple colors and is used by rowers ranging from recreational athletes to elite competitors.
How to Tape Your Hands for Rowing
For the best results, apply athletic tape before rowing to areas where you commonly develop hot spots or blisters.
- Start with clean, dry hands.
- Identify the fingers or areas of your palm that experience the most friction.
- Wrap Eucatape securely around the problem area without making it too tight.
- Make sure you can comfortably bend and move your fingers.
- Test your grip on the oar and adjust the tape if necessary.
The goal isn't to cover your entire hand. Strategic taping protects high-friction areas while allowing the rest of your hand to maintain natural contact with the oar.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rowing Blisters and Tape
Should rowers tape their hands?
Many rowers use athletic tape on areas that are prone to friction, hot spots, or blisters. Rather than covering the entire hand, tape can be applied specifically where protection is needed while still allowing direct contact with the oar.
Can you use athletic tape for rowing blisters?
Yes. Athletic tape can help protect areas of the hands that experience repeated friction while rowing. It can also be applied before rowing to known hot spots to help reduce direct rubbing against the oar.
Is Eucatape made specifically for rowers?
Eucatape offers athletic tape specifically designed and marketed for rowing. Its cotton construction provides flexible hand protection, and Eucatape is infused with eucalyptus. It can be used on the fingers, palms, and other high-friction areas of a rower's hands.
Protect Your Hands With Eucatape for Rowing
Eucatape for Rowing gives rowers targeted hand protection without the bulk of traditional rowing gloves. Choose your color and tape the areas of your hands that need protection before your next training session or race.