Fat fingers and rings

Hi all - 

Question for ring-wearers out there. I'm not a ring-wearer but due to a recent circumstance change (YEY) I am now a ring wearer! I was thinking of getting it re-sized slightly smaller since it tends to rotate a little bit - but then noticed after a trip to Shelf this past weekend I couldn't even get it off my finger as my fingers were swollen from all the delightfully abrasive Limestone. I'm guessing this is going to happen fairly often (climb hard - fingers swell - fingers go back to normal size - climb hard - rinse repeat). 

Questions are:

-Should I get my ring re-sized or is this a bad idea knowing that my ring finger is going to swell after climbing? It's pretty small so I don't mind too much that it rotates a little bit when my fingers are normalish-sized. 

-Any creative options for climbers and rings? I tried those silicone rings but the dude hates the way they look. I want matching ass tattoos. He's considering this. 

-I made the case to the dude that the ring should stay home when climbing or camping/climbing. He likes the symbolism of it and is not totally on board with this. Should I wear it on a necklace? Keep it at home? Re-visit the matching ass tattoo idea? 

Asking all of this because next year he'll also have to deal with all these questions too! 

I don't wear a ring while climbing, and advise that you don't either. Leave it at home.  If you must sport your ring, wearing it on a necklace is a safer way.

I apologize for commenting, as I know you wanted to hear from "ring wearers," AKA: "four fingers." :)

FrankPS wrote:

I don't wear a ring while climbing, and advise that you don't either. Leave it at home.  If you must sport your ring, wearing it on a necklace is a safer way.

I apologize for commenting, as I know you wanted to hear from "ring wearers," AKA: "four fingers." :)

Agreed 100%. Neither my wife nor myself wear rings while climbing - not worth the degloving risk.

Wife wears her ring on a necklace, I just go without.

Search for silicon/rubber wedding ring using your favorite search engine

Just to be clear, I'm not asking about wearing it while actually climbing. More like, on a weekend climbing trip or week long climbing trip when NOT climbing (at camp, etc.) do you even risk bringing it?? I'm more worried about losing it :p 

Ammo wrote:

Just to be clear, I'm not asking about wearing it while actually climbing. More like, on a weekend climbing trip or week long climbing trip when NOT climbing (at camp, etc.) do you even risk bringing it?? I'm more worried about losing it :p 

If you're talking about something with big rocks on it - leave it at home.  Climbing and fancy jewelry just aren't a good mix.  As for me, I'll either leave my wedding ring at home, or if I decide I do want it (for longer trips etc) I'll put it in my wallet when not wearing it.  My wife bought silicon rings, and she wears hers sometimes, but for me, I'd rather do the real thing, or else leave the ring on my nightstand for when I get home.

GO

Congrats!

I stick it in the zip pocket of my chalk bag (usually mid-route because I forgot). Often can't put it on again for a day due to swelling

Put the real rings away.

If you want something to wear all the time, get silicone. Fingers change all the time. Your ring is at risk of being lost, your fingers at risk if you wear it, your life at risk if you have it around your neck...it just isn't the point. The marriage is, not the symbol.

And, this isn't meant to be harsh, but if "dude" is adamant about the "symbolism", and insists you wear the ring, you need to sit down and have a talk! Wearing a metal ring all the time is pretty difficult, over the long haul. If the long haul matters, that one that goes on your finger later will be special, and you will want to not lose it.

Or, do what Maude did. Then you'll always know where it is. 

FWIW, I'm over 40 years in, close to 25 married, with my old goat. The rings came off long ago.

Congratulations! 

Best, OLH

Ammo wrote:

Just to be clear, I'm not asking about wearing it while actually climbing. More like, on a weekend climbing trip or week long climbing trip when NOT climbing (at camp, etc.) do you even risk bringing it?? I'm more worried about losing it :p 

Don't worry, the next 10 pages will be people telling you not to climb with your ring on because degloving.

Wait, What is this thread about?

My friend just got a ring tattoo when he got married. Due to his job and climbing etc he rarely wears the real ring... degloving is a nasty thing and I would avoid it at all cost.

For climbing trips, I leave mine at home.  My fingers, especially my left middle and ring fingers, have changed enough to the point that getting my wedding band off is nearly impossible.  Since I was quoted over $400 to resize my palladium ring, I'm shopping around for something slightly bigger on those "big knuckle days".

Congratulations to you and your fiance!

Shall I tell you about the two rings that my dear husband lost?  One was on a canoe trip, and another was on another recreational trip.

Or shall I tell you about the ring that I lost at a weekend lake retreat with his family?

Actually, it sounds like we need to tell your fiance these stories.  If you need to replace a ring once you're married, the "you pay for it" won't work as well.

I am with OldLadyH, in that I am currently wearing a silicone wedding band.  It's not the "look" that appeals to me, but having something that's not at risk.

Wait awhile to determine whether your engagement ring needs to be re-sized, since you'll probably want to wear it for family events, work, etc.  Your tendons might generally swell...or not.

Ammo wrote:

Just to be clear, I'm not asking about wearing it while actually climbing. More like, on a weekend climbing trip or week long climbing trip when NOT climbing (at camp, etc.) do you even risk bringing it?? I'm more worried about losing it :p 

I don't wear mine ever, but the wife totally does - her choice. On big long trips, we leave it at home. She's said she'd be devastated to lose it, so it's not worth that risk either in our measure. That's something you'll have to determine on your own.

I take a silicone ring on trips, and wear a metal one during normal life. Silicone is great, I can't get hurt with it and it would be cheap to replace. But I like that the metal doesn't snag on steering wheels, pockets, etc.

OP, my mom had her ring resized over the years and decades, until it could no longer be done. Then it was retired to her jewelry box.

Obviously, take it off when you should. But, also enjoy wearing it, until you miss it not being there when it is off. That's when you may want to change to the silicone. I hadn't realized that absence, until I was again wearing a ring 24/7.

We only had to dismantle the plumbing once to get my ring out of the trap. It simply fell off.

Put aside entirely climbing and degloving, the rings can get problematic just with life, time, and circumstances.

We've lost a few rings over the years, hubby and I both. I will say, one resurfaced in our backyard, 20 plus years later! 

Of course, that only works if you live in the same house for decades...

Finding the coffee cup a couple years after it was set down outside was embarrassing, but did amuse my son, when he found it while crawling around in the bushes.

:-) Helen

Be careful taking the ring off too! My ring got so tight my pulley tendon atrophied. When I went back to go climbing I grabbed the wall and it went "pop" so loud I could hear it.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Going to leave it at home for climbing, not getting it resized due to post-climbing finger swelling. 

Also OLH fwiw dude isn't so much as adamant about me wearing the ring all the time, as new to this whole engagement thing and we're both still figuring out things that we never really thought about before! After reading this MP thread he agrees leaving the ring at home is probably for the best :)