Hestra Gloves

A snowHead

So the 20 year old Look kangaroo leather gloves have given up the ghost, been fantastic and although what seemed very expensive when I bought them they have been a great advocate of you pay for what you get, so my search for a new pair have taken me to consider Hestra, again exspensive but do not mind if they will serve me well, has anybody any comment to make before i purchase.

Thanks

A snowHead

best gloves made, just make sure you use the hestra balm on the leather to keep it soft.

my oldest pair of hestra gloves are now 15 years and and still going.

The warmest pair i have a the three finger mitt version.....brilliant.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

leedsunited, check out Burton AK Yeti's (under cuff jobby). Mucho better than the Hestra comparable model (I have both, have to say slightly disappointed with hestra given all the hype on here, though they still are pretty good - the balm or equivalent is necessary and takes some timeot absorb in fully so takes a bit of care.) For gauntlet style, Marmot are hard to beat

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carroz, Many thanks for the advice, looking at the military grade as a mate told me they are standard issue to the Swedish military so must be good.

barry, Many thanks for the heads up on Burton, never considered them but will take a look, also heard very good reports on Marmot.

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Hestra heli have been great for me. Warm, tough, comfy. They've also easily outlasted the poor TNF I had previously.

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http://www.edgeandwax.co.uk/29705/products/hestra_vertical_cut_freeride_gloves_orange.aspx

Available in a variety of vile colours, and 5% off for Snowheads.

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Brilliant. You need to take care of them (ie use the leather balm), but if you do they'll last for years and get better with age.

After all it is free

I've got the hestra army leather heli gloves and would not be without them on a powder day.

Had them three seasons and in that time they've probably done 20 weeks on snow. My only mild criticism is they can be a bit warm for a spring day but when the mercury drops i've not found anything that beats them.

After much research a few years ago the cheapest place i found them was here http://www.specialistsocks.co.uk/p5496/Hestra_Army_Leather_Heli_Ski_Alpine_Pro_Glove/product_info.html

EDIT: just noticed they're saying out of stock but it might be worth dropping them an e-mail

The other advantage of the heli is that at least some versions habe removable linings. So they can be washed.

A huge advantage!

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All many thanks for the advice, after much deliberation I'm going for the Army Leather Gore-Tex short ski glove, now just need to find the bet price and availability

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Good call! Follow the advice about looking after them and they should last for decades.

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leedsunited, Edge and Wax are usually pretty good (excellent customer service too), especially around this point in the season.

Hestra, 50% off in Arc 1950 last week. Lovely pair for 43 sterling. Nice Cool

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Wish I had seen this before driving back from Jackson, Hestra gloves all 40 - 50 % off, and the dollar being better than the euro a bargain. I could have filled a suitcase and sold them back home. would virtually have paid for the trip Toofy Grin

A snowHead

Just picked up a bargain pair myself for next season. Any tips on looking after them? Does it matter how much balm you put on them or is it a case the more the merrier?

A snowHead

Boosterfaceman,

Leather is like most things, a little of what it fancies does it good (cue the smutty innuendo). A light coat once per trip/year (whichever comes sooner) is plenty.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi, we recommend the following after every ski trip, and before you first use them (they are treated when sold but you cannot overdo this):

Put the gloves on, take a small amount no more than a pea size of care balm putting it in the palm of the glove, and then rub your hands together scissoring your fingers to get everything evenly coated. You can use a second does to ensure everything is covered. Once done all the leather areas should feel softer to the touch. Remove the gloves, and if they are a little creased, you can continue to work the balm into all the nooks and crannies with your fingers or a polishing cloth.

We don't recommend washing leather gloves, the marks left on them make them individual to you and show they are being used Shock

) If you must wash them, do one glove at a time, wearing it is a lot easier, and you can use a damp cloth to remove any surface dirt or residue on them. If you feel you must use soap (Use saddle soap, which you can pick up at a horse tack shop, farmers store or online), then do not rub, just blot the area, and then continue to do so with lukewarm clean water. Let the glove fully dry naturally (ie not on a radiator!) and then apply care balm as above to 'feed' the leather and restore it.

For washing the liners, best bet is to buy a glove with removable liners if you are a sweaty person, like the Hestra Army Leather Heli range, otherwise you can carefully turn the glove inside out and using a cloth and luke warm water with a little soap, blot a section at a time, and then again with clean water to remove the soap. Again, let it dry naturally, and still treat the leather in case any water has penetrated to the leather.

Son't worry if you get a little on non-leather areas, it wont harm it, just gently rub off to remove.

All of this only takes a couple of minutes, but doing this after each use BEFORE you put the gloves away for the season, means that they remain effective at blocking out the elements but also nice and supple with the leather protected whilst they hibernate Smile

Hope this helps, further advice can be found on the Hestra website and in their glove guide, we keep a stash of these in the showroom if anyone wants one!

ScottyDog
Edge & Wax

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scottydog, If you must wash leather gloves may I suggest saddle soap, it has all the ingredients to care for the leather whilst actively cleaning.

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Mmmm. Beginning to regret buying them with all this aftercare Confused

I had a strategy with gloves of wearing for a few weeks, then binning them if they looked worn and buying another pair. A wash might be as far as aftercare went. Treating with blam,washing with saddle soap, don't even look after myself this well Puzzled

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

scottydog, Want to order from you do you have a SH's code for your website?

After all it is free

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How waterproof, with treatment, are gloves like the Army leather wool? For the past 10 years so we've gone at Easter due to the kids holidays. The weather can vary to encompass all conditions but obviously down at resort it is generally warmer with soft and wet snow. I just wondered if these types of gloves are more for drier early/mid season conditions and that I should think more about a Goretex lined pair.

Reecie, Never got wet in leather Hestras yet, from blizzard to +23ºC in spring (ok, got a bit sweaty, but you would in anything).

Help!!

Hestra Gloves

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