Hestra Gauntlet Sr

Hestra's entry-price gauntlet, and the cut in its family that trades warmth for finger feel: a windproof, water-resistant synthetic glove with a long cuff and — by Hestra's own Performance spec — no waterproof membrane. For cold, dry days, not sustained wet ones.

Fabric and construction

The backhand is Hestra Proton polyamide, a hardwearing woven fabric that blocks wind and sheds snow; the polyurethane palm supplies the pole grip. Fiberfil synthetic insulation sits under a removable brushed-polyester liner. The fingertips use Wolf Paw construction — no seams on the surfaces subjected to the most wear, which is where a glove abrades through first. The cuff is a true gauntlet worn over the jacket sleeve, with elastic at the wrist and a snow lock; a wide cuff without one is a funnel.

Warmth and weather

Hestra rates this glove 4/8 "Very warm" on its own eight-step warmth scale, and labels it windproof. It is not waterproof. Hestra's structured Performance spec reads "Waterproof: No" and explains: "The glove does not include a waterproof membrane. It may offer water resistance from its outer material but is not designed to keep hands dry in sustained wet conditions." Hestra's own marketing prose — the dealer catalogue, and the material glossary on the product page itself — calls the fabric "waterproof"; that prose contradicts the spec, and the spec describes the glove you receive. Water resistance comes from the face fabric alone: in sustained rain or slush the polyamide wets out, and the fibrefill is on its own. Hence the removable liner — pull it and dry it overnight.

Fit and sizing

Hestra sizes by hand circumference, not S/M/L. The official US run is 6-12, but it differs by colour: Dark Navy/Beige stops at 11. PTO stocks the middle of the run — Black/Black 8-11, Dark Navy/Beige 7-10, Dark Sand/Graphite 7-10 — so check your size against the colour you want.

Who it's for — and who shouldn't buy it

Buy it for cold, dry days, for a gauntlet cuff at Hestra's entry price, or for dexterity: Mobility 5/8 "Flexible" is the highest of the three Gauntlet Sr. cuts, with Durability 4/8 "Dependable". Look elsewhere in two cases. If you run cold, this is the least warm cut in its family — the 3-finger is 5/8 "Toasty", the mitt 6/8 "Insulated", both at $85. If your days are wet, the CZone Mountain - 5 finger is $125 and its Performance spec reads "Waterproof: Yes"; face-fabric water resistance is not a membrane.