Hestra Women's Patrol Gauntlet

The Hestra Women's Patrol Gauntlet is a leather ski gauntlet built for cold days rather than wet ones. Hestra rates its warmth "Insulated," 6 of 8, and lists it as Waterproof: No — the glove has no waterproof membrane. You trade guaranteed dryness for leather feel, dexterity, and a liner you can dry overnight.

Fabric and construction

The palm is Army goat leather, which Hestra calls durable and proofed. The backhand is Hestra's 3-layer dobby polyester melange, a woven fabric of 97% polyester and 3% elastane. Inside is G-Loft insulation in a removable, Bemberg-lined liner that Hestra says can come out to dry, or be swapped for a thinner one on the climb.

Warmth and weather

Warmth is 6 of 8, "Insulated," which Hestra defines as deep, enveloping warmth for harsh winter conditions. Mobility and durability are both 6 of 8.

The waterproof rating is No. Nothing is laminated inside it; the resistance comes from the outer materials, and surface treatments wet out. Hestra's own words: "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." That cuts both ways: in cold, dry snow the liner dries by morning; in slush or rain, it is a ceiling. "Weather resistant" is the honest word, and it is Hestra's own.

Fit and sizing

Measure your hand around the widest part of the palm, then read Hestra's chart for this model: 127 mm is a size 6, 152 mm a 7, 178 mm an 8. Read the women's chart, not the unisex one — Hestra offsets them by a full size. That same 178 mm hand takes a 7 in a unisex Hestra glove, so don't carry your number across. Hestra calls its recommended size an indication only; some models fit tighter than others. The cut here is slimmer for a narrower hand, with pre-curved fingers.

PTO stocks sizes 6, 7 and 8 — the same three sizes in every colourway: Light Grey, Mauve and Navy. Nothing above an 8, in any colour.

Who it's for, and who should not buy it

It suits a resort skier who wants a warm leather glove that still works a buckle.

Skip it if you ski in sustained wet; you want a membrane. Hestra's CZone Mountain is rated Waterproof: Yes at the same 6 of 8 warmth, with durability at 5 of 8 instead of 6. For more warmth, the Women's Patrol Gauntlet Mitt is the same leather at the same price, rated "Expedition," 8 of 8 — but mobility falls to 3 of 8. Fingers sharing one chamber run warmer and handle hardware worse.