Peter Macfarlane recommends the Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex 5-finger gloves after rigorous winter testing. Find out why.
This brand has designed the Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex 5-finger gloves for serious mountain use with materials and detailing to suit.
Peter Macfarlane recommends
These are excellent gloves for cold and clear long winter days with an ice axe.- grip
- durability
- slow to dry
- cost
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: $230 | £165 (available from Hestra) |
| Weight: 278g (pair, size 9) |
| Materials: polyamide shell, goatskin leather palm and fingers, fleece lining |
| Features: Gore-Tex lining, G-Loft insulation, wrist adjuster, snow lock cuff, karabiner, handcuff security attachment |
| Sizes: 6-11 |
| Men’s version: Unisex |
| www.hestragloves.uk |
The palm and fingers are made of goatskin leather which is strong and abrasion resistant. It’s also reasonably flexible when new and I could operate zips and buckles just fine, and with regular use the fit keeps improving as the leather molds to my hand shape. The leather is moisture resistant but will eventually wet-out and this happens quicker as the leather wears in. In snowy conditions this isn’t an issue, but on wetter days I can end up with wet and heavy gloves that take an age to dry out. The grip from the leather on ices axe and poles is excellent with extra leather reinforcement at the high wear points from using either. The fingers are pre-curved, and the back of the hand and fingers are a lighter polyamide fabric which allows easy movement and a natural feeling at rest.
The long cuff (also polyamide) is tough and has a good DWR treatment. The glove is lined with Gore-Tex for breathable waterproofing and G-Loft insulation for warmth. The inner is a soft fleece, pleasant against the skin and wicks sweat away into the other layers well. The fit is useable for me both with bare hands and over a thin liner glove. The wrist is elasticated with an additional Velcro strap to cinch it in. The long cuff has a drawcord and the cuff fits under or over a shell jacket. There are external and internal loops to attach lanyards, ensuring you don’t drop and lose a glove when you take one off. The pinkies have hang loops and there’s an included mini carabiner to join the gloves for storage. Excellent gloves for cold and clear long winter days with an ice axe.
How we tested
Peter used these gloves regularly last winter and on colder days throughout the year. They’ve been tested with ices axes, crampon straps and walking poles as well as on tricky tasks such as deer fence repair with wire and tools as part of his ranger work. This review was first published in the January 2026 issue of The Great Outdoors. To compare it with similar models, browse our guide to the best winter gloves.
