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Hestra's and liners: building a mitt.

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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,411
Hestra is more or less king when it comes to cold hands. At least that's what I've always been told. Well one of my biggest issues while skiing always resorts back to ice cold hands. I also ski in a very gnarly-cold climate where we are often stuck skiing in -25C averages. Then days get colder then that yet, so a good mitt invesment is really a must. Before blindly throwing down on some $100+ Hestras though I have a few questions.

I noticed this section on their website:

http://hestragloves.com/en-ca/good-advice/hestra-glove-system/

And from what I understand, is that most of their gloves and mitts were never intentional standalone products, rather to be coupled with a base layer and one of their insulating liners. Now, does anyone here who owns Hestra's actually use a base and insulating layer inside of their mitts or gloves? Does anyone here use Hestra's own brand of mitt layers? Whenever I've seen a Hestra recommendation, there has never been an accompanying insulating and base layer recommendation as well. So I just feel like noone else is using them. And most threads on TGR I gave a quick browse of make no mention of it either.

Almost none of their alpine pro's include an insulated liner and base layer, so to throw down for a mitt around $150 just to find out that it's cold without a liner would really suck to overlook a bunch of other products and their costs just to have a product that functions as advertised.

Almost considering building a mitt setup as follows:

Base:
http://hestragloves.com/en-ca/gloves/liners/polartec-power-dry-waffled/

Insulating:
http://hestragloves.com/en-ca/gloves/liners/insulated-liner-long-mitt/

Alternative Insulating:
http://hestragloves.com/en-ca/gloves/liners/primaloft-extreme-3-finger-liner/

Shell:
http://www.hestrajobusa.com/c/weather-protection_cold-condition_shell-mitten?pkey=fc1000d7496dae4bd155f8e9f145dd2b&ckey=1006719.108379.1024993.0.0

The shell is a waterproofed, polyurethane palmed mitt from Hestra Job, Hestra's industrial lineup. Only runs for 60 bucks, and it looks really clean. Just seems like a nice cheap alternative to the more expensive alpine pro and alpine series mitt shells from Hestra; yet it has very comparable specifications.

Ha, huge post, all stemming from a portion on Hestra's website. But it opened up a whole new thought of mind when it comes to keeping hands warm. Never really thought of layering up with mitts in the same way you would with a jacket.

Any thoughts or experiences on all of this would be madly appreciated!
May 9 2013 12:18AM
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Cyanicenine
Posts: 966 - Karma: 2,294
I feel like Hestra's are slightly over-hyped. Their "polyester/fiberfill" insulation isn't especially warmer than other gloves, and (although this may not be a problem for you) they aren't waterproof in the rain but seemed fine in wet snow. Their best feature is their all leather construction combined with their more precise sizing, making them more dexterous and better fitting than most gloves (they fit like a glove!).

If you are open to looking outside Hestra you should think about looking for a glove that has primaloft/hyperloft, that stuff is crazy warm. I have these black diamond gloves and they are the toastiest gloves I've ever put on (with the added bonus that they've kept me dry even in rain). They use primaloft One insulation which is the densest version of primaloft out there. On the super cold days I will wear wool glove liners under them (nothing wicks as nicely as wool).

It's a setup that works really well for me as I just switch to wearing the liners alone on warm spring days, giving me three different warmth options in total. Department of goods has a bunch of the high end black diamond gloves on sale, consider taking a look, they also make a mitt and a lobster mitt if you really want some warmth.
May 9 2013 4:05AM
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Cyanicenine
Posts: 966 - Karma: 2,294
I feel like Hestra's are slightly over-hyped. Their "polyester/fiberfill" insulation isn't especially warmer than other gloves, and (although this may not be a problem for you) they aren't waterproof in the rain but seemed fine in wet snow. Their best feature is their all leather construction combined with their more precise sizing, making them more dexterous and better fitting than most gloves (they fit like a glove!).

If you are open to looking outside Hestra you should think about looking for a glove that has primaloft/hyperloft, that stuff is crazy warm. I have these black diamond gloves and they are the toastiest gloves I've ever put on (with the added bonus that they've kept me dry even in rain). They use primaloft One insulation which is the densest version of primaloft out there. On the super cold days I will wear wool glove liners under them (nothing wicks as nicely as wool).

It's a setup that works really well for me as I just switch to wearing the liners alone on warm spring days, giving me three different warmth options in total. Department of goods has a bunch of the high end black diamond gloves on sale, consider taking a look, they also make a mitt and a lobster mitt if you really want some warmth.
May 9 2013 4:09AM
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shr@gler
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 912
I have the Seth gloves and they are the tits!
definately no liner required at any time. even in the lovely alberta chill!
Mad durable too, you seriously wont regret the purchase
May 9 2013 10:34AM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
@pinkname

They may not be warmer than some gloves, but the insulation is such that it will keep the same heat even when wet, also speak from experience.

OP I don't use a liner but the coldest I've been in is -27, a liner woulda been nice in that situation(bare in mind I was using gloves(Seth mo 5 fingers)).
May 9 2013 11:55AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Ok, well if that level of construction, fit and function is overhyped, please show me another incrementally sized glove that offers similar build qualities.

If you want them waterproof, use SnoSeal. Get those bitches nice and waxy and they'll stay dry for days. It's simple gear maintenance. Also OP I know several people who use nitrile(?) gloves as a vapor barrier under their gloves and report that they work much better. (any glove not just hestras)

I've found that they're a long-lasting and well made glove. They fit well, are incredibly durable, functional and offer nice padding in some models too. I got my gf a set of hestra Henrik Pro mittens and they instantly cured her chronic cold hands and she loves them.

That said, if your hands are easy to fit you may be just as happy with some Kinco mitts for $25 or perhaps some Flylow tough guy mitts for like $40. Try stuff on. Fuck around. See what you can find deals on.


May 9 2013 12:58PM
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Cyanicenine
Posts: 966 - Karma: 2,294
Since OP is looking at a mitten the dexterity/fit advantages of Hestra sort of fly out the window.

I have owned a wide range of high end gloves including the $170 vertical cut freeride Hestras, $150 swany gloves, $140 Leki gloves, so on and so on. So far I have been most impressed with the warmth and the waterproofness of the high end black diamond gloves. I specify "high end" because every company carries price point equipment that isn't representative of their more expensive, all the bells and whistles, line up.

It could very well be that I didn't apply enough balm or bake it properly on my Hestras, but even assuming that they would be waterproof after thorough treatment that is still a lot of hassle to go through. Especially considering my leather black diamond gloves require no such treatment yet still remain completely waterproof, as well as being substantially warmer.

Hestra definitely makes quality gloves, I'm not denying that, their fit system is one that other glove manufacturers should try and emulate. But again, that does not seem to be the OP's primary concern.

Primaloft is synthetic down that was originally developed by the military, who were looking for something that provided the heat reflecting properties of down fill without those properties being compromised when wet. In my experience nothing has the same warmth performance, and almost all of the high black diamond gloves use it. In fact many of the complaints about the expensive BD gloves is that they are too warm.

Seems to me this mitten would be a good choice for the OP if he decides to try something outside Hestra.
May 9 2013 5:45PM
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Park.
Posts: 2480 - Karma: 4,582
i have some hestras, but I got them and it has to be in story time: earlier this season, I went to Loon for a comp, and having good GLOVES, I had never needed mittens. The day before the comp, it was hovering around 0 degrees with sunny skies. I had to switch to a pair of grandoe mitts that had these mega thick liners and seemed decent. I thought these would work great, but I WAS WRONG. it was so cold after the sun went behind the trees that my hands felt like they didnt have anything on them. I was starting to get numbness in my hands even when I balled them up. I was freezing and I needed a pair of mittens, so I headed over to the local shop and looked at all kinds of good mittens including Dakine, Leki, Grenade, Black Diamond (only gloves), and Hestra. I chose the Hestra Ski cross mitt the next day it was even colder, the high was -15 at the base, and in the morning it must have been -30 in the shade. I was freezing even with a ton of layers on, but the one thing that made me sweat were the mitts. I have never tried a warmer mitten on in my life. it was amazing. I couldnt beleive I was actually sweating. in other words, they are WARM. after a few uses, the insulation packs out a little and it becomes a reasonable warmth, probably just what you are looking for. hope you enjoyed my story :)
May 9 2013 6:29PM
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Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
Seth mos are a waterproof hestra glove... Lots of their others arent
May 9 2013 6:39PM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Well if OP wants a pair of fully waterproof, warm as fuck gauntlets I've got a pair of Arcteryx Alpha SVs in a L I'd sell him.
May 9 2013 10:00PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,411
Whew, thanks for all the options guys! I have a lot of time before next winter before I make a move on a mitt. Will likely be a BD or Hestra setup though. @Huck, I'll probably buy one of Hestra Job's insulated work gloves for spring and yard riding, just for shits and gigs. Only like 25 bucks for one of their leather insulated working gloves. Bake em with snow seal. Like either of these: Click for larger image [img]mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/10370/product_image/thm/t347_284f60b41a5205197b6f1208401d5780.jpg[/img] @Cyancenine, that alternative insulated lobster liner I posted up is primaloft insulated, so if I do go a shell & layers route then I'll probably get them. Right now Im using a Swany shell with a basic, shitty liner, no insulation anywhere. And they're alright but my hands still freeze. So the primaloft 3 finger could probably even be used with them. These guys: Click for larger image
May 9 2013 10:23PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,411
iPad fucked up my post. Sorry bout that. Y u no support paragraphs iOS.....?
May 9 2013 10:25PM
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TRAP_CHEF
Posts: 1172 - Karma: 279
Also if your looking for something really warm check out the burton ak oven mitt
May 10 2013 12:29AM
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