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The Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride glove is precision-tailored, hand-assembled Swedish hand armor, providing race-performance fit and protection to cliff-hucking out-of-bounds warriors. Its short gauntlet fits neatly under jacket cuffs, while padded knuckles keep you protected from wayward branches and long days on the mountain. Kevlar-stitched stretch Cordura across the back is both flexible and abrasion-proof for season after season of use, while reverse-seamed goatskin palms remain soft, sensitive and pliable even after multiple soakings. A low-profile neoprene wrist closure seals out powder and seals in warmth.
Bottom Line: Trust us when we say that Hestra's Vertical Cut gloves are totally worth it.
I got a pair of these used last season. They look good, but unfortunately I haven't found them to be particularly waterproof or warm. I have them in the orange color, and have found that the color seriously bleeds over anything and everything when wet. Maybe a different color would be better.
I bought a second pair of these gloves because I loved the fit and feel. The black is a bit stiffer leather then the other colours. Warmer gloves are available but not better looking. They fit true to size, and the leather is so supple the grip and dexterity is amazing. The wrist closure is a lot better then most gloves and provides a secure, under-the-jacket hold.
dima517881 - the fit on the Hestra Vertical Cut and the Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex XCR Glove is the same. I have both and wear them in the same size - 9 - so you can definitely use this size chart for reference.
these gloves fit like a glove. literally. you will never experience a better pole grip than with a set of hestras. the waterproofness really depends on how well you take care of them, so be sure to apply the hestra lanolin liberally and on a constant basis. the knuckle padding is a big bonus in tight trees too. enjoy, but be warned. you'll never go back to regular gloves again.
Thanks, Rob and Andrew for the previous answers. Do people recommend wearing a liner underneath these? I have about 1/4" at the fingertips, and a liner does not fit. Would you recommend a size up, or will they loosen up enough to fit a polartec-type liner?
Personally, I wear my Hestra gloves without any liners - the Vertical Cut gloves are warmer than they look. That said, if you would like to wear liners with these, I'd suggest a nice, thin liner like the Icebreaker Glove Liner (ICE0218) - we will be getting more in Aug/Sept. Your Hestra's sound like they are the right fit, especially after they pack out during some spring skiing! Enjoy
So I got these back in the fall and I posted an initial review and thought I'd revisit after some usage at Tremblant and Whistler. The gloves are the right temp for me, keeps my hands warm without being too hot. The only time my hands got cold was at Whistler when it was -19C and i was holding on to a cold tbar ... i guess that's probably the case with most gloves, once I realized what I was doing, my hands warmed up right away and stayed toasty warm for the full day at -19C ... gloves fit perfect, the leather is amaizing ... perfect gloves in my books!
I've never had a better pair of gloves and I've had everything from Reusch, Dakine, Kombi and other brands ... best glove hands down.
I was skeptical at first of the whole hype surrounding hestra and this glove in particular. I finally sacked up and dropped the money on these gloves and i still feel like an idiot for not doing it sooner, these are far and away the best gloves I have ever owned. Not once have my fingers gotten cold, not once have my hands gotten wet, not once have i gotten snow down through the cuff, and I've never hurt my knuckles when hitting branches in the trees. They also have enough of a low profile fit that it's not an ordeal trying to get my jacket zipped up. They fit bigger than the Fall Line and Boronowski's, finger length is similar but they're wider and hence warmer. The fleece inside is super soft and warm and the leather is incredibly supple.
I balmed them right out of the package but even before treatment the leather was incredibly soft and just gets softer with more use. I've owned these for over a year and there is no damage anywhere on them, they're very well made and designed, recommended to everyone
I already reviewed these, but for some reason it didn't show up.
These gloves are awesome- extremely unique, killer styling and excellent function. They look like nothing else- almost like something a superhero would wear in a movie. Looking at how they are stitched together one can see all the care put into making them.
Functionally they are excellent as well. VERY lightweight, I was surprised. I've used them in 15 degree weather at Vail and was fine although I'm sure a liner would help.
Just got these a couple weeks back, I will update once I get some winter done with them, but first off, I'm amazed at the quality of the stitching and leather. The fit is fantastic and fits under my ski jacket perfectly.
Very impressed so far ... they feel as warm as my old Hestra gloves, but time will tell this winter.
I have used Swany, Spyder, Black Diamond, Marmot and many other gloves over the years. These gloves from Hestra have the best dexterity of any glove I have tried. Normally I lean towards an "over the cuff" style or a glove with a long gauntlet. Since purchasing these gloves I do not think I will go back. During a big powder day this might not be the right glove, but for any other occasion I will not hesitate to pull these out of my bag. My fingers do feel a bit frosty from time to time, but by the time I start moving my hands they warm right up. These gloves allow you to do all the things one normally has to remove a glove to do - accept access your iPhone.
I snowboard in these and they are great gloves. They are incredibly unique and the look is about as cool as anything made. I have the brown color which looks amazing.
Also very functional. I have ridden in 15 degrees at Vail with no extra liner and was fine. Not super warm but still ok. They are extremely lightweight and soft as well. Be careful about touching edges with them though, as they are extremely soft and scar easily.
After years of suffering in inferior gloves, I finally stepped up and got these. If you measure your hand like Hestra recommends, (length from wrist to longest fingertip and circumference around fattest part of palm), and average the 2 measurements out, you'll end up with a great fit. If you're in-between and like a tight fit, go a size down, otherwise, size up. The padded knuckles help to protect when you're pushing those tree branches out of the way and when you're fighting for your spot in the tram. The neoprene wrist really works in sealing in the heat. Cheers.
these gloves are great! a couple of things i have found out: the black is made of a different, stiffer leather-not bad, but different. also these gloves arent the warmest, i suggest getting the hestra liner to use if these are your only gloves-my fingers get cold on the lift on chillier days. other than that they are the bomb! best feeling gloves ever, and they look sick.
How waterproof is the back or the top of the glove on the Hestra Free Rides? Is it waterproof. Had some wet skiing in the NE and gloves got sopped b/c the back of glove was like a sponge.
these gloves are my best friend on the mountain. whether i'm lapping SnowPark or shreddin Crested Butte these gloves keep my hands warm and surprisingly dry. They're stylish (yellow), warm and make it easy to keep moving on the mountain without having to take them off all the time when operating cameras, unzipping bags, etc. The BEST purchase i've ever made!
best pair of gloves i have ever owned. warm down to -5f and mostly waterproof when the leather is treated. just the right amount of padding for tight trees and freeskiing comps
These are the best gloves you'll ever buy! This is my second pair only because I lost my first pair (the original yellow). The vertical cut freerides are super sweet though. I love these on so many different levels that I don't even know where to start. These have great function along with style and comfort. One thing that sticks out from the get-go is the padding. I don't know how many branches I've punched out of the way or to leaning on jagged scree that has made the padding well worth it. Also the padding provides another layer of warmth that keeps your digits and hands that much more out of the elements. Next is the leather, which is great because it allows for a full range of dexterity along with amazing grip. Also the inside of all Hestra gloves along with these feel amazing! And you can't beat the way these look, they're just awesome! So buy a pair, wear em, and let your hands smile.
I've always suffered from cold hands on the lift. I've had the chance to wear these gloves a few times now and they kept my hands warm on a cold and snowy day in Tahoe but also dry and comfortable on a 50 degree day in So Cal. Not quite sure how that is possible, but I guess that is why I like them. Under the cuff is great, I was so tired of the gauntlets. Super comfy, warm, not bulky and very dry. What else do you need. If you have the dough, get them. If not, save up and get them. In 20 years of skiing, one of the best purchases I have ever made.
This glove feels very comfy. It is very warm, but I don't use it in weather under -15c. It also has a slight racer look to it with padding on the finger tips. My hands do not get sweaty when wearing them in warmer temps. Basically my fav glove to wear when it's super cold out or dealing with tons of snow. I use the XRC glove for those days.
I haven't used these yet on the slopes, but I did use a different pair of Hestras a good deal last ski season (Dominique Perret Power Dry model), and they are by far my favorite gloves. I'm not sure why but their gloves seem to conform to my hands better than any others, and they have the best pole-grip while still being very warm for their relative lack of bulky insulation. Whoever first came up with the neoprene under cuff design is also a genius. I have two pairs of Hestra and one pair of Mammut under cuff gloves now. I have used Reusch gloves but find the Hestras better all around (fit, durability, warmth, low-bulk, etc.) as skiing-specific gloves.
Back to basics, Hestra leather is the way to go. I have these and the XCR short. Both are great, although these fit better and move better. If they fit tight at first, it is perfect, as they will form to your hand in a couple of days. Unlike the XCR, these don't have any gore-tex, so you have to treat them with Nikwax. I used about half a tube on mine when I first got them. Bake gloves in oven at 150 degrees for a few minutes, liberally rub nikwax into palms and fingers. Repeat a bunch of times, then as needed throughout the season. The gloves develop a nice patina. Too bad they don't make the yellow ones anymore, cause mine look killer!
The Hestra glove fit is excellent and their grip on a ski pole is the best I've ever felt. They may not be the warmest glove when the temps get into single digits but that is something I've not yet tested. Cold January mornings are not too far off. It's nice to have an under-the-sleeve glove again as so many of today's ski gloves are of the over-the-sleeve gauntlet style.
This glove excels in all conditions, it doesn't matter if you are hiking the pow or, like me, you're in the park - they are great. Super warm and cushy inside, and the low profile cuff slips under your coat sleeve easily. I haven't had them long enough to personally comment on durability but they are Hestra, which in my experience, pretty much don't break down. I highly recommend it if you are looking for one glove to do it all.
Great dexterity is important to me. These gloves have a very expensive feel and despite all the padding, the articulation and grip are top-notch. Not too bulky and despite the tight, neoprene-like cuff, not too sweaty. The compromise, with the thin palm is that they may not be the warmest thing out there. So I'd opt for a super thin liner underneath, or keep a pair of mittens around for the sub-zero days.
These gloves feel great out on the slopes, they are warm, dry, and have a very natural fit to them, nice and snug yet allowing mobility. My fingertips were a little cold early on in the day, especially on the lift, but eventually I didn't notice it anymore. The gloves appeared to be getting wet by the end of the day, but my hands stayed dry, so no complaints. Well, I guess they are a little lighter brown than in the picture, but that's not really a big deal, and will vary from glove to glove. Overall, I'm satisfied, definitely worth the money.
I had a broken finger on each hand and these gloves protected me quite well. Not as warm as I would have liked, but I'm suceptible to cold hands anyway, so that was probably my issue more than an issue with the gloves.
Warm and comfortable with a high cool factor--they get oohs and aahs from resident ski bums. Fit is true to size. Perhaps because they fit snugly, the stitching seems to be under more strain than other gloves which could be a long term wear issue but no problems so far. Happy w/ them and would definitely buy again.
Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride are well worth the money.A great glove to wear,warm,feels broken in on the first wearing. Wrist closing is sweet,never having to adjust all day.Save your money-buy one brand,- HESTRA!
What can I say, these gloves are the bees knees. I use snowseal or nikwax to totally waterproof these. I usually heat them up in the oven at warm for 5 minutes and apply the sealant liberally. I repeat this until the gloves will not accept anymore sealant. Then I throw them in the freezer for a couple minutes to allow the sealant to set a bit. The leather is supple, but still holds up to the abuse of skiing everyday. You will not regret your purchase.
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