About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the mittens, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2020.

My take

The Wells Lamont Saddle Tan Mitten is remarkably comfy and has kept my hands extremely toasty through almost all winter conditions. This is a solid all-around mitten and tends to run cheaper than its counterparts. There are no frills or fancy designs with this one, just a solid, pragmatic mitten to get the job done and keep my fingers from freezing.

About this gear

• Model: 2020 Wells Lamont Saddle Tan Mitten
• Size: Medium

About me

• Height: 5’6”
• Weight: 140 lbs
• Experience: 20+ years of skiing in resorts

Test conditions

• When I bought them: December 2020
• Days used: 60 days
• Weather conditions used in: Primarily in cold dry winter days in Utah, but also in blizzards and blower powder days. I have not used them much in extraordinarily wet weather like in the Pacific Northwest.
• Where I’ve used them: Alta (UT), Snowbird (UT), Mt. Bachelor (OR)
• Terrain: These mitts are my go-to resort skiing glove, but I also regularly put them in my backcountry kit as an extra pair in case things go wrong.

How they perform

What I was looking for

I was looking for a great all-around, mid-warmth resort mitten that I could use in the dry powder of Utah. I was mostly looking for something that would be extremely comfortable and cozy when skiing. I wasn’t very concerned about dexterity or my ability to fidget with gear because I have never felt inconvenienced by quickly taking a mitten off on the lift to adjust something.

Why I chose this gear

I chose these Wells Lamont mittens because they seemed like the perfect pair to perform in practically any condition. These appealed to me specifically because I don’t like gloves with big cuffs as my jacket cannot slide over them. The Lamont mitten has a small, narrow cuff that easily allows my jacket to roll over it. This makes for a better fit and minimizes bulk.

I considered the Black Diamond Spark Mitts, but was pretty deterred by the fact that their price tag is double that of the Lamont mittens. At that price, it really felt like I would have been paying for the Black Diamond brand name and not the mitten’s quality or features.

What I love about them

• Fit: I’d describe it as a great, comfy and snug fit. I love the black elastic wrist cuff that gives the mittens a narrower and sleeker feel.
• Comfort: These are honestly some of the comfiest mittens I have ever worn. They have a 100-gram fleece lining, yet they never felt bulky or unmanageable.
• Ease of movement: I’ve experienced great ease of movement as these mittens are slim and I never felt stifled by bulk. And, like I said, dexterity is not much of a concern with a mitten.
• Warmth: With the outer area being goatskin leather and the inside insulated by 100-gram fleece liners, these gloves have kept my hands extremely happy. I generally don’t have cold hands, but I have worn these in 0°F weather and have felt comfortable.
• Waterproofing: These mitts are goatskin leather, so they are not as waterproof as GORE-TEX. They are, however, treated with HydraHyde which is a waterproofing technology that Wells Lamont claims will not wear off in the same way as other waterproofing technologies. I was initially skeptical about this claim, but have found that after three seasons of use they are just as waterproof as when they came out of the package.
• Conditions: These gloves thrive in temperatures ranging from 10°F to 40°F. I have worn them below 10°F and stayed relatively warm, but I tend to have good circulation. Above 40°F I found my hands starting to overheat, becoming sweaty and clammy inside the mitt.
• Features: Wells’ Lamont mittens come with a ski strap for securing the gloves to the wearer’s wrist and I am honestly such a big fan of these leashes. Before owning these I was pretty indifferent, however, having the luxury of letting my mittens flap around securely from my wrists whenever I am adjusting my goggles or fiddling with some other gear changed my mind. It is an incredibly convenient feature.
• Quality: These mitts feel sleek and not too bulky. Considering they are made with goatskin leather, fleece-lined, and treated with HydraHyde waterproofing solution, they are great quality. In my opinion they offer the same material as other mittens that retail for twice the price. They have a tan, saddle color reminiscent of traditional leather work gloves. I prefer this low-key, no frills aesthetic and they seem to mesh well with just about any coat.
• Durability: I have found these mitts to be resilient, even after using them for more than 30 days per year in all types of conditions ranging from blizzardy powder days, to sun-baked spring skiing. Given the usage I am pleasantly surprised there has not been any considerable wear and tear like faded colors or undone seams. The stitching has stayed in-tact and they have retained their waterproof coating after using them for three seasons.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Touchscreen compatibility: There is no touchscreen compatibility, which I don’t mind given how convenient the leashes make removing the mittens. Still, I acknowledge that this can sometimes pose a problem for other skiers.
• Features: These mittens have an internal liner that separates the wearer’s fingers from each other. It’s something I don’t mind but I can definitely respect the desire of some folks to have all their fingers nestled up together.

Favorite moment with this gear

At Snowbird Resort two years ago, I had one of the most epic powder days of my life and these Lamont Wells mittens kept me dry the whole time. It was during mid-week at the end of February and the forecast only projected four to five inches, yet as soon as we got up the weather shifted and we started getting absolutely dumped on!

The final snowfall total was 24 inches throughout that day. There were free re-fills the whole time and practically nobody was up there—it was truly magical. What was nice about these mitts is that I really didn’t have to think about them or my hands being cold, and I could just keep my focus on skiing.

Value for the money vs. other options

For all these Lamont Wells have going for them, their price point is surely their best feature. For instance, Black Diamond’s Spark Mitts are made with the same material, have less insulation (60g compared to the Lamont Wells’ 100g), and cost twice as much. This is pretty outrageous given these Wells Lamont Mitts clearly seem to retain their waterproofing much better in comparison.

Final verdict

I found the Lamont Wells Saddle Tan Mittens to be incredibly great mid-winter performers that completely satisfy all my needs. I have been utterly impressed by this brand and their commitment to quality and durability. The only thing better than all that is the mittens’ very reasonable price.