Expert Review: Hestra Women's Heli 3-finger Glove


These gloves are the perfect companion for a little side-country dip into some fresh tracks. All photos courtesy of Taysia Gable
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the gloves, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2022.
My take
The Hestra Women’s Heli 3-finger Glove is an amazing glove for any winter sports enthusiast that wants customizable warmth and exceptional waterproofing for any weather conditions. The 3-finger configuration is especially handy for snowboarders wanting to keep gloves on when latching down bindings.
Some discoloration and worn in leather look after a 30+ days of use
About the gloves I own
- Model: 2023 Hestra Women's Heli 3-finger Glove
- Size: 7
About me
- Height: 5’6”
- Weight: 165lbs
- Hand Circumference: 180mm
- Experience: Snowboarding for 26 years
Test conditions
- When I bought them: December 2022
- Days used: 25
- Weather conditions used in: Whiteout blizzards, warm bluebirds (33+ degrees), dry deep powder, wet warm snow/rain.
- Where I’ve used them: Brundage Mountain, Idaho; Tamarack Resort, National Forest Land, Idaho
- Terrain: On and off-piste (resort) and backcountry
How they perform
What I was looking for
I bought these gloves to give me a more flexible option when it comes to weather conditions throughout the year. I wanted something that would keep my fingers toasty on single-digit windy days and keep me from overheating on warm spring days. I also wanted a glove that could give me more dexterity without taking the gloves off.
Why I chose this gear
I chose the Hestra Heli 3-finger because of the removable liner and 3-finger option. In addition, I love the ability to tighten my wrist and wear the glove over my jacket to keep snow out. I looked at some other Hestra glove models like the Freeride CZone in 3-finger and Mitt and the Powder Gauntlet Mitt. Still, I ultimately went for the Hestra Hestra Women's Heli 3-finger Glove because of the dexterity and the range of temperature available.
No need to take off these gloves when ratcheting down bindings
What I love about them
- Fit: The fit is amazing. A super big bonus with Hestra was how easy it was to find the right size with their size guide. My hand circumference is 180mm, which puts me between a 7 and 8, but I prefer a snug fit, so I went for the 7. The only drawback is that the glove runs a little long in the fingers without the liner, but not enough to detract from finger dexterity.
- Comfort: With the liner in, these gloves feel like they envelope my fingers in a soft, fluffy cloud. Without the liner, they feel a little stiffer, and there’s not much keeping me from the elements.
- Ease of movement: I am surprised by how easy it is for me to grasp the ratchet on my bindings to tighten and release them. The 3-finger design really is a game changer for me. I’ve always opted for mittens and had to take them off to do anything with my bindings. I keep these on for almost everything (besides getting my phone out for photos).
- Warmth: The glove's warmth is rated a 6/8 on the Hestra warmth scale, but with the removable liner, I’ve never felt a chill, even on below 0 degree days. I’ve had a few days where I’ve gotten too warm on a deep pow day and have stripped them out to let my hands cool down. Bonus points to Hestra for how easy it is to strip out and out back in the lining. The glove doesn’t offer much warmth without the liner, but it still offers much-needed windproofing.
- Waterproofing: The leather palm is waterproof out of the gate; however, it does come with a leather waterproofing balm that needs to be applied occasionally for maintenance.
- Breathability: The glove doesn’t have much on the breathability side when using the liner. That is a huge benefit on those blustery days, but it can get too hot on warmer days. Without the liner, the glove is lightweight and breathable without letting any wind in.
- Weight: These gloves offer heavy-weight insulation with mid-weight dexterity and lightness.
- Conditions: These gloves are super versatile with a removable liner. I keep the liner in my backpack for when the weather changes. I can easily pop them in and out as needed. They thrive in deep snowy cold days with the liner in and warm snow/melty days without the liner.
- Features: These gloves come with a plethora of bonus features designed for the powder hound. They feature:
- Super warm, removable fleece liner
- Drawstring closure to keep the snow out
- Velcro wrist adjustment to keep the cold and snow out
- Wrist straps to keep the gloves attached even if taken off
- Tons of attachment options like a carabiner, eyelet, and hanging loop (great for hanging off a backpack while splitboarding)
- Quality: The gloves have a sleek and functional look and are clearly made of materials to last in extremely cold, snowy temperatures.
- Durability: These gloves are made of super high-quality materials and have held up like a champ. The only minor annoyance is the discoloration of the white leather. Because of the nature of the color white, I have some smudges and marks from use. I haven’t tried to use a leather cleaner on it, but I’m sure the stains would come out with a little proper cleaning.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Touchscreen compatibility: There is no touchscreen compatibility with these. To interact with my phone, I have to take the glove off. This is where the touchscreen-compatible liners, like the Touch Point Dry Wool 5-finger, come in handy (sold separately), but that’s an extra expense on top of the pretty high price tag.
These gloves keeping my hands nice and toasty on a blustery, blizzardy day
Favorite moment with this gear
I used these gloves on a chilly, early morning splitboard session on New Year's Day after a night of seven inches of fresh pow dropped and was still dumping. These gloves were the perfect companion to keep the snow out, and when I got too hot from my trek uphill, I could take that liner out and let my hands cool off. I also used the carabiner and hanging loops to hook my gloves to my pack as I took in the sunrise at the top.
Value for the money vs. other options
I recommend the Hestra Heli 3-finger Gloves for their quality and function all day long. I’ve yet to come across another glove packed with useful features for long days of shredding in any condition. In addition, they beat out the competition for gloves coming in at a similar price point. For those looking for a high-quality, warm glove without all of the backcountry and powder bells and whistles, the Powder Gauntlet 3-finger is a pretty solid and considerably less expensive option.
Final verdict
If someone is a hard-charging rider that isn't a fair-weather enthusiast, these are the gloves for them. They’ll take them from first chair to last, through long treks in the backcountry, in blizzards, on bluebirds, and everything in between. They're packed with useful features for both on-piste and off-piste. The Hestra Heli 3-finger Gloves will take anyone anywhere they want to go and keep their hands perfectly cozy along the way.