About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the gloves, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2021.

My take

The Hestra Heli Ski Mitts are the best gloves I’ve ever owned. They keep my hands the warmest they’ve ever been when enjoying winter sports or simply shoveling snow.

About the mitts I own

• Model: 2021 Hestra Heli Ski Mitts
• Size: 8

About me

• Height: 5’5”
• Weight: 155lbs
• Experience: 26 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought them: November 2021
• Days used: Around 200
• Weather conditions used in: I have used these gloves in all conditions, from a bluebird sunny day, the below zero wind blowing sideways, and white-out pow days to the end-of-season slushy spring days.
• Where I’ve used them: I live and ride in Colorado, and these mittens have been my go-to at all of the Epic and Ikon resorts I ride, a couple of trips to Park City, Utah, and Whistler, Canada, and all terrain in between.
• Terrain: Resort, trees, groomers

How they perform

What I was looking for

When I purchased these gloves, I was looking for something to keep my hands warm and dry in any condition, specifically on the coldest days.

Why I chose this gear

After a long search and many questions, I purchased the mitten version of the Hestra Helis. I was always a five-finger-glove person and was hesitant to change over to the mittens, but after talking to very cold humans on very cold days who recommended the mitten version, I am very happy with the choice.

What I love about them

• Fit: The fit is spot on. Inside, the glove feels very soft and comfortable.
• Comfort: The outside leather and cloth inside are very high quality, leading to a very warm and comfortable mitten.
• Ease of movement: The mittens are easy to move one’s hands in and still handle winter sports equipment like the little parts on snowboard bindings.
• Warmth: These Hestras are extremely warm. The coldest weather I have worn these gloves in was below-zero ℉. They performed excellently and kept my hands warm.
• Weight: They are lightweight for a leather mitten. This is helpful on the mountain because they don’t weigh my hands down or distract me from the other physical aspects of winter sports.
• Conditions: These gloves thrive in cold conditions on the mountain and in cold in general—especially in the snow.
• Features: These mittens have wrist cords to attach and hold the gloves to my wrists while not wearing them. They also feather Velcro straps to keep snow off of the wrists. And they have a drawstring at the upper wrist to create a seal and totally lock out all snow.
• Quality: They feature high-quality leather and insulation. The inside of the mitten is warm and soft. There is a patch of black fabric on the outside of the hand for airflow and design. They look good, they feel good, and they are warm.
• Durability: After two seasons, the wear and tear are minimal. Minor wear and tear, but they have held up, even with sharp snowboard edges and prickly tree branches.
• Other: They will hold up and are more than perfect for most all conditions. They’re a quality product from a company with above-average customer service.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Waterproofing: The leather can get pretty wet sometimes. If they are wet and it is cold, the mitts can freeze until I put my hand back in the glove and work it out to warm them up and melt the freezing leather with the warmth of my hand.
• Breathability: Their breathability is okay at best. On warm and hot days, my hands usually sweat inside the mitten. The leather doesn't breathe very well and traps the heat in the mitten, which is actually what I prefer.
• Touchscreen compatibility: There is no touchscreen compatibility available in any option.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with this gear is when I’m sitting on a chair lift listening to people complain about how cold their hands are and my hands are nice and toasty warm. I usually look over to them and say, “Have you tried Hestras? They’re very warm”.

Value for the money vs. other options:

I think these mittens are an extremely good value for the money over any other product on the market. I have used actual heated gloves, and even on the high setting, they did not keep my hands as warm as Hestra mittens. The heated gloves I tried were from Savior Heat. And in below-zero conditions, the Hestra Mittens performed better than them.

Final verdict

The best pair of gloves I have ever owned. They are a quality product. I would like to go to the factory in Littleton, Colorado, and learn more about them.