Review: Hestra Wakayama Mitts
By Ski Expert
Lucia L
4 photos
The Curated Take
4.5/5
The Hestra Wakayama Mitts are warm and cozy mittens due to their wool liners, which can be adjusted for temperature control. The mitts are made from durable leather and have a comfortable fit, with adjustable wrist straps. Despite lacking vents, they have good breathability and are suitable for various conditions. These mitts are ideal for skiers more than snowboarders due to their design. Overall, they are well-suited for those seeking warmth and comfort in cold weather.
Ideal for
- Wool liner keeps hands warm
- Adjustable wrist strap
- Very soft and cozy
Not ideal for
- Leather gets soaked pretty quickly
- No vents
- Inner Velcro strips for liner can be scratchy
Waterproofing
The Hestra Wakayama Mitts do a decent job at putting up with the elements as I ride. But when I ride all day in dumping wet snow or rain, they...Read more
Durability
The Hestra Wakayama Mitts are well-made with really nice materials. While I have only used them a couple dozen days, they seem to hold up well to daily rides and...Read more
Comfort
While these mitts are comfy without the liners and just the regular fleece, they become next-level comfy when I put the wool liners in them. The liners are soft and...Read more
Warmth
These mitts are my go-to. They are the most versatile mitts I own. On a warmer day, I will rise without the liners and have no problem cooling down. On...Read more
Ease of Movement
I am pretty picky when it comes to mitts since I want my hands to be able to move and not feel limited. The Hestra Wakayama Mitts are great for...Read more
Breathability
While these mitts don’t have vents and are made completely of leather, I found the Hestra Wakayama Mitts decently breathable. I have not had an issue with my hands overheating....Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Lucia L
About the gloves
- Model: Hestra Wakayama Mitts
Test conditions
- When I received these: Gifted in spring 2023
- Where I’ve used them: Crystal Mountain, WA
- How many times I've used it: 30
Expert Reviews of the Hestra Wakayama Mitts
Lucia L The Hestra Wakayama Mitts are the coziest mitts ever, especially when the liner is in. Made from wool, the liners are super toasty warm, so most days I ride without them. The leather seems to be pretty water resistant, but after a day of snowboarding, snow soaks into the leather. The insides of the mitts stay dry, but I can feel a bit of moisture at the seams. Although these mitts don't have vents, the inside material seems moisture-wicking as my hands are dry all day. I recommend these mitts to skiers more than boarders, as skiers are less likely to be in contact with the snow.
Product Specs
| Gender | Unisex |
| Age Group | Adult |
| Features | Windproof, Water resistant |
| Material | Polyester/Polyester blend, Neoprene, Leather, Wool |
| Best use | Snowsports |
| Model year | 2019 |
Review Ratings
Waterproofing
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. The Hestra Wakayama Mitts do a decent job at putting up with the elements as I ride. But when I ride all day in dumping wet snow or rain, they start to give out after a few hours. Riding in the PNW, I tested them quite a bit, and they do pretty well. They were still dry inside after two hours of straight rain, but the leather soaked up some water. They would probably soak through if I wore them for over four hours. That being said, they do great in dry conditions and light snowy days.
Durability
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. The Hestra Wakayama Mitts are well-made with really nice materials. While I have only used them a couple dozen days, they seem to hold up well to daily rides and hikes. The wool liner appears to stay in nice condition, too, and has not pilled up at all. The leather has gotten a little tougher since I’ve had them, but as long as I condition the leather occasionally, they should hold up well.
Comfort
5/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. While these mitts are comfy without the liners and just the regular fleece, they become next-level comfy when I put the wool liners in them. The liners are soft and warm. They are loose but snug over my wrists, so snow and air don’t come in. I have long fingers with narrow hands, and the mitts work well.
Warmth
5/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. These mitts are my go-to. They are the most versatile mitts I own. On a warmer day, I will rise without the liners and have no problem cooling down. On the colder days, I just slide the wool liners back into the mitts, and my hands will be snug and toasty all day long.
Ease of Movement
5/5
Lucia L gave 5 of 5 stars. I am pretty picky when it comes to mitts since I want my hands to be able to move and not feel limited. The Hestra Wakayama Mitts are great for that. The leather is soft and stretchy; I can do almost anything with them. I find some mitts hard to grab, but since the material is on the thinner side, it’s easy to use them to capture things or undo my helmet.
Breathability
4/5
Lucia L gave 4 of 5 stars. While these mitts don’t have vents and are made completely of leather, I found the Hestra Wakayama Mitts decently breathable. I have not had an issue with my hands overheating. When I wear the liners, the wool material absorbs moisture and prevents sweating, which is a huge pro for me.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Lucia L I love the mitt liners made out of wool. They are so soft and warm and don’t get moist throughout the day.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Lucia L My favorite moment with these mitts was riding around on a colder day. Sometimes, my fingertips get cold in my other mitts, but these kept my hands toasty all day long.
Why did you choose this product?
Lucia L I actually received these mitts as a gift but had been looking at them for a while since the wool liner and leather exterior stood out to me.
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