Hestra Wakayama Review

Available in a range of colors and sizes, the Wakayama is sure to be a perfect fit for almost any skier or rider. Even though this is a short-cuff glove, the wrist straps and cinch ensure a secure fit. As long as it's properly maintained, the cowhide leather exterior provides excellent grip and weather protection. Outward-facing seams maximize dexterity and precision, allowing you to handle gear easily without taking your gloves off.

Warmth

We felt comfortable skiing in these gloves across a full gamut of conditions – from sunny days well above freezing to sub-zero storms. The natural materials provide excellent breathability for ski touring in milder temperatures, yet remain waterproof, windproof, and protective for cold, wet days riding lifts. The cozy, removable liner adds loft to the interior, while the wool-terry fabric naturally wicks moisture to keep hands dry – and keeping them dry pays dividends in keeping them warm.

Even though we felt comfortable wearing these gloves on most days, the Wakayama are best suited for skiers and riders who are consistently active. They lack heavy insulation and have a low profile, so if you're standing around on sub-zero storm days, they might not be warm enough. While they offer good warmth for their weight, better-insulated or heated gloves and mittens are superior in extreme cold.

Dexterity

The Wakayama gloves are exceptionally dextrous. The leather outer is supple, while the wrist cinch keeps them snugly in place. The exterior-sewn seams actually improve how well you can feel with these gloves, which makes it easy to zip zippers and adjust boot buckles. These gloves are available in a wide range of sizes, so you can really dial in your perfect fit

While we could easily complete most tasks, these gloves lack touchscreen compatibility, so you'll need to take them off to use your phone. If you do need to take them off, the included wrist leash will prevent them from falling off the chairlift. We especially love using these gloves in the backcountry – we can easily transition our boots, rip skins, and use an avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe, all without taking them off.

Water Resistance

Leather gloves will absorb water unless you treat them regularly with a wax like Sno-Seal, which is included with the Wakayama. After properly sealing these gloves, they absorbed water only when we fully immersed them or during extended periods of direct contact with wet snow. As long as the precipitation falling from the sky was frozen, these gloves kept our hands dry.

If they do fully saturate, the Wakayama takes a relatively long time to dry out (though removing the wool liner helps speed up the process). The key to peak water resistance is regularly treating the leather with Sno-Seal or a similar product – we recommend reapplying Sno-Seal at least once per winter, or twice if you use the gloves multiple days per week. Although regular maintenance is a trade-off, many skiers find it worthwhile for the other benefits of a leather glove.

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Construction Quality

High-quality construction and materials often come with a higher price tag, and the Hestra Wakayama is no exception. These are premium gloves, and although they have proven to last for years of heavy use, they do require seasonal upkeep to perform at their best. The high-quality cowhide leather is built to last and looks great over time, and the craftsmanship here is what truly makes the Wakayama a standout pair of gloves.

We used these gloves for ski mountainering on several occasions, and even after days spent rappelling and belaying, they showed no signs of wear. Kevlar stitching on the back of the hand prevents seams from fraying, and other precision stitching suggests that these gloves will stay in good condition for years to come. One thing we did notice with years of use is that the wool liners compressed slightly.

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Features

As a classic, relatively simple leather glove, the Wakayama prioritizes high-quality construction over an abundance of extra features. It includes the bare necessities: wrist loops, removable liners, and cinchable cuffs to keep the snow out.

We appreciate the simple, unfussy design of the Wakayama. The removable wool liner makes them easy to dry between ski days, and the extra-supple leather maximizes comfort and dexterity. Even though it's not exactly a feature, the unique retro styling looks as great on the hill as it does when wearing these gloves around town.

Should You Buy the Hestra Wakayama?

The Wakayama is a top-of-the-line leather ski glove designed specifically to fit a woman's hand. While they lack the coverage and insulation required for the coldest days, we love the versatility of a thinner glove with a removable wool liner. They are certainly expensive for such a simple leather glove, but we would argue that their high-quality construction and versatility make these a good value for more than one season, and for many seasons to come.

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