Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex Review

Our Verdict
Our Analysis and Test Results
Warmth
The Army Leather GTX is on the warmer side for ski gloves, but it isn't incredibly warm. Our hands felt adequately protected on most winter days, but when the temperatures dropped below normal, we were left wanting a little more warmth. They have a cozy fleece lining that feels spectacular when you slip them on and plenty of synthetic insulation.
Dexterity
The Army Leather GTX offers better-than-expected dexterity, especially considering the amount of warmth and leather provided to the wearer. When performing tasks that require fine motor skills, such as manually unlocking a car door and writing our name with a pencil, this contender scored about average. We found we could manually unlock a car door, but our handwriting turned out very sloppy when writing our name.
Water Resistance
As you might expect from the name, the Army Leather GTX uses a Gore-Tex insert inside a water-resistant leather. This glove was one of the most water-resistant in our fleet, offering optimal protection. It excelled in our bucket-of-water comparisons, as well as in real-world use.
Durability
This glove is tough! Like other Hestra Gloves, the leather lasts longer when a leather conditioner is applied, as it helps keep the exterior leather water-resistant. Applied one or two times per year, the conditioner will extend the life of this (and all) contenders. Throughout our testing, we found that this glove did not have any durability issues whatsoever.
Features
This glove has a solid number of extra features that make it easier to use, like low-profile wrist straps and a velcro wrist cinch. It also has a hanging loop on the pinky to facilitate faster drying. The gauntlet is large and easily fits over any ski jacket cuff. The gauntlet pull cord is easy to manipulate.
We like the included carabiner (not for climbing) that keeps the gloves paired together when not in use. This clip is a bit large and dangly if you keep it on while wearing the gloves, but we don't mind it too much.
Should You Buy the Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex?
This is among the most expensive gloves in our review, and it doesn't perform as well as the best gloves on the market in terms of warmth and dexterity. They are super water-resistant, so regular skiers in wet climates might want to investigate further. But for most winter recreationists, we think there are better gloves out there that will save you money and serve you better.
What Other Ski Gloves Should You Consider?
For a similar price, you could score our Editors' Choice, the Rab Khroma Freeride, or the Arc'teryx Fission SV, another top performer. Both of those gloves have more warmth and dexterity, which are the two most important performance metrics in our test. If you are looking for a less expensive option, the Gordini GTX Storm is a great choice.