Best Leather Ski Gloves 2019

Choosing the correct fit and style of ski gloves and mittens is essential. You can quickly lose valuable heat both in your hands and leading to your core if cold air is allowed to enter your hands. But given today’s vast range of gloves and mittens, this shouldn’t be an issue. In this article, we’re going to be focusing on our pick of the best leather ski gloves. If you’d like to know more about how to choose a great pair of gloves then check out our in-depth ski glove buyer's guide and Reviews article.

Leather gloves and mittens, properly cared for, should last you for many seasons to come and can, therefore, be a good investment especially if you ski often.

To find out more about caring for your gloves read our articles on drying and washing your gloves.

Plus look out for our special article on HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHER SKI GLOVES AND MITTENS which goes into more detail on the specifics of the care and treat of your leather gloves so they give you many years of warmth and protection. 

When deciding on a pair of leather ski gloves or mittens it’s important to think about:

• The style of skiing you do, different disciplines will have differing requirements in a pair of gloves, for example, Nordic skiing is physically demanding and often results in palms that sweat more than on say, Alpine skiing.
• Size of your hands.
• Whether you want removable liners. Liners that can be removed offer more flexibility, the liners can be worn separately, as can the outer shell or combined they can offer the most warmth.
• Style, design and color preference.
• Gloves or mittens?
• Pockets. These can be handy for storing small items such as your lift pass, keys, cash etc. Or can be used for adding a hand warmer, either disposable or rechargeable. Ideal for a long day of skiing.

Here’s our top pick for the Best Leather Ski Gloves and Mittens.

Best Leather Ski Gloves - Oyuki The Sencho Gloves

Oyuki - ‘big snow’ uses only premium, high-quality fabrics to produce gloves, mittens and accessories that are durable, protective and have a certain understated style and flare about them. These are products worn by both professional and amateur skiers in some of the harshest conditions on the planet. Their gloves are made to last and bring their wearers comfort, warmth and flexibility to meet the demands of even the toughest slopes no matter where they be.

Japan has some of the most dramatic and beautiful places to ski in the world and yet it’s possibly not the first place that you’d think of for the manufacture of ski equipment. The team at Oyuki design and test their products in Niseko, Japan in, as they put it ‘one of the coldest and snowiest places on earth.’ It’s little wonder then that produce some excellent gloves and mittens.

‘Our home inspires us to make durable and practical winter accessories that will keep riders on the mountain longer. An obsession with Japan’s unique culture drives us to create products that are honest, functional and strikingly minimalist in their aesthetic.’

‘In Japanese, Sencho means ‘captain of the ship’ and these gloves have been designed to weather any kind of storm, just like a good captain should.’

Product Highlights

Stylish Design

These lightweight, stylish gloves offer a high level of warmth in a surprisingly minimally bulky glove. As with all Oyuki products, the attention to detail on the styling and construction is excellent. The goatskin leather is supple and durable with no loss of dexterity or grip allowing you to comfortably ski and adjust your equipment with no fuss or faff. 

Warm

As you would imagine having been designed and produced in some of the harshest temperatures imaginable, these gloves can withstand the cold. Some have said - at times too warm! These are definitely a winter glove, you’d probably find them too warm to wear on spring days but for cold temperature skiing these are some of the best gloves out there.

Created using:

• Goatskin leather.
• GORE-TEX™ Membrane.
• 200g PrimaLoftⓇ Gold Insulation and a
• Tricot lining

The Good

They are touchscreen compatible, so you won’t get cold hands while using your tech. The under the cuff design features a fitted Neoprene cuff with a hook and loop strap closure to ensure no cold air or snow can enter beneath the cuffs.

Created for use in extreme temperatures, these are some of the warmest gloves available.True to fit.

The Bad

A removable liner would have been better for ease of washing and drying.

Best Leather Ski Mittens - Hestra Henrik Leather Pro Model Mitten

Swedish glove designer Hestra has a long pedigree of almost 80 years in the manufacturer of sporting and dress gloves as well as mittens. They cater for men, women and children and offer a full range of styles, colors and designs for all levels of skill in all weathers.

Hestra worked with Swedish freeskiing professional Henrik Windstedt to produce these mittens which is why you see details such as the Lycra cuffs. These durable mittens have a cool, retro feel to them and are available in a range of colors which is great as you’d typically only see black or dark colors.

Product Highlights

Warmth

Created using the supplest cowhide and insulated with Thermolite and with a polyester lining which means that these mittens can cater to cold temperatures with no problems.

The Good

The internal Lycra snow cuff ensures, along with the velcro pull strap, that cold air or snow isn’t able to penetrate inside the mitten. Plus a five finger liner allows for improved dexterity yet still allows for the additional warmth that a mitten brings.

The Bad

Given that so many people take their tech with them on the slopes, it’s a shame that these didn’t have touchscreen compatibility.

Best Women's Leather Ski Mittens - Hestra Leather Fall Line Mitten 

It’s no surprise to see another of our top picks came from Hestra. They consistently offer high-quality gloves and mittens for men, women and children across a wide range of styles to suit different disciplines.

These short style mittens have been crafted with attention to detail and come in a surprising range of colors, again it’s good to see mittens and gloves in colors other than black!

Product Highlights

Tight Fit

Hestra has created a tight-fitting mitten especially for the female market, that offers a secure, warm fit that will provide protection over a wide range of winter sports or to simply wear during the winter.

The five finger liner provides added dexterity while the mitten style allows for additional warmth to circulate around the hands.

The Good

Five finger lining which aids dexterity but still allows the warmth of a mitten. Excellent padding across the knuckles gives added protection against abrasions and injury.

The Bad

This is a short style of mitten and even with the Neoprene cuff, may not offer as much protection and coverage as other longer cuffed models. Unfortunately they aren’t touchscreen compatible.

Best Budget Leather Ski Gloves - Black Diamond Dirt Bag Glove

If you are looking for a well-constructed, no-fuss pair of gloves which can be used not only for winter sports but also for general wear during the autumn and winter months. Then this might be a good choice for you. These inexpensive yet durable goat leather gloves offer - in Black Diamond’s words - ‘..the Dirt Bag Gloves pack all the value, protection and simplicity needed for daily life on the hill.’  

Product Highlights

Warmth and Protection

These no-nonsense gloves have been made with a tough goat leather shell, with the added protection of a DWR* to keep them waterproof and help retain the heat within the gloves. As with other leather gloves, the regular application of a leather treatment will keep them supple and waterproof.

The Good

These gloves are often worn by patrol workers who praise the gloves dexterity which enables them to work with ropes and other equipment with ease and in safety. And despite the low price point, these gloves have been made with fairly decent quality leather and are well finished.

The Bad

Elastic cuffs may not be enough to keep out the cold and snow. Unfortunately they aren’t touchscreen compatible.

Best Leather Ski Gloves for men - Outdoor Research StormTracker Sensor Glove

Outdoor Research. Designed by Adventure.

The folks at Outdoor Research live and breathe the great outdoors and that’s why they make some of the best ski gear out there. They don’t just invent, they use and test and create to make sure that the next person that wears their gloves, gets the best experience possible.

It’s founder ‘Ron Gregg built Outdoor Research on the idea that life is an adventure, and the best gear makes it more fun.’ And that spirit of continual research and adventure lives on in all of the equipment and gear that they produce and sell worldwide.

They call the StormTracker Sensor Glove ‘The Do-It-All Glove.’ and that’s pretty much what this pair of gloves is. Ready for a day on the slopes, but just as happy in the snows back home shovelling the sidewalk or playing with the kids. These warm gloves are designed for all life’s challenges to come in the autumn and winter.

Product Highlights

Warmth and Protection

These lightweight gloves are created using:

• GORE-TEX WINDSTOPPER™ soft shell.
• Water-resistant goat leather palms.
• Tricot lining.

Touchscreen Compatible

It’s always pleasing to see manufacturers include touchscreen compatibility in their gloves and mittens as it becomes increasingly popular to use tech on the slopes etc. And you don’t want to risk getting cold by constantly removing your glove or mitten to use your cell phone or tablet. A goat leather thumb and index finger on these gloves allow you to use your tech simply without removing your gloves.

The Good

The low-profile design of these gloves gives great dexterity while still retaining heat and protecting against cold winds and low temperatures.

A side zip allows you to quickly and easily put on or remove the gloves while the elastic cuffs ensure a good fit that seals against drafts.

The Bad

These lightweight gloves might not offer enough protection if skiing or touring in extreme conditions.

Best Leather Ski Gloves for Women - Hestra Alpine Leather Primaloft Glove 

There is a reason why Hestra has appeared so often in this review of the best leather ski gloves and mittens and that’s simply that they make excellent gloves and mittens. Using their near 80 years of experience to design and research what skiers want and need in their equipment and then developing gloves with their customers needs in mind.

The women’s Alpine Leather PrimaLoftⓇ Glove by Hestra is a soft, supple pair of gloves with a distinctly luxurious feel to them, ideal for using at home or on the slopes in comfort and style.

Product Highlights

Warmth and Protection

Hestra understand the needs of their customers and have created a warm glove with the added protection and water-resistance needed for long days on the slope. The glove has been created using:

• Leather cowhide impregnated with a water-resistant wax to prevent moisture penetrating the gloves.
• PrimaLoftⓇ insulation.
• Polyester lining.

The Good

These are a well-made and stylish pair of gloves that can be worn on the slopes but just as easily at home in the cold. Featuring a traditional look with a short cuff and elasticated wrist and velcro strap to keep out any cold chills.

The Bad

While it looks nice, the shorter cuffs may not provide as adequate sealage against the cold as longer gauntlet style cuffs traditionally offer.

Best Leather Ski Gloves for Kids - Hestra Army Heli Leather Ski Junior Gloves

Hestra has over 80 years of experience in the glove and mitten industry and is a firm favourite among both professional and amateur skiers. They offer a variety of styles and cater to the needs of their youngest customers with a fun and colorful array of designs with every detail as perfect as the adults.

And this is exactly what they’ve done with their legendary Army Leather Heli Ski Junior, all the attributes of the adult version, shrunk down and splashed with an array of fun colors just for the kids.

Created with the same level of detail and the same design features of the adult gloves, these Hestra gloves should last the distance - well, until your child grows!

Product Highlights

Hestra Design and Style - miniaturized

Hestra has cleverly adapted all the style and design features from their popular adult version down into a junior version which ensures their little hands will be both warm and dry. With long cuffs and snow locks to ensure that no snow can get into the gloves and lead to cold hands, these mini-me gloves are extremely popular with parents.

Pull Strap Velcro Closures

These easy to pull Velcro straps tighten the gloves around the wrist to retain warmth and keep wind and cold air from seeping into the gloves or mittens and cause cold hands. They are easy enough for older little hands to do up and undo as well as being quick and simple for parents too.

The Good

The removable liners ensure that little hands stay warm and dry and are easy to dry out after a day of fun on the slopes. It’s also easier to maintain your child’s hand heat by removing the liner on warmer days for example.

Waterproof and windproof thanks to the three layers of protection designed by Hestra after years of research and development.

The Bad

Overall these are a great pair of kids ski gloves and there’s not much to say in the negative about them.

Best Leather Ski Mittens for Kids - Army Leather Heli Ski Jr.

These are the mitten version of the Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski Junior gloves reviewed above. They are available as a full mitten or a three finger lobster version too. All the details are the same as above.

Product Highlights

Hestra Design and Style - miniaturized

Hestra has cleverly adapted all the style and design features from their popular adult version down into a junior version which ensures their little hands will be both warm and dry. With long cuffs and snow locks to ensure that no snow can get into the mittens and lead to cold hands, these mini-me mittens are extremely popular with parents.

Pull Strap Velcro Closures

These easy to pull Velcro straps tighten the gloves around the wrist to retain warmth and keep wind and cold air from seeping into the mittens and cause cold hands. They are easy enough for older little hands to do up and undo as well as being quick and simple for parents too.

The Good

The removable liners ensure that little hands stay warm and dry and are easy to dry out after a day of fun on the slopes. It’s also easier to maintain your child’s hand heat by removing the liner on warmer days for example.

Waterproof and windproof thanks to the three layers of protection designed by Hestra after years of research and development.

The Bad

Overall these are great mittens and there’s not much negative to say about them.

*DWR - Durable Water Repellent. A coating added to fabrics to make them water-resistant.

Leather gloves and mittens may be more expensive than synthetics but with the proper care and regular treatment, a pair of leather ski gloves or mittens can last year for many years to come.

For more information on choosing a pair of ski gloves why not read our in-depth Buyer’s Guide. 

Wait for me! And remember, when you’re on the snow - don’t forget to wear your leash!