We’re all experts at something. Whether it’s a job or a hobby, you know how to do at least one thing very well because you focus on it. At Hestra, the focus is gloves. Since 1936, when the first pair was designed in Hestra, Sweden, the company has remained a leader in the market by producing high-quality gloves made from the finest materials.
When Martin Magnusson built the first Hestra product, he crafted it with Swedish lumberjacks in mind. These men needed gloves that would stand up to the abuse of heavy work throughout the duration of a long, harsh Swedish winter. The gloves were made of leather and wool, and proved quite durable over time. A few years later, when skiers started visiting the small town of Hestra, Magnusson recognized the opportunity and began designing gloves specifically catered to the sport. In 1941, the first Hestra ski glove was born.
Here we are, some 73 years later, and Hestra continues to produce some of the finest ski gloves on the planet at the hands of the same family that started the company so many years ago. Following in the footsteps of Martin Magnusson, his grandsons, Svante and Claes, are now at the helm. And instead of spreading its resources thin trying to diversify into other types of products, the family prides itself on continuing to use the best materials and technologies available to manufacture quality gloves and mitts that will stand the test of time.
Elyse Saugstad collects faceshots in Montana. Photo by Ryan Turner
The company is still based in Hestra, Sweden, with a US headquarters situated on the cusp of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, CO. Today they produce almost every type of glove conceivable, ranging from the wool and leather Guide glove that harks back to Hestra’s original products to the technical Ergo-Grip Active, a breathable leather glove made for active pursuits in the mountains.
As the years have passed, more and more freeride-oriented gloves have been introduced, such as the Fall Line collection that debuted last year. The all-leather, breathable Fall Line glove won a FREESKIER editors’ pick in its inaugural year for its comfortable, no-nonsense design and subtle styling.
When it comes to producing modern ski gloves, the team at Hestra collaborates with pros like Seth Morrison, Mike Douglas and Henrik Windstedt to create products that perform to the standards set by today’s top skiers. If the gloves can hold up for these athletes, in all likelihood, they’ll do just fine by the rest of us.
All of Hestra’s products are backed with a limited lifetime warranty, giving their customers peace of mind that their hard-earned dollars will not go to waste. So, if you’re tired of gloves and mitts that fall apart after one season, give Hestra a try. You’ll be impressed.
Hestra Fall Line gloves
“The Hestra Fall Line gloves boast some of Hestra’s best-fitting snowsports models to date. Available in a glove, three-finger, and mitten design…” Click for full review.
Hestra Women’s Leather Fall Line mitt
“Head took the number one boot on the World Cup, and re-invented it for the freeride world. The Head Raptor Overkill ski boots share all the traits of the…” Click for full review.
Hestra Army Leather Wool glove
“The materials Hestra used to design its first gloves for Swedish lumberjacks were wool and leather. The brand still uses those classic materials in the Hestra Army Leather…” Click for full review.
