With over 100 years in the business, the folks at Wells Lamont know how to make quality gloves and mittens. Founded in 1907, stitching high quality leather work gloves and buggy whips, the manufacturer continues to produce functional, comfortable and long-lasting products all made with the finest resources.
When I was handed a pair of the HydraHyde mittens to test, I was immediately impressed. Unlike a fresh pair of Kincos that you need to work, work, work to break in, these mittens offered a soft, pliable goatskin leather that feels oh-so velvety to the touch, right out of the box. The exterior brown suede and black leather detailing over the knuckles also gives the mitts a high-end appearance to match their high-caliber functionality.
The mitt’s HyrdraHyde treatment is worth noting, too. Introduced by Wells Lamont in 2015, the patent-pending leather tannage process makes the raw material increasingly waterproof and notably more breathable than other mitten options. Wearing these gloves around the Front Range this early season, I’ve avoided my hands heating up, despite the relatively warm weather. And, when things get a bit sweaty, the extra breathability of the goatskin leather ensures things dry up quickly—like, stop for lunch, have a beer and they’re already dry, kind of quick.
On the inside, individual finger hallways keep each of your digits ultra cozy, while the extended cuff of the mitt keeps unwanted snow and moisture out of your way. In all, the Wells Lamont HydraHyde mittens are designed to withstand everyday use at the resort for multiple seasons to come, but are also lightweight and breathable enough to take on your next mid-winter backcountry mission. Style and function find harmony in perfect alignment in these mitts. Find out more about Wells Lamont by reading the exclusive interview, below.
Q&A w/ Katrina Hudy, Wells Lamont Sales & Marketing Manager
This brand is now 110 years old. What sorts of clientele has the brand been servicing over that time period?
Wells Lamont has been an iconic favorite for construction workers, outdoorsmen, DIYers, etc. with a long-standing tradition of making high-quality leather gloves. They pride themselves on having the right glove for every job.
How did this storied brand become interested in skiing?
They started noticing that a trend that some skiers were opting to use winter work gloves instead traditional ski gloves. Wells Lamont formed a team of outstanding skiers to give insights into how to better adapt their gloves to service the skiing community. They are calling this new line of gloves Wells Lamont Snow. I am excited to be a part of the Wells Lamont Snow team where I can use my ski knowledge and experience to expand their reach to an audience I know very well.
The brand has immediately support names like Tanner Rainville, Duncan Adams and Adam Delorme, among a handful of other reputable skiers. This would lead one to believe the company is chasing young, freestyle-centric skiers.
I’m stoked to have Tanner, Duncan, Adam-as well as Keegan Kilbride and Sean Jordan joining me on the Wells Lamont Snow team. The Snow brand will definitely be geared towards a younger audience with a new look and some trendier designs. But just like the more mature Wells Lamont work glove brand, Snow will be stubborn about quality and will be continuously evolving to make sure it is getting the right glove in the hands of skiers, snowboarders, and lifties.
Are there any stand-out construction features that skiers should know about?
Working with Wells Lamont has been great because they really gave the team the creative freedom to design exactly what we wanted out of a top-quality mitten or glove that wouldn’t break the bank. They gave us the reigns and really trusted our feedback on what other winter athletes would want out on the slopes. These new gloves and mittens we’ve been working on will have water-resistant leather, ultra-warm insulation, fresh new designs, ventilation zippers, and a variety of other features, all inspired by our elite group of Wells Lamont athletes.
Where can people buy these gloves or learn more about them?
You can buy the styles the team currently wears on Amazon. The new styles we’ve been designing are still in production, but distribution will begin in the near future! You can find out more about Wells Lamont, its history, product offerings and more by checking out our website.
