Drawing on nearly a century of mitt-making expertise, Hestra’s Comfort Tracker and Heli Ski Jr mitts are built to handle everything winter throws down.
Hestra’s roots go back to 1936, when Martin Magnusson began making gloves in the forests of western Sweden for local woodcutters who needed reliable protection against relentlessly cold and wet winters.
Hestra Comfort Tracker Mitt
That heritage of cold-weather craftsmanship runs straight through to the Comfort Tracker Mitt, tuned for cross-country skiing and aerobic winter pursuits. The lightweight, slim-profile construction prioritizes heat retention without sacrificing the dexterity and breathability needed during steady, high-output movement.
Inside, a soft fleece lining pairs with G-Loft synthetic insulation, a lightweight, resilient fill developed to mimic the warmth and loft of down while continuing to insulate even when damp. (Hestra rates the Comfort Tracker Mitt at a 6/8 for warmth. For comparison, Hestra’s Army Leather Extreme Mitt is rated at 8/8.) The backhand uses a windproof, breathable three-layer polyester stretch fabric that blocks biting gusts while allowing moisture to escape, helping regulate temperature during heavier efforts. On the palm, stretch polyester provides grip and longevity without feeling stiff or bulky. A snug neoprene cuff seals in warmth and creates a close, comfortable fit that prevents cold air from creeping in.
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Our tester Susan wore the Comfort Trackers on an outing with a school group at a Nordic ski facility. “The Comfort Trackers give me a lot of dexterity for a mitt. They’re very flexible and light, not to mention warm under a biting wind. In the lodge, someone spilled a water bottle on my mitts and they barely retained any dampness. That’s how water-repellent and quick-drying they are. They are also a lot tougher than my old mitts, which tended to get snagged and ripped over time. I don’t see that happening with the Comfort Trackers.”
Easy to care for and machine washable, the Comfort Tracker Mitt is equally at home on cross-country ski days, lower-alpine ski touring missions, winter runs or any outdoor activity where freedom of movement matters. It’s also available in three- and five-finger versions for those who prefer a balance of warmth plus additional dexterity.
Hestra Army Leather Heli Ski Jr. Mitt
The Heli Ski Mitt is one of Hestra’s flagship designs, originally developed in collaboration with Canadian ski guides who needed warmth and durability for long days in brutal cold. That same no-nonsense design carries over to the junior version, the Army Leather Heli Ski Jr Mitt, scaled down for smaller hands but built with the same extra-tough materials and attention to detail. For young skiers who spend every spare minute chasing snow through the woods, on groomers or in the park, a reliably warm mitt is one of the most crucial pieces of gear—and as every parent knows, totally essential for a happy day out.
The shell combines weather-resistant, breathable three-layer polyamide on the backhand with treated goatskin leather on the palm and fingers. (Hestra has long favoured goatskin for its exceptional combination of durability, suppleness and grip, qualities that only improve with use.) Inside, a removable fleece liner made from smooth, non-itchy Bemberg fabric is insulated with G-Loft, providing dependable warmth (rated 7/8 on Hestra’s warmth scale) while allowing the mitt to dry quickly or be swapped out as conditions change. The pre-curved fit supports natural hand position for comfort and better grip, while a snowlock with drawstring adjustment and a Velcro wrist closure help seal out spindrift and cold air.
We couldn’t believe how much warmth these mitts delivered. Our young tester Ella had been suffering from numb thumbs in her old mitts. During a cold, windy outing tobogganing, Ella’s fingers stayed warm, while her friend’s (in a non-Hestra puffy mitt) were cold. The Bemberg/ G-Loft combo is clearly a winner. These mitts punch way above their slim profile.
Practical details round out the design: Hestra’s signature wrist straps (a must for kids) reduce the chance of dropping a mitten on a chairlift, and a tough-built eyelet makes it easy to hang them up to dry. Built for rough-and-tumble winter use and also available in three- and five-finger versions, the Army Leather Heli Ski Jr. Mitt delivers decades of Hestra know-how to the next generation of snow enthusiasts.
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