Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Reasonable price considering the tech
- Extremely comfortable, warm, waterproof and windproof
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Finger length could be a little bit shorter
- Doesn’t come with wrist attachment
The Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves are well featured gloves with a soft inner that feels like putting your hand into a comforter. They’re very warm without being too stuffy and help things along with a breathable layer, whilst keeping your hands dry with their own in house waterproofing treatments.
I would expect the level of wind protection, warmth and fit to come along with a much heftier price tag, but for $70, these gloves really punch above their weight. They’re light without being bulky and will feel like a comfortable, second skin for hours on the trail.
This article is part of our series on the best winter hiking gloves, view all other articles below:
Compare to Similar Products:
Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves | Rab Pivot Gore-Tex Gloves | Hestra Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves | Sealskinz Waterproof All Weather Insulated Glove | Hestra Fall Line Glove | The North Face Women's Apex Insulated Etip Glove | The North Face Women's Montana Insulated Ski Mitt | Black Diamond Mercury Mitt Womens | Outdoor Research Stormtracker | Carhartt Women's Quilts | Carhartt Quilts Insulated Women's Mitts | Black Diamond Guide Gloves | Helly Hansen Men's LIFA Merino Glove Liner | Wells Lamont HydraHyde Leather Hybrid Men’s | Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor | Carhartt Men's Waterproof Insulated Glove | Mechanix Wear Coldwork Original | Arc'teryx Rho Liner Glove | Trendoux Winter Gloves | icebreaker Merino Oasis 200 Glove Liners | Cotopaxi Teca Fleece Gloves | Burton Touchscreen Glove Liners | |
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Buying Options | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Our Rating | Best Overall Winter Gloves | Warmest Winter Gloves | Best Insulated Gloves | Best Winter Gloves for Touchscreen | Best Winter Gloves for Men | Best Winter Gloves for Women | Best Waterproof Winter Gloves | Best Women's Technical Ski Mitt | Best Liner Gloves | Best Touchscreen Gloves | Best Budget Winter Gloves | |||||||||||
Type and Shape | Performance/technical/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Hiking/general sport | Performance/technical/ski | Hiking/general sport | Hiking/general sport/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Hiking/general/ski | Hiking/general | Hiking/general | Performance/technical/ski | Performance/technical/ski | Work | Hiking | Hiking | Work | Performance/technical/ski | General | General | General | Performance/technical/ski |
Warmth | High | Very High | Very High | Medium | Very High | High | High | Very High | High | Medium | Medium | Very High | Medium (Liner) | Medium | High | High | Medium | Medium (Liner) | Medium | Medium (Liner) | Medium | Medium (Liner) |
Water Resistance | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Water Resistant | Waterproof | Waterproof | Not Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Waterproof | Not Waterproof (Liner) | Water Resistant | Not Waterproof | Waterproof | Water Resistant | Not Waterproof (Liner) | Not Waterproof | Not Waterproof (Liner) | Not Waterproof | Not Waterproof (Liner) |
Wind resistance | High | High | Very High | High | Very High | High | High | Very High | High | Medium | Medium | Very High | Not Windproof (Liner) | Not Windproof | Not Windproof | Windproof | Not Windproof | Not Windproof (Liner) | Not Windproof | Not Windproof (Liner) | Not Windproof | Not Windproof (Liner) |
Fit | Fits true to size/High Dexterity | Fits true to size/High Dexterity | Fits true to size/Medium Dexterity | Runs Small/High Dexterity | Run Small/Medium Dexterity | Fits True to Size/High Dexterity | Fits True to Size/Medium Dexterity | Runs Tight/Medium-Low Dexterity | Runs Small/High Dexterity | Runs Small/Medium Dexterity | Runs Small/Medium Dexterity | Runs Small/Low Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs Large/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Runs True to Size/High Dexterity | Fits Slightly Tight/High Dexterity | Fits True to Size/High Dexterity | Fits True to Size/High Dexterity |
Durability | High | Very High | Very High | High | Very High | High | High | Very High | High | Medium | Medium | Very High | High | High | Medium | Medium | High | Very High | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
Price | $70.00 | $155.00 | $127.96 | $73.35 | $139.99 | $59.90 | Price not available | $97.88 | $95.14 | $27.99 | $27.99 | $143.96 | Price not available | $15.08 | $31.47 | $28.29 | $32.99 | $40.00 | $7.99 | $40.00 | Price not available | $14.67 |
See the Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves in more detail:
Analysis and Test Results
The Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves are a surprising option. For the lightweight finish they offer, you’d think they would be pretty lacking in insulation, wind protection and waterproofing. That’s not the case in the slightest, as my tests have revealed.
I’d expect to pay more for a glove like this, and they sit up well next to some of the more tech heavy gloves in our lineup of best winter hiking gloves. It’s clear that these technical gloves are built to last, for multi uses in winter environments.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
The Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves come with 6oz Fiber Fill insulation. They also have polyester micro fleece within the lining. This helps a lot to create a glove that is exceptionally well versed for keeping you cold, even on the coldest of days.
I was really impressed with just how well these gloves kept my hands warm in fact, even though very cold scenarios and particularly in wind. In my tests, I had my hands out pretty much all the time, alternating between shooting photographs or using my hiking poles.
What I also like is that they have a breathable insert, so my hands never felt like they were getting too hot, or too sweaty. On some days, where things were really cold, I found they really came into their own when paired with a liner, like the Helly Hansen LIFA Merino Glove Liner.
This gave them the extra edge, and was great for real extremes, but to be honest, most of the time I found they did very well on their own. These gloves are a great level of comfort when it comes to warmth.
Water Resistance
As these gloves are technically marketed as a ski glove, and mountaineering glove, they are pretty well built to withstand water. I found that in all of the situations I tested in – snow, rain, wet rocks, ice etc., they showed no signs of reaching saturation, even when working through terrain.
When it rained, they were perfectly dry inside and showed no signs whatsoever of letting in water. The gloves are rated as ‘Helly Tech Professional’. This means that the outer layer is made for ‘long lasting, extremely wet or highly aerobic activities in harsh conditions.’
They use a DWR treated outer, and this can likely be maintained by retreating over time with a DWR treatment. Though, at present, through my testing, this isn’t needed, at least for some time.
Wind Resistance
The Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves are pretty full on when it comes to wind resistance. I was lucky to give these gloves a pretty hardy test through some serious wind storms we had over the course of the winter.
I was pretty amazed by just how well my hands were kept in these kind of conditions. This, again, can be improved even more when pairing them with a liner glove too.
Their 6oz of fiber fill combined with their micro smooth weave shell will have a big impact in the burly nature of these gloves. They’re simply fantastic, even when using hiking/ski poles and with your hands exposed.
I must admit, I’d expect this level of wind protection to come from a glove much heavier or bigger. So, the fact that this level of wind resistance is coming from such a lightweight glove is fantastic.
Comfort and Fit
I love the feel of the Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves when you first put them on. They feel so comfortable and effortlessly soft on the inside. The micro fleece feels so gentle against the skin.
They are also very easy to get on, there are no tight parts that you have to try and push your hand through. I think the slightly elasticated band on the underside of the glove helps here, and once your hand is in, you have a Velcro pull over area that you can use to tighten.
I am confident to say that these gloves fit true to size. I got a medium, which is the same as I usually do in gloves. They were not loose, but they also weren’t baggy.
I do feel some space between the end of my finger and the end of the glove. I don’t think I have particularly short fingers, so I think that Helly Hansen could possibly improve this in further designs.
This does have an impact for me personally in using my phone with the gloves on, and a little in terms of fiddly tasks when it comes to dexterity, but it also wasn’t a huge concern either. So, if you do have longer fingers, you may actually find these gloves the perfect option.
Ease of Use
I performed a number of tests using these gloves. To be honest, they came out pretty well considering how chunky they are and the insulation they offer.
The thumb worked really well for opening a phone, taking a picture and navigating a map. Typing a text was a little harder, but not impossible. This could be improved if Helly Hansen made the actual finger length in the gloves a little shorter.
I could also easily get items out of my bag, make changes to my hiking poles, and use my camera easily. I found that I didn’t really need to take them off once I was wearing them, which I was really happy about.
Materials
These gloves use two different materials in their construction. Polyester and leather. The leather section is used for the palm of the hand, and polyester used everywhere else.
The inner materials feel soft and luxurious to the touch and very nice against the skin. Everything is really well made and the outer feels really tough and durable.
Appearance
I think as far deep winter gloves go; the Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves look the part. What I like about them is that they don’t look too bulky, which is common for gloves and ski gloves of this caliber.
The other thing to note is that I ordered the navy version, which looks quite dark in the pictures, yet when they arrive, are quite a lot lighter. This didn’t really bother me, but it’s something to keep in mind.
Features
The main features on the Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves are that you can use your phone with them on. The hardened ends on the thumb and forefinger help here and create a slightly textured surface.
They’re also made with Helly Tech Performance (professional). This ensures they’re breathable and waterproof, which I was really impressed with throughout my tests.
The only feature I would really have loved is a band that fits around your wrist. In other high-end gloves, this is something I’ve really grown to love, so that when I want to take them off, they stay around my wrist. Great when you don’t have a lot of hand space free.
Durability
There is no doubt about it, these gloves from Helly Hansen are exceptionally well made. Upon inspecting the stitching, these gloves are made with great attention to detail. There are no weak spots or areas that are likely to cause problems down the line.
With this all-in mind, I don’t have any doubt that I’ll still be using these gloves, with some care and attention, for years to come. The leather will also likely become softer and softer over time, creating a really durable surface.
Sustainability
Helly Hansen don’t go into much detail about the specific sustainability practices involved in the production of these gloves. They also don’t say if the fabrics used are recycled or not. I think it would be good to have this information more visible in product descriptions.
The reason I say this is because they do talk on their website about using recycled materials wherever possible. I think many buyers (including myself) want this information more readily available and the traceability/accountability that comes with it.
That said, these gloves are clearly built with longevity in mind. This of course does have a pretty solid impact in terms of sustainability, as buying less is one of the key ways we can reduce our impact. I think with proper care and attention, these gloves will last for years.
Price
Considering the tech in these gloves and the longevity that they are likely to offer you if you buy them, I don’t think the Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves are overpriced considering what you get for that.
At $70/£56, they aren’t at the cheapest end of the scale, but they certainly aren’t the costliest in our round up of the best winter hiking gloves. When paired with the Helly Hansen Men’s LIFA Merino Glove Liner, you’ll be getting an extremely good set for $100, which I think is really good considering the level of product you get for that.
Conclusion
I found myself loving the Helly Hansen Swift HT Ski Gloves. They are light, non bulky and allow you to get on with tasks easily without any dexterity issues.
Considering their lightness, they are exceptionally well insulated and feel luxurious to put on and keep your hands feeling toasty warm, without feeling sweaty. This is thanks to their breathable insert.
These gloves kept me dry in all my tests and have become one of my new favorite options. They fit really well and don’t come with a huge price tag considering the fit and finish (in terms of tech) that they offer.
I think if you decide to buy these gloves, you’ll be happy you did. They’ll last you for years to come if you treat them well.
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