Pros / Reasons to Buy
- Comes with a removeable liner
- Incredibly warm
Cons / Reasons to Avoid
- Expensive
- Three finger design and dexterity issues may put off some buyers
The Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves from Hestra provide an exceptionally warm option. The 3 finger ‘lobster claw’ style fit did take some getting used to, but once you’re used to it, it gives a really good best of both worlds between a glove and a mitten.
Whilst the price point is certainly at the higher end against some of the other products in our overall best winter hiking gloves round up, they really are worth the price. If you’re looking for something to really push your time in the snow or cold further, these will give you that in plenty amounts.
Given that it comes with a liner as standard means you’re having to buy less, which does make them a more compelling option compared to other liner/glove combinations. You can also remove the liner to adjust your hands to different temperatures on the go, which I really loved.
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 | |
 |  | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
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 |
Analysis and Test Results
After testing the Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves from Hestra, I liked what the brand were going for. This was admittedly the first time I’ve used a three-finger glove. At first, I did find this took me a bit of getting used to. I wasn’t sure whether I was wearing a mitt or a glove. However, I then realized that I actually had the best of both worlds.
These are some of the warmest gloves I’ve ever tested, and they really help my hands insulated for full days out in the snow and colder temperatures. I do find sometimes that if I’m out for extended periods (especially when I’m stood in one place shooting a landscape) that my hands can start to feel cold.
I was really pleasantly surprised by just how much wind and weatherproofing these gloves offered and how that translated into their overall wearability. They also feel like a premium glove when you put them on. The inside feels really soft to the touch and comforting to wear.
Performance Comparison
Warmth
The Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves by Hestra offer a lot when it comes to warmth. They don’t fit super close to the skin, but they keep your hand insulated really well. The adjustable cuffing around the wrist also allows you to make minute adjustments to stop any draughts getting in.
When testing, I found that these gloves kept my hands really warm all day. They don’t give a huge amount of dexterity, so I have found that I need to take them off when doing smaller tasks. That said, I can adjust things like my crampons, snowshoes, hiking poles and other items with them on, which makes a huge difference to keeping warm!
The removeable liner was a great addition here too. I loved that it comes as standard with a liner, something that many other gloves don’t. So, whilst the price tag does take some convincing, when you’ve added up the price of a glove and liner from another brand, you’re likely to have spent close to the same.
Water Resistance
Through my tests, I experienced snow, heavy rain and pretty much everything in-between when it comes to bad weather. These gloves handled really well in these tests and were well and truly waterproof.
This of course helps when it comes to keeping your hands warm. Nothing feels like it’s getting through these Heli gloves! They’re also really great for ice scrambles where you are likely to experience water run-off.
The ‘snowlock’ and drawstring adjustment allows you to get a really controlled seal around your wrist too. I found this a great way to get my waterproof gear well positioned around each other so that no water was getting in at all.
Wind Resistance
These gloves are very chunky, and as such, they offer pretty amazing protection from the wind. The outer of the Heli gloves is pretty much a hard shell, but also has some great flexibility. It doesn’t feel hard or rigid at all.
I experienced some pretty intense wind on some of my hikes and time in the snow testing out these gloves. You can’t feel the wind at all in them. This was especially great for me as I use hiking poles a lot when I hike, so my hands are usually exposed. Whilst I haven’t tested them for this, I could also see the wind resistance offered by these gloves as being incredibly helpful if you’re downhill skiing.
Comfort and Fit
The Hestra Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves are designed to be a slightly looser fit, and when you put them on, they do actually feel a little bit bigger than some other brands for a similar size. This is actually quite nice as it gives you space to move around a little whilst wearing them.
What I also like is how comfortable these gloves feel when you put them on. They are so incredibly soft that it almost feels like putting your hands in a comforter. This is actually a really nice, tactile thing on a cold day and something I found myself really enjoying about these gloves.
One area that I do think is a bit of a drawback about these gloves is the fact that they don’t really have a standard sizing system. Whilst most brand offer from XS – XL, the Heli gloves are offered in sizes 5-12.
They do offer a sizing chart which is as easy to follow as other brands from their Amazon page, but I just think it would be nice to see a standard system used that most people will find easier. That said, this is a minor niggle and something that I’m sure won’t put off a lot of buyers.
Ease of Use
These gloves do make light of a lot of tasks. One thing I love is gloves that come with a wrist attachment. This means that when you want to take the glove off, that you can leave it around your wrist so you don’t lose it.
I find this feature really helpful when the weather isn’t so good, especially if it’s windy. The three-finger style is also pretty useful. Whilst I did find it took me a while to get used to it, when I did, I found it a great offering.
I was able to easily adjust things like my crampons, snowshoes, camera and hiking poles with the gloves on. For anything more micro, I was able to easily remove the outer glove to reveal the liner. This meant that my hands weren’t getting cold.
Materials
These gloves make use of both animal based and synthetic materials. The backhand is made of 3-layer polyamide. The palm and fingers are made of goat leather and the liner is made of polyester G-loft.
The leather can be softened up, and Hestra do provide a little packet of glove ‘goop’. You can use this to moisturize the leather, and over time this does help. However, I did find some discoloration after using this the first time. Once I’d done it a couple times, this had gone (so don’t be worried if this happens).
That said, I haven’t really found these gloves to be particularly rigid, and you could very easily leave this treatment if you don’t feel you need it. Either way, the Heli gloves are made from premium, high-end materials.
Appearance
The three-finger glove certainly looks a bit different to some of the other gloves in our round up. The lobster claw look is quite an interesting one! This in some ways makes them feel a little unique.
Overall, these gloves look bulky, and they feel bulky when they’re on. There’s a pretty good chance that when you’re wearing these gloves, you’re not going to be using them with really light layers of clothing. So, I don’t really see that as a downside.
I think these gloves look pretty stylish as far as gloves go. I also like the fact that these gloves are offered in a range of different colors. They’re not just offered as an all-black variant like a lot of gloves are.
Features
I think the main features that these gloves offer is simple, but they’re also fairly understated and that’s one of the reasons I really enjoyed wearing the Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves. Of course, there’s the three finger configuration, which is actually really comfortable.
The second main feature is the fact that they come with a liner glove as standard, and this is removeable. Whilst it’s great that they come with their own liner (which is really comfortable) I do love the fact that you can put your own preferred liner with them. This is a great way to adjust to your own liking and preference.
I also like that they come with a wrist strap that allows you to keep the gloves around your wrist should you need to take them off. This makes a big difference for me, as without this, I sometimes feel like I need about 5 hands to make everything work when I need to stop and make an adjustment or get something out of my daypack.
The Velcro strap around the cuff alongside the drawstring allow you to get a really adjustable fit. This also allows you to keep out any snow, or cold water that could otherwise prevent you from staying warm. I have to say, I really love the Velcro adjustment.
Durability
With the Heli gloves in front of you, it’s pretty easy to see that they’re really well made. All the stitching is incredible, everything is reinforced and feels like it’s robust. I think it’s unlikely that you’re going to experience these gloves giving up on you any time soon after you’ve bought them.
One area that I do wonder about is the treatment that they suggest you use on the leather. I know that leather does and can benefit from being softened, but is this something that could maybe be improved in terms of durability? The jury is out for me on that one.
Sustainability
Hestra don’t really talk much about the sustainability practices of these specific gloves on their website. They also don’t use recycled materials and make use of animal products. However, these gloves may be the only gloves that some hikers need, depending on their needs outdoors. This obviously helps by not needing to buy extra products.
It would be good to see Hestra make some improvements here, perhaps starting to use recycled materials in some of the construction. Though, that said, Hestra do have a repair service, which will allow you to prolong the life of these gloves too.
Price
There is no doubt about it, the Hestra Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves is a pretty highly priced glove. At the time of writing, they retail at $159.95/£129.99. This is by far one of the most expensive gloves we’ve reviewed. So, are they worth the price tag?
I think, to be honest, if you’re in the market to spend $159.95 on a pair of gloves, you might not really worry so much about whether they are or aren’t worth it. I think they are worth it actually, as they are incredibly high end to wear, and I really love the subtle features they make use of.
It’s also important to keep in mind that they do come with the liner as standard. Many gloves don’t, so you would likely have to buy a liner anyway, which can sometimes give you a bit of a false price to start with.
Conclusion
Overall, I really love the Hestra Heli Three-Finger Insulated Gloves and think they’re a great option for hikers or serious snow lovers wanting to make the most of colder conditions. The wind resistance offered with these gloves will be great for downhill skiing, as much as they are for snow hiking and ice work.
At the start I was not sure about the three-finger, but after some time I really started to enjoy it and find it made sense. It allows for extreme warmth whilst still giving some dexterity. I also really love that these gloves come with a liner, which means it’s easy to keep your hands warm when you need to take them off and having them held in place with the wrist strap is an added bonus.
If you’re in the market to meet the price point that the Heli gloves come in at, I think you’ll be really happy you bought them. They’re a really well made, stylish looking glove that will see you through years to come.
Disclaimer: This article contains Affiliate Links. You won’t pay any more for buying through these links, but we may receive a commission from any purchases made through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you choose to support us by buying through our links, we thank you as it helps us to continue providing the resources we do to help you enjoy the outdoors more!