Hestra Ergo Grip Active Gloves
Hestra place the Ergo Grip Active within both their ‘Alpine Pro’ range and the ‘Outdoor’ category, which hints at their versatility. Ergonomic construction, supple and durable leather and the addition of a Gore Windstopper membrane ensure these gloves can be useful in almost any situation.
These gloves felt superb from the first try-on. The pre-curved fingers of the Ergo Grip construction are a large part in that. At first I thought this feature was not needed as I had never had gloves that were shaped to hold items easier and never felt like I needed. After using the gloves for a couple months now I am in love. The gloves hold a pre-curved shaped to allow your fingers to actively grip items with ease.
But it is the choice of materials that really makes the difference. The leather is soft and fine enough to feel like a second skin yet gives a surprising amount of grip as well. The Goat leather used on the palm of the glove has broken in nicely and now even moves better than before. Every stitch on the Ergo is in line and feels perfectly placed. The backs is made with a breathable but Windproof Gore-Tex lining to keep out the breeze. It allows for great movement and space for the knuckles to move as well. The index finger has a leather reinforcement patch, cut away to allow easy bending of the finger. This provides a little extra protection when using, for instance an ice-axe.
The surprise though is the very simple brushed polyester lining – the fine denier and soft touch go a long way to creating the feel of a dextrous but substantial glove. The lining is also a great indicator of the quality of construction; it maps to the outer flawlessly with no excess, baggy material, and in a close-fitting glove that is no mean feat.
The Ergo grip is not fully waterproof which is somewhat of a downside, for that you will have to spend another $60 for the Ergo Grip Outdry.
The gloves were tested hiking in the UK and canoeing in both Sweden and Canada in late-Autumn. What I didn’t expect was the degree of warmth these minimalist gloves are able to provide. The Windstopper no doubt has an effect (although placing it only on the back of the hand greatly aids breathability) but the brushed polyester is clearly punching above its weight in this regard. The gloves secure with a Velcro strap and a stretch collar for easy on and off. Using the Velcro was very easy and it gives a great feel when strapped up.
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