Hestra Heli Ski Mittens Review: Why I Choose These
Why I choose Hestra Heli Ski Mittens for cold ski days, and the pair you'll find in my Ski Kit.
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele and Hestra/EVO
Someone on the slopes once told me why I should wear mittens instead of gloves. Your fingers are together, and they keep each other warmer. Well, duh, when you think about it.
But I had been wearing gloves, so I tried mittens. Turns out, that little bit of ski-slope advice was right. My hands were warmer.
I've been a mitten person ever since.
My choice is the Hestra Heli Ski Mittens. I've worn mine on cold storm days, bluebird days, and plenty of days in between. They're warm and comfortable, and I love the long cuff that comes up over my ski jacket. I can cinch them down, keep the snow out, and forget about my hands.
Which, when I'm skiin’, is exactly what I want.
You'll also find these mittens in my Ski Kit, where I share all the ski gear I wear and use.
Why I Choose the Hestra Heli Ski Mittens
Warmth is the biggest reason.
Hestra rates the women's Heli Ski mitten at the top of its warmth scale, and the mitten design leaves room for your fingers to stay together rather than separating them the way a glove does.
But there are a few smaller things I've come to appreciate too.
The long gauntlet goes over my jacket sleeve, and the snow lock lets me cinch it closed. That's important on a powder day when snow has a way of getting into everything.
I also like the wrist straps. If I need to pull a mitten off on the lift or stop to do something with my gear, I can let it hang from my wrist instead of worrying about dropping it.
Then there are the removable liners.
I can pull them out at the end of the day and let them dry separately from the shell. Hestra also makes replacement liners, so the entire mitten doesn't have to be replaced because the inside eventually wears out.
Those are small details, but they're the kind I notice after using gear for a while.
How My Hestra Mittens Fit Into My Ski Kit
I want all of my ski gear to work together.
The long cuff on the Heli works well over my Mammut Stoney HS jacket, and I can comfortably grip my Black Crows Stans ski poles with the mittens on. My hands stay warm, snow stays out, and I'm not messing with my gloves every time I get on the lift.
That's why these have stayed in my ski setup.
The women's Heli is also cut narrower than the standard version, which makes sense for my hands. Hestra uses Army goat leather through the palm with its three-layer polyamide fabric on the rest of the outer mitten. Inside is G-Loft insulation and a removable Bemberg liner.
I like the leather too. It gives the mittens that classic Hestra look, but it also gives me a good grip on my poles.
Hestra doesn't call the Heli waterproof. The outer materials are weather-resistant, and Hestra specifically lists the mitten as windproof, but there's no waterproof membrane. That's worth knowing if you're comparing it with a Gore-Tex mitten.
For the cold, snowy resort skiing I use them for, they've worked well for me.
Hestra Heli Ski Mittens Specs
Here's what you're getting with the women's Heli Ski mitten:
Army goat leather palm
Three-layer polyamide outer fabric
G-Loft insulation
Removable Bemberg liner
Long cuff with snow lock
Wrist adjustment
Hestra handcuff wrist straps
Carabiner
Women's-specific narrower fit
Available in mitten, 3-finger and 5-finger versions
Hestra currently rates the mitten 8/8 for warmth and 6/8 for durability. It does not have a waterproof membrane.
For me, though, choosing them is much less complicated than the spec list makes it sound.
My hands stay warm. They work with the rest of my ski gear. I can pull the liners out to dry them after skiing. And I like wearing them.
That's why they're in my Ski Kit.
I write Overland Girl, where I share firsthand travel experiences across the American West — from desert landscapes and national parks to small towns layered with history. My work blends movement, place, and the stories that shape them.
Some posts may include affiliate links to products or services I use on the road. If you choose to purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It helps support continued travel and storytelling. I only link to items I personally use or would use myself.