Article by Sam Winebaum
Hestra Ergo Grip Active Wool Terry ($125)
Tbe Ergo Grip Active Wool Terry Gloves are a lightly insulated, multi sport multi use glove with a soft and pliable reinforced goat skin palm, waterproof highly breathable Gore-Tex Infinium membrane and a light wool terry lining. Designed for nordic ski touring and hiking they are, as I found out in test and superb running glove. “Work styled” it has reinforcements for wear that are not in the way of dexterity.
Hestra, a SwedIsh company is a well known brand in the ski world with a gigantic range of immaculately crafted gloves and mittens. My wife, daughter, and son, all accomplished alpine skiers, have worn Hestra for years.
While here in Park City with deep cold one day then more moderate temperatures the next, I needed a glove for running and nordic skiing that had adequate warmth yet was breathable and windproof as well. I overheat and find most run and nordic mittens cumbersome, putting liners in slightly oversized nordic type gloves not the best for grip and light run gloves not warm enough.
Wandering into a shop in Park City in search of nordic wax, I noticed an assortment of Hestra gloves ranging from essentially un-insulated more classic nordic ski gloves all the way to arctic mittens. All had soft leather palms and plenty of reinforcements.
I selected the Ergo Grip Active in a size 8 ( I am usually a medium in gloves with a bit of room to spare). Hestra gloves come in a huge range of sizes but the 7 which would have been a more snug fit a bit better suited to nordic pole gripping was sold out. With my szie 8 I have room for a thin merino liner.
I extensively tested the Ergo Grip over a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, running, hiking and nordic skiing.
The coldest ski and run was at about 12 F / -11 C with the warmest around freezing under bright sun. I tend to run warm and often remove my gloves on the run even at temps a ways below freezing.
I only did so once here, a tribute to the gloves' breathability. In the cold at the start of my skis and runs, while a bit chilled, the gloves quickly got to a nice thermo regulated balance of warmth and breathability. No clammy feeling, no overheating and plenty windproof and water resistant.
The goat skin palm leather is very thin and pliable with the reinforcements integrating perfectly so pole grip, even if sized a bit large, was great.
If I wanted a bit more precise fit all I had to do was pull the cuffs down further towards my wrist and re velcro and the fit stayed put. If I wanted a bit more finger room I set the cuff further up.
The performance and versatility of the Ergo Grip is superb. I used them for trail running on the snow, nordic skiing, hiking, around town and driving.
Their fit and thin, very durable, leather makes adjusting clothing, putting on skis, holding poles on the go, and generally having the dexterity to do whatever you wish easy. It was even easy to push watch buttons although they do not have touch screen activating finger tips. Yet all the while, they remained warm when needed, yet breathable and comfortable in warmer temperatures.
At $125, the Ergo Grip is a premium priced, high performance, incredibly versatile winter glove that is well worth the price.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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