Hestra Ski Gloves – Swedish Glove Specialists Since 1936

Hestra Ski Gloves — Swedish Glove Specialists Since 1936

Hestra has spent generations concentrating on one thing: making exceptional gloves. Founded in Sweden in 1936, the family-owned company designs gloves to provide warmth, protection and dexterity in environments ranging from ski slopes and mountain trails to everyday winter life.

Rather than expanding into jackets, ski pants or footwear, Hestra has remained a true glove specialist. This singular focus has allowed the company to develop an exceptional understanding of hand shape, movement, insulation, materials and construction, earning the brand an international reputation for quality ski gloves and mittens.

The Hestra Collection

Our carefully selected Hestra collection includes gloves and mittens for men, women and children, with styles suited to different skiing conditions, personal preferences and levels of warmth.

• Ski gloves — traditional five-finger designs offering excellent dexterity and control.
• Ski mittens — designed to retain warmth by keeping the fingers together, making them a popular choice for colder hands and lower temperatures.
• Three-finger gloves — combining much of the warmth of a mitten with additional freedom of movement for the index finger.
• Leather ski gloves — durable, supple designs that provide excellent grip and develop greater character with use.
• Technical shell gloves — protective outer gloves designed for demanding mountain conditions and flexible layering.
• Children’s ski gloves and mittens — practical, warm designs created to protect younger skiers throughout the day.

From Forestry Gloves to the Ski Slopes

The Hestra story began in the forests of Småland in southern Sweden. Founder Martin Magnusson established his workshop in the village of Hestra in 1936, initially producing durable gloves for local forestry workers whose hands needed reliable protection in demanding winter conditions.

When a ski slope opened nearby and increasing numbers of visitors began travelling to the area, Martin recognised that skiers also needed hard-wearing, protective gloves. His sons Lars-Olof and Göte were enthusiastic skiers and became involved in the family business, helping Hestra’s reputation spread far beyond the small Swedish village that gave the company its name.

Four Generations of Glove Making

Hestra remains owned and managed by the Magnusson family, with the fourth generation now continuing the work begun by Martin Magnusson. Design and product development still take place at the company’s headquarters in Hestra, maintaining the close connection between the brand, the family and its Swedish origins.

Glove-making knowledge has been passed down through the generations, but Hestra has continued to develop new materials, constructions and technical solutions. This combination of accumulated experience and modern product development is central to the consistency and performance for which the company is known.

Why Specialising Matters

Hands are complex, constantly moving and particularly vulnerable to cold. Creating a good ski glove therefore requires far more than simply adding insulation to a waterproof outer fabric. Fit, finger shape, seam position, grip, lining, cuff design and freedom of movement all influence how a glove performs.

Because Hestra concentrates solely on gloves, every part of the design can be considered from the perspective of the hand. The result is a wide range of models created for different activities, weather conditions and warmth requirements rather than a single glove intended to suit everyone.

Leather, Craftsmanship and Control

Leather remains an important material within many Hestra ski gloves because it provides an excellent combination of durability, flexibility, grip and protection. Different leathers are selected according to the intended use of each glove, allowing Hestra to balance softness and dexterity with strength and resistance to wear.

Hestra personally sources the leather, fabrics, insulation and linings used in its gloves. Most production takes place in factories owned by the company, giving it close involvement throughout the manufacturing process from the selection of materials to the finished glove.

Why Leather Matters

Hestra uses several types of leather, each chosen for different qualities:

• Goat leather — supple yet durable, offering a particularly good balance of grip, dexterity and resistance to wear.
• Cowhide — thicker and highly hard-wearing, making it suitable for gloves where durability and protection are especially important.
• Hairsheep leather — exceptionally soft and flexible, commonly chosen where comfort and a close feel are priorities.
• Deerskin and elk leather — naturally soft and insulating leathers used in selected winter and outdoor styles.

Leather is a natural material that changes with wear. With appropriate care, it softens around the hand, develops character and can remain dependable for many winters. Regular treatment with a suitable leather balm helps maintain flexibility and resistance to moisture.

Warmth Without Losing Control

A warm glove is only useful if the skier can still hold a pole, adjust clothing and operate equipment comfortably. Hestra balances insulation with carefully shaped fingers, flexible materials and considered construction to protect the hands without creating unnecessary bulk.

The collection includes models for a broad range of conditions, from dexterous gloves for active skiing to warmer mittens and three-finger designs for customers who particularly feel the cold. Some styles also use removable liners, allowing them to be dried, replaced or adapted to changing temperatures.

The Hestra Difference

Why We Chose Hestra

We stock Hestra because gloves are not a secondary category for the brand; they are its entire focus. That specialist knowledge can be seen in the breadth of the range, the quality of the materials and the thought given to warmth, movement and long-term durability.

Our collection is selected to provide dependable options for different skiers, from traditional leather gloves and technical mountain models to exceptionally warm mittens. We choose styles that we believe offer the strongest combination of comfort, protection, practicality and lasting quality.

Trusted for Over 20 Years

Since 2006, White Stone has specialised in premium and luxury ski wear, carefully selecting products from many of the world’s most respected alpine brands. Every Hestra glove and mitten in our collection is chosen for its quality, warmth, performance and suitability for our customers.

Choosing the correct glove depends on more than hand size alone. Our experienced team is always happy to offer honest advice about fit, warmth, materials and whether a glove, mitten or three-finger design may work best for you.