Kirsty Pallas awards the Salewa Ortles Powertex Tirolwool Responsive gloves her Best in Test accolade.
The Salewa Ortles Powertex Tirolwool Responsive Gloves are warm but light and have kept me warm and mostly dry over many winter days. The insulation is a mix of wool and polyester, which is very cosy, while also being fairly low volume.
Kirsty Pallas’ Best in Test 2025
Salewa have crafted warm but light gloves that kept me warm and mostly dry over many winter days.- low volume
- smooth lining which helps with wet hands
- no connecting clips
- palm not reinforced
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: £110 |
| Weight: 140g for Women’s S/glove size 6 |
| Materials: Nylon outer, merino wool and polyamide lining, goat leather palm |
| Insulation: Polyester and wool |
| Waterproof: PTX Performance Insert |
| Features: Wrist elastic, velcro cuff, carabiner loop, pull on loop |
| Sizes: XS – L |
| Men’s version: Yes |
| salewa.com |
Wool is an excellent insulator, working well when wet, and is a more natural resource than polyester. The outer shell has a DWR finish to complement the waterproof insert, which stays dry for most of the day, unless you’re actively digging in the snow! The lining is a merino wool mix, which is soft, but not so fluffy that you can’t get your hand in once it’s wet.
The goat leather palm is grippy and hard wearing, and the leather wraps up the sides of the fingers to improve durability. Sadly, there is no reinforcement on the palm, and I have started to see signs of wear between the thumb and finger where axes and ropes have been held.
The fit is great for my hands, with a broad palm and short fingers. These might be too short for some, but it meant I could carry out intricate tasks like using carabiners when climbing, and doing up jacket zips. They’re a good length, long enough to tuck into a jacket cuff, but not so long that there’s loads of spare.
The Velcro cuff keeps them snug and is easy to use, plus there’s an elasticated section at the base of the palm to keep more warmth in.
A few very handy features like elasticated wrist loops so you don’t lose them, and a pull-on loop which is a good size make these an almost perfect winter glove. Adding a connecting clip would make it easier to find both in the depths of a dark rucksack!
Testing Conditions
Kirsty has small hands with wider palms and short fingers. The gloves were tested in a wet winter and spring season working as an instructor, and winter climbing and mountaineering in the Scottish Highlands, both on snow and rock. Kirsty often wears liner gloves in winter under her main gloves, and these were tested both with and without. All weights are from Kirsty’s own scales.
This review was first published in the November 2024 issue of The Great Outdoors. For more winter glove reviews, as tested by the experts, see our guide to the best winter gloves for hillwalking and mountaineering.
