How to waterproof or 'treat' the leather on my ski gloves and mittens

How to waterproof or 'treat' the leather on my ski gloves and mittens

There is nothing worse than a pair of wet, soppy ski gloves. Are we right? So you think to yourself, I'm going to wring these out, dry them out, put them near the fire, wash them or swap them - wrong! 

Leather Ski Gloves and Mittens 

Leather naturally absorbs water, but, if you seal it with a wax leather waterproofer, it will not only repel and resist the water, it will breathe, have great grip and only get better with time as it moulds to the shape of your hand with each wear. Couple leather with a highly waterproof and breathable membrane insert and voila! ~ you have a high functioning ski glove retailing from around $150 or higher.

If you've spent hundreds of dollars on a pair of expensive ski gloves you'll want to treat them right.

Knowing how to treat your expensive leather ski gloves right

1. Should I waterproof my brand new leather gloves?

Good question! In the times past, we always said yes, the factory coating is pretty basic, but some manufacturers now present a quality ready-to-wear product so this will solely depend on the brand. Check the specific brand's instructions or get in touch with them online.

2. If the leather seems like it is absorbing water or moisture...

...then it's time to reproof them (when they are wet and heavy). Depending on how much you use your gloves you'll need to repeat this at the start of every season and possibly a couple of times during:

  • - Start with completely dry gloves.
  • - Waterproof the leather with a waterproofing wax like Sno Seal or Nikwax leather conditioner. You can buy it from many footwear repair places and speciality ski shops. Your leather gloves may have even come with a complimentary sachet.
  • - Heat up the leather so that the pores of the leather are open and ready to absorb the product. You can do this using a ducted heating vent, hair dryer or laying in the sun on a warm day. Never near a fire which is a risky form of heat.
  • - Put the gloves on and rub the leather waterproofing sealant all over the gloves. Taking special care with all the seams and backs of the hands to get everything covered.
  • - Then put aside and wait a day or two for the wax to absorb into the leather and rub off the excess wax.
  • - Repeat this process in a few days afterwards for full absorption into the leather and voila!

 

3. Don't ever wash your gloves.

Sorry, it's not a thing. Don't ever wring your gloves out, it will break any internal membrane and create plenty of holes for the water to pass through. Look after them with some TLC and they'll look after you when the situation calls for it.

 

4. After a day of skiing or snowboarding your gloves will have some moisture in them,

even if your gloves are dry on the inside. Try to ensure your gloves get dried out completely overnight as putting wet gloves on in the morning is the worst! It's important to not leave your expensive leather gloves in an overheated drying room overnight as this will dry out the leather causing them to crack over time. Same goes for storage. Keep them stored in the off season in a careful and considered place. 

 

Some people like to own multiple pairs of gloves,

and have a spare pair just in case, but if you're careful, a good quality pair of gloves or mittens, with a little TLC and know how, will be all you need.

 

Leave us a comment if you have any questions

 

 



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