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HESTRA ERGO GRIP ACTIVE GLOVE

Fist bumps only. After all, it would be nearly impossible to give a high five in the Hestra Ergo Grip Active Glove—that’s how ergonomic they are. It’s actually a little difficult to open your hand completely when wearing them, but that just might be the best part about these gloves.

That’s because the design is meant for high dexterity while skiing. The pre-curved fingers feature unique seams that complement the natural flex of your hand and feel surprisingly comfortable. In a relaxed, neutral position our fingers are already bent, and whenever we ski downhill with poles, climb the skin track, open a backpack, dig with a shovel, or drink from a thermos, our hands are curved as well. It starts to make sense that dexterity can be improved by removing some of that bulk material that forces our hands straight. Beyond giving a high five, throwing metal, or communicating in mid-mountain sign language, these gloves prove more functional than most, and make time spent in the cold that much easier.

While out-turned seams are a design feature more commonly associated with glove dexterity, the Ergo maintains its flexibility without them, all but proving them unnecessary. An extra bonus, this particular construction style makes for an even cleaner finish.

Wearing these gloves also made me realize how engrained and unnecessary some of my glove-donning and removal patterns have been over the years. That proved especially true for fiddling with camera gear or small items like sunglasses during transition times in the backcountry. Unlike my experience with bulkier gloves, I was able to keep the Ergos on for more activities and I was comfortable leaving them on all day.

Of course, internal temperatures also play a factor in glove comfort. I personally tend to run warm, but with a Gore Windstopper backhand and poly lining, I found the Ergos to be comfortable for anything from high output, cold weather skiing and spring-like. I never felt wind cut through them on the descent, and the goat leather palm makes for a soft, yet durable, grip. I even wore them comfortably for a road ride one sunny, 28-degree afternoon.

The perfect fit is even more important in a slim glove like these and it’s easy to dial in with the numeric sizing that Hestra is known for. Overall I would recommend them as a super functional addition to any glove compartment or drying rack. We’ll skip the high five on this one, Hestra. Fist bumps all around.

Hestra has a variety of Ergo Grip Active glove colors and a size for almost anyone that can be calculated through Hestra’s sizing system by measuring the circumference and length of your hands. You can find them directly from Hestra for $110 or in a shop near you.

NOKIAN ROTIIVA AT PLUS TIRES

A sidewall puncture, leaky valve stem, or double blow out might be enough to lead any car owner into the rabbit hole of tire research.

Experience all three within a year and you might become an amateur tire enthusiast by default. After a streak of luck that could have made for a long-hauling Johnny Cash verse (with some mishaps coincidentally just a few miles from one of his former central coast homes), I thought I had done all the research there was to do. But I had admittedly never heard of the Rotiiva AT Plus Tires from Nokian, a winter tire specialty brand from the town of Nokia, Finland.

Their brand has a strong foothold in Nordic countries like Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, but it’s also quickly growing in North America. Winter rubber is what they’re known for—they even lay claim to the world’s first snow tire with retractable studs. They also hold a few winter driving-related world records, further proving their commitment to (or, dare we say, obsession with) research, development, and testing. They have a 120-year history of innovation and technology on the snowy side of the business, but also feature everything from all-season passenger tires to heavy duty tractor tires fit for a 42-inch rim.

While there are certainly colder and snowier places in North America, I think I’ve found one of the more perfect testing grounds for winter tires right here in Sandpoint, Idaho: The Mountain Cutoff Road. With seven hairpin switchbacks in nine miles, an average grade of 5.5% and a couple turns rocketing up to 10%, tires are likely to spin at some point. After almost-daily trips up and down this season, it’s been easy to hone in on the slickest of places and when to let off the gas. Compared to the tires I was driving before, I’ve found less of both on the Rotiiva AT Plus.

In fact, these tires quickly devoured the delicious, steep-grade combination of hardpack snow, ice, oil, salt, and sand that our beloved mountain road serves up every morning. My previous rubber was great on gravel in the summer, but by no means employed any technology or innovation for the slush, snow, and ice found above the Arctic Circle. Nokian boasts that its products carry a “Northern devotion,” and after nearly a full season of wear and tear, it’s obvious that the Rotiiva AT Plus is most at home when the mercury drops.

Nokian Rotiiva AT Plus Tires retail for $120 to $180 depending on automobile size and model. Find out more on Nokian’s website.