Hestra quality issues?

[Chris]

I’ve had some Hestra Falt Guide gloves now for just over a year.

I had them replaced under warranty after 3 months as the seam on a finger split, which I put down to a manufacturing anomaly. The new pair got to me in January this year.

On getting them out again for autumn use, having not really needed them since March, I have noticed that the replacement pair have split at the seam on two different fingers.



I’ve used the wax/balm they include and not left them wet or caked in mud or anything.

Has anyone else experienced poor quality vs expectation with Hestra?

Not really what I expect for a £140 pair of gloves marketed as ‘hardwearing work gloves’ for outdoor activities.

 

[hughtrimble]

I don't have experience with these, but commenting to say that that is not acceptable for gloves marketed the way they are, and especially at that price. It would be interesting to hear how they react to your experience this time; I'd hope they'd want to inspect them to see what's gone wrong. They should offer to replace or repair them; I'd frankly go for a repair as you'd hope they'll restitch everything!

 

[Chris]

I don't have experience with these, but commenting to say that that is not acceptable for gloves marketed the way they are, and especially at that price. It would be interesting to hear how they react to your experience this time; I'd hope they'd want to inspect them to see what's gone wrong. They should offer to replace or repair them; I'd frankly go for a repair as you'd hope they'll restitch everything!

It concerns me that I had the first pair replaced for the very same issue, albeit on different fingers, which is the seams just coming apart. I've had a little look on YouTube and I can see two other people have reported similar issues, so perhaps this is a fundamental flaw in the build of these gloves? Although there are also people like Paul Kirtley who gets a lot of use out of his with no issues and I trust him to be honest and thorough, so it's hard to know what's going on with them.

 

[hughtrimble]

It concerns me that I had the first pair replaced for the very same issue, albeit on different fingers, which is the seams just coming apart. I've had a little look on YouTube and I can see two other people have reported similar issues, so perhaps this is a fundamental flaw in the build of these gloves? Although there are also people like Paul Kirtley who gets a lot of use out of his with no issues and I trust him to be honest and thorough, so it's hard to know what's going on with them.

Absolutely, and it would make me reticent to accept yet another replacement pair (hence preference for a repair as then it'll hopefully get really properly done all over). With regards to PK, I can also see someone like him stitching them back up as and when it happens, assuming that he's using them a lot and thus thinks things like this just happen with use? With that being said, he's not one to mince words so I can also see him complaining about the quality if it's dropped off. Though maybe the ones he has are old and sturdy and haven't needed replacing with the newer ones you're being exposed to!

 

[Chris]

I have to speak incredibly highly again of Woodlore and their superb customer service, and also Hestra for honouring their warranty twice for the same purchase.

This is the second time I have contacted them about these gloves. The first time they took them back, sent them off to Hestra to look at and then replaced them. This time they are replacing them again with no fuss and have told me I can just keep this faulty (or should I say Falty?) pair.

I have a feeling the Falt gloves' Achilles Heel is the externally stitched seams on the fingers, which are very vulnerable when doing outdoor stuff with sharp tools, rough surfaces and things involving fire. The fact the same seams have gone on both hands (as in the finger seams) whilst the rest of the glove is still in near perfect condition would add some weight to this. The leather is still in tip-top condition. I understand they did this to prevent the seams rubbing and causing sore fingers inside the glove, but I am not sure it's the right way to go with gloves that are marketed and designed for heavy outdoor/survival/camping work. The marketing video even shows them being used to take things on and off of a fire, and Mr Falt himself says he's had his pair since about 2006... perhaps the seams were stitched better back then? I don't know. I wouldn't want to doubt what he says, I just can't say my experience is reflected in the two pairs I have got through in the space of a year with relatively light use.

I think what I'll do is continue to use this split pair until they fully disintegrate, then move on to the replacement pair being sent out, then when they're bust I will search for a different glove.

 

[hughtrimble]

Very good result (hopefully they also check their manufacturing processes as a result).

 

[slimshady]

I have had success in re-sewing (neatly-no, but ok) a couple of finger/thumb seams on some leather gloves.
I split some waxed-linen threads down as they were too thick, still going strong after a couple of years.
In my case I could re-use the same holes in the leather, it was the threads that wore out (flexing).

On yours, is it the threads pulled through the leather or threads broken.
I couldn't re-sew a knife sheath because their wasn't enough leather at the edge for new needle holes.
I would suggest that a repair of any-sorts will give a longer life than using as is.

Alex.

 

[Chris]

I have had success in re-sewing (neatly-no, but ok) a couple of finger/thumb seams on some leather gloves.
I split some waxed-linen threads down as they were too thick, still going strong after a couple of years.
In my case I could re-use the same holes in the leather, it was the threads that wore out (flexing).

On yours, is it the threads pulled through the leather or threads broken.
I couldn't re-sew a knife sheath because their wasn't enough leather at the edge for new needle holes.
I would suggest that a repair of any-sorts will give a longer life than using as is.

Alex.

That's useful info on the waxed linen thread, thanks, I've just ordered some to see if I can give that a try. It looks like the holes are still usable and the damage was to the thread, thankfully.