The Ariat Tek grip insulated gloves are a very classy, traditional pair of winter riding gloves. They are available in both black and brown, with a very plain finish with a subtle checked detail, which makes them perfect for all disciplines. At £40 these gloves are at the more expensive end of the market, but they’re a product that feel quality and will last.
The gloves fit true to size, I found them slightly long on the fingers but it doesn’t affect the way they feel when ridden in. They offer a lightweight feel allowing plenty of movement but offering plenty of support around the wrist and padding in the areas needed. The gloves took a few uses to wear in and lose their ‘new glove’ stiffness but once they had they moulded around the hands very comfortably.
The gloves have a band of elastic around the wrist that offers a nice level of support – and after using the gloves for a few weeks, the elastic continued to feel as strong and the velcro just as secure.
The gloves are make with a Polartec stretch fleece which makes them lovely and warm, and also very soft to touch, with a hardface coating making them stronger and water resistant. I found the gloves really warm, even on a cold day when hacking slowly. They are not completely waterproof but perfect for use in light rain and kept my hands nice and dry.
The gloves offer a lovely amount of movement and grip, making them perfect for both hacking and school where more contact and flexibility is needed. I also tested the gloves for leading in and out of the field and they offer a good amount of grip.
These are our first impressions of a piece of kit or clothing based on spending some time with it. We will have had our hands on it and given it a really thorough going over before trying it on ourselves or our horses and using it. The information we can give you after this first look will give you some sense of what it’s like to use, even if it’s only an initial view. As soon as we’ve given it a more thorough test, we will update the review with a full scoring and additional thoughts – and possibly award it “Horse & Hound Approved” status.
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Emily Secrett-Hill is Horse & Hound’s art editor. She is a lifelong horse owner and in the past was a keen member of the Axe Vale Pony Club. Now a mum, Emily is still able to ride regularly but considers herself more of a “happy hacker” and shares “Hickie” with a friend.
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