Wells Lamont

Brand overview and significance

Wells Lamont is a century-old American glove maker (founded in 1907) that moved from workwear into winter sports with a growing line of ski and snow gloves. The company’s heritage runs deep: W.O. Wells started “The Wells Glove Company” in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and in 1914 adopted the Wells Lamont name in honor of partner Maurice Lamont. In 1977 the brand joined the Marmon Group—now part of Berkshire Hathaway—bringing bigger manufacturing resources to a still glove-focused business. For skiers, Wells Lamont’s significance is practical rather than flashy: durable leather mitts and gloves at accessible prices, made with its signature HydraHyde® water-resistant, breathable leather. The brand’s snow category sits alongside its industrial and ranch lines, which means robust construction cues (heavy stitching, reinforced palms, tough leathers) show up in products designed for chairlift winters, rope-tow parks, and cold morning bootpacks.

Product lines and key technologies

Wells Lamont’s snow offerings are built around a few recurring ingredients:

• HydraHyde® leather — a treatment applied during tanning so the leather resists water and stays supple rather than drying stiff. It’s the headline tech across many ski gloves and mitts and reduces the need for constant waxing or aftercare.
• Insulation packages — models commonly use 3M™ Thinsulate™ (different gram weights by style) to keep hands warm without excessive bulk.
• Waterproof/breathable inserts — select snow styles add a membrane insert (e.g., Hipora®) behind the leather shell to improve storm-day waterproofing.
• Snow-specific details — glove leashes (“ski straps”), carabiner loops, shirred or adjustable wrists, extended gauntlets for deep days, and SBR foam on the back-of-hand for comfort and minor impact absorption.

The lineup spans insulated leather gloves, leather/fabric hybrids, and mittens for maximum warmth. You’ll see goatskin and cowhide variants (goatskin for dexterity and abrasion resistance; cowhide for classic durability), plus knit-wrist “slip-on” cuffs for quick resort laps or workday cross-over use. All are positioned as premium-value pieces rather than boutique tech experiments—simple to understand, easy to maintain, and widely available.

Ride feel: who it’s for (terrains & use-cases)

Wells Lamont snow gloves feel solid and workmanlike: leather that breaks in rather than out, a firm but comfortable hand, and insulation weights that cover most resort conditions. They suit:

• All-mountain resort skiers who want dependable warmth and grip for chairlift days, chopped snow, and tree laps, without paying top-shelf prices.
• Freestyle & rope-tow laps where durability matters—dragging hands on rails or knuckles is less stressful on a tough leather palm.
• Travelers & families needing gloves that just work in a wide temperature range and are easy to dry and re-use day after day.
• Work/play cross-over—if you shovel, snowmobile, or run sled laps around skiing, the brand’s industrial DNA is a plus.

Team presence, competitions, and reputation

Unlike athlete-driven premium ski glove labels, Wells Lamont isn’t built around a superstar team. Its reputation comes from longevity in gloves and the HydraHyde treatment that keeps leather usable through wet, freeze–thaw cycles. In shop talk and user reviews, the brand is associated with good value, sturdy stitching, and insulation that holds up for mainstream resort climates. If you need big-mountain expedition tech or ultra-breathable touring gloves, you’ll look elsewhere; if you want reliable resort gloves that don’t demand delicate care, this category fits.

Geography and hubs (heritage, testing, venues)

The company’s roots are Midwestern/U.S., with corporate operations in the Chicago area and an American-heritage backstory. On snow, you’ll find the gloves across North American resorts and in many coastal BC shops—places where winter is wet and rough on leather. For context on typical testing and filming grounds in our ecosystem, see Whistler-Blackcomb (official: Whistler Blackcomb) and interior British Columbia’s Revelstoke (official: Revelstoke Mountain Resort), where storm cycles and tram laps are harsh on gloves.

Construction, durability, and sustainability

Construction emphasizes leather choice, seam reinforcement, and simple, replaceable-stress components (leashes, clips). HydraHyde’s tan-in water resistance means you can wipe down the leather and keep it soft over time, rather than constantly re-waxing a dried-out shell. Waterproof inserts in select models add storm capacity; mittens trade some dexterity for warmth and pull on/off speed. As part of Marmon (Berkshire Hathaway), Wells Lamont publishes corporate sustainability notes and has pursued third-party certifications for recycled content and social/environmental chain-of-custody on newer lines. The most meaningful “green” angle for gloves remains longevity—hardwearing leather that lasts across seasons reduces churn.

How to choose within the lineup

• Leather vs. hybrid. All-leather HydraHyde styles offer best long-term feel and durability; leather/fabric hybrids can trim weight and cost while retaining leather palms where it matters.
• Glove vs. mitten. Choose gloves for pole work, binding fiddling, and park grabs; pick mitts for max warmth on storm or night laps.
• Insert or not? If your home mountain is wet (coastal climates), prioritize a model with a waterproof/breathable insert behind the leather. In colder/drier zones, HydraHyde leather plus Thinsulate can be enough without an insert.
• Cuff style. Gauntlet cuffs seal out blower days; knit or short cuffs slide under shells and feel quicker for park laps. Look for adjustable wrists to fine-tune fit.
• Sizing & break-in. Leather relaxes with use; start with a snug (not tight) fit so the glove breaks in to your hand rather than feeling sloppy mid-season.

Why riders care

Wells Lamont brings “work glove” toughness to the ski hill. HydraHyde leather resists wetting-out, insulation packages are straightforward and warm, and the details—wrist leashes, carabiner loops, reinforced palms—reflect real use. The value proposition is strong: dependable gloves that hold up to lift-served winters and park sessions without fuss. If you want a no-drama leather glove that’s easy to live with, this is a smart shortlist brand.

Quick reference (places & hubs)

• Wells Lamont (skipowd.tv) • Wells Lamont Snow (official)
• Whistler-Blackcomb (skipowd.tv) • Whistler Blackcomb (official)
• Revelstoke (skipowd.tv) • Revelstoke Mountain Resort (official)

Principal athletes & ambassadors

• No formal, high-profile ski team disclosed; the snow line is positioned as durable, value-forward gear used by everyday resort skiers.