I recently tested and reviewed Vallerret’s Women’s Nordic photography glove and we’ve previously reviewed the Markhof Pro Model, but if you’re looking for something warmer still, the Vallerret Ipsoot photography gloves are a great option.
The Ipsoot gloves have a similar style to the Nordic and Markhof but they’re for deep winter rather than mild winter. Vallerret is a Norwegian company so its designers know about winter.
It’s the flip-top tips to the index finger and thumbs of the gloves that make the Ipsoot gloves so well suited to photographers. They mean that you can feel the buttons and dials of your camera, and use the touchscreen, then flip the tops back down to keep warm.
A pair of magnets helps keep the finger/thumb tips out of the way while you’re using your camera.
- Vallerret Women’s Nordic Photography Gloves Review
- Vallerret Photography Gloves – Markhof Pro Model Review
Toasty
Vallerret has lined the gloves with 100 % Merino wool. This is ideal for giving a soft, warm feel and wicking away moisture. There’s more Thinsulate insulation in the Ipsoot glove than there is in the Nordic and Markhof gloves and this makes them much warmer.
Of course, that extra layer of insulation adds bulk. It’s like wearing a pair of ski gloves, so you’re fingers are kept nice and warm but you have a little less dexterity.
In a refinement over the Nordic gloves, the opening in the Ipsoot has an overlap of fabric which is nicely finished. As well as giving a high-quality look and feel, this gives extra warmth.
A jersey cuff also keeps your wrist warm.
Fit
I wear a medium in the Women’s Nordic gloves but I need an extra small in the unisex Ipsoot. I find them very comfortable to wear. They’ve also kept my hands warm in some very bitter winds.
When I flip the tops off my index fingers and thumbs, I usually need to wriggle my fingers out of the holes a little before I feel comfortable using my camera. The bulk of the gloves makes me feel a bit clumsy, but there’s a non-slip coating on palms to help give a good grip. I much prefer the bulk to cold hands – I’m one of those people who gets very cold hands.
Flexing my fingers sometimes disconnects the magnets, but the tips usually still stay well out of the way, so it’s not a major problem.
A combination of goats leather and 2 ply twill give the gloves a smart, durable look and feel. They also shed raindrops readily.
Pockets
Both gloves have a weather-resistant zip-closing pocket on their back. This is designed for holding a memory card or something of similar size.
Hopefully, the left glove pocket has a tripod release plate key on a lanyard inside. That’s useful! The lanyard is stitched into the pocket so you can’t transfer it to the other glove easily. I did a bit of experimentation and I think left-handers should be able to access and use the key even though it’s attached to their dominant hand.
Verdict
The Vallerret Ipsoot photography gloves are a very nice pair of gloves. They do a great job of keeping your hands warm in very cold conditions. However, they do slow you down a bit.
If the temperature falls low enough to warrant wearing ski gloves, then the Ipsoot gloves are a good choice. If it’s not quite so cold, however, the Women’s Nordic or unisex Markhof gloves could be a better choice. They’re not quite so warm, are less bulky and cost less.
Also, if the main purpose of your trip out in the cold is to take photographs, the Nordic or Markhof gloves are a better choice. However, if the photography is more incidental to your adventure, then I’d go for the Ipsoot gloves. I’d wear them for skiing or long cold dog walks, when I take my camera, for example.