POC Wrist Freeride Glove
Size: Large
Features:
- High quality goatskin
- WBM, POC’s breathable water and windproof membrane
- Thinsulate™ insulation for comfort and warmth
- Special compressed Thinsulate™ insulation in the palm for better grip
- Supple EVA padding on the knuckles for protection and freedom of movement
- Reinforcement in the palm area and on index finger
- Knitted cuff for comfort and freedom of movement
- Goggle wipe on the thumb
Test Locations: Las Leñas; Taos Ski Valley; Alta Ski Area
Days Tested: ~30
MSRP: $130
After a number of very cold days at Alta last week (not complaining: the cold weather kept the snow cold and great), I am now extremely impressed with the POC Wrist Freeride. They are low profile enough that I just assumed that they wouldn’t really be able to handle more than moderate temperatures. But after the past week and a half, they proved to me (at least) that they are far more capable than I had imagined, and they are currently in contention for my favorite, go-to, everyday glove.
I wrote about the POC Wrist Freeride quite a bit in my POC Nail review, and I encourage you to take a look at that, since glove reviews aren’t that helpful without a number of comparison products. Having said that…
Sizing / Fit
As I wrote in my POC Nail review (slightly adapted here):
“According to the POC sizing guide, I am a solid Medium. POC asks you to measure your Knuckle Circumference (mine is 8.5” / 21.7cm), and POC sets the range for a size Medium as 8.5–9”, or 21.5–23cm.
“As a point of reference, the size Medium Nail feels slightly—I mean barely—more snug than a well-worn Hestra Ski Cross, size 9, and a well-worn Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride, size 9. The Nail feels just slightly bigger than my well-worn Hestra Heli Guide / Pro, size 8.
“Somewhat surprisingly, the size Medium Nail does not feel much smaller than the size Large Wrist Freeride made by POC. The Large Wrist Freeride feels a little longer and roomier in the fingers, and just a bit wider and roomier across the palm (duh, I know: L > M), but it is not a huge difference, and I can very happily wear either size; I don’t really notice the difference unless I put on one of each glove at the same time.”
Now that I’ve got about 30 days in the POC Wrist Freeride, the above section remains true. I haven’t experienced any packing out of the glove to modify what I wrote back in October.
POC Wrist Freeride vs. Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride
But to compare the size large POC Wrist Freeride directly to the size 9 Hestra Vertical Cut Freeride, the Hestra feels a little thicker than the POC, and the POC is slightly longer through the fingers—as in a millimeter or two. It’s close.
The padding feels thicker in the Hestra, and as a result feels a little more snug on my hand than the large POC. Mostly, when wearing one on each hand, I’m struck by how comfortable both are. I’m also struck by the fact that I don’t really dig the very thick padding on the back of the Vertical Cut Freeride. In three or four seasons with this glove, I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve felt that having that thick padding on the back of my hand has proven useful. (I do, however, like the padding on the back of the glove’s fingers—I’ll take it when skiing tight trees and punching branches out of the way.)
So personally, I like the lower profile padding of the POC Wrist Freeride over the Hestra Vertical Cut—though the Vertical Cut really is one of the most comfortable gloves I’ve ever worn.