Made specifically for women, the Vallerret Saga Gloves are a thoughtful and practical solution for winter photography. They offer a good balance of warmth, dexterity and functionality, which means you can keep shooting when the temperature drops. The tailored fit makes a difference to comfort and control, while the Flip-Tech design makes it easy to access your camera controls without removing the gloves. They will be my go-to photography gloves this winter.
Slim, comfortable fit tailored for female hands
Flip-Tech fingertips for easy camera operation
Warm and wind-resistant without being bulky
Only three sizes available (small, medium and large)
Cuffs don’t work perfectly with all jacket sleeves
More expensive than standard winter gloves
The Vallerret Saga Women’s Glove is a winter glove designed specifically for female photographers. It’s not just a smaller version of a men’s glove, it has a slimmer shape to fit women’s hands better, and a practical set of features to help you keep shooting comfortably in cold conditions. Whether you’re on a photo walk or waiting for the light to change in a winter landscape, the Saga gloves are made to keep you warm without getting in the way.
The Vallerret Saga Women’s Gloves cost €89.95, which works out at around £78.10. They’re available directly from Vallerret via photographygloves.com
The gloves feature Primaloft Gold insulation, with 133gsm on the back and 100gsm on the palm, and a soft Blizzard fleece lining to keep your hands warm. The outer is made from a tough water-resistant shell with goat leather across the palm and back, while a silicone print on the palm gives a reassuring grip.
The Flip-Tech finger caps on the thumbs and index fingers are held back by small magnets, allowing you to access your camera’s buttons and dials easily. The fingertips are also touchscreen-compatible, which is useful for phones and cameras with touchscreens. Zipped pockets on the backs of the gloves can hold a heat pack or memory card, and one of them includes a tripod plate key on a leash.
The first thing I noticed when I pulled these on was how cosy they feel – that’s down to the fleece around the cuff and the flex lining. They also fit well as the shape is better-suited to women’s hands than many so-called unisex gloves.
Although the insulation adds a bit of bulk, it doesn’t interfere with using a camera. The Flip-Tech finger caps fold back easily and stay put thanks to the strong magnets, which seem better than those used in some previous models.
The silicone palm pattern adds grip, and I find my camera feels safe and secure in my hands. The gauntlet-style cuffs seal out the wind nicely, though they don’t always sit comfortably under tighter jacket sleeves. The Velcro closure is effective but it needs to be undone to put the gloves on or take them off, which I kept forgetting.
I’ve used the Saga gloves during several chilly outings recently, including some long stints outdoors in biting wind. They’ve kept my hands warm and protected, and I’ve been able to keep shooting comfortably for hours. When I need quick access to the camera’s controls, it’s easy to flip back the finger caps back and the magnets keep them out of the way.
I also find the touchscreen fingertips work well – I even managed to send a few messages on my iPhone without taking them off.
As you’d expect, your fingertips cool off quickly when they’re exposed, especially if there’s a cold wind, but mine warm up again as soon as the caps are flipped back into place.
The extra grip on the palm is a nice bonus, especially when working with heavier lenses.
It’s great to see a photography glove designed specifically for women. The Vallerret Saga Women’s Gloves feel warm, well made and thoughtfully designed. The fit makes a difference to comfort and usability, and the Flip-Tech system is practical and easy to use. While they are an investment, the comfort and functionality they offer make them a worthwhile addition to your winter camera bag – especially if, like me, you’re determined to keep photographing through the colder months.
Vallerret has a size guide on its website and it’s worth measuring your hands carefully to ensure you get the right size. I have quite big hands for my height and gender, so I needed a size large.
