Oyuki Sencho GTX Ski Glove Review
The Oyuki Sencho GTX ($170) is a heavily insulated, waterproof, leather ski glove ideal for cold resort days and backcountry descents. Gore-Tex waterproofing and a cozy Calamai wool lining give it a leg up on most gloves in its price range, and our tester—a self-described Raynaud's syndrome sufferer with chronically cold hands—never once felt cold in them across a month of splitboarding in the Alps and multiple days at Mammoth. The dexterity is a real limitation, as the leather requires a lengthy break-in period before it softens and molds to the hand. But size down from what the chart suggests, put in the time, and you'll have a glove built to last. The version reviewed here was revamped for the 2025-2026 season, with lighter insulation and a recycled wool liner.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
Waterproofing
Gore-Tex
Upper
Goatskin leather
Cuff style
Under cuff
Liner
Fixed
Pros
Cons
Oyuki Sencho GTX
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Ski Gloves.
The Oyuki Sencho packs a lot of insulation into its design, including 113-gram PrimaLoft Gold on the back of the hand, 85-gram PrimaLoft Eco Grip Control on the palm, and a fixed Calamai wool lining that adds a cozy next-to-skin feel. I'd give them a 4 out of 5 for warmth—warm enough for skiing or snowboarding in temperatures as low as the teens, but not the warmest glove on the market. As far as standard ski gloves go, though, they’re well-insulated and built to handle the lower end of the temperature spectrum. Much warmer and you’d need to start dipping into mitten territory, or a real-deal insulated ski glove like the Black Diamond Guide.
I used the Oyuki Sencho Gore-Tex gloves in temperatures ranging from 25 to 45 degrees during multiple days at Mammoth and on a month-long splitboarding trip in the Alps. I have Raynaud's syndrome—my hands are chronically freezing—and I never felt cold in them. I’ve talked about their bottom range, but the gloves definitely have a warmth ceiling, too. I never wore them while touring uphill, and my hands sweat like crazy in temps over 45 degrees, even just riding the resort.
The Oyuki Sencho is fully waterproof, featuring a Gore-Tex membrane and a leather outer treated with a water-resistant coating. The glove even comes with a Nikwax packet to re-waterproof it when the factory treatment eventually starts to wet out.
In testing, the waterproofing performed well. During a month-long splitboarding trip in the Alps, they held up without issue through transitions, hands in the snow, and the general wet-glove abuse that comes with spring conditions. The DWR shed water reliably and the Gore-Tex membrane kept my hands dry throughout. I didn't get to test them in a true atmospheric river Sierra event, which would be the real stress test—but based on what I've seen, I'd trust them in serious storm conditions without hesitation. Compared to other ski gloves I've tested, the waterproofing is as dependable as it gets.
The Oyuki Senchi GTX are middling in terms of dexterity. Out of the box, they felt quite stiff, and while they softened somewhat over time, they still have a long way to go before reaching the supple, broken-in feel of my old leather Rab Khromas. Plan to give these gloves a substantial break-in period before expecting the best from them.
In day-to-day use, I could pick up large, bulky objects and buckle my boots, but transitioning my splitboard or unzipping my jacket with these gloves on was a real challenge. They also have no touchscreen compatibility, which meant I had to remove the gloves every time I wanted to use my phone, exposing my hands to the elements.
On the dexterity spectrum—with liner gloves at one end and the Black Diamond Mercury Mitts at the other—I'd put these somewhere in the middle, slightly closer to the mitts than to a touring glove. With more time and use, I'd expect the leather to mold to my hands and noticeably improve dexterity, but the break-in process feels admittedly painful. Even once broken in, this is still very much a descent-first glove. If dexterity is a priority—for transitions, adjusting bindings, or any technical work—you'll want a more streamlined glove.
The Oyuki Sencho's wool lining is genuinely lovely. It’s soft, not scratchy, and feels almost like a fuzzy fleece against the skin. On cold days it added a nice boost in insulation, and it dried relatively quickly after getting damp. A few other thoughtful details add to the overall comfort: a roughout leather nose wipe on the thumb, leashes to prevent dropping the glove, and a Velcro pull tab on the cuff that cinches down to prevent snow from sneaking inside.
Where the comfort story gets complicated is the fit. Because the gloves ran slightly big on me, they felt a touch bulky and not quite as dexterous as they should be, and that bulk detracted from the overall comfort. I think with a true-to-size fit, these would probably rate closer to a 4 out of 5—the interior is that good. But as worn—and I promised I sized my gloves fastidiously using Oyuki’s size chart—the gloves felt more like obnoxious paws than dexterous extensions of my hand.
The Oyuki Sencho GTX feels like a premium glove from the moment you pick it up. The materials are high quality, including thick, supple goatskin leather across most of the shell, PrimaLoft insulation, and Gore-Tex waterproofing, and the construction is equally solid. After about 20 days of ski use and another 30 days riding in my touring pack, the gloves have held up with no meaningful issues. A tiny bit of stitching is fraying at the seams, but nothing structural.
Leather is inherently more hardwearing than synthetic shell materials, and I expect the Sencho's shell to last for multiple seasons of use with proper care. And like most great leather gloves, they’ll only get better with time. The main things to watch over time are insulation packing out, the seams (which appear well-sewn), and the Velcro wrist cuff, which could lose its hold with heavy use—but that’s true of any ski glove. I'm also curious how the Gore-Tex membrane and leather DWR will hold up after a few full seasons, but re-waterproofing a leather glove is straightforward with Nikwax leather products. Overall, durability is one of the areas where the Sencho stands out most.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
PFAS-Free Waterproof Membrane
The membranes used in waterproof products such as rain jackets, ski jackets, and shoes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are valued for their resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product’s waterproof membrane is PFAS-free, while a red X means it contains PFAS.
Responsible Leather
Responsible leather is typically sourced from suppliers certified by the Leather Working Group (LWG), a third-party nonprofit that evaluates tanneries on factors such as water and energy use, chemical and waste management, emissions, traceability, and worker safety, and assigns ratings ranging from Bronze to Gold. A green check mark indicates a product uses responsibly sourced leather, a yellow check mark indicates the brand sources responsible leather for the majority of its products but does not specify it at the product level, and a red X indicates the product does not use responsibly sourced leather.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one of the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
The Sencho uses an undercuff design rather than a gauntlet, which I generally prefer. The cuff sits flat against the wrist and cinches down with a Velcro tab for a secure fit. For most jackets with adjustable or Velcro cuffs, it works well, though the glove is a touch beefy, so if your jacket cuff is particularly tight, it may be a snug fit. Getting the gloves on is straightforward thanks to a small synthetic pull tab on the inside of the cuff. It’s easy to use when one hand isn’t yet in a glove, slightly harder with both hands in gloves but not terrible unless your hands are very cold.
Each glove includes a wrist leash to prevent dropping them on the chairlift when you need to answer your phone or grab a camera. The leashes are cord loops with a small adjustment bobble. This setup is functional, but the bobble is hard to operate with gloves on, and the cord isn't the most comfortable. I prefer the stretchy leashes on the Rab Operator GTX gloves, which feel better against the wrist and don't require fiddling to get on and off. There's also a reverse leather nose wipe on the thumb, though I'll admit I felt reluctant to use it because the gloves are so nice, and I wouldn’t want to wash them because they are leather.
I typically wear a small or extra-small in ski gloves depending on the brand. Based on my measurements and the Oyuki sizing chart, a small looked like the right call, so that's what I tested.
Around the palm and wrist, the fit felt spot on, but the fingers were significantly too long, with about half a centimeter of extra material above each digit. That extra length contributed directly to the dexterity issues I noted earlier—it's hard to feel in control when there's that much material floating above your fingertips. I strongly recommend sizing down in the Sencho, and if you have shorter fingers, be especially cautious before ordering online without trying them on first.
Hestra Fall Line ($190): Decidedly More Dexterous
The Oyuki Sencho GTX goes head-to-head with the Hestra Fall Line, one of our all-time favorite ski and winter gloves. Both feature a leather shell and under-cuff design, but that’s about where their similarities end. While the Sencho is fully waterproof and amazingly durable, the non-waterproof Fall Line uses a thinner and more supple cowhide leather, which isn’t as hardwearing as the Sencho’s goatskin leather but requires very little break-in time. The Fall Line also offers a more refined fit, with pre-curved fingers and external seams that minimize bulk, and its removable liner makes it easy to dry the glove between storm days. To be sure, the lack of waterproofing will be a non-negotiable for some, but the Fall Line is overall the more comfortable and dexterous glove. To learn more, read our Fall Line review.
Black Diamond Guide ($200): Maximum Warmth
Like the Sencho, the Black Diamond Guide is a Gore-Tex leather ski glove built for serious winter conditions. The Guide offers a step up in warmth, with a 170-gram PrimaLoft Gold liner, a midweight fleece liner at the palm, and a wool-blend backer. It also features a removable liner for faster drying and a gauntlet cuff that better keeps snow at bay. By our recommendation, it’s the go-to for skiers who run cold or regularly deal with single-digit temperatures and below 0. The tradeoff is that the Guide is even harder to perform fine motor tasks in—even once broken in. The Sencho's undercuff design, slightly less insulation, and more streamlined build make it the better choice for those who want a warm glove without going full expedition. To learn more, read our review of the Black Diamond Guide.
Durability, warmth, and waterproofing are the highlights of this stylish leather glove, but it does take some patience. Because of its stiff goatskin leather, it’s incredibly rigid and slippery out of the box, and the fit isn't as refined as Hestra gloves.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
Thanks to a supple cowhide shell, pre-curved fingers, and outseams at the palm, the Fall Line is a highly dexterous glove. It’s durable, too: We’ve been wearing our pair for six years and it’s still going strong. But with no waterproof membrane, you won’t want to push it in wet conditions.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
One of our favorite ski gloves for wintery conditions. The wool- and fleece-lined insulated liner is a cozy haven for the hands, and you get full Gore-Tex waterproof protection. The removable design lets the glove dry quickly in between storm days.
Warmth
Waterproofing
Dexterity
Comfort
Durability
Sustainability
Is the Sencho GTX for You?
The Oyuki Sencho GTX is for the skier or snowboarder who wants a warm, Gore-Tex leather glove for backcountry descents and cold resort days with temperatures dipping as low as the low teens. It's also, importantly, reserved for those who understand that a durable leather glove takes patience to break in. Put in the time though, and you'll have a reliable, well-built glove that offers more dexterity than a max-warmth glove like the Black Diamond Guide.
Go for it if you want a warm, fully waterproof leather ski glove and are willing to invest in a long break-in period for superior longevity.
Pass on it if you need maximum dexterity for transitions and technical work, don’t have the patience for a long break-in process, or mostly ride in mild conditions where the insulation would be overkill.
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