Hatchet Photography Glove – $109.95

What’s Special About Them?
Valleret makes gloves designed for photography. The most specialized feature of the Markhof Pro V3 and Hatchet (and almost all of the Valleret lineup), is the flip-tech design that allows the thumb and index finger coverings to be flipped back. This allows you to use your index finger and thumb to handle your camera, while the rest of your hand is still covered by the glove.

This seems subtle, but it’s game-changing for photography. Being able to use your index and thumb makes it so much easier to operate and handle your camera in the cold. Especially now, where many cameras offer extensive touch screen functions. I use my index finger to use the touch features on my Z7’s LCD – and I use those features all of the time.

Another key benefit of being able to reveal your index finger and thumb is the huge improvement in overall dexterity. Camera buttons and dials are small and require precision to operate. You don’t have that precision while wearing a glove, so being able to just flip out your finger or thumb is such a time-saver. Not to mention, you can do it while keeping the rest of your hand warm. That’s nice when you’re dealing with frigid winter temperatures.

In the past, I used to take my gloves off completely to operate my camera or use cheap fleece gloves with the fingers cut off. Neither of those solutions is ideal. Then, I bought the Markhof Pro and my life was changed for the better. Seriously, you’ll find these gloves work awesome for photography. I even appreciate them when I’m in the field and need to use my phone to bring up PhotoPills, I just flip back my finger and boom!

Functionality, Warmth, and Appearance
Valleret has designed an awesome flip-back system for photography – of course, that’s great, but there are also other important features to consider. Are they functional? What about warmth – overall appearance?

For me, the Markhof Pro started out as my photography trip go-to gloves but slowly transition into my daily drivers. That has a lot to do with how functional they are overall. I like the flip-back system for phone use, as I mentioned, and I think that has a lot to do with why I wear my pair for non-photography reasons.

I mentioned that I owned my first pair for over 4 years – they’re super durable. The thing that impresses me most with the new Markhof and Hatchet is the overall quality. These gloves are not made from cheap materials. They’re designed to be durable and last for years, even with rugged use.

In terms of warmth, both gloves have 100% merino wool inner lining. The Markhof Pro V3 features Thinsulate insulation (C100/C70), the Hatchet features Primaloft Gold insulation (170/133). The Hatchet is warmer overall and better suited for colder temps. The Markhof Pro V3 is better suited to be an all-season glove, that has good warmth for milder temperatures.

Both gloves look great. You’ll notice that the Markhof Pro V3 and Hatchet have a different construction. The Hatchet is a full leather design, versus the hybrid-leather design of the Markhof. The Markhof also has a sealed zipper pocket, which I use to store microfiber clothes.

I’ve had no issue with the durability of the Markhof, but in terms of design, the Hatchet should be a bit more durable and better suited for rugged use.

What Glove to Go With?
I decided to pick up the Markhof Pro V3 and the Hatchet to cover myself for a variety of situations and climates.

If I had to pick one, the Markhof Pro V3 is the do-it-all glove, in my opinion. It’s so versatile and it’s useful in all seasons. In winter, it provides enough warmth for temperatures down to the teens and in all other seasons, it’s the perfect glove. I’ve used my pair from summer in the mountains to winter in the Midwest.

I do like the sleek look of the Hatchet’s and the leather design. The extra insulation is nice too if you know you’re going to consistently be in cold weather.

Extreme cold weather doesn’t worry me much because I generally use two gloves for sub-zero temps. In the past, I’ve worn the Markhof as a liner and I’ve worn a larger mitten over them. Valleret has a really nice solution for dual gloves with their Alta Over-Mitt (retails for $109.95). I’d check that out if you’re routinely shooting in single digits and negative temperatures. I find the dual-glove system to work well for photography because, in those temps, you want to be able to operate your camera, but it’s crucial to prevent frostbite and to keep your hands warm. Overall, I love both gloves, but if I had to recommend one, I’d get the new Markhof Pros and an Alta Over-Mitt.