Otex gloves review: Are these the solution to cold-weather shooting?

If you're anything like me, your approach to photography has probably changed a lot over the years. I'm not just talking about what you photograph and things like composition, but rather how you make the experience more comfortable when you're doing it.

On a landscape shoot to the beach for example I'll always pack a towel, and I'll usually wear a pair of shorts and flip flops, even in winter, as being able to move around freely without worrying about wet feet makes the experience much more enjoyable.

Likewise, in cold weather shoots, I've learned from experience that layering is the best way to beat the cold, and I'll always take a beanie and a buff, as the combo of keeping your head and neck warm makes a huge difference to how long you can comfortably stay out shooting.

But if there's one area where I've always struggled to find a workable combination, it's with gloves. I've heard that the best combination, when skiing for example, is to combine a thinner merino style glove with a thicker ski-type glove to keep your hands warm.

And while I can see the logic, it feels like it would work well right up until you need a bit of dexterity, like trying to use small camera buttons.

It’s also not the most practical setup when you’re pulling off two layers every time you want to make a tweak to a setting, and the alternative isn't any better either - mashing away and hoping you hit the right thing.

All this is a roundabout way of saying that getting your glove combination right is an important one, especially if you find yourself in cold conditions regularly.

It's also why I was so interested in testing out Australian company OTEX's photography-specific gloves.

The brainchild of Mark Phillips, a keen landscape shooter from Melbourne, he tells us he started OTEX in winter 2024 as a side hustle as he had tried other gloves on the market but wasn't impressed with the quality and price tag and felt there should be a more durable and affordable solution. 

Part of his idea was flipback finger tips that allow you to flick the tips back, make changes to your camera and then close them again, and all without removing the gloves.

Mark's first version, launched soon after, had two flipback fingers on the thumb and fore-finger.

For this review, I was sent OTEX's XT-850 gloves, which retail for $119.95 and are a new updated design with now three flipback fingers, along with a zip pocket on the gloves (more on that below). 

In the hand

Out of the bag and into the hand these gloves are well-made of what's described as a windproof / waterproof ripstop anti-tear spandex, and stuffed with 3M Thermal C40 + 120g polyfill that's surrounded by a brushed 'tricot' fleece with wicking capabilities.

If you're wondering what all this actually means, essentially the gloves will keep your hands warm and dry in temperatures as cold as -10. 

In addition, the grip has a silicone-coated anti-slip rubber palm, and the gloves are waterproof.

What I really appreciated, and perhaps more than any of the headline specs, were all the little features that show just how much thought has gone into the gloves.

Things like the magnetic pads that hold the fingertips in place when you have them in their flipped-back state, or the use of a conductive fabric on the index finger and thumb so you can use your smartphone or a touchscreen without flipping the fingertips back at all, and the addition of a waterproof, zipped pocket on the top of the glove that can fit a credit card, or some SD cards maybe, or even one of the included hand warmers to keep your hands nice and roasty. 

At the same time, the gloves are clearly well-made, with premium materials and good quality stitching throughout. I also like the idea of these being suitable for activities beyond just photography, and could imagine they'd be perfectly adequate for skiing, or perhaps riding a motorbike. 

If I was to make a couple of criticisms, one is that the gloves do run a little small, so pay particular attention to the sizing guide on the OTEX website. I'd probably be better suited to a Large, but the Mediums I chose for the review are still comfortable - just.

The other is that it'd be great to see some different colour options in the gloves, as they only come in black. I get that black is probably what most people want, but some splashes of colour would help these stand out a bit and also make them easier to find in your drawer - but maybe that's just me. 

In the field

There's not a lot to add here. In use, these are gloves that perform like gloves do. But the fact that you have the added functionality that these do makes them handy in a way those big ol' mitts you bought for ski season back in '92 just can’t match.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to replicate the -10 conditions that the gloves are supposedly good for, but I did do a very unscientific experiment and plunge them into my freezer.

They stayed comfortable for a fair few minutes, before my kids started giving me some weird looks about what I was doing. 

The wrap-up

Functional, good value and above all a genuinely useful tool for photography, OTEX's gloves are the kind of photography accessory I like - niche as anything, but actually a great idea when you think about it.

I can imagine once you take them into genuinely rough weather you'd never leave home without them. They'll definitely be a part of my cold weather kit going forward.

More info: Otex