Our journey into polo glove design began with a simple but striking observation. Back in the early 2000s, we noticed that most polo players — from club level to the top — were wearing American batting gloves. While these gloves offered decent grip, they were never made for polo. They weren’t designed for reins, for mallets, or for the unique demands of the sport.
True to Ona’s spirit of performance and innovation, we set out to develop a glove that could truly meet the demands of polo.
We turned to none other than Marcos Heguy — a legendary figure who needs no introduction. With six Argentine Open wins with Chapaleufú I, and triumphs at the British Open, the Gold Cup, the US Open, Tortugas, and Hurlingham, Marcos brought a wealth of insight and first-hand experience. His feedback during development was invaluable.
Together, we embarked on a long process of trial, testing, and tweaking. Every detail mattered — from functionality to feel. One of our early breakthroughs came in changing the direction of the closure. This adjustment eliminated the uncomfortable eyelet at the base of the palm near the pinky, which often exposed skin and compromised grip. Another important feature was the reinforcement between the index and middle fingers — a subtle touch that significantly reduced friction and improved comfort while holding the reins.
Material choice was critical. We partnered with Pittards — the gold standard in performance gloving leather. Their WR100X-treated hides offered a unique texture and outstanding water-repellent properties, effectively managing sweat and resisting moisture better than anything we had seen.
Glove development is not for the faint-hearted. It demands patience, precision, and relentless attention to detail. There were moments of frustration and countless returns to the drawing board, but in the end, we created what became a modern classic: the Dura Grip.
Made from black leather with a distinctive quartz texture, the Dura Grip glove quickly earned its place in the sport. Its success was cemented in 2004 when the entire Chapaleufú II team wore Dura Grip gloves as they lifted the Argentine Open trophy. Professionals and amateurs alike adopted them, drawn to their reliability and feel.
But innovation is woven into our DNA. Even with the success of Dura Grip, we kept exploring. Pittards developed a new, grippier leather texture, and it became exclusive to Ona. That upgrade gave birth to a new model, Pro Tech — recognisable not just for its enhanced grip but also for its striking mesh in Ona yellow, a bold visual identity that quickly earned them the nickname “the Yellow gloves.”
Pro Tech reigned for nearly 15 years, spotted on polo fields from Palermo to Palm Beach, to Cowdray and Guards. But when 2020 came, and the world briefly paused, we used the moment to look forward. The pandemic gave us something rare: time. We used it to completely rethink our glove range.
We joined forces with Matt, a specialist in ergonomic glove design. The first target for reimagining? The Pro Tech.
Matt reshaped it from the inside out, quite literally. By mapping the contours of the hand, he introduced a more anatomical structure — one that moved naturally with the player. The result was Speed XT — a glove that retained the spirit of the Yellow classic but offered a new level of fit, responsiveness, and comfort.
Still affectionately known by many as “the Yellow”, Speed XT is today one of our most loved gloves. It stands as a testament to what’s possible when tradition meets relentless refinement.
As we look back, we’re proud — of every prototype, every small adjustment, every conversation with players that helped us shape something better. And yet, the work continues. We remain committed to developing the highest-performing gloves for the sport of polo. Because, at Ona, better is not a destination — it’s a way of thinking.