If you’ve been out on your bike in the cold and wet, you’ll know it’s torture on your hands. Not only does it make for a less enjoyable (and that’s an understatement!) ride but it can be dangerous if you’re out there too long.
With ice-cold fingers, will you be able to react in time?
Heated gloves still need to protect you so it’s important to go for a pair that have the right level of protection; armoured-knuckles, durable leather with scaphoid protection are the main features you need to look out for. The last thing you want to do is end up saying hello to the tarmac without adequate protection.
We all know that gloves are an essential part of motorcycle gear but who says you can’t have a bit of comfort?
We’ve hunted for the top heated motorcycle gloves based on their reviews and features to help you choose what’s right for you. There’s even a couple of other designs and non-heated options for you to consider.
Table of Contents
CE Approval for Motorcycle Gloves
There is a CE-standard for motorcycle gloves, EN 13594:2015. It is broken down into two categories, Level 1 and Level 2.
The areas tested include The cuff length, resistance to removal, knuckle impact protection, abrasion resistance, cut resistance, seam strength and tear strength. So as you can see, a lot goes into the CE approval.
Motorcycle gloves with Level 1 performance provide a lower level of protection but offer greater flexibility than Level 2, whereas Level 2 gloves provide increased protection but due to their increased amount of protective qualities, they may not be as flexible as a Level 1 glove.
If your glove features the KP symbol on the CE approval label it means it has been tested on the Knuckle Protection test.
While you don’t have to wear CE approved kit in the UK, it’s worth noting if you ride in France you legally have to wear CE approved gloves. That includes pillions!
The best 12v wired heated motorcycle gloves
If you want the best power and performance, wired-in gloves are your best bet.
These connect to your bike’s battery/wiring system and run off the engine’s power. They won’t need recharging and will work when your ignition’s on.
If you don’t like the idea of wires, don’t worry. These come with quick-release wiring harnesses, which means you can run the main cable from under your seat for example, and between your legs. This allows you plenty of room to move your hands as you would with normal non-heated gloves. When you get off the bike you can quickly unplug the gloves.
Some of the wired gloves have the option to use the manufacturer’s portable battery. If this is the case, you can locate the battery in your jacket pocket and run the wires down your sleeves, making the use of a battery seamless.
Wired or battery powered, lifetime warranty
With built-in hard armour in the knuckles, certified to new EU PPE Regulation 2016/425, the G601 heated gloves feature an integral heat controlled on the back of the wrist for easy operation plus a visor wipe in the left index finger. Scaphoid guards and a Thinsulate waterproof membrane create the perfect combination for protection and warmth.
Fully featured all-weather glove with added heat
Another popular glove by Gerbing, these heated gloves are waterproof, windproof, and breathable thanks to their Hipora liner. It features an integrated push-button control with 3 heat settings and LED indicator. While you can run these ‘wireless’ with a small 7v battery (supplied separately), these are really 12v wired-in gloves (that give off loads of heat). Like all Gerbing gloves, the heating elements come with a lifetime warranty.
A few more words on the Keis G601
These are our top pick due to their built quality, lifetime heating element warranty, and the fact they can be used with battery packs or plugged into your bike.
Comfort meets safety with these heated gloves by Keis. They’re experts in their field when it comes to heated clothing, and they haven’t missed a beat with these motorcycle gloves.
Keis prides itself on the durability of its products and these are no exception; the soft, stylish gloves are made with premium materials, with hard armour, Thinsulate, and a visor wipe, they’re a quality product, definitely worth splashing out for.
The best battery-powered heated motorcycle gloves
Battery-powered heated gloves are getting better, and there are lots of good ‘hybrid’ options that are wired-in and also can be run off the battery.
The benefit of battery-powered gloves is that they’re totally wire-free and portable. So you can use them on the bike and keep them with you, providing heat on cold days wherever you are.
You can also use them when you’re doing other activities outside, like going for a walk, or, like me, you might find yourself standing on the side of a sports pitch for 90 minutes on a Sunday morning, cheering on your offspring!
Places like Amazon and eBay are full of cheap heated gloves but hardly any of these are properly made, protective, or CE-certified motorcycle gloves.
Most of these gloves have a small battery which locates in the underside of the cuff area and they can provide up to 4 hours of heat. They don’t quite provide the outright heat of a wired-in system but they are less of a faff.
Battery powered, waterproof winter gloves
These are proper motorcycle gloves, from a reputable brand but with the added bonus of a built-in heated harness, and neat batteries that tuck inside the cuffs. There are 4 heat settings and a claimed battery life of between 3 and 4 hours. You can operate a smartphone screen with touch-sensitive fingers.
Why I bought these battery-powered heated gloves
Five years ago, the technology wasn’t quite there to be able to go for wireless heated gloves over wired versions. So if you wanted to keep your hands from freezing, you only had a couple of options; heated grips or wired-in heated gloves.
I’ve been running these battery-powered RST Paragon heated gloves for the last couple of years. They have since been discontinued but I wanted to share my experience.
They are a decent mid-range all-weather glove that you’d be perfectly happy to wear throughout the year with no battery power. With the batteries, they do feel heavy but you can remove them when you don’t want the heating element. They have three power modes, with Red being full on, then Yellow for mid-level, and Green being the low setting.
The thing I find strange is that RST claims the high-power runs for 240 minutes and the low-power runs for 270-minutes. Hardly a huge benefit to having them on low power, so I have them on full most of the time. You can notice the difference in heat output and on really cold days, the lower power settings aren’t warm enough to keep my hands from feeling cold; I have to have them on max.
They’re not as hot as some of the wired-in gloves I’ve tried but at the same time, some of the wired gloves get so hot that you get a sensation that they’re burning areas of your hands, especially when you’re gripping the bars and therefore putting pressure on some of the heating elements. I don’t get that with these battery-powered gloves.
The only other downside worth mentioning is the charging system. You can’t charge the batteries via USB, they connect to a wall charger which is provided. It also comes with worldwide travel adapters, which is a bonus. However, as a ‘pack as light as you can’ biker, I like to keep things minimal and I begrudge having to pack the charger which can only charge these gloves – when I’ve already got power for all my other devices.
If you’re not bothered about that and always charging them from home, then how they’re charged really isn’t an issue.
For me, one of their main benefits is that I can wear them on any bike or for any activity. I am not a huge fan of aftermarket heated grips and these allow me to easily have the option of warm hands on any bike.
While they’re not perfect, they’re certainly better than nothing. Now I’ve been running these through winter, I’d struggle to go back to non-heated gloves.
Heated gloves vs Normal gloves
As a test to see if heated gloves REALLY do make a difference, I put them up against my best pair of winter gloves; the Alpinestars Jet Road Gore-tex.
The Alpinestars gloves are very good. They ought to be, with a £170-ish retail price which is more than the heated RSTs.
The Alpinestars gloves are top-of-the-range Gore-Tex lined waterproof touring gloves that I’ve worn on countless trips, in everything from freezing cold to super-hot weather. They’re comfortable and, unlike a lot of winter-ready, gloves, they offer good feel. You could wear them all year round, no problem.
But how do they stack up to heated gloves?
I wore one of each and went out on the bike to see if I could notice the difference. I happened to pick one of the coldest days of the year.
The short answer is, yes you can feel the heated gloves working, absolutely.
The long answer is slightly more complex.
From the moment I set off, my left hand was cosy and warm in the heated glove. My right hand was noticeably colder but not so cold that it hindered my operation of the controls. It was only after around 40 minutes that I could feel my right hand in the non-heated glove getting cold to the point where I couldn’t ignore it. You know that feeling where the tips of your fingers start to feel a bit numb and no amount of tweaking them or moving them around can combat the cold?
Well, that.
The funny thing is, I’ve been riding without heated gloves all my biking life, over 20 years, and I’ve always just got on with it because that’s been the only option. However, with one hand being heated and the other not, it makes you realise what you’re missing.
I then pressed the reset button by warming my hands up in a cafe, with a cuppa. For the ride home, I tried a different experiment: I’d ride back without the heated glove switched on.
What I noticed was that within 10 minutes, the hand in the RST (heated) glove felt far colder than the hand in the Alpinestars (non-heated) glove. In fact, for the whole ride home, my right hand in the Alpinestars glove felt fine. It was cold and not exactly comfortable but once it got cold, it didn’t seem to keep getting colder. It wasn’t great but if was bearable.
However, my left hand felt cold pretty much from the outset and kept getting colder. After an hour’s riding in near-zero temperatures, I wasn’t up for anymore.
The heated aspect of the gloves is great but you’re definitely buying a glove that’s not as good at keeping the elements out when the heating isn’t on. If the battery runs out while you’re out and about, you won’t be able to easily recharge them (it takes around 3 hours to fully charge, so I lunch-stop won’t quite give you enough time).
Once you make a switch to heated gloves, like me, you might struggle to go back to non-heated versions but as far as I’m concerned these RST heated gloves still earn their place in my kit cupboard. For near-zero temperatures, they’re an excellent choice. If the mercury’s anything above 5 degrees and I was out riding for the day, I’d probably choose a non-heated Gore-Tex glove instead.
Heated Gloves Buying Guide
A lot of riders shy away from heated gloves, whether this is because they’re unfamiliar with DIY wiring or the sheer number of variations on the market. This handy guide lets you know what to look out for and make a better decision:
Protection - Although the main feature of heated gloves is the comfort, they must carry the same level of protection as a standard motorcycle glove. Look for a glove with knuckle armour, scaphoid protection, reinforced palms etc.
Fastening - Gloves with extended cuffs and robust fastenings will help keep the heat in and create a tight seal over your jacket.
Wiring/batteries - Heated gloves are powered two ways; with battery packs which fit within the cuff. They usually last around 3-5 hours so are more suited for short journeys like commuting. Or, wiring directly to your bike’s battery; a limitless supply of power more suited to long trips or if you cannot recharge battery packs for your return journey. Take a look at our DIY connection tips if you’ve never done this before.
Controller - High-quality heated gloves have handy temperature controls and various temperature settings to keep you comfortable. Top tip - set your gloves to the lowest setting as the higher temperatures can get too hot quickly. It’s much easier to increase the temperature gradually than reduce it.
The cost - The good news is, you can get a pair of heated gloves whatever your budget although the more expensive pairs are of better quality. Our guide has plenty of options is each budget range for you to make an informed choice.
How To Fit Heated Motorcycle Clothing
Fitting the connector to the bike
The connections on heated clothing are a lot simpler than most add-on electricals. It uses a permanent 12v connection which attaches to the positive and negative terminals on your battery.
Some kits are supplied with different fuses. This way, if you use multiple heated clothing, you can use a bigger fuse if you need to. Always check you have the right amp fuse or you're in danger of damaging the heating elements.
First, loosen your battery connectors (negative first) and connect the cable ring connectors. Cable tie the lead in place and pull it through the seat somewhere that’s easy to reach the clothing’s connection.
Maintenance
If you’ve done it correctly, there isn’t much you need to worry about but, like all DIY connections, it’s best to check them at regular intervals; especially before a long journey. Carry some spare fuses with you, just in case.
The cheapest heated motorcycle gloves
We appreciate that not everyone can afford our top picks. However if you’re on a tight budget, we don’t recommend you go for a cheap set of heated gloves. You’re far better off with a quality set of motorcycle gloves instead.
That said, we’re here to offer you all the options.
These gloves aren’t specific motorcycle gloves, but they are battery heated. With 3 temperature settings and up to 5 hours of life in them, they’ll last a considerably long journey if you need them.
Made from polyester, these gloves provide grip when you need it, and the heating elements heat the back of the hand and fingers for better coverage.
Mixed reviews from purchasers, some riders claim they do the job just fine while others suggest the heat doesn’t reach a decent enough level. Due to the universal nature of the gloves, they don’t look safe enough if you have a crash, they’re likely to shred and wear badly. In our opinion, it’s not worth wasting your money on these.
The same goes for these ones from eBay. For under £15 you can get these waterproof heated gloves with 8 hours battery life. Although they claim to be waterproof, it’s an entirely different ball game on a bike; they’re likely to leak and not provide any protection when you need it. In our opinion, they’re a waste of money.
Our shortlist: The best motorcycle heated gloves
If our top picks above don’t float your boat, check out these others that are worthy of your attention.
With built-in hard armour in the knuckles, certified to new EU PPE Regulation 2016/425, the G601 heated gloves feature an integral heat controlled on the back of the wrist for easy operation plus a visor wipe in the left index finger. Scaphoid guards and a Thinsulate waterproof membrane create the perfect combination for protection and warmth.
Racer Connectic 4 Heated Gloves
With an extended battery life of up to 50%, the Connectic 4 by Racer has 4 heating levels with a maximum battery life of 6 hours. Equipped with soft armour in the knuckles, fingers and palm plus Polymax waterproofing to keep you dry. With the addition of touch-screen controls in the thumb and index fingers.
Tucano Urbano Feelwarm Heated Textile Gloves
These water repellent gloves have a rechargeable lithium battery pack and 3 heat settings which lasts up to 4 hours per charge. Complete with abrasion-resistant D3O pam inserts and hard knuckle armour for safety, adjustable wrist straps and touchscreen compatible index finger and thumbs.
An alternative to heated gloves
There's another good option if you're commuting or touring and you want warm fingers. Go for a quality set of lobster claw gloves and bar muffs like these. The muffs will keep the wind-blast off, meaning you won't love lots of heat due to wind chill and the lobster-claw-style gloves reduce the surface area that gets cooled.
Then if you want some heat, add on some heated grips and you've got a toasty-warm paradise for your hands.
Or if you've already got a half-decent pair of winter gloves, just go for the heated grips and muffs option. Sorted.
Held Nordpol Glove / £69.99
They might look weird, but this design is quite ingenious. The separation of the fingers provides the level of control that you need, and by placing two fingers together, there’s less heat loss, keeping you warm for longer. Made of waterproof, windproof and breathable material, they’re safe and warm without causing discomfort over long periods of wear. Held offer a 2-year warranty on these gloves; a leather detailed back provides the needed protection for riders and a handy visor wipe on the index finger is a useful feature.
Oxford Rainseal Tech Handlebar Muffs / £29.90
These handlebar muffs fit directly to your bike (they’re universal to fit most), and you simply pop your hands in and off you go. With their 1500 Denier polyester fabric and thermal insulation, they’re wind and waterproof to give you plenty of comfort. Reflective detailing gives you added visibility to other road users in gloomy winter conditions.
Oxford Hot Grips - Heated Grips / £59.99
If you want a heated option, then fit some heated grips. They really don't take long to rig up and they're not the cumbersome affairs they used to be years ago. These 'sportsbike' grips from Oxford are thinner than you'd expect.
Total: £159.88, a small price to pay for toasty-warm hands in winter?
Heated motorcycle gloves: Ben's Top Tips
Unless you can guarantee they’re a good enough quality, try going for motorcycle specific gloves to avoid damage and design issues while riding. Snowboarding or skiing gloves just won't do the job properly.
Check the battery life – if you’re more likely to travel long distances, it may be better to get a pair with a cable rather than just rechargeable batteries.
If you suffer from sweaty palms, look for a breathable lining to make sure you’re not uncomfortable.
Make sure the gloves are soft enough to continue to use your controls correctly, the last thing you want is to lose control of your bike by wearing cumbersome gloves.
Having an adjustable cuff means there’s less risk of your gloves coming loose in the event of a spill.
Heated Motorcycle Gloves FAQs
Do they sell battery-powered heated motorcycle gloves?
Yes, there are lots of motorcycle-specific and non-motorcycle-specific options out there. We’d always go for motorcycle-specific wireless heated gloves as they’ll be able to deal with harsh conditions, rain, and wind-blast. Check out the great options from Gerbing, Keis, and iXS above.
Do heated motorcycle gloves work?
Heated motorcycle gloves have a thermal layer and heated coils. Even when they aren’t switched on, the interior lining will give you better warmth than standard motorcycle gloves.
How do you attach heated gloves to a motorcycle?
Some heated gloves come with battery packs that fit snugly within the glove while others are connected using a 12V connection to your bike. To attach them to your bike, loosen your bike’s battery connectors and connect the cable ring connectors to the battery then re-screw in the battery connectors. Pass the cable through your bike seat where it can easily reach your clothing without restricting movement.
What are the warmest winter motorcycle gloves?
The warmest winter motorcycle gloves will have a thermal interior to keep the heat in. Choosing a waterproof pair will make sure rain cannot lower your temperature further. Heated motorcycle gloves are perfect for extreme cold, heat up really quickly and safely keep your fingers at a constant temperature.
What are the best motorcycle gloves for cold weather?
Choose a pair of winter motorcycle gloves. Heated motorcycle gloves are a great idea if your hands go stiff in the cold. The constant warm temperature helps improve circulation and movement.
Are heated gloves safe?
Yes. Heated gloves are rigorously tested and comply with all safety guidelines. The heated coils are powered by your bike’s battery and protected by waterproof barriers. The coils are embedded within the material so they do not come into direct contact with your skin.
Sources
Thanks to the following websites which helped us research and write this review of the best heated motorcycle gloves:
Extreme motorcycling:
http://www.revolutionmotorcyclemag.com/on-the-road/lobo-the-extreme-biker/