black motorcycle heated glove

Heated Motorcycle Gloves

Heated Motorcycle Gloves

How do heated motorcycle gloves work?

Heated motorcycle gloves usually have wires built into the lining or are made of material that conducts the heat from a heat source. The heat is generated by electricity (battery or on-board electronics), warms the feed and the feed warms the hands.

Are heated motorcycle gloves thicker than normal motorcycle gloves?

Winter gloves are logically thicker than summer gloves. You notice that at the end of each season when you put on your thick winter gloves for the first time in a long time and touch the handlebars. Due to the thick gloves, I personally find the grip feeling spongier and more indirect.

That’s why I feared that technology would make heated gloves even thicker than lined gloves. However, this is not the case.

These days, heating technology is small enough not to be applied thickly. In the Gerbing XRL (more on this later), small heating wires warm the fingers and the back of the hand. Except for the warmth, you don’t notice anything of it.

The most obvious difference to normal gloves, however, is the battery. Depending on the glove, put the battery either in the cuff or connected by cable in the jacket or tank bag. Some gloves can also be connected to the on-board electronics by cable.

Are heated motorcycle gloves safe?

If you buy from brand manufacturers, you don’t need to worry. The temperatures that a heated glove can generate are not high enough to burn yourself. Neither you nor the glove fabric get so hot that there is any risk of fire or burns.

The batteries switch off the heating element automatically in the event of a short circuit. Of course, heated gloves have no place in the washing machine or bathtub.

Advice for purchasing heated motorcycle gloves.

When buying motorcycle gloves, there are several things to consider in terms of equipment, material and fit. How to find the right motorcycle glove, I explain in my motorcycle glove purchase advice.

TOP 3 MOST USED HEATED MOTORCYCLE GLOVES

#3. IXS Tour Heat-ST

With the Tour Heat-ST, IXS offers a great heated glove. Both design and equipment can convince.

Made of goatskin and textile, with all the safety functions one can expect (protectors, adjustment options) and all the equipment I like (waterproof membrane, visor wiper, touchscreen-compatible).

The glove can be set to 4 different heat levels using a rechargeable battery (included in the scope of delivery). There is no way to connect the glove to the on-board electronics.

The temperature regulator is nice and large and can also be operated with gloves on.

Positive

  • Complete safety equipment
  • Great workmanship
  • Great design, no thicker than other motorcycle gloves
  • Waterproof and breathable membrane
  • 4 heating levels
  • Easy to use
  • Long heating time
  • Touchscreen compatible
  • Visor wiper
  • Including battery and charger

Negative

  • Expensive
  • Can only be operated with a battery (not via the on-board electronics)

Properties of heated gloves

  • Heated zones: back of the hand, fingers and fingertips
  • High quality material & soft inner lining
  • Water-repellent & insulating intermediate layer
  • Partly reinforcements made of high-quality leather
  • Shock-absorbing padding on the palm
  • Reflective tapes for more security
  • Ergonomic fit
  • Industrial / work gloves: Wear-resistant materials at finger height, on the palm and back of the hand + extra-long cuff with integrated storm cuff
  • Hunting glove: Removable finger for the trigger
  • Mittens with gloves inside
  • Washable at 30 ° C without any problems
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (7.4V / 2.2Ah)
  • Push-button control directly on the glove
  • Number of heating levels: 3
  • Heating time: 2-3 hours (high temp.), 5-6 hours (low temp.)
  • Charging time: +/- 4 hours

#2. Gerbing XRL / Gerbing XR

The best-selling heated motorcycle gloves in the world. This is how the description of the Gerbing XRL starts in the Gerbing online shop. Reason enough to take a closer look at the Gerbing XRL and the little brother Gerbing XR.

First, briefly on the differences between the short (XR) and the long (XRL) version. The XR is the short version of the XRL and can therefore be worn better under the sleeves of the motorcycle jacket. Due to the short cuff, the Gerbing XR no longer has space for a battery. Therefore, the XR has to be connected either by cable to a battery, to the on-board electronics or to a compatible Gerbing jacket. If you don’t feel like cables, you have to use the XRL.

When it comes to the equipment, I have nothing to complain about. A membrane wicks away moisture and keeps hands dry when it rains. Protectors on the back of the hand and a crash pad on the palm of the hand protect hands in the event of an accident.

There are 3 different heating levels. Depending on the selected level, the battery lasts longer (up to 8 hours) or less at the highest level (approx. 2 hours). That should be enough for most drivers.

Positive

  • Complete safety equipment
  • Great workmanship
  • Great design, no thicker than other motorcycle gloves
  • Waterproof and breathable membrane
  • Can be operated by rechargeable battery or on-board battery
  • Extremely long heating time also with a battery (up to 8 hours)
  • Easy to use
  • Touchscreen compatible
  • Available in short (Gerbing XR) and long versions (Gerbing XRL)
  • Lifetime guarantee on the heating elements
  • Available in many sizes (XXS to XXXL)

Negative

  • Very expensive
  • Batteries cost extra

#1. Hero Tonale

If you are looking for gloves with a warming function that are cheap compared to electrically heated gloves, you will find it here. Instead of using electricity, the Held Tonale uses a small gel heat pad to keep your hands warm. That has its advantages and disadvantages.

Disadvantage # 1. The heat pad is not included in the scope of delivery. But it can be bought for a few euros.

To activate the heat pad, you have to bend it once and then put it in the compartment provided in the glove. Held promises 45 minutes of warmth, enough for the drive to work. The pillows can then be reactivated in hot water. Correct heated gloves offer a significantly longer heating time.

Since the heating pad only sits in the cuff, the hands are not supplied with heat nearly as well as with electric heated gloves.

Since a good glove consists of more than one gel cushion, I also looked at the other properties. And there, too, the hero Tonale knows how to please.

Gore-Tex membrane against moisture from the outside and for breathability. Protectors on the hand and reinforcement on the inside.

In addition to the gel cushion, the 3M Thinsulate lining and fleece fabric also provide warmth. On the outside, the glove is made of goatskin (inside), cowhide (fingers) and tear-resistant fabric. Held also donated a neat rubber windscreen wiper to the Tonale.

Positive

  • Very good security equipment
  • Heat cushions can be retrofitted
  • Keeps you warm
  • Works without a battery or power cord
  • Great workmanship
  • Made of goatskin, cowhide and tear-resistant fabric
  • Waterproof Gore-Tex membrane
  • Breathable
  • Good visor wiper
  • Cheaper than many other heated gloves
  • Available in many sizes (women and men)

Negative

  • Not touchscreen compatible
  • Heating performance worse than when heating with electricity
  • Doesn’t keep you warm as long as other heated gloves

Motorcycle Gloves Guide

When it comes to motorcycle clothing, choosing the right glove is certainly one of the trickiest decisions. After all, gas, brakes, clutch and various buttons are operated with the hands, which requires feeling in the fingers and thus disqualifying models that are too clumsy. On the other hand, the wind must not cool the hands and in the event of a fall, especially the hands should be protected by protectors. In order to meet these conflicting requirements, manufacturers have created motorcycle gloves that are designed for different areas. There are special models for different seasons and motorcycle categories in order to always guarantee as much active and passive safety as possible.

Gloves for All Motorcyclists

Sports gloves are usually designed for safety, as you can reach higher speeds with powerful machines. The outer material consists mainly of sturdy leather, which is usually reinforced with resistant fibers. Further protective equipment includes, among other things

  • Finger bridges
  • Edge protection
  • Ankle protectors

However, you have to accept a slight loss of comfort, as feeding or a climate membrane is sometimes dispensed with in favor of the safety equipment. As a rule, however, you won’t notice anything about it on short trips. This is why these motorcycle gloves are exactly the right choice for sport bike riders or those who only use their motorcycle for short jaunts. In addition, a large proportion of the sporty bikers only ride in very good weather anyway, which makes the disadvantage not too relevant for many. Sports gloves from Alpinestars are well received in test reports and by idealo users.

If, on the other hand, you are out on the bike all day, the wearing comfort of motorcycle gloves plays a bigger role. The mentioned disadvantages of sports gloves can reduce active safety, as the driver may be distracted. For example, if water penetrates the glove or your hands freeze. In this case, touring gloves are recommended. Here the focus is more on comfort. For example, water-repellent membranes that also ensure good ventilation should be part of the equipment. These can be recognized, for example, by terms such as:

  • Sympatex
  • Gore-Tex
  • Hipora

Nevertheless, protectors on the knuckles or reinforcements on the palm are just as recommended for touring riders. In addition, you should be able to adjust the wrist width so that the glove neither pinches nor sits too loosely. As a practical feature, some versions have a rubber lip on the index finger. This can be used as a windscreen wiper for the visor when it rains. Held is a very successful manufacturer in this segment with a large selection of touring gloves. Motocross gloves are very similar to the sporty models: They are more about the optimal control of the Enduro and good protectors such as waterproofness.

Motorcycle Gloves For Every Season

The gloves are designed not only for different types of motorcycle, but also for the seasons. For example, you can buy winter motorcycle gloves that are windproof, well-lined or even heated. In summer there are slightly more airy models, while variants for spring and autumn only come with light lining. Furthermore, summer models can also be converted for colder temperatures by buying suitable under gloves. This solution is relatively cheap compared to winter gloves. A popular manufacturer that offers models for all seasons is, for example, Dainese.

Looking for recommendations on Motorcycle Helmets? Click here to see our top picks. 

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