Seeking Recommendations For Winter Gloves

I plan on commuting on my bike year-round, but haven't found a glove that gives sufficient warmth that isn't too bulky. I'm in South Carolina, so I won't have to worry about too many sub-30 degree days, but I also do a fair amount of mountain rides which will be cooler and longer.

Any testimonials would be appreciated!

heated grips


and I use these when it gets stupid cold

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Cortech Scarab Winter gloves have worked well by me, good quality and warm enough, but they've only been tested down to 38 degrees which is as cold as I've seen it here in SoCal. I've never tried heated grips but apparently once you've tried them it's hard to imagine how you ever lived without!

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/3...ter-Gloves.aspx

Good luck :fing02:

[image: View Post]JTG, on Oct 1 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

I've never tried heated grips but apparently once you've tried them it's hard to imagine how you ever lived without!

I will attest to that. The only problem with heated grips (as opposed to heated gear) is that when it gets really cold, those bars are so deliciously warm my hands get tense from grabbing them so tight for the extra heat. Heated grips are nice because you can wear slightly less bulky winter gloves. And it really is amazing how comfy one can be with the rest of their body freezing if your hands are warm. It has an affect on mood as well.

But to answer your question, I use these Olympia windtex gloves with a full gauntlet. Nice lining, warm but not too thick and with a big gauntlet. Having a gauntlet that goes securely over and around the jacket sleeve is important.

[image: View Post]JTG, on Oct 1 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

I've never tried heated grips but apparently once you've tried them it's hard to imagine how you ever lived without!

I will attest to that. The only problem with heated grips (as opposed to heated gear) is that when it gets really cold, those bars are so deliciously warm my hands get tense from grabbing them so tight for the extra heat. Heated grips are nice because you can wear slightly less bulky winter gloves. And it really is amazing how comfy one can be with the rest of their body freezing if your hands are warm. It has an affect on mood as well.

But to answer your question, I use these Olympia windtex gloves with a full gauntlet. Nice lining, warm but not too thick and with a big gauntlet. Having a gauntlet that goes securely over and around the jacket sleeve is important.

i try to ride year round. In Texas it isn't a huge issue, but the temps get down in the 20's at times. I have heated grips, which are nice, but this year I will also be using Powerlet Heated Gloves. I like them because they are thinner, plus heated. The issues I had with the heated grips were two-fold. #1, I tended to death grip the bars trying to get heat. #2, my fingers never stayed warm as they didn't contact the bars.

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I have used my heated gloves once in Colorado...more because I wanted to than because I needed to. They worked well, and look good, and aren't huge. I had to work with my Powerlet people to understand what I would need to have. With just gloves, you need a more wiring because they are mostly designed to hook into the jacket...each glove has it's own circuit. I hope my investment means more comfort this year...it should be a one-time buy as I won't be wearing winter gloves out any time soon.

I've heard heated grips are "OK". And having a nice big glove that goes way over up your wrist is important as it keeps any wind out. But...............bottom line...............there is no substitute whatsoever for a heated vest ( with sleeves ) and heated gloves that are plugged into the same heated vest.
Granted this set-up is way more expensive than any single pair of gloves but you'll feel comfy ( not just "OK" ) until the temps get way down. I've had Gerbing's heated clothing for almost 20 years now. Far and away the best, most important gear I've ever bought. With normal care ( no abuse ) the electric gear should last a lifetime.
All this with just one wire hanging from your normal clothes.

[image: View Post]hoopdc, on Oct 2 2009, 06:23 PM, said:

I've heard heated grips are "OK". And having a nice big glove that goes way over up your wrist is important as it keeps any wind out. But...............bottom line...............there is no substitute whatsoever for a heated vest ( with sleeves ) and heated gloves that are plugged into the same heated vest.
Granted this set-up is way more expensive than any single pair of gloves but you'll feel comfy ( not just "OK" ) until the temps get way down. I've had Gerbing's heated clothing for almost 20 years now. Far and away the best, most important gear I've ever bought. With normal care ( no abuse ) the electric gear should last a lifetime.
All this with just one wire hanging from your normal clothes.

Right, the advantage to heated grips is that it is available on your bike all the time if you forget your gear, or if you're like me and don't always plan the best for rides. Grips are also significantly cheapter, at like $35. What does a jacket, gloves, and powerlet port/adapter costs, $300? Heated gear is definitely best, though.

In San Diego it doesn't get too cold. Sometimes in the mornings it gets into the high 30's so I wear these:

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But I bring my other gloves for the ride home in the evening when the temp is in the 60's or higher

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[image: View Post]Ryanme17, on Oct 3 2009, 12:49 PM, said:

[image: View Post]hoopdc, on Oct 2 2009, 06:23 PM, said:

I've heard heated grips are "OK". And having a nice big glove that goes way over up your wrist is important as it keeps any wind out. But...............bottom line...............there is no substitute whatsoever for a heated vest ( with sleeves ) and heated gloves that are plugged into the same heated vest.
Granted this set-up is way more expensive than any single pair of gloves but you'll feel comfy ( not just "OK" ) until the temps get way down. I've had Gerbing's heated clothing for almost 20 years now. Far and away the best, most important gear I've ever bought. With normal care ( no abuse ) the electric gear should last a lifetime.
All this with just one wire hanging from your normal clothes.

Right, the advantage to heated grips is that it is available on your bike all the time if you forget your gear, or if you're like me and don't always plan the best for rides. Grips are also significantly cheapter, at like $35. What does a jacket, gloves, and powerlet port/adapter costs, $300? Heated gear is definitely best, though.


+1

I have a lot of heated gear, including a Gerbing liner, but I run my heated grips a lot, even in the summer. If it's 70 degrees out but it starts misting rain, I'll turn the grips on low and they will keep my hands nice and comfortable, and dry my gloves as well. Or maybe it gets dark and the temps drop just a little bit. I would never pull over and load up on heated gear in these conditions, in fact I might be running the heated grips even though I've got all the vents open on my jacket. I never noticed, until I got heated grips, that unheated grips can be really freakin' cold, even when the air isn't.

I have owned two pairs of heated gloves. I hated them both, they were just too bulky. My hands are small and slender and I just couldn't fight all that bulk. If you have meatier paws than I do, they might work better. I've been considering getting a set of Hippo Hands. I think they'd work very well with the grip heaters, while allowing me to wear comfortable gloves. Probably help with the death grip as well.

I have a friend who carries passengers a lot, either his wife or one of his kids. He says they complain of cold hands a lot and I've been trying to convince him to install grip heaters on the passenger grab rails. I think it would be cheap and elegant and nice for the passengers. Anyone ever tried this?

Thought I'd drop in and update this thread now that I've gotten some good cold-weather riding in...

I decided on the Cortech Scarab gloves. Got them for right around 80 bucks, and immediately loved the feel and finish of them. While they are a tad bulkier than my summer gloves (of course), I still feel like I have excellent command of the bike and can manipulate things pretty well with them on. Much, much better than the snowmobile gloves I used last year!

These gloves seem optimal in the 40 to 50 degree range. The last couple of nights I've gotten in 30 minute rides at 36 and 32 degrees, and they finally started to get overwhelmed. After 20 minutes my finger tips started to get cold, and by the end they were down-right frozen. Another 20 minutes would have resulted in pretty an uncomfortable situation.

I'm generally pleased, but I will certainly be looking into the heated grip option as well...

Thanks to all of you for your replies!

Winter weather here in SC doesn't last that long and it doesn't get that cold but my blood has thinned from living in the South most of my life :)

When it dips into the 40s and below I go to my Alpinestars Jet Roads, I also wear them in the rain. They are more than warm enough for the Winters here.

They also have a little more protection than other Winter/Rain gloves I have seen.

http://www.alpinestars.com/Jet_Road_GoreTe...3/p/352208.html

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[image: View Post]JTG, on Oct 1 2009, 04:45 PM, said:

Cortech Scarab Winter gloves have worked well by me, good quality and warm enough, but they've only been tested down to 38 degrees which is as cold as I've seen it here in SoCal. I've never tried heated grips but apparently once you've tried them it's hard to imagine how you ever lived without!

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/3...ter-Gloves.aspx

Good luck :fing02:


:+1: :+1: I use these gloves myself, I also have heated grips on the bike, but I rarely use the grips above setting 1 (of 4... maybe 5?) even on the freeway at 30 degrees... They're very comfortable, and not very bulky...

Heated gloves work well. I love my heated Gerbings gear, let's us ride year-round here.

Another trick I use is to put my Aerostich Triple-digit raincovers over deerskin gloves when it's wet and cold. The windproof barrier makes a huge difference in warmth and I don't have so much material between hand and heated grip, allowing for a more relaxed hand and arm. Layering in action.

I have Gerbings heated gloves and they keep both hands warm and toasty.

I also have some unheated winter gloves (Olympia I think), and they keep my hands nice and warm, but the lining is a bit of a pain. If you don't take thenm off carefully, the lining in the fingers pulls out and it's difficult getting them back on. They are also quite bulky.

I prefer the heated gloves for long rides.