Warmest Electric Heated Gloves

[wilmi]

I've been using the Warmgear heated gloves. Yesterday, when the temperature was around 8 degrees F and I was on the freeway going 80+ with my hands in the windstream, the chillfactor exceeded the gloves' effective operational limit. The heat generated at max output was not enough to keep my fingertips from freezing. These gloves work well when the temperature is around 32+, but they can't handle much less and still keep the hands from freezing. Note: By "freezing" I don't mean cold hands...I mean fingers hurting so much you can't feel anything with them, one step below frostbites).

So, while these are good gloves, I'm hoping someone could suggest different gloves that would be able to handle the extreme temperature?

[louturks]

Gerbings heated gloves.

[builtdesign]

Dang that's impressive your hands still froze! Do you know how many amps the gloves draw?

I would also suggest handguards if you don't already have them.

I'm assuming you aslo have an electric bib/vest/jacket?
Can't keep the extremities warm is your chest isn't

[wilmi]

Glove draws 2.7Amps
Handguards are a good idea..although I've not been able to find any for my kind of bike.
Yes, the Gerbings heated jacket liner is what I'm using to warm up the core..and it does the job well.
I did send a note to Gerbings asking them for a recommendation on the T5, G3, or the glove liner, given my situation. Response so far has been zero. If they're too busy to talk to me when I'm looking to buy, I'm not confident about them being responsive after they've made the sale...so I'm waiting to see if they'll respond any time soon. If not, then I'll find a different solution ;-)

[louturks]

You want to go with the T5.

[Badlands-4-2]

My wife has a pair of Tourmaster heated gloves and says that they will burn her hands on the highest setting. Now I can tell you that we have not been out when the temps hit single didgits. What type of bike do you have?

[wilmi]

My bike is a Ninja ZZR600. Cowling puts the hands out in the windstream.

[wilmi]

You want to go with the T5.

Why the T5 and not the liner? Both have same watt & amp requirements. I would think that the liner, when inserted into a larger winter glove, would give better cold protection than T5? This is the question I asked to Gerbings...no answer yet...

[Badlands-4-2]

Well I looked at the website for hippo hands.
http://www.hippohands.com/Hippo%20Hands.htm
I have seen people use these, but have never tried one myself. I did not see your bike listed, but I bet they wil make something that would work. These are good for riding in low temps like you described.

[louturks]

wilmi, I have the Harley heated gloves which are made by Gerbings. T5's are probably better than the model I have. Only negative thing I heard mentioned was it's a little bulky. Whichever you go with, you might want to get a temperature control with it.

[louturks]

Well I looked at the website for hippo hands.
http://www.hippohands.com/Hippo%20Hands.htm
I have seen people use these, but have never tried one myself. I did not see your bike listed, but I bet they wil make something that would work. These are good for riding in low temps like you described.
I have Hippo Hands that I used with my bicycle. They don't come close to keeping your hands warm like a heated glove.

[wilmi]

I have Hippo Hands that I used with my bicycle. They don't come close to keeping your hands warm like a heated glove.

I did buy Hippo Hands a couple of years ago and tried them. Too precarious for my ride, because the force of the wind forces the cover to press on the brake handles so hard that it lights the brake lights..and hinders my ability to quickly grab the brakes, which is an uncomfortable feeling for me. I think they're probably ideal for low speed around-town rides.

[wilmi]

wilmi, I have the Harley heated gloves which are made by Gerbings. T5's are probably better than the model I have. Only negative thing I heard mentioned was it's a little bulky. Whichever you go with, you might want to get a temperature control with it.

Thanks. Got the temp control (bought it with the Gerbings jacket liner), had it on max with the warmgear gloves...didn't cut it.

I'm hoping they answer soon...or else I'll....send them another email..

[louturks]

Did you try calling their toll free phone number 1-866-371-4328

[wilmi]

Got their uninspired response after 2 weeks:
At 06:11 PM 12/17/2010, info@gerbing.com wrote:

Hello, all of our 12v gloves have the same amount of heating elements. It's a matter of taste for which gloves you would prefer.


Sincerely,
Gerbing's Heated Clothing
Customer Service

My follow-up question:

To: info@gerbing.com
Subject: Re: Which Gloves Would Work best in Coldest Weather?


Does that mean the inserts, which are smaller, have the same amount of heating elements as the much larger T5 and therefore would have more heating elements per area, thus making them warmer?

Also, at minus 40 degrees, which is where I'll be operating, what temperature can I expect to get inside the gloves at full power?

Thank you

This feels like pulling teeth....

[louturks]

You are doing the right thing. Get the questions you have answered by them. Do a web search on the reviews of the gloves you want. Read a few of them, not just one. Read the testimonials on their gloves. Read their 30 day money back guarantee and the other warranties on the gloves. Your doing the right thing.

[wilmi]

Finally got an answer from Gerbing:

From: Dotty Wheatley <info@gerbing.com>

Subject: Re: Which Gloves Would Work best in Coldest Weather?


No, you have the same surface area on any glove. The T5 is just
thicker because of insulation, but sizing is the same. Temperatures
vary.
Sincerely,
Dotty Wheatley
Customer Service
Gerbing's Heated Clothing
800-646-5916

My thoughts on this answer:
1) The $200 T5 and the $100 inserts offer the same heating output.
2) Gerbing has ignored my "which one is best in coldest weather" line more than once, so if I have gloves that are better insulated than the T5, using the inserts with them would probably result in more warmth than using the T5.

I'm going with the inserts...

[louturks]

The good thing is you have a 30 day return policy if you don't like them.