Winter Riding Gloves
Best Heated Motorcycle Gloves: 12V vs Battery and What to Buy
12V wired or battery heated gloves? Runtime, power draw and peak heat from maker specs, field-study evidence, a buyer checklist and picks by rider type.
The best heated motorcycle gloves for long, cold rides are 12V gloves wired to your bike, because they draw power for as long as the engine runs. Battery (7V) gloves suit commutes and riders who switch bikes, with roughly 2 to 8 hours per charge in one maker's line. Either way, heated gloves gave the warmest fingers of any glove or mitten in a cold-weather field study.
This page is part of our winter motorcycle gloves guide.
Key takeaways- 12V wired gloves: no runtime limit while the engine runs, but you need a harness and ideally a controller.- Battery gloves: no wires to the bike, but a few hours per charge, and higher settings drain faster.- Peak temperatures are close: about 140°F (60°C) for one maker's 7V line and 135°F (57°C) for its 12V line.- Look for heat that reaches the fingertips and a controller with several settings.
Quick verdict: 12V or battery?
Choose 12V if you ride for hours in the cold. Choose battery if your rides are short or you do not want wires on the bike.
| Column 1 | 12V (wired to the bike) | 7V (battery in the glove) |
|---|---|---|
| Power source | Motorcycle battery through a harness | Rechargeable lithium battery |
| Runtime | No limit while the engine runs | Roughly 2-8 hours, by heat level |
| Peak temperature (Gerbing) | About 135°F (57°C) | About 140°F (60°C) |
| Extra parts | Harness, often a controller | Charger and batteries |
| Best for | Touring, long rides below freezing | Commuting, several bikes, off-bike use |
Are heated gloves worth it for motorcycle riding?
Yes, once it gets near freezing or rides get long. Speed is the reason: by the National Weather Service wind chill formula, 40°F (4°C) air at 60 mph works out to a wind chill of about 25°F (-4°C) on exposed skin.
In a 2016 Antarctic field study of gloves and mittens, electrically heated gloves had the highest starting and ending finger temperatures: 96°F (36°C) and 82°F (28°C). Warm fingers also work better: Army research found a 5°F rise in finger skin temperature brought about 50 percent more dexterity.
One retailer's rule of thumb is that unheated winter gloves cover about an hour at 32-41°F (0-5°C), and that colder or longer rides need added heat. If you are torn between heating the glove or the bar, read heated grips vs heated gloves.
Models we shortlisted
We only list specs we could read on the maker's own page. We have not wear-tested these gloves yet, so there is no ranking.
Gerbing warns that its 12V gloves should be run with a temperature controller, since without one they may cause discomfort and burns. That makes the controller part of the real cost of a wired glove.
| Glove | Power | Published details | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gerbing Hero 12V | 12V wired | Heating to every fingertip; knuckle protection; plugs into a Gerbing jacket sleeve, or needs a battery harness, Y-harness and controller (sold separately) | – |
| Volt Heat Moto 12V | 12V wired | Drum-dyed cowhide; waterproof, breathable membrane; heat along each finger and both sides of the hand; 3 amps at 12 volts; 4-setting controller and fused harness included | – |
| Gerbing 7V line | Battery | Roughly 2-8 hours per charge by heat level; peak about 140°F (60°C) | – |
What to check before you buy
Power and wiring
For 12V, check what comes in the box. One maker includes a fused harness and controller; another sells the harness, Y-harness and controller separately.
Check your charging system too. Heated grip makers warn that a weak alternator cannot run lights and heat together at full output, and the same load logic applies to any 12V heated kit.
Heat control
Look for several heat settings you can change on the move. On battery gloves, each step up shortens runtime.
Where the heat goes
Check that the heating elements run the full length of each finger and over both sides of the hand. Heated grips only warm the palm side, so the back of the hand is where a heated glove earns its keep.
Weather and protection
A waterproof membrane that also breathes keeps rain out while letting sweat vapor escape. Check for knuckle armor and a leather palm. For what protection labels mean, see our EN 13594 glove standard explainer.
Fit with heat
Try heated gloves on with any liner you plan to wear, and check that your fingertips are neither cramped nor loose. For sizing, see sizing winter motorcycle gloves.
Picks by rider
- Daily commuter, 20-60 minutes: a battery glove. Charge it at work and at home.
- Tourer riding all day below freezing: a 12V glove with a controller, wired once and left on the bike.
- Rider who already owns good gloves: compare heated glove liners vs heated gloves.
- Extreme cold: mittens beat unheated gloves for warmth in the field study, so see gloves vs mittens.
- Sweaty hands on long rides: add a thin layer from our cold-weather glove liners list.
If you decide heat is overkill
For cool shoulder-season rides, an unheated leather glove with a liner may be enough. Leather Collection leather motorcycle gloves are hand-stitched cowhide, 0.8-0.9 mm thick. The store sells no heated or insulated motorcycle gloves, so these are for cool days, not deep winter.
Related guides
- Riding an ATV in winter? See how heated gloves compare with other types in best gloves for ATV riding.
Quick answers
Are heated gloves good for motorcycle riding?
Yes. In a cold field study, heated gloves kept fingers warmer than any unheated glove or mitten.
Are heated gloves worth the money?
They are if you ride near freezing or for more than about an hour, where one retailer says unheated gloves stop being enough.
What motorcycle gloves are best for extreme cold weather?
12V heated gloves, which run as long as the engine does. Mittens are the warmest unheated option.
How long do heated motorcycle glove batteries last?
Gerbing gives roughly 2 to 8 hours for its 7V line, depending on heat level.
Motorcycle Leather Gloves Editorial Team
Motorcycle Leather Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.