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Cold hands are more than a comfort problem: they lose feel on the clutch and brake and slow your reactions. For British winters there are two main solutions. Here is how they compare.
Heated grips
Heating elements inside the handlebar grips, powered by the bike.
Pros:
- Always ready: no batteries to charge.
- Warm your palms directly.
- Work with any gloves.
Cons:
- Need fitting to the bike and a suitable electrical system.
- The backs of your hands and fingertips stay exposed to the wind, which is where you feel the cold most.
Heated gloves
Gloves with heating elements in the back of the hand and fingers, powered by rechargeable batteries or by the bike.
Pros:
- Warm the fingers and backs of the hands.
- Go with you from bike to bike.
Cons:
- Battery life is limited at high settings; check real runtimes.
- Bulkier, with less feel than a normal glove.
- More expensive.
Whatever you choose, make sure the gloves are certified to EN 13594 as motorcycle protection.
The best combination for most riders
For many UK commuters and tourers, the most practical answer is heated grips plus a good waterproof, lightly insulated glove. The grips heat your palms and the membrane keeps wind and rain off the rest of your hand.
Heated gloves make most sense for daily riding in serious cold or on bikes where you cannot fit grips.
Other tricks that help
- Handguards or muffs: very effective, especially on scooters and adventure bikes.
- Thin liner gloves under your main gloves, if there is room.
- Start with warm gloves: keep them indoors, not in the garage.
- Relax your grip: squeezing the bars reduces circulation.
See all our picks in the motorcycle glove guide.
