By Anders Carlson
Updated: 19 February 2025
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Any rider who lives “Up Nort’” dreads the end of the riding season. And if you live down south, even mild weather gets chilly when traveling through it at 70mph. Riding is basically an exercise in how the wind-chill effect works. But there’s easy and even affordable ways to extend the season, or simply ride through the winter months. You just need the right gear.
Heated motorcycle gear uses tiny integrated electronic heating elements, providing warmth that’s thinner and more effective than thermal layers. Of course, they require power and come at a price. But if you’ve ever toughed it out on an ill-advised cold weather ride, you might be happy to put a price on warmth, comfort and safety.
Check out our guide to heated gear and our favorites on the market right now.
Jump to:
- What to consider before buying
- Heated gloves
- Heated vests
- Heated grips
- Heated seats
- How MCN tests kit
What to consider before buying
Battery vs. Cable Power
Heated gear is either battery-powered or connected via cable to your bike’s battery. Some can do both. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Battery-powered gear can be more convenient to ride with, with no cables to attach and reattach. But cable operated gear never needs to be charged and won’t run out of power halfway through your ride.
Heat Levels
Most heated gear comes with multiple heat settings available, but there’s no universal standard of “warm”, “hot” or anything in between. Specs are helpful, but ultimately it’s best to read expert reviews to get a general idea how they perform before buying.
Power Draw
You should consider the electrical draw of the heated gear. If other electrical accessories are also connected, your bike’s battery could get overloaded. If powered by separate batteries, make sure battery life can be monitored and matches your riding needs.
Materials and Construction
As with all gear, make sure it’s made with quality materials to stand up the test of time. If worn as an outer layer, it should be CE certified. Pay close attention to the seams, as CE certified garments should be double-stitched.
Heated gloves
The wind-chill effect means the first part of your body to suffer is usually your fingers. The first heated gear riders buy is often heated gloves. They’re the easiest way to go from unbearably cold to downright pleasant.
Here are the best heated gloves we’ve tested recently:
Expert rating:
4.0
Price: $289.95
Price: $289.95
Tested by Adam Oldfield for three months and 523 miles Read our full Merlin Minworth II review here
Pros
- Tailored insulation thickness to certain areas of the glove improving its efficiency and fit
- Premium leather finish, oozes quality
- Clever unintrusive positioning of battery packs in cuffs
- True to fit, helpful pre curve finger construction
- Worthwhile winter glove even without the addition of the heated element
Cons
- To maximise performance of the heated element, it should be used in conjunction with another protective element – hand/wind guards, bar mitts
- Maximum power isn’t offensively hot compared to other manufacturers, depending on your preference and your cold tolerance this could possibly not be enough
- Whilst the waterproofing is good, it takes a while for them to dry out from being drenched
-
Comfort
4.0
-
Practicatlity
4.0
-
Looks
5.0
-
Quality
4.0
-
Protection
4.0
-
Value
4.0
-
Overal
4.0
| Construction | Premium Leather Upper, Microfibre Overlay Grip Panels On Palm and Outer Hand, Hipora Waterproof and Breathable Membrane |
| CE certification | CE EN13594 KP Level 1 |
| Armour | D3O Pre Curved Knuckle, D3O Foam Scaphoid Protection |
- Premium Goat Nappa Leather Upper
- Microfibre Overlay Grip Panels On Palm and Outer Hand
- Hipora Waterproof and Breathable Membrane
- Velcro Cuff and Wrist Strap Fastening
- YKK Zipped Battery Pocket Underside of Wrist
- Three Level LED Heat Controller With Battery Level Indicator
- 280g Thinsulate C Back of Hand, 180g Palm
- Conductive Finger and Thumb Touchscreen Compatibility
- D3O Pre Curved Knuckle
- D3O Foam Scaphoid Protection
- Pre-Curved Fingers
- Dual USB Charger Included
- Two 7.4v 2200mah Batteries Included (4.5 hour charge time)
Expert rating:
4.0
Price: $509.95
Price: $509.95
Tested by Michael Neeves for one year/3000 miles Read our full Alpinestars HT-7 Heat Tech Drystar review here
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Warm
- Robust
- Waterproof
- Auto on/off system
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Expensive
- Can be bulky to slip on
- Battery power only
-
Comfort
4.0
-
Looks
4.0
-
Quality
5.0
-
Protection
5.0
-
Value
3.0
-
Overall
4.0
| Construction | Textile and leather mix |
| Type | Heated, waterproof winter gloves |
| CE rating | EN13594: 2015 with Level 1 KP (knuckle protectors) |
| Armour | Plastic knuckle and palm protectors |
- Heating control either from Alpinestars app or a button on each glove
- Comes with lithium battery
What about heated grips? Heated grips are convenient, integrated into your bike and work great in less extreme cold. Since they only heat the inside of your hand, they might not be enough in very cold weather. But they can sometimes take the place of bulky gloves that limit dexterity and control.
Heated grips
You’ll never forget to bring your heated grips and they’ll never run out of power unless your bike does. They’re less effective in colder weather than heated gloves, but you’re free to wear any gloves you like with them, making them ideal for rides with temperature fluctuations.
Here are the best heated grips we’ve tested:
Expert rating:
5.0
Price: $260
Price: $260
Tested by Justin Hayzelden for 8 months/4,600 miles Read our full Oxford HotGrips Pro review here
Pros
- Quick to warm up
- Three levels of effective heat
- Easy to fit
- Factory fitted look
- Battery saving mode
Cons
- Not cheap
-
Quality
5.0
-
Value
5.0
Heated seats
Arguably, your posterior is part of your core. So it stands to reason that a heated seat will also help keep your extremities warm. Plus, it can help stave off lower back soreness and keep legs from cramping in the cold.
Here are the best heated seats we’ve tested:
Price: $86.78
Price: $86.78
Tested by Michael Guy Read our Oxford Hot Seat first impression review here
How we tested heated gear
The MCN team of expert journalists have decades of experience over hundreds of thousands of miles. We don’t torture test anything. We use it just like you do in the real world and in all conditions to deliver impartial heated gear buying advice.
MCN covers countless miles each week and tries lots of options in a short space of time. We quickly discover which heated gear works great, which ones don’t and why.
We only feature heated gear we’ve extensively tested. Comparison gear will be included if deemed important and relevant. Testing is ongoing and we will continually add gear and products to our site.
To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.
Scoring explained
Products are given a score from 1 to 5 stars. Beyond the ratings tab, you’ll find in-depth info on product and gear performance and attributes.
- 1 Star – Avoid at all costs.
- 2 Stars – Barely acceptable.
- 3 Stars – Average or adequate.
- 4 Stars – Above average.
- 5 Stars – Excellent performance.
To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.
- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.
By Anders Carlson
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Best heated gear according to MCN
