It’s a very sexy subject I have always considered, as much as bowel cancer screening. Also, it is essentially the realm of old beardy men wearing brown oilskin jackets. The average Aussie rider in freezing weather can almost understand the point but is often plagued by the unpleasant idea of being wired up to the bike and need to unplug each time they pull over.
All this could change after that one ride you will never forget. It’s the one that rains liquid ice, and it doesn’t stop. Five minutes after you get on the road, there’s an icy drip down your bum. You start to shiver uncontrollably around the halfway mark. You realize you need help getting the key out of the tank or refueling. This brings me to Five’s heated gloves. It should not be challenging to keep your hands warm. They are simple, effective, and attractive. Sexy, even. We’ll get to all the sexy bits in a second.
In shortFive has made a name in motorcycle gloves of premium quality. This is an excellent place to start. You’ll see heated gloves with battery-powered heating available everywhere. However, some gloves are sold as ski or motorcycle gloves in specific markets. Five’s gloves were made for bikers. These gloves are made for bikers, with double stitching, reinforced knuckle armor, and scaphoid coverage. They look great, are tough, and come equipped with waterproofing and insulation materials.
HG1, HG3 – two pairs of Fives
Bikebiz received two pairs of Five heated gloves – one HG1 model and one HG3 model – and a pair of HG3s. Five’s highest-end heated glove, the HG1, is promoted as the best for long-distance riding. The HG3 is more for everyday commuters. Both models have the same heating element. The HG1 is the more sporty of the two. The outer shell has a lot of leather, armor, and reinforcing. It looks like a race or sports glove. The HG3’s outer shell is made of nylon and polyester, while the palm is made from synthetic leather. Both gloves are gauntlet-style and provide a weather seal for the wrists of jackets.
Pictured: On the left is the ‘everyday commuter HG3; on the right is the ‘long-distance’ HG1.
Pictured: On the left is the HG3′ everyday commuter’, and on the right is the HG1′ long-distance’.
Five’s HG1 and HG3 gloves use the same batteries, connections, and chargers. They include a pair of matchbox-sized 7.2 volts 2200MAh Lithium polymer batteries and a wall charging device with two tails. This allows you to charge both batteries simultaneously using their single-pin connectors. This is as technical as it gets.
What’s inside the box?
I, like many riders, prefer simplicity. You can use your bike and gear without having to read pages of instructions. After I unpacked the Five gloves, it was clear that I didn’t bother to look at the instructions. I found the batteries and plugged them into the charger. Then I rummaged through the gloves looking for the battery pockets. They are like motorcycling marsupials; each one has its pouch. You’d expect the charger to show a red light when charging and a green signal when the batteries have been set.
Once the batteries are charged, and the glove is fitted, press down for two seconds on the Five logos on your cuff. It will glow red. Seriously. I think the eight-year-old me almost lost it. It gets even better. It glows white when you press it lightly again. It will turn blue if you press it again.
Pictured: The blue lights indicate the temperature is 45 degrees Celsius. Thank you for keeping it warm!
It’s simple to use
While I was engrossed in a juvenile dance of joy, I noticed on the box that the gloves came in were simple diagrams. The gloves heat up to 60 degrees Celsius for two hours when the red light glows. They’ll heat your fingers at 55C for half an hour longer on white gloves, while blue gloves will keep them warm for three and a quarter hours at 45C. For some context, let’s say I choose the red light and leave Phillip Island at dawn, blasting through Melbourne to Ballarat while enjoying warm feet. Plus, there would be no wires to worry about, an excellent factor 10 for the entire trip, provided I didn’t hit anything while gazing at my glowing little cuff lights. Who would have thought we would ever hear the words sexy,’ ‘heated gloves,’ all in one sentence?
I pulled out my digital thermometer and selected the red area on the HG1s. Then, I was ready to smile. The display rose steadily to just above 60 degrees and remained there for two hours. Two hours. After inserting my paw in the glove, I can confirm that 60 degrees are warm. However, it’s not too warm. It’s important to note that warmth is plentiful where it matters most: in the fingers.
They heat quickly. After switching the gloves on, you can slip your hands inside to feel the warmth spreading. You can now change on your Five gloves and start your bike. Once you have secured your helmet, your hands will be warm shortly after takeoff.
The batteries can provide heat for the stated periods from new and can be recharged with the wall charger within a few hours. For those who want to ride long distances without having to recharge, Five offers spare batteries for $49.50 each. This is as simple as heated gloves that deliver real-world performance can get.
I have many types of biking gloves, but I tend to have large hands. I don’t believe in the joke about hand size and willy. The Fives are a perfect XL. The HG3’s lining is fleece, which moves a bit as you remove the gloves. The HG1s have a fleece-lined lining (okay, Bemberg(tm), comfort lining) and an extra thick, ‘woolly” layer at the upper cuff.