Since I started using these Keis heated gloves back in December 2014, they’ve made cold and wet weather riding bearable for thousands of winter, as well as soggy summer, miles.
Despite the common adage that women are colder than the lads, most heated gloves are made for men. Luckily the X-Small sizing in these Keis unisex heated gloves is a pretty close fit for my mitts with only the little finger being slightly long. The gauntlet style fits over my jacket sleeve, sealing with a drawstring, as well as Velcro at the wrist to reduce cold air permeating.
The gloves are designed to heat either wire via your bike’s 12v battery or by an optional (sold separately) battery pack which zips into a pocket in the glove. As none of my scooters currently have batteries fitted, I’ve been using the battery packs; which also make life easier if you have more than one scooter. The instructions (yes, I can’t believe I read them either!) say that for the first charge the batteries should be fully discharged then fully charged.
Hold the button down to activate and then press once to access each of the three heat settings, which predictably appear in traffic light colours depending upon intensity. Easy peasy.
The lit display on the gloves really helps for adjusting the temperature setting especially during the dark winter months. It’s easy to change the temperature on the throttle (right) hand glove but I found adjusting the gear-change (left) hand a bit awkward, probably because I didn’t want to slow down. Like most winter gloves they are a little bulky but these gloves aren’t restrictive and allow adequate feedback. Obviously it’s easier to concentrate on the road when you’re warm and comfortable and even my favourite winter gloves can’t keep the cold out for all of my 28 mile commute. It’s been very pleasant to arrive at work warm and pain-free.
I’ve used them for a number of summer rallies where the rain was torrential. Last year’s Llandudno anyone? Suffice to say they did their job, only letting in after I’d had to remove them for refuelling.
They’ve been my glove of choice all winter and did the job for the 250+ mile each way ride to the LCGB Members Rally in freezing Llangollen last week. They kept my fingers toasty warm riding there, but camping in sub zero temperatures meant limited recharging was available. As a result the batteries ran out early on the ride home. It’s worth noting that these gloves aren’t particularly warm without the heat turned on. Luckily I had a spare pair of winter gloves to swop for the last hour. Alternatively, the Keis gloves are roomy enough for thermal inner gloves.
I’ve recommended these gloves to numerous year round scooter riding chums and to Cindy, when she was looking for gloves to use for the Breasticle 1000 mile charity scooter ride in February. Cindy told me that the heat charge lasted a full day’s riding and helped keep her hands pain free during the cold winter charity ride.
Heated gloves, not just for winter.
Ann
In the box
A pair of Keis X900 gloves and wiring to power them from your bike or scooter’s battery, RRP £130.00.
Optional extras: X900 battery packs and charger kit (for bikes and scooters without 12v DC), RRP £70.
For further information from the Keis website.
