T-5 Heated Gloves
Gerbing’s Heated Clothing, Inc.
Men’s sizes 7 1/2–11 1/2 or XS–3XL, $169.95
Portable heat controller for gloves alone, $69.95
Leather case, $10.95
www.gerbing.com
800.646.5916
Call it coincidence or passive aggression, but my request of husband Matt to be a product test-jockey came this week when he was fighting a nasty head cold and it was a balmy 35 degrees in Northeast Washington state. (Insert “evil laughter” audio here.)
A motorcyclist since age 12, Matt’s a guy who has often said he could ride off into the sunset with no intention of stopping, “…if I could just keep my hands warm.” I shoved the Gerbing goods his way and said, “Well, here’s your chance, Big Fella. Let’s see what these things, and you, are made of.” As you might have guessed, this conversation occurred nowhere near our anniversary or my birthday. Aw crap—Christmas is coming.
Years ago I came to grips (pun intended) with requiring more winter riding comfort and my older Gerbing’s gauntlet-style G-3s have been year-round riding companions ever since. If not on my hands, they’re handy in the saddle to pull on when temps change in the course of a ride. It’s made a huge difference in my willingness to brave the elements. Fifty-five miles in 30 degrees this past April should serve as a fair indicator.
But He-Man Matt is just wired as a more bare-bones kinda boy. He rides a ’66 PanShovel, slings a mean chainsaw (he’s a logger), and isn’t someone who’d imagine himself paying a couple hundred for warm hands. Perish the thought! (Better to shorten the ride, gripe about the pain, and so on.)
So off he went at 8 a.m. into the wind on my Fat Boy, already wired for Gerbing’s electrical needs. It was well over two hours before I saw the whites of his eyes again.
He walked in, helmet in hand, full of questions and headed straight to the components that would allow him to figure out if it was possible to wire the gloves, which draw 2.2 amps, to the older generator-type charging system on his 44-year-old FL. He was in; clearly sold on the gloves. And he was pretty surprised to be.
There have been improvements in the T-5 that make a more wonderful glove than those that came before. The full-analine black leather makes for an exceptionally lightweight, strong and flexible glove. Thinsulate lends warmth without bulk and the breathable waterproof membrane and tricot liner all spell comfort and durability. The one pull adjustment on the gauntlet opening is great when you’re already geared up and need a cinch. (Hint: Teeth work nicely here.) If you don’t want to electrify, there’s a zippered compartment in the broadest point of the gauntlet bell to tuck away the lose ends smartly.
The wiring harness comes with the gloves, and portable heat controller for gloves alone runs $69.95. A leather case is another $10.95.
