How to stop my hands freezing off?

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

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A little while ago, I got a really nice gore tex zip together suit. It is amazing, and means I can go out in any weather and always remain a comfortable. However, I still only have summer gloves. On a bad day / long journey like today (100 mile round trip), my hands go completely numb, and when brought back to room temp the pain is so intense I have to pace up and down swearing for 5 mins at a time.

I'm willing to spend the money, but only if I'm sure this will work. So far, I've explored the following:

Option one: Cheapish (non gore-tex) gloves, and heated grips.
Problem: Not convinced this will actually work, I think my finger tips will still freeze off!

Option two: Expensive, heated gloves.
Problem: I'm not sure this will work either! I think I'll still end up with cold finger tips.

Option three: Fit some guards, get some pretty expensive gore-tex gloves.
Problem: Finding anything that'll fit! My dad has a Bandit he uses to commute on, with some DL650 hand guards fitted that he says do the trick. However, I have no idea if I'd get them to fit on my bike (1992 Yamha Diversion 600).

I know quite a few people here splashed out on heated grips not that long ago, how are you getting on? Has anyone tried any of these other methods with success?
 
I had some heated gloves and they were awesome. Only downside was I had to wire them up through my jacket and plug them in to the bike.

Also tried handlebar mits. As soon as I installed them I knew they weren't for me. Just too bulky and cumbersome. Though I'm sure my hands would have been lovely and warm in them :)

I now just use heated grips with my winter gortex gloves. It does me for my commute. The only problem is if you need to use a lot of clutch, cos your fingers are off the grip they can get a bit chilly :o
 
Oh, I forgot the handlebar mits. I'm sure they work, but I'm sorry they are just a step too far in the ugly direction. My bike is already visually challanged and I think they'd push it over the edge.

Did heated gloves keep your fingers warm? I just worry there's so much airflow over them that they won't work. I don't mind spending £100 + On some nice heated gloves, but I would be quite upset if I then find I have the same problem.

I thought you weren't meant to use heated grips with gortex gloves, something about heat reversing the membrane?

I just hope I can find some solution, everything but my hands are fine now!
 
I can't remember the name of the heated gloves I had now. I'll try and look them up tomorrow. They definately weren't cheap but they had micro wire running right down the fingers to get the heat where it was needed :)

I hadn't heard that about gortex and heated grips. If it's true... oops :p I mainly bought them for the wiperblade finger. Handy in the rain ;)

Edit: I think THESE were the ones I had. Looks like there are battery powered options now too :)
 
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Not found a pair of gloves in 30 years that keep your hands warm when riding in winter if you do many miles, but a little tip when you come home never try to heat your hands up by putting then on a heater e.t.c or you will have hot aches witch hurts very much :) just let them warm naturally.

ps I have never tried heated gloves or grips but some swear by them.
 
Heated grips help a lot during winter. I drove without heated grips and and my hands almost froze, then I got heated grips installed and what a difference (only tips of fingers get cold).

Heated grips + muffs = win

Heated gloves are probably better though but never used them.
 
Muffs and Heated grips are the only option (imo) when it is really cold, I personally use the Lobster claw winter gloves but my avg journey is only 10-15 miles.... Anything longer than that and I will use muffs and heated grips, that way I can wear any gloves :)

I find that just heated grips in really cold weather are no good, feels like frost bite! really hot palms but freezing cold fingers still, though with windchill on the motorway it will be -10+ :p
 
Just buy a proper pair of winter gloves and maybe get some thin hobo "under glove" gloves. Don't know what they are called but they are thin material that help.

I'm not surprised you have cold hands wearing summer gloves in winter. That's kind of your issue :)
 
+1 for HG lobster claw over gloves, wore them over my summer gloves with heated grips, ace combination. The muffs freak me out, too enclosed for me but yeah, can see how warm theyd be.
 
Man up ;)

I have a nice big thick pair of Furygans for winter riding, with a pocket for a heat pack, which I never use. If they get really cold, at lights I tend to take my fingers out of their 'fingers' and clench my fist. Works well skiing too.
 
I use to have a winter pair of alplinestars that I'd leave on a radiator before heading out. I also put a thin thermal underpair of gloves on underneath.. It used to last me a 45min journey fine. Also at a set of lights, rest your hands on a warm part of the bike...

Trying to ride when your cold is dangerous, cos your not thinking about anything else, other than getting your ass in the heat. that normally means gettign to your destination quicker too.
 
Haha, just to be clear, I know my summer gloves are completely unsuitable. I just don't want to blow a load of money and still have the same issues.

Oh, and I wasn't warming my hands up on the rad or anything when they will killing me - I just took off the gloves and stood outside!

I'm convinced some decent gloves and some large bar guards would do the trick, I want to see if I can modify the same ones my dad has to fit mine . . .
 
Thought I'd have a little look into some new gloves myself. My winter gortex ones are great down to about 4C, but riding for any period of time below that and my fingers start to feel the chill, even with the heated grips.

After the various mentions of "lobster" gloves I thought I'd look into those. THESE seem to look pretty good.

Then I saw THESE. They sound like they keep the cold out longer than the HELD 2272's, so I'm tempted to go for a pair...

There are a few gloves out there that are designed to work specifically with heated grips too. I might have to have a look into those too.
 
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