I need some REALLY warm gloves, your tips please

[Sharry]

Rain Offs. I have a pair. One massive bloody disadvantage is how on earth are you supposed to tighten them up yourself? You need two hands to do them up - except one hand is in the glove. You could use your teeth you say... yeah, but they're inside my helmet, and with 0 dexterity once the gloves are on, I can't do up a helmet.

Fantastic, if you can get used to the uselessness of your hands (I have the 1-1-3 webbing) and using a GPS is a whole lot harder (since your hands are so blunt) but, done up properly, zero water gets through.

Ride with someone when using them, is my tip. You can undo them yourself, but you can't do them up.

I have the 1-2-2 webbed rain offs. They block out all rain and the wind so cutting out the wind chill factor.
I do mine up myself. I pull one pull cord out with opposite hand and use the fingers of the hand it is on to slide the knobby thing. I have found when it is stretched the point to which I can pull down the plastic knobby thing makes it fit just right when I let it go.

[Flip]

I have a pair of Frank Thomas heavy winter gloves I got in the UK. They are relatively water proof but by the end of a days riding the water wicks into the glove via the gauntlett.
Nothing beats heated bars, nothing, once you have then you will never go without them. It doesent matter if your hands get wet as long as they are warm. I have old fitter hands that ache when they get cold and I ride most of the winter in summer racing gloves. Its only really going down to the Brass Monkey I need my pair of medium weight winter gloves. The Frank Thomas only get taken out in serious hell has frozen over Otago frosts.

[Radar]

I have heated grips, good winter gloves and polypropylene glove liners, but my Rainoff over-gloves are by far the best for keeping my hands warm (and dry). My heated grips keep my palms warm but not the finger tips. You can also get rainproof over-gloves (actually they are mits with a thumb and finger) at farm supply shops such as Elders or Farmlands and these will have a thin layer of insulation inside the glove/mit.

[Devil]

Just ordered myself some of the RainOff overgloves. Looking forward to trying them out. Cheaper than buying ANOTHER set of crap winter gloves.

[R1madness]

Well i have just fitted a set of heated gloves to my bike. They are awsome, thermostat controled adjustable heat. Cost a bit at $250 + fitting, but you can do it yourself in about 40 mins its easy. They work really well. They not only heat your hands but also warn the blood circulating back towards your heart therefor keeping your whole body warmer. It anyone wants to try a pair i have a set at the shop wired up on display. mmmmm toasty.

[NOWOOL]

Don't know if they sell them here, but in the States there's winter gauntlets that attach to the handlebars and your gloved hands slide into them (they cover half-way up your forearm). They are waterproof and windproof and don't have the disadvantages of mitts.

[JAS-1100]

winter gauntlets same as the farmers use on there 4 wheelers honda casbolts sell them about $50 i have a pair as well went to the brass monkeys with them on what a god send

[BMWST?]

Don't know if they sell them here, but in the States there's winter gauntlets that attach to the handlebars and your gloved hands slide into them (they cover half-way up your forearm). They are waterproof and windproof and don't have the disadvantages of mitts.

hippo hands or similar. but the water can still run down your sleeves into the mitt....

[Despatch]

I also swear by handlebar muffs, or whatever you prefer to call them. The only downside is they don't look too stylish on the handlebars, but nothing beats them. Commonly used by despatch riders in the UK and very effective. I'm after a new pair myself. They also keep your gloves dry. See the following link as an example. So simple, yet so effective:

http://www.bikebitzuk.co.uk/index.ph...oducts_id=1173

Paradoxically, fingerless gloves help keep your fingers warm. They still allow mobility of the fingers, and can be worn under most motorcyle gloves. If your hands are warm, it is easier for your body to warm your fingers too.

[Winston001]

Ok - just done the long and excruciatingly cold return trip to Invercargill from the Cold Duck in Waipawa. Used mitts/Hippohands all the way. Gloves stayed dry and almost warm enough.

The farm type mitts don't have reinforcing wire around the edges so that the mitts get pushed back onto the levers at high speed. I put some No 8 in at the moment until I work out something better.

The proper roadbike mitts do have reinforcing but you can't buy them at your local shop.

I have to say that after an hour in the current wicked weather my hands were cold. Did 13 hours Blenheim to Invercargill and it would have been easier with warm hands.

So I'm going to get heated grips. The logic of keeping your extremities warm to avoid a drop in core body temp is inescapable. It took a full day before I felt warm again so must have been slightly hypothermic.

[Pussy]

I have a mate who has a pair of Alpinestars "365 Gore-Tex" leather gloves. He swears by them. Leather, all the armour, waterproof, and warm. They aren't cheap, but they are VERY nice gloves

[Bow-Down]

Get the possum fur gloves from Katmandu theyre thin and super warm, just wear them under your motorbike gloves.

[6ft5]

I know something for sure and that's if I start feeling chilly while riding and I put the headed grips on I instantly feel warmer even though only my hands are being warmed up so your theory or what you were told stands up as far as i'm concerned.
I have to say that only works to a certain extent though, as you say, couple heated grips with a heated vest or at least one with a decent wind blocking warm liner and you should be all the warmer still.

Totally agree, do it al the time !!

[xgnr]

So I'm going to get heated grips. The logic of keeping your extremities warm to avoid a drop in core body temp is inescapable. It took a full day before I felt warm again so must have been slightly hypothermic.

Hi Winston

We met at the cold Duck. Glad to hear that you got home in one (cold) piece.

Heated grips are compulsory for any bike I own (being a soft bastard this is important)

You will be a convert !

[Winston001]

Hi XGNR, great to meet you too. It was an excellent rally and particularly good to meet some KBers in the living flesh.

Getting some hotgrips put on next week - just been struggling in my garage trying to remove the ST4 fairings - gave up.