Best Heated Motorcycle Gear

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

I’ve ridden through pouring rain and blizzards. It sucks when you don’t have the right gear. I spent a lot of time cursing the motorcycling gods during those times. I could’ve saved myself from such damnation if I went for heated motorcycle gear.

Heated gear either plugs into your motorcycle’s power supply or through a battery, both replaceable or rechargeable. I’ve selected the best heated motorcycle gear to get you riding through the cold and damp without finding yourself fighting frostbite. Learn from my mistakes, get good heated gear.

Summary List

Best Overall: Hotwired 12V Bluetooth Heated Jacket Liner
Best Gloves: Alpinestars HT-5 Heat Tech Drystar Gloves
Best Socks: Gerbing 12V Heated Sock Liners
Best Premium Gloves: Klim Inversion GTX HTD Gloves
Best Snow Gloves: Fly Racing Snow Title Heated Gloves
Best Sock Liners: Tour Master Synergy Pro-Plus 12V Heated Sock Liners
Best Heated Vest: Gerbing 7V Torrid 2.0 Softshell Heated Vest
Best Heated Pants: Firstgear Gen 4 Heated Pant Liner

Our Methodology

While there is heated motorcycle gear for all parts of your body, I focused on two key areas: your hands and your feet. These are the least covered portions of your body and you can only throw on so many layers to keep you cozy. In most conditions, your chest and legs will be fine with normal layers, but your hands and feet won’t. That’s why this list is so heavily favored for those two areas.

Best Overall: Hotwired 12V Bluetooth Heated Jacket Liner

Pros

Bluetooth
Lightweight
10 Warming levels

Cons

Hardwired

Look, if you’re chest gets cold, you’re SOL. Unlike your hands, pants, and feet, you can’t do much to protect against the cold if your chest is freezing. Hotwired’s 12V heated jacket is the perfect addition for any cold weather motorcycling.

You get multiple levels of warming through a Bluetooth app directly on your phone, allowing you to dial in your perfect level of comfort. And it’s built using carbon fiber heating elements with make the underlayer extremely light. You do, however, have to hook it up to your motorcycle’s battery, which can be a pain.

Best Heated Gloves: Alpinestars HT-5 Heat Tech Drystar Gloves

Pros

Alpinestars quality
Lithium battery
CE 1 armor

Cons

You have to break them in

I trust Alpinestars implicitly. Why? Because it’s literally saved my skin multiple times. And the company’s gloves are the gloves I grab the most, especially in cold weather. These HT-5 Heat Tech Drystar gloves are some of the best in the business, using a rechargeable battery for hours of use that’ll keep your digits malleable and shifting even in the coldest of temperatures.

They aren’t the most inexpensive of items, however, but do you really want to cheap out on gear that’ll keep you riding throughout the winter and protected? No, no you don’t.

Best Heated Socks: Gerbing 12V Heated Sock Liners

Pros

Fits any boot or shoe
Lifetime warranty
Connects to Gerbing pants

Cons

Hardwired
Hand-wash only

I’ve faced freezing feet. It absolutely sucks. Your toes go numb, the pads of your feet go numb, and then you just start screaming in your helmet, wishing you were home by the fire. Defy those winter riding aspects with these Gerbing 12V heated sock liners, as they’re perfect for keeping your tootsies toasty.

The only issue here is they’re hardwired to your bike’s battery or when using the Gerbing 12V pants and jacket, which are additional items. That sorta sucks, but they’re absolutely worth it.

Best Premium Gloves: Klim Inversion GTX HTD Gloves

Pros

Rechargeable
Armored
Touch-screen capable

Cons

Expensive

Klim is one of those brands you know is going to have good stuff, and these gloves are no different. They’ve got Gore-Tex, 3M reflective material, rechargeable batteries, multi-touch screen capability, a moisture-wicking liner, and more. It’s the Stefon of heated motorcycle gloves.

They are, however, expensive, as is usually the case with Klim. That said, if you’re ready to splurge, why not splurge on the best?

Best Value Heated Gloves: Fly Racing Snow Title Heated Gloves

Pros

3M thinsulate
Lithium battery
3-Mode warming

Cons

Sizing can be an issue

Fly Racing may be a more value-focused brand, but these heated gloves will keep your fingers moving even in the worst conditions. They’re windproof and waterproof, feature 3M thinsulate, a lithium ion battery, and a 3-mode LED to show which level of warming you’ve chosen.

What you need to know, however, is how to measure your hand and select the right size. Customers have noted that if you choose wrong, the wrist may be too tight and you’ll need to swap them for a bigger size.

Best Value Heated Socks: Tour Master Synergy Pro-Plus 12V Heated Sock Liners

Pros

Inexpensive
Fits any boot or shoe
Easy slip on.

Cons

Additional wiring necessary

Again, heated socks are no joke. They make even the worst rides bearable and Tour Master’s Synergy socks are perfect for those winter riders on a budget. They slip on easily and work like a charm.

The one issue is that they don’t come with the wiring harness to hook up to your bike’s battery or a set of Tour Master’s heated pants. Those are extra.

Best Heated Vest: Gerbing 7V Torrid 2.0 Softshell Heated Vest

Pros

Full vest
Inexpensive
Rechargeable battery

Cons

Not a full jacket

When you don’t need the power of a full heated jacket, Gerbing’s heated vest is the way to go. Like other vests, Gerbing’s just covers your torso while your arms are left alone. This is a perfect addition to your cold weather gear when temperatures don’t fall sharply for the most part. It also saves you some cash.

Where it also differs from its jacket brethren is in its power source, which is a rechargeable 7V lithium ion battery. That’s super handy and doesn’t require any sort of wiring.

Best Heated Pants: Firstgear Gen 4 Heated Pant Liner

Pros

Two heating levels
Connects to jacket and socks
Inexpensive

Cons

Hard-wired

Gotta keep your respective giblets warm, otherwise, you’re up a creek without giblets. And that’s no fun. Firstgear’s heated pant liner will keep everything super warm and has the ability to offer two different heating levels for different temperatures.

They also can connect to Firstgear’s jacket and socks, but like other heated gear, these pants require hard-wiring to your bike’s battery. So that, as with others, is slightly annoying.

Our Verdict on the Best Heated Motorcycle Gear

You can’t go wrong with the Hotwired 12V heated jacket. It’ll keep you warm and toasty under all conditions. And adding Alpinestars’ Heat Tech gloves, along with Gerbing’s sock liners, you’ll be able to brave the Arctic in no time.

Heated Motorcycle Gear Buying Guide

Wired vs. Battery

The only real thing you need to know about heated motorcycle gear is whether or not it’s battery-powered or hard-wired to your bike’s battery. Battery-powered is the easiest operation, but you need to remember to charge them before a ride. Hard-wired works immediately, but requires you to wire the system to your bike’s battery, which can be an absolute pain.

It’s the dealer’s choice, though.

Heated Motorcycle Gear Pricing

Cost will depend on the brand and type of heated motorcycle gear. Good gear costs money, though, so remember that when you’re shopping and always look for deals.

FAQs

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

Q: Are heated jackets worth it?

A: Honestly, yes and no. They’re great for staying perfectly toasty warm, but you can achieve the same thing with layers. For my money, spend it on socks and gloves.

Q: Is heated motorcycle gear expensive?

A: Compared to other motorcycle gear, not really. It’s pretty comparable. But remember, you’re putting this stuff underneath your normal gear for the most part, so it’s an added cost.