Keeping your core warm allows your blood vessels to remain relaxed and open to your extremities. Frostbite is no joke! We asked the motorcycle riders here at The Warming Store for the heated gear that they reach for time and again, and we’ll review the best plug-in moto gear available so you can get back to doing what you enjoy most: riding your motorcycle.
Let’s start with the gear that provides some of the most vital warming: the heated jacket. Mobile Warming’s Dual Power Heated Jacket is available in both men’s and women’s versions, so there is no fighting over who gets to wear the warmth. Dual Power allows you to hook up to your bike’s 12-volt electrical system for heating on your ride. Need more heat? Mobile Warming’s Dual Power Heated Pants and Barra 12V Heated Gloves are easy to attach to the Dual Power Heated Jacket for all-over riding warmth. Once you’ve reached your destination, unplug from your bike and pop in the 12V Lithium-Ion Portable Battery for off-bike activities. Four heat settings let you dial in the amount of comfort needed. Stay warm no matter where you are, on or off your motorcycle.
Like to ride in the toughest terrains and conditions? The Fieldsheer Hydro Heat Moto Jacket has ADV baked into its DNA. The outer jacket is all moto business, with multiple pockets in the tough Carbolex HD shell, CE approved armor in the shoulders and elbows and a pocket for an optional back protector. The neck protector is removable, so you can decide the level of air entry at your neck. The addition of the removable Mobile Warming Heated Jacket as a heated liner really steps up the utility of the Fieldsheer Hydro Heat Jacket with 12V heat supplied by your bike’s battery for when you’re on a ride or through a rechargeable 12V lithium-ion battery pack. Best of all, the heated liner is removable, so you can use it off your bike on its own or under your favorite casual jacket.
Tourmaster tackles the cold with their Synergy 7V Heated Softshell Jackets for both men and women. Softshell jackets with 7V battery heat are great for leisurely rides around town or the back roads and are equally useful at home or anywhere you seek a cozy moment. The Wind-Shark waterproof exterior teams up with microfiber on the interior of the collar, arms, and body so you can laugh at the elements in comfort.
Leather provides the highest amount of abrasion protection for motorcycle riders. The addition of on-demand heat makes the Milwaukee Leather 12V Heated Moto Jacket the prime choice for men who love cruisers, knuckleheads, bobbers, choppers or just the look and feel of a leather jacket. Dual battery style lets you decide if you want to run off your bike’s battery for heat on colder rides or use the rechargeable battery for those times when you just need to take the edge off or still want to keep warm when off your bike.
If you don’t want to spring for the cost of a heated motorcycle jacket, a heated jacket liner or heated vest liner is an easy next choice. The heated liner warms your torso and lets you decide which jacket you want to wear over it, be it leather, textile or even mesh. The gold standard is the Gerbing 12V Heated Motorcycle Jacket Liner that draws its power from your bike’s battery. Proudly made in the USA, the Gerbing Liner fits snug without binding. Heated jacket liners allow you to add on heated gloves, pants, socks or insoles for added warmth while riding. Mobile Warming has Dual Power Heated Vests for men and women which allow you the choice between using your motorcycle’s battery for heating or a rechargeable lithium-ion 12V battery when you’ve reached your destination.
Keeping your fingers warm and flexible in the cold is a challenge on a motorcycle. Heated gloves and heated glove liners are a blessing because they grant you the ability to continue to use your bike’s controls safely. The Warm & Safe Ultimate Touring Heated Gloves are a great choice for a moto-specific heated glove. These gloves are made with an abrasion-resistant leather exterior and have carbon fiber knuckle protection. Attach the Ultimate Touring Gloves to your heated jacket, or, with the purchase of a Y-splitter cable and temperature controller, plug the heated gloves to your motorcycle’s battery. Mobile Warming 12V Heated Glove Liners are made from a thin stretch material to fit snugly and comfortably under your regular moto gloves. Temperature control is built into the Mobile Warming 12V Glove Liner for ease of use. Stiff fingers are a definite hazard that can be avoided with the use of heated gloves or heated liners.
Heated pants and heated pants liners not only keep your legs warm; they are also handy if you choose to add heated socks or heated insoles to keep the cool at bay all the way down to your toes. The Gerbing EX Pro Heated Pants are a rugged wind- and waterproof pant with a removable insulated 12V heated liner. Two zones of heating in the legs and two zones in the hips wrap your lower body in warmth. When the temps rise, simply remove the heated liner and open the vents to cool off. Do you rock leather chaps, yet still want to keep riding further into the season? Heated chaps are a stellar choice. Milwaukee Leather offers their Leather Chaps with Zippered Thigh Pockets & Heated Technology with dual power ability. Plug the Milwaukee Heated Leather Chaps into your whip’s battery or power them by the included portable, rechargeable battery for on-the-go warmth. Snap in the thermal liner for additional warmth for your legs. Heated pants liners let you wear your favorite moto pants and stay out on the tarmac.
Feet getting cold while riding? Heated socks or heated insoles will keep your toes toasty. Hook the Gerbing 12V Motorcycle Heated Insoles or the Warm & Safe 12V Heated Socks to your heated pants or heated pants liner for bike-powered warmth or purchase a separate Y-Splitter Cable and Temperature Controller for feet-only heating. Cold toes will make chilly outings miserable, so nip Jack Frost in the bud and enjoy your ride.
When the weather turns cold and crisp, don’t hang up your keys. Add 12V heated gear to your moto repertoire and be the envy of all your riding buddies.