out of 5 Best formotorcycling
Wire them to the bike and they are the best heated gloves you can buy for riding: constant heat, real abrasion protection, and a lifetime warranty on the heating elements. The score applies to the wired range only. The battery-powered version is a different story.
Prices are shown in US dollars from Amazon.com as of 2026-09-06 and are subject to change; the figure at checkout is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you, and it never affects our scores.
Buy the wired ones. Not the battery ones.
Gerbing has been making heated motorcycle gear since the 1970s and the reputation is earned. Riders who have tried several brands tend to come back to it, and the wired 12V gloves are the reason: they draw power from the bike, so the heat never fades and there is no runtime to manage. On a long ride in genuine cold, that is a different category of product from anything running on wrist batteries.
The build backs it up. Floating TPU knuckle protection, aniline cowhide leather with Superfabric reinforcement at the palm, 150 grams of Thinsulate, and a lifetime warranty on the heating elements. Reviewers who have used them hard report no fraying or damage after a season. This is a riding glove that happens to be heated, rather than a heated glove you can ride in.
The caution is specific and important. Gerbing also sells a 7V rechargeable range, and it does not live up to the name. We cover that below, because the brand reputation is doing work the battery products have not earned.
Best for: anyone riding through winter who is willing to wire the bike. Commuters, tourers, and riders who already own a Gerbing jacket liner. Not for walking around, where the tether makes no sense.
How it scores, category by category
These are our editorial ratings for the wired 12V range, weighted into the overall score. They reflect owner reports and independent reviews rather than bench testing of our own.
Weather protection is held below the other build scores deliberately. The Vanguard is windproof and water resistant, with an AQUATEX breathable membrane, but Gerbing does not claim it is waterproof and neither do we.
Wiring them to the bike
The gloves connect to the motorcycle battery through a lead. You loosen the terminal bolts, lay the loop connectors over the positive and negative terminals, tighten them back down, and run the cable out from under the seat. When you want heat, you plug in.
If you already own a Gerbing jacket liner, it is simpler still: the gloves plug into connectors at the jacket sleeves, and a dual controller runs jacket and gloves independently. Riders who have both describe that as the moment the system starts making sense, since one controller manages your whole upper body at different settings.
There is a second route in that keeps the gloves you already ride in. Gerbing sells 12V heated glove liners worn inside riding gloves you already own, still drawing constant power from the bike. You keep the armor, the fit and the weather protection you have already chosen and tested, which for a rider with broken-in gloves is worth more than it sounds. The catch is the same one that applies to any liner: your existing gloves need room to spare, and riding gloves frequently do not have it. Run the fit test in our gloves versus liners guide before you buy one.
Budget for a temperature controller. Gerbing recommends using one with these gloves and warns that going without may cause discomfort and burns. On the 12V range the battery harness, Y-harness and controller are separate purchases, so the sticker price on the gloves is not the price of a working setup. If you already own a Gerbing 12V jacket liner, the sleeves are pre-wired and you can skip most of it.
The trade-off is the tether. You are physically connected to the bike, and you have to unplug before dismounting. Riders doing long stretches barely notice. Riders doing stop-start town runs often find it enough of an irritation to prefer batteries, and that is a reasonable position.
Why wired wins on a motorcycle
Wind at speed strips heat faster than any battery-powered element can replace it. That is the central problem with heated gloves on a bike, and drawing constant power from the alternator solves it outright. Gerbing’s own framing is that 12V gloves produce steady heat that holds against sustained highway wind chill where battery gloves fade, and on this point the marketing and the rider reports agree.
There is a second effect that gets less attention. On batteries, riders tend to run a lower setting than they want, to make sure the charge lasts the journey. One reviewer described exactly that: setting the temperature just high enough to get home. Wired, that calculation disappears and you simply use the heat you need.
Coverage matters as much as output. Gerbing rates these at 135°F, which is more than enough, but the reason riders get cold hands is rarely insufficient heat. It is elements that stop at the knuckles and leave the back of the hand, the part the wind is actually hitting, unheated. Gerbing specifies microwire heating throughout the glove including the tip of every finger, which is the specification worth checking on any glove you are comparing.
| Consideration | Wired 12V | Battery 7V |
|---|---|---|
| Heat duration | Unlimited | Hours, then cold |
| Heat at highway speed | Holds | Fades |
| Setup | Wire the bike once | None |
| Off the bike | Not usable | Works anywhere |
| Bulk at the wrist | None | Battery pack |
| Extra parts to buy | Harness and controller | None |
The voltage difference is not really about voltage. Wired gloves have an effectively unlimited energy supply, which is why they behave differently, rather than because 12 is larger than 7.4. Our guide to 7.4V against 12V covers what voltage actually changes.
Built as riding gloves first
This is the other reason to pay Gerbing money. The Vanguard uses premium aniline cowhide leather over an AQUATEX breathable membrane, with 150 grams of Thinsulate insulation, so the glove is warm before you switch anything on. Protection comes from a leather-covered floating TPU knuckle, Superfabric reinforcement at the palm and the edge of the hand, and impact protected gel pads at the palm. Reviewers who have ridden a full season in them report no fraying or visible wear, which is not something you can say about most heated gloves at any price.
Be clear about what the membrane does and does not do. Gerbing describes these as water resistant, not waterproof, and that distinction is theirs rather than ours. Spray, slush and light rain are fine. Sustained heavy rain is a different test, and if you ride in it regularly you want overgloves rather than faith in a membrane. Any page telling you these are waterproof is not reading the manufacturer’s own specification.
The range splits between full gauntlet and short cuff models. The short cuff versions exist for riders who tuck the cuff under a jacket sleeve in the rain, which is the kind of detail that tells you the product was designed by people who ride.
Compare that against the everyday brands: ORORO and Savior Heat both explicitly offer no abrasion protection. That is the real difference, and it is the one that matters. On water they are all much the same, all water resistant rather than waterproof, so do not let anyone sell you Gerbing on that basis. Buy them for the leather, the knuckle protection and the constant heat.
The battery-powered range is a different product
Gerbing’s battery-powered range has drawn sharply negative hands-on reporting, and notably from a rider who had used Gerbing wired gear for years and expected better. The account is specific: the gloves never reached body temperature, fingertips stayed cold on a thirty minute commute even at maximum, no heat was felt at the palms at all, and the battery lasted roughly thirty minutes on high.
The same report describes the batteries as weak and lumpy, pressing into the back of the hands when wrapped around the grips, the documentation as outdated and inaccurate, and the sizing as running small. These gloves sit at the premium end of the battery-powered market, well above the everyday brands, which makes that a poor showing rather than merely a disappointing one.
Our position: buy Gerbing for the wired 12V gloves. If you want battery-powered heat, the brand premium is not buying you anything here, and ORORO or Savior Heat will serve you better for less money.
Pros and cons
What works
- Constant heat that never runs down mid-ride
- Lifetime warranty on the microwire heating elements
- Floating TPU knuckle, Superfabric palm, real leather
- 150g of Thinsulate, so warm before the heat is on
- Integrates with Gerbing jacket liners on one controller
Worth knowing
- Water resistant, not waterproof, despite what other sites say
- You have to wire the bike and stay tethered
- Harness and controller are separate purchases
- The 7V battery range does not match the wired reputation
- Sizing runs small, and Gerbing says so themselves
What actual owners report
Rider sentiment on the wired gloves is among the most consistent of any product in this category, and it comes from people with years of use rather than a first cold week.
The recurring theme is longevity and trust: riders who have tried other brands and returned to Gerbing, and gloves still in service after several winters. What complaints there are tend to be about fit and about the system around the gloves, the wiring, the controller and the total cost of the setup, rather than about the heat itself.
Owners consistently praise
- Heat that holds at highway speed
- Warmth sustained for hours rather than fading
- Build quality after a full season of use
- Integration with Gerbing jacket liners
Common complaints
- Sizing runs small, and gauntlet width is inconsistent
- Occasional heating reliability problems
- Total cost once a harness and controller are included
- Setup time and the tether to the bike
- Touchscreen finger works less well than claimed
Summary of recurring themes reported by owners of the wired 12V range specifically, drawn from motorcycling forums and rider communities, retailer reviews, independent long-term reviews from riders using the gloves through full winters, and Gerbing’s own published documentation. Reporting on the 7V battery range is covered separately above and is not mixed in here. Current as of September 2026. We report the patterns we see, positive and negative, and never cherry-pick.
The details
Figures are Gerbing’s published specifications for the Vanguard and vary between models in the wired range, so check the listing for the pair you are buying. The battery harness, Y-harness and temperature controller are separate purchases, which changes the total cost meaningfully. The current price is pulled live from Amazon.com and refreshes automatically.
Common questions
Do I have to wire them to the bike?
For the 12V range, yes. You attach leads to the battery terminals and run a cable out from under the seat, or plug into a Gerbing jacket liner if you have one. That is the source of both the main advantage and the main irritation.
Are Gerbing heated gloves waterproof?
No, and Gerbing does not claim they are. The Vanguard is described as water resistant with an AQUATEX breathable water-resistant membrane, which is a meaningfully weaker claim. Spray and light rain are fine. Sustained heavy rain is not what these are built for, and if you ride in it regularly you want overgloves. Several sites describe these as waterproof; they are contradicting the manufacturer.
Do I really need a temperature controller?
Gerbing recommends one and warns that using the gloves without may cause discomfort and burns, so treat it as part of the purchase rather than an optional upgrade. It also changes the total cost enough to matter when you are comparing against battery gloves that need nothing extra.
Will they drain my motorcycle battery?
Not while the engine is running, since they draw from the alternator. Each glove pulls about 1.1 amps, so a pair is roughly 2.2 amps. On a small-displacement bike with limited spare electrical capacity, add that to anything else you are running before committing to gloves plus a jacket liner.
Are the battery-powered Gerbing gloves worth buying?
On current evidence, no. The 7V rechargeable range has drawn poor hands-on reports on heat output and battery life, including from long-time Gerbing customers. If you want battery-powered heat, ORORO costs less and performs better.
Do they run true to size?
No. Gerbing states the fit runs smaller than a standard men’s glove, and retailers advise ordering the larger size if you are between two. Size up, particularly if you plan to wear anything underneath, and remember a tight glove restricts the circulation the heat is meant to help.
What happens if a heating element fails?
The microwire elements carry a lifetime warranty, which is unusual in this category and is a large part of why long-term owners keep buying the brand. It does not cover the leather, the wiring harness or the controller, so read the terms rather than assuming the whole glove is covered forever.
Can I use heated grips instead?
Grips warm your palms, which is the part of your hand the wind does not hit. They help, and plenty of riders run grips plus a normal glove in mild cold, but they do nothing for the back of the hand where the heat is actually being stripped away.
Should I buy the 12V liners instead of the gloves?
Only if you already own riding gloves you want to keep. The liners give you the same constant power from the bike while preserving the armor, fit and weather protection you have already chosen, which is a real advantage for anyone with broken-in gloves. Do not assume it is the budget route, though: across the brands we have compared, heated liners are frequently priced at or above the brand’s own full gloves. Check both listings, and run the fit test in our gloves versus liners guide first, because riding gloves often have no room to spare.
Gerbing or a battery glove for commuting?
If your commute is under an hour and mostly town speed, a good battery glove is easier to live with and you will not miss the heat. If you ride at highway speed, in genuine cold, or for more than an hour at a stretch, wired Gerbing is a different experience and worth the setup.
Should you buy them?
If you ride through winter and are willing to wire the bike once, the 12V Gerbing gloves are the best answer available. Constant heat, real abrasion protection, 150 grams of Thinsulate under leather, and a lifetime warranty on the elements. Nothing running on wrist batteries competes with them at speed, and the riders who use them tend to keep using them.
Go in with two things straight. Budget for the harness and controller, because the glove price is not the setup price and Gerbing warns against running without a controller. And treat the water resistance as spray protection rather than a promise in heavy rain.
If you are not riding, or you want gloves you can also walk around in, this is the wrong purchase and an expensive one. And whatever you do, buy the wired range rather than the battery range: the reputation belongs to the former. Both alternatives appear in our roundup of the best heated gloves, and the riding-specific picks are in our motorcycle guide.
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