KEIS G501 HEATED GLOVES WIN APPROVAL
Keis launch first CE-approved heated gloves on UK market
MATERIALS Leather + textile WATERPROOF LINER Hipora CURRENT DRAW 1.6A (pair) POWER 16W VOLTAGE 12V CE STANDARD EN 13594-2015
Two years in the making, the new G501 Premium Armoured Gloves from KEIS are the first heated gloves on the market to be tested and approved to the CE standard for protective gloves for professional motorcycle riders.
The design team behind the British brand wanted to combine winterglove warmth and summer-glove feel and this is instantly apparent when you try on a pair of the G501s. In addition to tests for resistance to impact and abrasion, the G501s had to be assessed for dexterity. Stretch panels on the fingers, thumbs and back of the hand allow freedom of movement.
Getting a glove through the rigorous test procedure is a time-consuming and expensive process, and only a handful of motorcycle gloves available in the UK are approved (and none of those are heated, until now). However, in France all riders have been required to wear CE-approved gloves since 2016, with on-the-spot fines for anyone failing to comply, so the KEIS G501 will be popular with anyone planning to cross the Channel. With a Thinsulate thermal lining, the G501s are comfortable in chilly conditions but, when the temperature drops, you can turn on the heat. Simply press the button on the back of the glove to turn on Far Infra-Red Radiation heat-generating panels which cover the back of the hand and fingers.
There are three settings to choose from – low, medium and high – and the button changes colour to indicate which is chosen. Following extensive road testing, the position of the button was carefully chosen so that it could still be operated if the gloves were tucked under the jacket cuff.
Heated gloves are becoming increasingly popular with yearround riders, because they are more effective than heated grips, providing heat where it is needed most, on the exposed area on the top of the hands and around the fingers.
KEIS supply the G501s with everything needed to connect them to a 12V vehicle battery however, the gloves can also be powered from a portable battery pack, which is available as an optional extra. This is ideal for riders with more than one motorcycle.
As you’d expect from a winter glove, the G501s are waterproof, thanks to a Hipora liner sandwiched between the outer shell and inner lining.
KEIS G501 Heated Premium Armoured Gloves are available in sizes XXS-XXL, priced at £189 including VAT, and come complete with all required wiring and full easy to follow instructions. An optional Keis Portable 2600mAh Battery Pack costs £49.