RST Paragon 6 Heated Gloves £199.99 ‘Great mix of warmth and feel’
Tested by Justin Hayzelden for three years
Winter gloves can often feel chunky and overstuffed, with the insulation acting as much as a barrier to cold as to finger feel for controls and switchgear. That’s not the case with the Paragon 6 however, as the 3M Thinsulate polyester lining has the requisite properties for retaining warmth without sacrificing too much in the way of usability.
There are three different heat settings, each of which warms the tops of the hand, fingers and thumbs. Operation is via a single rubber button, recessed into the back of the hand, which cycles through the heat levels and glows red, yellow or green depending on the setting. Red is the warmest, however the middle setting can easily be selected in error, as at a glance it looks green.
Power comes from a pair of 7.4V rechargeable battery packs, which sit in a zipped pouch on each wrist. Charge time is around four hours from fully depleted, and on the highest setting they’ll provide heat for just over two hours. Using just the lowest setting, the duration is almost four and a half hours.
They warm up very quickly and, for most rides, I’ve found the medium and low settings more than adequate. High is generally too hot for me, however the Sinaqua membrane, which has proved totally effective at waterproofing, even when subjected to sustained motorway spray, is breathable and wicks away sweat if needs be.
That’s not to say that the design is perfect, as the cuff-mounted battery packs are too bulky to fit inside most jacket sleeves and need to be worn outside. It’s not a problem in the cold, but when it’s raining heavily it doesn’t take long for the damp to creep in, eventually soaking the insides.
Visor wipes on both index fingers are a welcome bonus, and fingertips are touch screen friendly, working without issue on both my iPhone and Garmin sat nav.
The Paragon 6 is certified to CE Level 1 (a basic pass) for abrasion resistance and earns a KP rating for the hard knuckle armour. There’s a sliver of memory foam padding around the scaphoid area and on top of each finger (including thumb, but excluding index finger, probably because of the visor wipe) and a reinforced palm for protection in a slide.
All in all, an effective and good value glove. Quality Value www.rst-moto.com