Keis G301 gloves

Tested by: Dave Manning | £200 | www.keisapparel.com

While the format is a little peculiar, and is guaranteed to bring forth comments from friends and colleagues as to how you should ‘live longer and prosper’ and the like, the ‘lobster’ style of the G301 gloves is actually rather efficient.

While the outer glove is split into two ‘fingers’ each containing two of your own digits, the inner actually retains a standard four ‘finger pockets’ (the only way I can think to describe them) so each finger is individually insulated while each pair is insulated, too, reducing the amount of cold air surrounding each individual pinky.

And, yes, they are most definitely warmer than conventional gloves, and even more so as these are Keis gloves and thus also electrically heated! The heating element runs across the back of the hands and the fingers, which means that if used in conjunction with heated grips then you’ll have heating surrounding your hands. Although I used these gloves on bikes with and without heated grips fitted as standard, and found that the ‘lobster’ format really does work and it was only when the mercury dropped into the freezing zone that I was found wanting the heated grips in addition to the gloves. This will, of course, depend not only on how fast you’re going, but also on the amount of protection that the bike itself offers – a totally naked machine won’t give the same protection as a faired bike, or as one with hand guards.

The G301 gloves can be powered (and 20 years ago I would never have thought that gloves needed to have a power supply!) either by batteries fitted into the cuff (which does add a noticeable amount of weight), by a battery pack, or by powering them from the bike itself. I chose the latter option for simplicity and because I always forget to charge batteries… And the gloves can also be powered via a Keis heated jacket or vest, which is most certainly the very best option if you’re facing some winter miles.