Alpenheat Fire-Glove Allround Heated Gloves Review

As if winter itself wasn't troublesome enough, the shorter days mean less daylight, the sunlight is weaker, the risk of catching a cold increases. Added to this are snow, ice, and slippery conditions, which can sometimes make daily routines more difficult. And those who like to be active outdoors not only have to fight against their inner laziness but also have to make additional preparations by dressing warmer - ideally according to the layering principle.
Nevertheless: No matter how carefully one wraps up the head, torso, arms, and legs, sooner or later the feeling of coldness in the feet (especially the toes) or the hands (especially the fingers) occurs.

But why do we actually get ice-cold hands and feet?

Response: Due to local narrowing of vessels (vasoconstriction). To counter this effect, it is important to dress appropriately in cold weather to retain warmth, and to ensure good blood circulation to the extremities.

Clothing checklist for cold temperatures
¤ Winter jacket/pants including thermal underwear (layering principle)
¤ Winter cap (+ ideally a closed helmet)
¤ Winter socks (Premium solution: Heated socks)
¤ Overshoes (+ winter shoes)
¤ Winter gloves (Premium solution: Heated gloves - read on!)

Alpenheat products are available both online and in specialty retail stores. Particularly, sports or outdoor specialty stores that focus on winter, outdoor, fishing, or hunting gear might carry Alpenheat products and offer the opportunity to try the gloves on directly.

Of course, there's also nothing wrong with using the size chart as a guide and ordering the gloves online. However, one should not only look for the lowest price but also keep an eye on shipping costs. After all, it might be necessary to exchange the gloves for a different size after delivery.
A tip: All products can also be ordered through the online store on the official Alpenheat website, and shipping to Austria is free for purchases over 75 Euros.

Although the Fire-Glove Allround were relatively tight on the fingers, they neither constricted nor limited flexibility. Over time, they even gave a little in their circumference and also fit like a glove on the handlebar grip.
Tip: If you are between two sizes, we recommend going for the larger number.

First off: The purpose of these heated gloves is not to provide me with comfortably warm hands during short cycling trips. Rather, they serve to spare me from having to deal with painful or "frozen" fingers at extreme temperatures, not to mention the impaired motor skills and distraction.

The gloves are characterized by a particularly large opening for easy putting on and taking off, combined with a slim design. The thick cuffs, which house cables and batteries, are always worn over the jacket and can be tightly secured with cuffs and cords. In this way, drafts, snow, and even larger amounts of rain are effectively kept at bay. The higher weight of the gloves due to the batteries is noticeable, but does not interfere in practice since the hands spend most of the time on the handlebars anyway.

For maximum wearing comfort, the gloves are made from soft polyester. While the Windstopper material on the outside ensures improved insulation, a fluffy, fleece-like material on the inside provides comfort. The integrated heating wires along the fingers and seams do not cause any irritation. Touchscreen-compatible fingertips on the thumb and index finger allow for flawless operation of a smartphone or bike computer.

The gloves warm up, but never become as hot as one might know from motorcycle heated grips. On the highest heating level, they offer about two hours of battery life, while on the lowest level, they practically reach a tight five hours.
In tests down to -5 degrees Celsius, they proved themselves on the highest level just as well as at temperatures up to 5 degrees plus on the lowest level (or completely turned off). For those who are particularly sensitive to cold or want to cover longer distances, it is recommended to carry a second set of batteries.

Besides their excellent insulation and comfortable, sporty fit, the gloves also provide a secure grip on the handlebars. The grip on the carbon part of the racing handlebars as well as shifting and braking worked flawlessly. Even the narrow shift buttons of the Dura-Ace Di2 could be operated without any problems.

The model Fire-Glove Allround by Alpenheat impressively proves that extremely warm gloves do not necessarily have to come with a loss of tactility and mobility. In addition to their sporty fit and high comfort, they are above all the first gloves in which I had no cold, stiff fingers at all even at temperatures well below freezing point.

Although one should not expect miracles from the actual heating performance, the heated gloves convince with their simple and efficient operation: After activating them by pressing the buttons on the outside, the heat can be comfortably regulated and delights the wearer with pleasantly warm hands and fingers just a few minutes later. The cuffs, which contain the batteries, extend far over the wrists and should easily combine with normal-cut cycling jackets or jerseys. The wiring along the fingers is noticeable, but if the gloves are not bought too small, it is not necessarily bothersome - after all, they feel warm.

The heated glove is especially suitable for people with poor circulation or Raynaud's syndrome. In our tests, the heating performance lasted for about two hours at the highest setting even at outdoor temperatures between -5 and 0°C, until the batteries made themselves known and then switched off shortly afterwards. Hands and fingers were always pleasantly warm - subjectively at body temperature.
Whoever wants to be out longer has to switch to a lower heating power. Of course, the fingers will still be a bit cooler, but the difference between the Alpenheat and ordinary gloves is like night and day.

Comfort naturally comes at a price, because at 259.95 euros, the gloves are not exactly cheap. In addition to the costly initial purchase, there are two other system-related disadvantages. Firstly, handling the expensive Li-Ion batteries requires a certain amount of attention; although they are not as sensitive as one might think, they should be recharged every three to four months to avoid deep discharge - but not fully charged! Correct storage at temperatures between 0 and 15 degrees increases their lifespan, while permanently high charge levels or complete discharge have a negative impact.
Secondly, due to their construction, the gloves can only be washed carefully by hand. Thanks to the materials used, however, they are not prone to unpleasant odors and therefore do not need to be cleaned after every outing.