What To Look For
Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts or those who have poor circulation, heated gloves help prevent frostbite and keep your hands warm on cold winter days. Most heated gloves use lithium-ion batteries to power the warming mechanism within them. Some of the latest models on the market have a power cord attached to them that you plug into your vehicle's cigarette lighter to use, and feature adjustable levels of heat. Look for heated gloves made out of waterproof materials and those that have small wires that serve as the heating elements throughout the glove, heating elements you cannot feel.
Common Pitfalls
Heated gloves do not warm up instantly; they can take up to five minutes to get up to temperature. The battery life on heated gloves is as little as three hours. According to ABC's "Good Morning America" website, disposable hand warmers outlast the battery life in some battery-operated heated glove models. Some models of heated gloves have a life span of 500 uses and come with batteries that take up to five hours to charge. As a result, you may need to pack extra sets of batteries if you plan to use the gloves over an extended period. Additionally, outdoor enthusiasts may find some models of heated gloves to be too bulky.
Where To Buy
You can purchase heated gloves at sporting goods stores, ski shops and wherever winter apparel is sold, according to The Skiing Experts. Specialty stores for those who ride motorcycles and ATVs also sell heated gloves. You may be able to find heated gloves at one-stop retail locations during the winter. If you shop online, however, you can purchase heated gloves during any time of the year.
Cost
As of 2010, heated gloves ranged in price from $139 to $230. The materials used to make the gloves, its brand and the warming mechanism can all affect the price of heated gloves. Gloves made for motorcyclists may be more expensive than driving gloves because of the addition of safety features such as knuckle guards, abrasion-resistant materials and reflective fabric.
Insider Tips
If you are going to wear heated gloves for motorcycle riding or cold-weather sports, consider purchasing gloves lined with fleece for extra warmth. If your budget does not allow you to purchase heated gloves or you are looking for an option that feels as if you are holding a warm cup of hot chocolate without all the bulk, consider purchasing glove liners, which you can slip under your regular gloves for a fraction of the cost of heated gloves.
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