Q: How long do the batteries take to charge?

A: Batteries typically do not come fully charged. Because of this, it is a good idea to let the batteries charge for 8 – 24 hours when you first get them. Some battery heated gloves have LED indicators that let you know when the battery is charging and when it is ready to go.

Lithium-Ion batteries are some of the most advanced batteries that are available today in terms of size, power and storage capacity. However, these batteries can be a little touchy if you do not treat them right. Batteries do not last long if they are constantly being drained and not charged fully. This brings down their ability to store electricity. It is a good idea to charge the batteries every time after you use them. You may even want to buy a second pair.

Q: Are they machine washable?

A:Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations for washing any type of article of clothing. That being said, no, most of these (if not all of them) cannot be washed in the washing machine. For these products in general, washing and drying in machines may damage or irritate the materials. It is best to spot clean with light detergents or use gentle, non-soaking hand washing techniques.

Q: Why should I buy battery heated gloves when regular ones are a lot cheaper?

A:While you could buy a very decent pair of non-heated hand covers, cheaper than some of those listed, battery heated products offer a whole different dimension of warmth. They are beneficial to anybody who is exposed to cold temperatures for long periods of time. If you are planning on doing any kind of winter recreational activities, or are a winter athlete, you can testify to the fact that sometimes regular mitts just don’t cut it. Even very high quality insulated mitts can get cold after awhile.

Regular products work by retaining the heat that your body produces. Some do this very well in the end, you are still losing heat. Battery heated items produce their own heat and improve circulation in your hands.

Outdoor enthusiasts are not the only ones who can benefit from heated gloves. If you have any kind of medical disorder that affects blood circulation, autoimmunity, or nerves you know very well how sharp and painful cold days can make your hands. Heated gloves are recommended for people who experience these kinds of symptoms during colder months.

Q: Is the whole hand heated or just the fingers?

A:Usually it depends on the glove. Most glove designs have the heating elements surrounding the hand itself and not the fingers. The thought behind this is that if the hand itself is warm the heat will travel down to the fingers. And this is true, for the most part. Wind and water may negate this thought. That’s why it is good to ask yourself what you will be needing these hand covers for and where you’ll be going with them. Most of the those on this list are made from wind and water resistant materials which really helps to keep the heat in.

Q: Will a person with diabetes benefit from heated gloves?

A:Individuals with medical conditions can benefit greatly from heated gloves. Many conditions affect joints and circulation and can cause a person distal extremities to feel numb, appear a different color, and create a lot of pain and discomfort.

When researching these products, a condition that is predominately discussed is the Raynauds syndrome. Raynaud’s can be a symptom that signifies an underlying medical problem or it can be the only problem that exists. A person with Raynaud’s syndrome often experiences tingling and numbness with temperature changes. This can cause the fingers to become a white waxy color and may even progress to a bluish appearance from lack of oxygen in the affected body part.

Raynaud’s can be caused by a multitude of different things such as autoimmune diseases like arthritis and lupus and even injuries to connective tissues and carpal tunnel. While blood usually returns to the affected area after a while, the disease can progress and contribute to thickening of arteries which will cause the Raynaud’s symptoms to flare up from mundane things like getting things out of a freezer or running hands under cold water.

Heated products can prevent such symptoms and overall lead to a better quality of life for anyone affected by such conditions.

Q: Can I ride a motorcycle with heated mittens?

A:People who ride motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATV’s or ski are some of the most susceptible to the cold. This is mostly due to factors like wind chill.

The body loses heat through several different means. Conduction, heat passing from one substance to another, is one of the fastest ways a person loses body heat. Convection is a close second. Convection occurs when heat is transferred to the air surrounding the body. Typically, when we wear coats and other layers of clothing, heat is naturally trapped and we retain a lot of heat that would be lost. However, the wind can take this retained heat away from us at alarming rates.  Wind will push its way into our layers of clothes and will displace the retained heat.

Anyone who is traveling at high speeds creates their own wind resistance. Even if it is not particularly windy outside, you create a wind chill factor by riding motor vehicles, running, or skiing. It is important that if you dress in layers, the outer layer always is some kind of wind resistant material. Most manufacturers of heated products know this and incorporate it into their designs.

Q: What kind of batteries do I need and where can I find spares?

A:There are several types of rechargeable batteries available and the type of battery you need depends on the heated mittens you buy.

Rechargeable batteries work by shifting atoms inside the battery. When an atom is charged it typically stays dormant and shifts to a pole until it is recharged by electricity. It then becomes active again and joins other charged atoms until the stored power is released. Your heated mitts may have one of the following kinds of batteries

Lithium-Ion: These batteries have become the most popular when it comes to powering mobile devices and objects you might find in your home. Most higher end products are powered by lithium batteries. They are found in phones and have become common in objects like drones. This is because they are the most lightweight and energy dense batteries that are currently available. They can produce 150 watts of electricity per hour.

Nickel-Metal Hydride: A NiMH battery is also a common type of rechargeable battery. NiMH batteries are heavier than Lithium-ion batteries. They actually can store pretty close to the same amount of power as Lithium batteries, however, Lithium batteries charge faster and have less memory effect. Memory effect occurs when batteries begin to be charged before they are completely depleted. The battery “remembers” when it usually begins charging and sets that level to its new zero. Nickel batteries do have one advantage over lithium batteries and that’s durability. This is due to a lot of factors and chemistry is one of them. Nickel batteries usually do better in extreme temperatures. NiMH batteries produce around 100 Watts per hour.

Lead Acid: The more traditional type of batteries pale in comparison to the two previously listed batteries. To store the same amount of energy as Lithium batteries, you need 6 times the amount of lead acid. They also are slow to recharge. However, lead-acid batteries are exponentially cheaper than lithium batteries.

Check out the manufacturer’s instructions on the type of batteries that power your gloves. Most of the time spare batteries can be purchased from the manufacturer, a local merchant, or an online store.

Q: Are heated gloves safe?

A:While it may sound a little risky to wear heated gloves, when used properly they are generally safe to wear. There is almost no risk of electric shock since there are no bare wires exposed. Also, batteries do not heat up enough to cause the material to ignite.