Winter glove redesign... ideas wanted

If you commute in extreme cold, or simply suffer from cold hands as you've descrided. I'd strongly recommend the bicycle cockpit equivalent to this.

Couriers in Alaska and Canada use Sausage Fingers, but it can be any sausage

Apologies for the delay in writing about the new gloves.

The redesign of these gloves came about after me initially purchasing a pair of Blazewear's first 'rider' gloves a couple of years ago in an attempt to find a glove that would allow me to cycle in cold temperatures without being in actual pain like i was with every other glove i've tried.
Even without the heat turned on the gloves were the warmest i've had, but with the heat turned on, the gentle warmth was enough to allow me to ride in comfort in freezing temperatures for a good amount of time for a change.

However, the original gloves were far from cycling specific in my opinion.
I had a lot of ideas on things i would change to make them better for cyclists, so i approached the company with these ideas.
To my surprise, they listened, and they listened well.
I gave them a list of things i felt should be changed, added, or taken away.
They went away and worked on the design, then came back with a new glove...sadly I didn't get to see a prototype before they hit production, then when I finally saw the finished glove there were a couple of things which weren't right in my eyes and prevented me from recommending them to people.

Phil from Blazewear didn't just give up and think, so what if he's not happy...we are, so we'll leave it at that.
He went back again to implement the changes i once again suggested, and then out of the blue a few weeks back I got another email asking if they could send me a new pair to get my opinions.

This is where we are now...the latest version is called the 'Powermax sports glove'.

The changes I wanted to make are as follows, and they've all been implemented in this new version....

1. Add a snot wipe.
   I see this as essential, and they now have the whole back of the thumb covered in terry towelling.

2. Remove jersey style stretch cuff and replace with gaitor.
   Now has easier access and an extended gaitor cuff with drawstring closure to allow it to sit on top of jackets and prevent wind going up your sleeves. Also allows access to the battery switch.

3. Change wrist strap design so it pulls back against a loop and allows easier adjustment with gloved hands.
   Now has a narrower strap which pulls back against a plastic loop. It's also shorter so you don't immediately run out of velcro, and has a rubber tip so it's easier to unstick with a gloved hand, both of which i felt were problems on the second version.

4. Add some reflective material.
   Now has a long length of reflective piping curved across the back of the glove and fingers for better visibilty, especially at junctions and when signalling.

5. Add a bit more length to the thumb.
   The thumb is now a touch longer to allow for the tightening which happens when you hold the bars or shifters.

6. Redesign the battery box compartment.
   The first version was a simple flapped pocket which looked crude and wasn't waterproof. I suggested a zipped compartment on the gaitor like they used on a couple of other models. The second version was a touch too tight and used clear vinyl for the whole pocket, which made getting the battery box inside too difficult. The new version has a bigger opening, just a small clear panel to make the battery light visible, and a waterproof zip...much better.

7. Removable liners.
   Because your hands can get so warm, the gloves get sweaty, then smelly. They now have simple removable and washable liners.

Beyond that the glove now has heating elements in the thumb as well as the fingers. It uses the same 3M thinsulate insulation, the same Ultra III tec wind and waterproof fabric etc.

I'm now really happy with these gloves and am looking forward to using them this winter.
Yes, they are bulky gloves which makes holding drop bar shifters a bit more awkward, but there are no gloves which are warm enough for people with bad circulation that AREN'T bulky, and in my opinion these are actually less bulky than others i've seen, and it's certainly a trade off i'm happy to accept.
The gloves will still get wet on the outside just like most other winter gloves, but the membranes in the fabric stop it getting through to your hands.
The liners are very simplistic and a bit baggy really, so i would personally recommend using aftermarket silk liners which fit a little better.
I would also totally recommend upgrading to the lithium ion battery packs. They are smaller and lighter, and will pay for themselves in no time as you won't be buying batteries all the time.
It makes the whole package pretty pricy, but when i look at how much money i have spent on winter gloves over the years, none of which worked for me I see it as a small price to pay.
The construction seems up there with others i've seen so will hopefully last.
At just under £53 I see them as good value considering how much some other winter gloves are which don't have heating built in.
Regarding the heating...don't expect raging heat. It's a gentle warmth, but enough to do it's job.
I find the best thing to do is to turn them on a few minutes before leaving the house so that they're already toasty when you put your hands into them. I usually then turn them off after a while as my hands are warmer, then use the heat again if i stop to eat or do whatever and need to take the gloves off.

For me personally, these gloves are a godsend, and I can't say enough good things about Phil from Blazewear...his attitude and willingness to listen to criticism has been really refreshing.

This is what they now look like...And there is a video tour on the webpage i linked to at the top.
http://www.blazewear.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/o/powermax_3_copy.jpg

WOAH...sorry for the big pic! :]

I'm going to buy a pair of these for skiing. And cycling.

I borrowed these from BRP today, and can confirm they are absolutely fantastic..

... for wanking

Maybe I won't send a link to this thread to Blazewear after all.

Is that called the "hot cousin", Braker?

Smokin' Sister

Thanks for the update BRP. I did wonder how things had turned out. I definitely lusted after a pair of these gloves last year (it got to -15, -20 some nights) and promised to myself I would get some for this year. But no such luck I'm afraid. The missus has deemed the acquisition of kittens and cushions more important so looks like I will be back to gently rocking in front of the fire place and trying not to cry in front of the kids because I can't feel my hands.

Fun times!

I bought a pair of these gloves a few weeks ago and they are a godsend! Like BRP, I found the liners to be far too big for my hands so I use silk liners. I've also used a cheap pair of 'woolly' gloves successfully too.

Looking forward to my first FNRttC ride in March when I'll give the gloves a 'proper' test.

Cheers BRP.