Five HG Prime heated gloves | Five claim this is 'the best heated glove we’ve ever produced'

When I read that the handwear specialists at Five had made what they claim is “the best heated glove we’ve ever produced”, I simply had to try them out. The Five HG Prime GTX represents everything the firm has in terms of tech, comfort and build quality for a great winter glove. The recommended retail price is high, but even as I write this, there are some huge discounts available, lopping nearly a ton off their eye-watering cost. But are they any good? Read on for my in-depth review…

How comfortable are the Five HG Prime heated gloves?

From the moment I put them on, I was impressed by the comfort of these gloves. Their liner is brilliant, feeling soft but in no risk of coming out if the sun magically appears and your hands start sweating. The membrane is Goretex and bonded to the goat skin palm, which I’d imagine is what provides this feeling of robustness. During my tenure they’ve proven completely waterproof.

They’re also highly adjustable, with a double-closure system to get them comfortable with your existing kit, and an over-size cuff zip that meant I could wear my watch underneath it all.

It isn’t all positive, though – I found the fingers slightly too padded and hence cumbersome on some bikes’ switchgear. In particular, the new Honda CB500 Hornet’s tiny multifunction controls were nearly impossible to operate with the GTXs on. However, on my Kawasaki Ninja 650 long-termer it is far better, and I’ve only hit the hazard lights when aiming for the indicators a couple of times. A small price to pay for warm hands in freezing temperatures, I’m sure you’ll agree.

I also had variable success with the capacitive fingertips, but in my experience these barely ever work as intended anyway. Far better to remove the glove to use your smartphone/sat-nav.

Without the heating on they’re extremely well insulated, yet I didn’t find my hands getting too hot either, and when you’re using them you can’t feel the battery that’s hidden in the cuffs.

Do the Five heated gloves look good?

Here’s an interesting question: Are heated gloves meant to look cool? Who cares? I’m not sure, but these are attractive enough in an understated way. The graphics are great, and there are superlative-laden words like ‘Superfabric’ and ‘Ergoprotech’ all over the place. I also like the red highlights, which make them feel very slightly sportier than say, the leather HG1 Evo.

What’s the quality like on the Five gloves?

I’ve done 2000 miles in these so far, and they feel good as new, with absolutely no indication they’re going to come apart. The heating elements feel well spaced, I love the clever left-handed operation of the buttons to operate its three-stage warming function, and the battery level indicators are clear and easy to understand.

I’ve noticed that the left hand seems to run out of charge a little quicker than the right, but it’s only a matter of minutes and hasn’t proven a problem.

If I were buying them, I’d probably wire them into the bike rather than rely on batteries that need removing and plugging into the mains, but in order to do this you need a connection kit, which costs another £49.99, and a 12-volt ‘cigarette lighter’ attachment on the bike.

Anyway, said batteries charge in four hours, and how long that lasts depends on the level of heating you’re using. It can be as little as two hours on the hottest setting, or as much as six on the lowest.

I do wish they came with a UK plug, though. I’ve been using the shaver socket in my bathroom, which has an EU outlet in it.

Do the Five HG Prime heated gloves offer good protection?

These gloves are rated KP1, which means they don’t have the outright protection of a KP2 item in terms of restraint, tear strength, seam strength or impact abrasion resistance, or at least some of these factors.

However, heated gloves with the higher rating are admittedly few and far between, and you’re much less likely to be taking risks in conditions that warrant them too. A level two glove would need a shell for metacarpal protection, which would make these even bulkier.

In their favour, they feature metacarpal knuckle protection along with a honeycombed palm slider – both made from the aforementioned Ergoprotech shell.

Are the Five gloves good value for money?

These gloves are right at the top end of the marketplace, and as such they’re up against brilliant products such as the stylish and functional Alpinestars HT-5 Heat Tech Drystar, which has a long-lasting Lithium-ion battery, and the Macna Azra, which comes with useful features like an integrated visor wipe but only two heating levels. At a slightly more accessible price point you’ve got the Rev’it Liberty H2O, which has four heating levels and a lithium-ion battery.

You might also consider Five’s own HG1 Evo, which features much of the same technology but with leather instead of soft shell on the top.

So what’s the final verdict?

If you’re after the very best gloves for winter riding and your switchgear will accommodate them, the HG Prime fulfils the brief brilliantly. They’re well-appointed, comfortable, weatherproof, built extremely well and aren’t too heavy either.

Their major drawback is their price: even some of the firm’s other gloves appear to be better value. Plus they’re still only KP1 rated for safety because of their design. It’s for these reasons I’m not rating them five stars, but be under no illusions here, they’re a quality bit of kit and in many ways I’m a big fan.

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