Richa Inferno heated gloves | Top end price tag but are they worth it?

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Heated gloves are nothing short of magical in wintertime, making those sub-zero rides bearable, and sometimes, almost even enjoyable. I always tend to feel the cold quite heavily which is why I always opt for the warmest kit on offer, and the Inferno heated gloves from Richa certainly do live up to their name, with a seriously toasty top setting. However, they’re not cheap, especially with the separate battery pack, which make the gloves quite bulky too.

How comfortable are the Richa Inferno gloves?

For winter gloves, the comfort can be really measured in two ways. Firstly, throughout ridiculous winds, heavy downpours and freezing rides, the Inferno gloves have kept my hands not only completely dry, but impressively warm too, even if I’m not utilising the heating element. But when the heat is on, they are mightily impressive.

There are three heat settings of blue, which is very soft in its application of heat, orange which is spot on for pretty much most temperatures above freezing and then there’s the red setting, which is outstanding in how much heat is on tap. However, on the flip-side they’re incredibly bulky on the hands and I’ve found that when using the battery pack, the placement digs into the back of the wrists which causes a bit of an ache after a few hours of riding. It’s not something that would truly deter me from buying them, but they do feel far better if they can be directly connected to the machine with the included kit.

Are the Richa Inferno heated gloves practical?

For the most part, the Richa Inferno gloves offer a good level of practicality. They’re easy to get on and off with a quick loosening of the strap, and they’re spacious enough on the wrist closure system to get over the cuff of most jackets without too much stress, with an additional drawstring to retain the most heat possible.

There’s also a little visor wipe on the left finger too, which does a reasonable job of against excess water or dirt. However, the battery fitment is quite tight in the zipped compartment, while the actual button function is frustrating as you have to ‘unlock’ the highest heat setting – so whereas it’s a simple push to change between the low and medium settings which can be operated on the fly, it’s a full ten second hold for the highest setting, on each glove, which does become frustrating.

Do the Richa Inferno gloves look good?

As far as winter gloves go, appearance isn’t the most important thing but the Richa Inferno heated gloves do look the part, as much as a pair of black, thick riding gloves can. The armoured knuckles look smart and not too excessive, the branding is a nice size and not too over the top and the detailing on the fingers is a nice touch too.

What is the quality like?

There is very little to complain about when it comes to the quality of the Inferno gloves. They’ve seen every element and have not let me down once, and even when being constantly chucked on the road or even run over (it’s easily done) there hasn’t been a single element that has failed on me, or shown signs of excessive wear. The tri-fleece lining feels really warm and soft inside, while the Spandex stetch fabric is a nice addition for the cosiest fit. Battery life is pretty decent as well with the aftermarket battery set, as in the lowest setting the batteries last for well over three hours, and they will go for around two hours in medium too.

What protection do the Inferno gloves offer?

As with most winter gloves, the protection on offer can’t match a full-on sports glove as it’s always going to be a trade-off with levels of warmth, waterproofing and protection, but the Richa Inferno’s construction and protection measures up spot on, especially when compared to the majority of its rivals. The Inferno gloves approved to CE Level 1 and are constructed from a Cordura 600D textile, with goatskin on the inside of the palm, a D3O knuckle protector and a temperfoam palm slider.

Are these heated gloves good value for money?

With a retail price of £220, and then an additional £119.99 for the external batteries and charger, the Richa Inferno gloves aren’t cheap, but they aren’t crazily expensive for a high-end heated glove either. I think the gloves are well worth the money, however I would like to see a price reduction in the external battery unit, which is handy when jumping between bikes, or running out for shorter, snappier journeys.

Rival products

So what’s the verdict?

I’d struggle to ride in winter without heated gloves, and the Richa Inferno set are the warmest I’ve ever sampled, making them perfect for those really cold days in the saddle. Sure, there are a few niggles such as unlocking the hottest setting, the bulky batteries and the cost, but I have to admit that it’s forgiven when the heat is turned up to the max. Without batteries the Infernos fit nice and snug and feel secure when on, and they offer a reasonable amount of protection too, thanks to D30 armour, Cordura 600D textile and goatskin reinforcement.

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