March 14, 2018 – With fat bike frenzy in flow and epic cold weather this past winter we were stoked to test the RACER E-Glove 2 which won a Eurobike award in 2017. Based in France, RACER, started making performance ski gloves in 1927, and now produce an extensive line of gloves for cycling, snowsports, and motorsports along with renowned protective ware as well.

Their recent E-Glove 2 is an update to their original model and is their lightest glove in their range of battery-powered models. Using an atypical approach to heat regulation for the hands, the 55-gram Lithium-ion batteries heat internal wires on the backside of the E-Glove 2.

A button on the outside of each cuff controls heat intensity with three settings, and there’s also a battery life indicator. Run time is claimed to be 3-6 hours, depending on conditions, and charging time is three hours with a dual charger that comes with the gloves.

A microfibre panel for nose wiping is located on each glove’s thumb, index fingers are touch-screen friendly, and the palms are trusty Clarino synthetic leather. A small panel of padding is found on each palm below the base of the pinky finger, and a pattern of silicone spans the base of the knuckles and underside of the middle finger-tip for grip. The E-Glove 2’s water and wind-resistant softshell opens at the cuff with a sealed zipper to access an internal battery pocket, which is secured by a hook-and-loop closure.

After years of curiosity around the effectiveness of heated gloves, I was happy to set off for work one morning in January at -22 Celcius with the RACER E-Glove 2 gloves on. While the gloves worked well and pumped out heat on max, the extreme temperature was too much of a challenge. To be fair the manufacturer doesn’t claim otherwise so we asked Jonthan Chaput, their Canadian GM.

“There is no recommendation strictly speaking,” said Chaput. “Tests have been realized to ensure the heating system works at minus 20 degrees. However, when the temperature drops below minus 10 degrees, the feeling of heat is less present in the E-Glove 2.”

We found this to be true and continued to test the gloves across many more rides, ranging from commutes to 4-hour road and snirt (snow-covered dirt), totalling about 35 hours. Overall, the results were positive.

Starting with fit, the gloves are cut well, and their pre-curved digits conform well when holding the bars. The cuffs are just about the right size to either fit over a jersey or thin jacket snugly, or tuck underneath a larger cuff. Note that as the batteries are stored in the underside of the cuffs they add bulk which can interfere with a couple of specific hand positions on drop bars but I was able to adapt to this.

The E-Glove 2’s relatively thin construction and bonded palms provide an excellent feel on MTB and drop handlebars. Dexterity is great, and while I don’t run electronic shifters, I suspect they would be well-suited. Each glove’s index finger has touchscreen-friendly material on it, which works out in the field. I tend to use the end of the fingertip on touchscreens vs a pad and a small tweak would make both possible.

Ultimately, we came to the conclusion that the E-Glove 2 is four-gloves-in-one. This is particularly advantageous when heading out to ride a variety of terrain, over extended durations, with varying wind exposure. For example, modulating warming settings over long climbs and descents achieves better heat and sweat management than conventional gloves can offer. Only one pair of 2s would be required, versus some form of combination.

The same applies to windy riding, as I discovered. I took advantage of this during a windy 120km out-and-back in temps hovering around zero. Breathability was surprisingly good, and the gloves never felt clammy. I suspect the heating wires help evaporate moisture through the glove’s shell.

The upside great tunability of the E-Glove 2 was appreciated but it was a challenge to predict how long the batteries would last and occasionally they ran out during rides. As the gloves work harder to maintain their temperature the colder it is they’re very consistent on comfort, but will not last as long at -7 degrees as they will at -2 degrees. The battery indicators are well-placed to monitor while riding MTB bars, but keep in mind that they are out of sight on drop bars so there’s a bit of a learning curve.

Other aspects of the battery-based approach also bear mentioning. The gloves are not to be laundered, but are to be spot-cleaned, a consideration if you sweat a lot. Of course remembering to charge the gloves in advance needs to be on your check list. Battery replacement is available if needed and they’re fully recyclable. The E-Glove 2 is well constructed and with regular use could last a decade or longer.

We would put the E-Glove 2’s temperature range at -10 to +10 degrees Celsius. For riding below -10 degrees, I tried a couple different approaches to extend their utility. First, I used them with Gore-Tex over-mitts that I wear for very cold riding. At high power, the 2s were warmer than the liners I usually use in the mitts, and the combo was comfortable.

Second, I tried the 2s in the neoprene pogies/bar-mitts I have on my commuter bike, with MTB bars. These pogies are too small to fit my big mitts into properly, but worked perfectly with the RACERs. For riding in quite cold conditions that requires excellent dexterity, whether on or off-road, a pogie set-up with E-Glove 2s could be a combination to cover the whole spectrum of temperatures, from -25 to +10.

Conclusion
As a stand-alone glove, RACER’s E-Glove 2 takes some of the guesswork out of dressing for cold weather cycling. For rides between -10 and +10 degrees Celsius with little rain expected, these are now my go-to option, precluding packing spare gloves leaving that space for tasty snacks.

It’s clear RACER puts a lot of thought and effort into the design and manufacturing of their E-Glove 2, and I feel the return on investment is solid. RACER also offers numerous other models with more insulated construction to cover additional temperature ranges. Fat bikers might be particularly interested in these, while most road riders will find the E-Glove 2 the perfect weight for MTB and drop bar riding.

The SRP is $255; for more information visit Canadian distributor Distribution Lyncee here or RACER here.