Its that time of year--Gerbing heated gear questions

[Dennis The Menace]

I have Gerbing gloves and jacket liner with dual temp controller.  Am buying overpants and insoles this winter.

Anyone using the insoles from Gerbing (not socks)?  Just wondering how they can heat the whole foot, and how well they work, especially on the top of the foot.  Seems that your feet might still get cold if the heat is only on the sole of the foot.

Also, what is the best way to control heat for each of the 4 components (gloves, jacket, pants and insoles).  I have the dual control for jacket and gloves, do I need to add the same thing to control pants and insoles seperately?  I dont want insoles and gloves on same control, as Gerbing suggests, since I may need less heat on my feet than my hands.  When I wear the Gerbing gloves, its always full heat, due to an old frostbite injury to both hands.  Seems like full blast may be too hot for my feet.

TIA

Dennis

[Desperado]

Dennis,

I use a duel controller with the gloves on one channel and the pant liner+socks on the other.  The socks plug directly into a connection on the bottom of the pants.  I don't use a jacket liner.  With my hands, feet and legs warm, the layering (vest, jacket, scarf around neck and crossed over my chest) has always been enough. 

I cannot answer your questions about the insoles, but if you can wire the insoles and overpants together on one channel and the vest on the other, inasmuch as you run the gloves WOT, you could just wire the on-off switch that comes with that stuff to the gloves and eliminate one controller.  Otherwise, if you need four separate channels, I don't see how you are gonna do that without two controllers.

I would think I would prefer the socks because they are on the soles of my feet.  That's what gets cold first when I don't have the heated socks turned on - especially if I'm ever stupid enough to forget and use my highway bars.  The wires in the soles of the socks are a little bit of a problem when walking, but I find if I put the heated socks on over my usual boot socks, its not much of a problem.

Doug

[Bigs]

I agree with Desperado 100%. That seems to be the best solution. I never needed the heated liner since the  LL Bean chamois flannel shirt works well for me.
   Bigs

[Princess Butt]

I've a question for those using the pants and/or booties (socks, shoe liners, or any of those).

At what temperature do you need to start using the pants and booties?

I have gloves, just splurged for the vest. Don't know if I'm ready for the rest just yet.

BnEUC

[Dennis The Menace]

Good replies.  I dont usually go with the cloves until 40 or below, myself.  When its down to 32 I get out the jacket liner under my FXRG mid-weight coat.  Its good for hundreds of miles.

But, the problem is riding very far below 15 or 20 degrees, or riding a long distance (50+ miles) at or below 32 degrees.  At that point, my feet and legs get cold and once that happens, it takes me hours to warm back up.  Even a hot shower wont help me it gets so bad.

I guess I could leave the bike at home once it gets below 32, but I need to have my fix all year long. We have a lot of clear roads with below freezing days here in Colorado in winter, so why not ride?!?!

menace

[texaskatfish]

All I've used so far is the gauntlet gloves (thank God my hands are small enough that Mama'a extra pair fits me)(shipping snafu by Gerbing and we wound up with 2 pair - with Gerbing's blessing)

I only had them cranked to the max once (riding back here from Sherman up by the TX - OK line in January) - it was 22 degrees when chapter Prez & I left the level ll protection camp out we were pulling an overnight shift on - they were life SAVERS!

The idea of socks or insoles is verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting!

[Tsani]

Right now all I use are the gloves. What I think is if I keep my extremities warm then it helps warm the core. Like you dennis, I had some mild (!) frostbite injury and my hands are the first to feel it. I will break em out 32*f and below and in the low fourties for long rides. And I do ride distance down into the teens and single digits. I have thought about getting the pants and sock liners. They will be next I think. If I get the liner for the jacket, it will be jacket and not the vest. That way I can plug the gloves right into the jacket sleeves. The newest setups now have separate lines for the gloves and jacket built into the jacket with two input ports. I assume that the pants are the same way. Gotta say I love my gloves and tell my OL that often! I am also thinking of getting a pair of those leather bib overalls or go back to using leather pants. Those ass-less pants suck. The thigh area feels like I am getting repeatedly kicked in the thighs.

[Snorth]

All I use is the gloves and the jacket liner, add in the usual leather stuff and a sweatshirt and I'm good to go.  As for temperature I would imagine it varies person to person.  If you get cold or think you're going to get cold, put on the Gerbings 

[RoadGlide0611]

I have maybe a stupid question.  I'm going hunting soon, could I take out a battery and just plug into it and dial me warm while I sit and wait?  Rather than a heater and a propain tank etc.  Hey, just wondering.

[f-x-d-w-g]

Can you take a battery with you and sit in the blind?  Well, it depends on how much you can carry and for how far and what clothing you're going to use.  Each of Gerbing's garments lists its power requirements and, IIRC, my full suit (jacket, pants, gloves, socks) draws 15-17 amps so you have to figure out the time you'll be in the woods and the capacity of the battery.  D-cells won't work.

As to the questions about cold, I like having my Gerbings on below about 50 deg F.  Up to about 60 without turning them on is OK but I get too warm after that.  On the low side, I've used them down to the low 20s for 50 mile rides and this is the full setup as in my answer to the other question above.

I used to live in Fairbanks, AK so I've experienced some pretty cold weather but I just can't take it any more...

[GaryD]

I have the gloves and jacket liner. My legs don't get that cold so all I wear is a pair of long johns and chaps. If it really gets cold (20's and below) I use a pair of those knee warmer packs you can buy for arthritis, they heat for at least 8 hours. For my feet all I use is a pair of those chemical heat packs for toes.
I did buy a 25' coil cord for the gloves/jacket so I can walk around a bit when I get to the destination (Chicago Toys for Tots Parade). I hate standing in one spot for hours.

[Desperado]

Answering the question about what temperature I use what.  That varies with how long I'm gonna be out, but typically, under 45* I use the heated gloves.  I've never had frost bite, but with long skinny fingers, anything under 45* and my fingers HURT.  The heated gloves solved that.  Incidentally, I don't see how anyone can run 'em WOT.  Before I bought the controller, I was constantly (every half mile or so) switching the gloves either on or off because my hands would start to cook after a half mile to a mile with the gloves on all the way (no controller).

Once I got my hands warm I realized my feet were cold.  Before that my hands hurt so much I never noticed.  So I bought some heated socks and a duel controller.  Typically it has to be in the 30's before I use the heated socks unless I'm going to be out for hours, then I might use them in the 40's.  Otherwise, I just use some Wigwam ski socks that are very good at keeping my feet warm.

Once I got my feet warm, I noted that my thighs were cold, so I bought the "pant liners" (really an over pant that goes between the jeans and chaps).  I typically use them when I am using the socks, but not always.  Whether its cloudy or sunny makes a little difference also.  After I got my hands, feet and legs warm, I didn't find that I needed a vest (or jacket liner).  With my extremeties warm as Tsani said, my core stays fine with layering.   Incidentally, I ride in the 30's all the time and in the 20's if its not wet - I said before, ice and two wheels don't mix.  I also think Tsani's correct about the jacket liner at least and not the vest because of the ability to plug gloves into the sleeves.  That wire down your sleeves is a PITA when putting on your jacket.  I also worry a little about the wires hanging out of my sleeves when I go into restaurants or stores (I leave my gloves with my helmet - locked in the tourpack).  One of these days someone is gonna call the cops thinking I have a bomb wired in there.....

[00FHHRCI]

Greetings,

With the cold weather upon us, I was wondering about the best cold weather gear for riding.  I have all the standard cold weather gear; leather chaps, coat, gloves, etc.  I have seem some cold weather gear called Under Armour and am curious if this gear really works?

James 

[Jeffd]

one word "Gerbing" I rode the other day in 8* and was plugged in and no complaints.

[seattledyna]

you will get all sorts of questions if you fly with gloves and heated vest in your carry on bag, the guy at the x-ray machine will hit every warning he can find!!

When I lived in the NW and rode to work on the crisp sunny 20deg days the vest and gloves were fine, much over that and I wished I had the pants!!, I did finally break down and get the gerbings jacket, running the gloves wires down the sleeve when I used the vest was getting to be a PITA.

[Princess Butt]

  on the Gerbing. I wore my gloves this morning, it was 35 degrees.

You can layer up, but only so far before you can't move and it still too cold.

BnEUC

[IndyHarley]

I've ridden year round for years - I use the Gerbing gloves and jacket liner also. Legs I have always used thermal pants, then jeans, then either insulated bibs or ski pants over those two layers. I've never ever had cold legs even in temps in the teens. Now the feet are a different story as i don't have much circulation there anyway.

[GaryD]

Indy, get some of those little heat packs for toes for $1...they work great for about 6-8 hours.

[Scramjet]

I use the Gerbing jacket liner and gloves.  I do not need the pants or socks.  My legs and feet seem to be fine.  I do have fairing lowers and I wear Roadgear pants over my jeans.   I wear the Roadgear pant over lined jeans if it is really cold.  The pants have armour in the knees which may help.

B

[heron2000]

i use the jacket liner and gloves - if i can keep my core warm everything else is good - one good thing i  discovered is flannel lined jeans.  you can get them at any farm store.  they really keep the legs warm under chaps. 

[PoorUB]

Can you take a battery with you and sit in the blind?  Well, it depends on how much you can carry and for how far and what clothing you're going to use.  Each of Gerbing's garments lists its power requirements and, IIRC, my full suit (jacket, pants, gloves, socks) draws 15-17 amps so you have to figure out the time you'll be in the woods and the capacity of the battery.  D-cells won't work.

Don't forget that the 15 amp draw is at full load, turned down they may draw 3-5 amps. A motorcycle sized battery would probably run the gear for a few hours at light load.

[f-x-d-w-g]

Just nitpicking, PoorUB but, with the electronic control, the current is pulsed on and off to give the required average power.  You're still drawing 15-17 amps when the red light is on but the average power is equivalent to a lower continuous current draw.

It would have been better if I'd talked about amp-hours instead of amps.

[PoorUB]

Just nitpicking, PoorUB but, with the electronic control, the current is pulsed on and off to give the required average power.  You're still drawing 15-17 amps when the red light is on but the average power is equivalent to a lower continuous current draw.

It would have been better if I'd talked about amp-hours instead of amps.

Yep, you are correct about the nit picking part! I know how the pulse wave moulation works with the Gerbing controler, I just figured it was not worth bringing it up as the end result was the same.