How to choose the right size of heated gloves without getting it wrong

The day before you order, the tape measure comes out of the sewing drawer. You wrap it around your palm, below the knuckles. It reads 20.5 centimetres, and you are already torn between two sizes.

Heated gloves are not chosen like everyday gloves. They have to hold a battery, put the heat on your fingers and keep air around them. Too tight, they compress; too big, they let the heat escape.

The good news: the right size comes down to two measurements, one chart and a few checks. Here is the method, from measuring your hand to opening the parcel.

Too tight or too loose, a heated glove warms less well

Why does size matter so much? Heated gloves work in two ways: they produce heat and they hold it in. The right size does both; the wrong size sacrifices one.

Still air insulates, compression drives it out

Insulation comes from the still air trapped in the lining. The INRS (French national institute for occupational safety) describes it as a good thermal insulator. A glove that is too tight crushes this layer of air, and the hand cools down faster.

Wind makes things worse. As Météo-France, the French weather service, explains, it sweeps away the thin layer of air the skin had warmed. Water is worse still: a wet glove loses its insulating power, the French Hiking Federation points out.

A glove that is too loose has the opposite effect. With every movement, warm air escapes through the wrist and cold air comes in. Dexterity drops from an outside temperature of 15 °C, according to the INRS: a glove that flaps around does not help.

The thin heated gloves are a good example. Their stretch knit follows the hand, and a hook-and-loop strap closes the wrist over the sleeve.

A pair in your size closes at the wrist without squeezing, and your fingers bend effortlessly.

The heat must land on your fingers

On most G-HEAT gloves, the heating covers the back of the hand and the top of the fingers. That is where the cold sets in first. Your fingers still need to sit under that zone.

If the glove is too long, the heated tip extends past your fingers and heats empty space. Too short, it pulls on the fingers and compresses the lining. Size therefore also determines where the heat goes.

Also worth reading: Dry cold or damp cold: Which is more uncomfortable, and how should you dress for it?

Two measurements with a tape measure are enough

How do you find your heated glove size? Measure the circumference of your hand, then its length, and look up both figures in the chart. The European standard for protective gloves, EN ISO 21420, defines glove size by these same two measurements.

Hand circumference, below the knuckles

Lay your hand flat, fingers together, without tensing. Pass the tape measure around your palm, just below the knuckles, thumb excluded. The tape should touch the skin without digging in.

Measure your writing hand, which is often slightly wider. Take the time to measure twice, and keep the larger figure.

Length, from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger

With your hand open, measure from the wrist crease to the tip of your middle finger. Also note the length of the middle finger alone, from its base to its tip. This figure often decides between two close sizes.

A hand can be wide and short, or slim and long. That is why the G-HEAT chart gives three reference points: circumference, hand length and middle finger length.

No tape measure? A piece of string and a ruler

No tape measure at home? Wrap a piece of string around the same spot, mark where it meets with a felt-tip pen, then lay it flat along a ruler. It is precise enough to read the chart.

The G-HEAT heated glove size guide

Which size matches your measurements? The technical sheets of this season's G-HEAT gloves share the same chart. Find the size where your hand circumference and length fall.

Between two sizes, length decides

Your hand circumference comes out at 20.5 centimetres, right between M and L? Look at the length. If your fingers are long, choose the size that leaves them room at the tip.

A finger that touches the end of the glove compresses the lining at the most exposed point. That is also where the cold is felt first. Your previous pair helps too: its label shows the size that fitted you.

Letter sizes, number sizes

Some brands size gloves in numbers, from 6 to 12. Each brand has its own chart, and the same letter does not always correspond to the same centimetres. Rely on your measurements and on the "universal size" column.

The table below lists, model by model, the sizes available and what adjusts the glove at the wrist or fingers.

Also check the smallest size available: the APPROACH heated hunting gloves start at S, while most models start at XS.

One size up to fit an underglove? The fitting decides

Should you go one size up to wear an underglove? Not as a rule. Sizing up is decided by trying the glove on with the layer you will wear underneath, never in advance.

Go back to the tape measure from the day before. It read 20.5 centimetres, between M and L, and your long middle finger made you choose L without hesitating. If you order an XL "for the underglove", the glove will flap around on the days you wear it on its own.

Yet a heated underglove adds almost no bulk. The heated undergloves are cut like a second skin, to slip under a ski glove or a mitten. Take them in your exact size.

It is the outer glove that needs to keep some room. As the French Hiking Federation points out, fingers should not be squeezed too tightly. A mitten takes an extra layer underneath more easily, since the fingers share the same space.

Same logic with the Light heated gloves, thin and lightweight. They slip under another pair when the cold bites harder, or can be worn on their own, depending on the weather. What will you use most often: the glove on its own, or both layers?

To find out more: Why buy heated undergloves?

Skiing, cycling, motorcycling: the cut follows the movement

Should you change size depending on the activity? No, your size stays the same, but the cut changes with the activity and conditions. A ski glove fits over the jacket, a cycling glove fits the handlebars.

Skiing: the cuff goes over the jacket

On the slopes, snow looks for the wrist. The Heated Ski Gloves close it with a strap and a cord, and the snow stays out. In leather, flex zones keep your fingers supple on the pole.

The Heated Ski Mittens tighten at the wrist and cuff. The fingers stay together and keep each other warm, hence a little more tolerance on length.

Not to be missed: How to dress for skiing: the complete guide to staying warm on the slopes

Cycling: the wrist adjusts with Velcro

On the handlebars, a glove that is too big wrinkles under the palm and gets in the way of braking. The ACTIVE heated cycling gloves close at the wrist with Velcro. Their suede leather palm grips the handlebars without slipping.

Motorcycling: the fingers almost reach the tip

On a motorcycle, the clutch and brake are operated with your fingertips, and your safety depends on it. The RIDER heated motorcycle gloves, certified EN 13594, adjust with a double tightening strap. On the road, aim for close-fitting gloves that leave a few millimetres at the fingertips.

Leather softens over the rides. The other models are gathered in the heated motorcycle gloves collection.

A women's cut, unisex models

Most G-HEAT gloves are unisex, designed for men and women alike: a slim hand finds its size in XS or S. The CITY heated gloves have a women's cut, slim and stretchy, from XS to 2XL.

On delivery: five checks before cutting off the label

How do you know if your heated gloves are the right size? Do this five-step test at home, battery charged and fitted, before going out with them. A glove that passes these checks is the right size.

1. Fingertips: a few millimetres of space, no more. The finger should neither touch the end nor float.
2. Clenched fist: squeeze three times. The glove should not pull on the back of the hand.
3. Cuff over the sleeve: put your jacket on. The cuff should close over it, battery included.
4. Precise movement: open a zip, then tap your phone screen. On most models, the index finger and thumb are touchscreen-compatible.
5. Heat in the right place: switch on to medium, one of the three heat levels. The heat should land on the top of your fingers.

The batteries fit in the cuff or in a pocket at the wrist. The batteries for gloves weigh about 72 grams each: without them, the cuff check tells you nothing.

Charge them the day before: charging takes 4 to 5 hours with the charger, and battery life then depends on the level you choose.

Before these checks, the battery must be charged and the glove switched on. This short G-HEAT video shows how to switch on heated gloves.

Chargers and replacement cables are available in the batteries and chargers collection.

"Before talking about heat, I always ask what will be worn under the glove. A heated underglove slips under a ski glove or a mitten: it is the outer glove that needs room, not the underglove. Measure your hand the day before, calmly, and choose for the pair you will actually wear."
Communication and Brand Manager at G-HEAT

Leather softens, textile keeps its shape

A new leather glove may feel a little stiff at first, then it softens. A polyester and elastane glove, like the Light, changes little in size over time. Choose it for its comfort from the first fitting.

Why choose G-HEAT to find the right size of heated gloves?

1. One chart for the whole season. The technical sheets of this season's heated gloves share the same reference points, in centimetres and universal size.
2. Three measurements rather than one. Hand circumference, hand length and middle finger length: a wide, short hand finds its size too.
3. From XS to 3XL on most models. Slim hands and wide hands alike have their size.
4. Adjustments at the wrist. Hook-and-loop strap, strap, cord or Velcro close the glove over the sleeve, without restricting your fingers.
5. A French heated clothing brand. Gloves designed by the G-HEAT product team, so the heat lands on your fingers.

Conclusion: a tape measure, and the right pair from your first order

The day before ordering, the tape measure did its job. Two measurements, a reference point in the chart, and the underglove question settled by a fitting rather than a reflex.

On delivery, five checks are enough, battery fitted. Your pair fits just right: the heat reaches your fingers and the air stays in the lining. All that's left is to head out walking, gloves on, to the very end of the outing.

Whatever the weather. G-HEAT, in every season.

FAQ: heated glove sizing

Should you measure your right or left hand?

Measure your writing hand, which is often slightly wider than the other. If in doubt, measure both and keep the larger figure. The glove on the slimmer hand will stay comfortable, whereas a glove that is too tight would bother the other hand all day long.

Does glove size change battery life?

No: each product page states a single battery life per model, whatever the size. On the Light gloves, for example, count on 5 to 6 hours on low, and 1.5 to 2.5 hours on high. It is the three heat levels and outdoor conditions that make the duration vary.

Can you exchange heated gloves that don't fit?

Yes, the product pages state 30 days to make an exchange, and 14 days for a refund request. Do your fittings indoors, without going out with the pair, so that it stays in new condition. The returns portal on the website guides you through the process.

Can a woman wear unisex heated gloves?

Yes, most G-HEAT gloves are unisex and start at XS. A slim hand finds its size thanks to the chart in centimetres. If you prefer a slimmer cut at the fingers, the CITY gloves are cut for a woman's hand.

Should you try on heated gloves with the battery?

Yes, always. The batteries sit at the wrist or in the cuff, and they change the way the glove closes over the sleeve. A fitting without the battery can make the cuff feel loose, then too tight once the battery is fitted.

Sources and references

[1] "Travailler dans une ambiance thermique froide" (Working in a cold thermal environment), INRS
[2] "Travail au froid. Prévenir les risques" (Working in the cold: preventing risks), INRS
[3] "Randonner en hiver" (Hiking in winter), French Hiking Federation (FFRandonnée)
[4] "NF EN ISO 21420 : gants de protection, exigences générales et méthodes d’essai" (Protective gloves: general requirements and test methods), AFNOR
[5] "Qu’est-ce que la température ressentie ?" (What is wind chill?), Météo-France