Heated glove suppliers?

[LadyTrundle]

Has anyone found a UK-based maker of heated gloves - especially thin/ liner gloves? I used to get them from Thermosoles/Designed4Inspiration in Austria, a ski-clothes maker. But since Brexit the high import duties to UK mean they can't sell to UK or even accept my old gloves for repair and return to me. I'd be devastated if I can't have such thin but heated gloves to give me dexterity for most of the year, so am desperately trying to find an alternative. Thanks!

[Mylreaclairelee]

Following thanks. I would love some also

[FlexSW19]

Hi- blazewear.com I have a couple of different gloves from them. Let me know if you want to speak more about this

[LadyTrundle in reply to FlexSW19]

Thanks FlexSW19. This is perfect! I wonder why they didn't appear on my internet searches! My questions would be - how heavy are the batteries (I tend to take spares if out for a walk). And how thin is the material of the fingers, really? I have to wear my existing ones (well, the one that still works!) under a pair of washing-up gloves to do anything like food prep, or cutting or tying things up in the garden. Would these gloves allow that much dexterity do you think?

[Arlos]

I get happy hot feet ones they come from Denmark

[LadyTrundle]

Thanks for replying Arlos. Are you in the UK? Have you bought any since 1 January 2021? I fear they may have the same issue (or is Denmark not in the EU customs union?!?)

[LadyTrundle]

Hi anyone with heated gloves - I had thought Blazewear would be the solution, but they seem to have gone out of business (unless anyone knows differently!)> Does anyone know of any other UK-based suppliers? Thanks

[Nisrinita40]

Hello, I have looked and didn’t find any good rated supplier than the one you mentioned in Austria, thanks for that as I didn’t know about them. I spoke to them and they told me they will ship to the U.K. but I have to pay for customs and VAT and I think I will do. So they do ship to the U.K. but make sure to pay when the courier calls you to clear it from customs. Check here how much exactly you need to pay for imported goods. gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abro...

Good luck.

[LadyTrundle in reply to Nisrinita40]

Thanks Nisrinita. It is interesting that you have been in touch with them. They had always been a very nice and responsive company. I had extended discussions with them about shipping to the UK/ repairing my older glove before my original post, and they had suggested that they might look for a way round things if I wanted to buy in 'bulk' But at the time I thought I had found the UK company Blazeware. So maybe I will now go back to Thermo soles. Thanks for the link to the HMRC web pages, that will be very useful.

I also wrote to my MP explaining the problem and asking if there could be some sort of 'medical exemption' from import duties for this kind of equipment. She passed ti to the relevant department but I haven't heard anything since. I wonder, if other people are in the same position, whether other people could write to their MPs too, so they know it isn't just one person facing this issue?

[LadyTrundle in reply to Nisrinita40]

Hi again. I wondered if you had received the goods you ordered yet? Mine arrived this morning, and to my surprise I didn't have to pay anything - no import duties nor VAT. Was this your experience? If so. I will let the makers know that it is not such a problem selling to the UK after all.

[Nisrinita40 in reply to LadyTrundle]

Hi again,

I didn’t get the chance to order anything yet. This is good to know that you didn’t have to pay anything. How much time did you have the gloves before they broke? Do you have also the heated insoles? Thanks

[LadyTrundle in reply to Nisrinita40]

I had them for probably 1½ -2 years, but I do use them a lot. Also, I tended to fold/ screen them up into pockets or into my bag when I carried them with me 'in case' or when my hands had warmed up enough. I now realise this probably contributed to the wires becoming disconnected. I am going to be more respectful of my new pair!Yes I do have the insoles, and they are fine for inside my slippers when I'm sitting working/ watching TV etc. I think the remote controlled ones are better, as otherwise you have to keep taking them out to switch on/off to stop your feet overheating - and that's difficulty if you're also wearing gloves!

However, I found the insoles a little to rigid for walking (I guess in ski boots you don't bend your feet much) and also make my shoes too tights. I was worried about rubbing and sores/ ulcers developing. But the company have just started doing heated socks too, with the n'off switch on a band you fix around your calf. So I've bought a pair of those (plus a spare pair without the battery) so I have high hopes of those!

[Nisrinita40 in reply to LadyTrundle]

Hi,

So I’m going to buy the heated gloves with the button and the 3D heated insoles with remote as they seem to be more ergonomic than the old one and it is good to have the remote to control the heat. My Raynaud is bad on my feet more than on my fingers so I definitely need a heated insole or something to keep them warm, I’m getting white feet now with 17 C :(, this year has been really bad. I will let you know if I will need to pay the VAT or any customs fees. We shouldn’t pay for these goods due to our medical condition to be honest.

[LadyTrundle in reply to Nisrinita40]

Good luck with them. I also find that wearing ankle boots or ankle slippers rather than just shoes or ordinary slippers helps keep the blood to my feet that bit warmer. I agree there should be a medical exemption on VAT - if you do have to pay we should start a petition!

[Bec-Ray9 in reply to Nisrinita40]

Hey have you managed to receive these yet? Just wondering if you’ve got much feedback yet as I’m looking for a solution to help me manage my feet solution too. Thanks in advance

[LadyTrundle in reply to Bec-Ray9]

Hi. I haven’t heard whether the other person had to pay VAT or customs duties, but I didn’t. The items took maybe 2 weeks to arrive. The heated socks are ok if you’re really struggling - the Battery and pouch are quite bulky and hang loose on a velcro strap. They go around the leg just under the knee, but because big and hang loose, you’ll have to wear very baggy trousers to hide it. If I’m not going to be walking anywhere I prefer the remote-controlled heated insoles. But they are not comfortable (for me) for walking far, so I need to find a better position for the sock batteries.

The gloves have been great gor me.

[NewBloom]

Hi, I've been reading this old thread about heated gloves as I'm currently looking for some.

I'd be interested to hear if the Blaze wear liners worked well in really cold winters?

Would either of these be the type you tried ?

blazewear.com/our-gear/glov...

I'm being brave and going on a winter holiday and realky need to sort warmth for my fingers. I've been considering usb heated liners and wear ski gloves over the top.

Any recommendations greatly appreciated.

[LadyTrundle]

Yes, those look like the ones I have. They do heat up hot, but that would use the battery fairly fast. Make sure you get a spare set of batteries (or more if you plan to be out in the snow for several hours at a time)and set them to recharge as soon as you swap them. I definitely wear them under other gloves - unless I'm just having a quick warm-through indoors! For a winter holiday having them inside ski gloves would be ideal - or, I find, ski mitts work better as the heat is 'shared'. Especially if you can get ones where the finger cover unzips and folds back, so you can easily have a bit more dexterity if you need it.

But these plus insulated ski gloves would mean you can soon turn the heat setting down and the batteries would last longer.

I don't know about you, but one of my problems is that I chill down the instant I stop any exercise ... which then immediately triggers a Raynaud's attack. So when I stop for lunch I either have to have dry base layers with me I can immediately change into and/ or the heated gilet that blaze wear also do - has completely transformed my confidence about winter walks or cycle rides!

Good luck, and I hope your holiday is fun.