6 Winter Riding Products Every Kiwi Motorcyclist Should Consider
- Six products that make winter riding dramatically more comfortable.
- Heated grips, gloves and thermal layers tested by riders for riders.
- Stay warmer, safer and ride longer through New Zealand’s coldest months.
With most of New Zealand having its coldest morning of winter this week, we thought we’d take a look at some of our favourite products for keeping the chill at bay when out on two wheels. Because as any motorcyclist will tell you, when winter bites, the right gear can be the difference between enjoying the ride and counting down every kilometre until home.
If you’ve looked outside lately, you’ll know winter has arrived with a vengeance. Around New Zealand, temperatures have plunged to some of the lowest we’ve seen this year, with frosty mornings, frozen windscreens and breath hanging in the air long after sunrise.
The good news? Those crystal-clear winter days often produce some of the best riding conditions of the year. Quiet roads, blue skies and stunning scenery make it hard to resist throwing a leg over the bike.
The bad news? If you’re not properly equipped, you’ll be frozen faster than a politician’s promise.
Cold hands, icy toes and wind creeping down your neck aren’t just uncomfortable—they’re distracting. And distraction isn’t something you want when you’re trying to concentrate on the road ahead.
The BASICS
Layers – when it comes to winter riding, thinking about layering your riding gear is the best decision you can make before heading out. There are some amazing thermals and base layers nowadays that far exceed the warmth you’ll get from the old set of thermals you have to pull off the bottom of your undie drawer each year. Merino keeps you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s warm, allows your body to breathe, removes sweat, doesn’t stink and dries quickly. A set of merino or similar base layers are a great asset to have in your winter kit.
Then, think about the next layer and what will give you warmth without being bulky. There’s nothing worse than riding feeling like you’ve been inflated with an air hose. Another thing-ish top over the base layer before a thermal liner under your (hopefully) waterproof and windproof textile riding jacket should have you prepared for just about everything. But if you still feel like you need more, take a look at our picks of some of our favourite winter riding products below if you need that little bit extra.
When it comes to gloves and boots, the same philosophy is true. Don’t jam a massive pair of socks into your boots as the restriction will reduce blood flow to your feet and make them feel colder. Again, a couple of thinner socks with one being merino or something similar should do the job.
It’s often out hands that feel the cold more than anything, usually because they’re not only stuck out in the breeze, but we’re also needing them to remain flexible to operate the controls, so tend to shy away from massive gloves. Again, below are a few great options that we’ve discovered over the years that can hopefully do away with blue hands.
Winter is still a great time of year to ride motorcycles – you just need to be prepared before heading out. Below are six products we’ve either used ourselves or would happily recommend to make winter riding a whole lot more enjoyable.
Oxford Heated Grips
One of the best motorcycle accessories you can buy, full stop.
Heated grips are one of those luxuries that quickly become a necessity once you’ve experienced them. Rather than trying to warm already frozen fingers, they provide constant heat directly into your palms, helping maintain circulation and keeping your hands comfortable even on long winter rides. It also means you can often get away with a lighter-weight glove, giving you more feel of the controls.
Oxford’s heated grips have earned a reputation for reliability and feature multiple heat settings, automatic battery protection and simple controls that are easy to operate with gloves on.
If your bike doesn’t already have heated grips fitted, we’d put these near the top of the shopping list.
Ideal for: Daily commuters and riders tackling long winter distances.
Approx. Price: From $169 – $349.90
Available from: Bits4Bikes & all good bike shops
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comment: Oxford’s heated grips are the benchmark, and they’ve never been better.
Oxford Deluxe Neck Tube
It’s amazing how much cold air finds its way down the gap between your helmet and jacket.
A quality neck tube blocks that icy draft, helping trap warm air around your body and dramatically improving comfort. It’s also one of the cheapest upgrades you can make to your winter riding kit.
Oxford’s Deluxe Neck Tube is soft, comfortable and packs down small enough to leave in a jacket pocket all winter. It tucks up into the bottom of your helmet, helping to seal the fit and bust drafts.
Sometimes it’s the simplest products that make the biggest difference.
Ideal for: Those looking to stop arriving with a blue face!
Price: $24.99
Available from: Bits4Bikes
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comment: If you don’t ride with at least some form of neck tube, then you’re just asking to get cold. And this one is the mac daddy of neck tubes.
Motodry Heated Vest
There is nothing quite like the luxury feel of heated clothing to keep you going through a cold journey.
Keeping your body’s core warm helps keep everything else warm too. If your core temp drops, you can quickly start suffering from fatigue and begin making poor decisions.
Rather than layering on bulky jumpers that restrict movement, a heated vest provides warmth exactly where it’s needed while allowing your riding jacket to do its job.
The Motodry Heated Vest connects to your bike’s electrical system or battery pack (depending on setup) and provides adjustable heat to your chest and back, helping maintain body temperature during longer rides.
If you regularly spend several hours in the saddle through winter, this could be the biggest comfort upgrade you’ll make. Or if you commute and don’t want to wear a lighter jacket, a heat vest is the answer.
Ideal for: Anyone who likes an accessory that really helps you ride more comfortably.
SPECIAL Price: $184.00 (down from $249!)
Available from: Boyd Motorcycles
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comment: You won’t believe how heating your body suddenly makes you warmer from your head to your toes.
FIVE Ultra WS Under Gloves
If you don’t want the bulk of heavy winter gloves, these clever under gloves are worth a look.
Designed to be worn beneath your existing gloves, they add an extra layer of insulation while helping block cold wind from reaching your skin.
They’re particularly useful for riders who already own a favourite pair of gloves but simply need a little extra warmth on frosty mornings.
Think of them as thermal underwear for your hands.
Ideal for: Those riders who hate bulky gloves or don’t ride enough in winter to buy a dedicated set.
Price: $89.90
Available from: Boyd Motorcycles
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comment: If you just need a little more warmth, these are a great option.
Richa Ice Polar
Gore-Tex Gloves
Sometimes there’s no getting away from just having a great set of winter gloves. And these Richa gloves are as comfortable as slipping on a pair of mittens.
Sometimes there’s simply no substitute for a proper winter glove.
The Richa Ice Polar Gore-Tex gloves combine waterproof Gore-Tex construction with thermal insulation, giving riders protection from both rain and bitter temperatures.
Quality winter gloves are an investment, but warm, dry hands make a massive difference to both comfort and safety.
At the time of writing, these are also discounted from $279.90 to $199, making them even better value.
Ideal for: When your winter trip is longer than a set of heated gloves will run on a battery.
Special Price: $199.00 (down from $279.90)
Available from: Boyds Motorcycles
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comment: When heating isn’t an option, then these Richa gloves are great for battling the chills.
IXON IT YUGA Heated Gloves
If heated grips warm your palms, heated gloves warm everything. We’ve used them for a couple of seasons and wouldn’t tackle a winter road trip without them.
Integrated heating elements wrap around your fingers and the backs of your hands—areas heated grips simply can’t reach. The result is impressive warmth even when temperatures drop close to freezing.
They’re more expensive than conventional gloves, but riders who regularly commute through winter often say they’d never go back.
If you’re serious about riding year-round, these deserve a place on your wishlist.
Ideal for: Daily commuters and riders tackling long winter distances.
Price: $579.00
Available from: Boyds Motorcycles
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Comment: If you need to ride further, then the optional enduro battery is a worthwhile investment.
A Few Extra Winter Riding Tips
The gear helps, but so do a few good habits:
- Start your ride slightly overdressed—you’ll appreciate it once you’re moving.
- Keep hydrated. You sweat less in winter, but dehydration still affects concentration.
- Watch for black ice, particularly on bridges, shaded corners and country roads.
- If you’re starting to shiver, stop and warm up. Shivering burns energy and reduces concentration surprisingly quickly.
The Bottom Line
Motorcycling doesn’t stop because the calendar says it’s winter. In fact, some of New Zealand’s best riding happens on crisp, clear winter days.
With the right gear, you’ll spend less time thinking about how cold you are and more time enjoying the road ahead. Whether it’s heated grips, a quality neck tube or fully heated gloves, investing in staying warm is also investing in riding safer.
After all, the only thing that should be frozen this winter is the paddock beside the road—not your fingers.
