The ERA RTX by Macna is not only a winter glove with electric heating, it also turns out to be a waterproof and excellent insulated piece of top motorcycling craftsmanship. We would expect the latter from Macna and the price range we are in.
And then it is good when you are not disappointed. On the contrary. Regular users of heated motorcycle gloves will be delighted with these and for the all-season rider who until now was just had to bite his shivering teeth hard, a new world opens up.
These motorcycle gloves come with two 7.4V/2.2A batteries and charger. You can also 'hang' them from the bike's battery, using optional cables. Each ERA RTX motorcycle glove - and there are always two per pair, for the record - is a husky unit. An electrically heated motorcycle glove requires enough 'body' to integrate everything internally. And yet. Thanks to the relatively short cuff (the wrists are covered and the sleeve of the motorcycle jacket is reached) it is not excessive.
The exterior consists of the traditional mix of softflex textile and goatskin leather. Internally, there is a waterproof Raintex membrane for protection against moisture. One layer down, the warm Bemberg lining does the trick. Macna is shrewd enough to make it thinner on the palm of the hand than on the back of the hand, which again improves the balance between 'good grip on the handlebars' and 'warm hands’.
Waterproof and warm is already the maximum you can achieve with a lot of motorcycle gloves. But here, this is just the beginning.
Although the cuff doubles as a storage compartment for the 7.4V/2.2A batteries that serve as a power source, length remains absolutely within limits. The two 7.4V/2.2A batteries are included as standard, as is a charger. They add a bit of weight, but you get warm hands in return. You pair them up, store them neatly and activate everything by using the push button on the wrist. If you miss to see that, you better get off your bike immediately. The on/off button also shows the battery status. Normally one battery charge can guarantee up to 4h30 of warm hands (depending on the set temperature).
| Mode | Battery life 7,4V 2,2Ah |
|---|---|
| Level 4 (red) | 1u45 |
| Level 3 (purple) | 2u |
| Level 2 (blue) | 2u50 |
| Level 1 (white) | 4u30 |
We say this with reservation. Whoever plans on bellowing along the motorway for those 4h30 at zero degrees will be disappointed. This will always be the case when the motorway is your main field of action.
’Warm' exists in different intensities and degrees, but the place where the
heat manifests itself specifically also plays a role.
Mainly the top of the
fingers and the fingertips.
It goes without saying that the heat, once
present, does disperse, which - more than heating up a single spot - ensures the
best effect.
Impact protection is also present, although the focus of the ERA RTX is not on fast or visually sporty elements. It can be a bit more classic, without compromising on features like index fingers with touch tip and ergonomically preformed thumb pieces. There is no visor wiper.
If you want to supply the gloves with motorcycle battery power, you'll need
two cables: a power cable (here you can choose between a battery
cable, a cable to a cigarette lighter plug or a cable to a
DIN-plug like on a BMW) and a 'double connection cable'.
These heated
gloves use a maximum of 3.1 amps.
The standard charger that is included in the package comes with three different, interchangeable plugs and can therefore be used in any country.
Since these gloves contain electronic components, it goes without saying that they cannot be put in the washing machine. A gentle hand wash is possible, provided you dry the connectors with a hair dryer after washing.
