If you're into retro-modern motorcycles, then chances are excellent that you've come across the name Helstons before. For anyone unfamiliar, it's a French motorcycle gear company, and its entire thing is marrying vintage styling with modern materials. That's it. That's the story.
Like any good motorcycle gear maker, they come out with new collections on a regular basis. Some carry various CE safety ratings. All pieces seek to exude the sort of effortlessly chic je ne sais quoi that probably sprang into your brain as soon as you saw the words "retro modern motorcycles."
Do they succeed? Well, that's in the eye of the beholder, but I think that they quite often do. And that's never been clearer than in one of its latest additions to the collection, which is these Fender Heating heated gloves, particularly in the cream colorway.
Why is that? The secret is the color blocks, combined with those two perfect little stripe accents on the back of the wrist. The ribbing doesn't hurt, either. Visually, it's all an incredibly impactful statement.
If you just wanted a pretty retro picture, those visuals might be enough on their own. But because it's motorcycle gear, and you're meant to wear it and hopefully get some benefits beyond just the style here in 2024, we must also discuss the materials. That's where modernity comes into play.
Helstons Fender Heating gloves are a long cuff design that uses goat leather, which is renowned for its combined properties of strength, suppleness, and comparative thinness. Thinner leather, as long as it's still strong and protective, is generally better for tactile feel of the motorcycle's controls.
These gloves also have carbon knuckle protectors cleverly integrated into the design. It's not the type of carbon that's meant to be seen, you see (or don't, really); instead, it's meant to simply be strong and do its job unobtrusively.
There's also a nice Kevlar palm, as well as a Primaloft layer for extra warmth, a capacitive index finger point, and heating with a three-level light indicator. The battery is also integrated into the heated gloves, so you don't have to worry about wiring anything into your bike.
For fans of retro-modern styling on their bikes, I don't know how it can possibly get any better than this. If it gets chilly where you live and ride, these make so much sense.
Have I been seriously pilled by the tank stripes on the 2025 Triumph Speed Twin 900 that I just rode very recently (review coming soon)? Maybe.
But if you don't already have heated grips, I don't know why you wouldn't be considering these gloves if they go with your particular moto aesthetic.
Really, it's the best of all possible worlds. You get the vintage styling that so clearly makes your heart sing if you're into retro-modern bikes in the first place, along with the kinds of protective modern materials and heat that keep you riding long into the colder months of the year. What's not to love?
