Wasoto Heated Gloves Review

The Wasoto Heated Glove is heated by heating elements woven into the backs of the hands and fingers. It's powered by rechargeable lithium batteries stored in zippered pockets within the cuffs. The system features three adjustable heat levels and is intuitive to turn on or turn up – just push the button. The outer shell is constructed from wind- and water-resistant twill and microfiber fabric, and the gloves are fully touchscreen compatible.

Warmth

With three levels of warmth, the battery-powered Wasoto Heated Gloves can either provide a quick jolt of heat to revive cold fingers or maintain sustainable low-level warmth for hours. During our freezer test, the Wasoto gloves actually gained about 3°F on the highest setting over five minutes. The manufacturer claims the hottest setting reaches 140°F. Our infrared laser thermometer measured only 90°F inside the glove, which is still plenty warm.

When the batteries are depleted, these gloves still provide some insulation, so your hands won't immediately freeze. However, that insulation is noticeably less lofty and less wind-resistant than similar heated gloves we tested. During the same freezer test with the heating element turned off, these gloves lost 7°F over five minutes, which is a significant difference between the heated and non-heated versions.

Dexterity

Dexterity is rarely a strong suit for heated gloves, yet the Wasoto performed better than most thanks to its lower loft, greater flexibility, and superior fit for smaller hands. Most heated gloves struggle in this area because the heating elements are inherently less pliable than standard materials. While these gloves make it slightly harder to grip ski poles or adjust zippers compared to non-heated options, they still offer enough mobility to navigate a day on the mountain.

If they had a slightly tapered fingertip, it would greatly improve dexterity. However, the Wasoto gloves have a couple of tricks up their sleeve to compensate for a lack of precision. Touchscreen compatibility made it easier to use our phones without taking these gloves off (though your texts will likely still have quite a few typos). If you do have to take them off, wrist leashes mean you won't drop them from the chairlift.

Water Resistance

The Wasoto Heated Gloves exceeded our expectations here. They repelled nearly all the snow and water while we were out on the mountain. During our immersion tests, however, the gloves absorbed some moisture into the face fabric and a significant amount into the palm and the thumb's nose-wipe section. Notably, their water resistance declined over time. These gloves feature a surface treatment rather than an integrated waterproof membrane, so their water repellency will likely continue to degrade with use.

It's important to note that we didn't fully submerge the battery components during testing, so the vulnerability of the connections to moisture is somewhat unknown. It's a safe bet to avoid exposing the battery to moisture whenever possible.

Construction Quality

As a budget-friendly option, the Wasoto Heated Gloves are not made from premium materials. They lack reinforcements in the palms or fingertips – even a faux leather here would make them more durable – and the non-reinforced stitching is prone to unraveling. We noticed some loose seams after our testing period. The lower-denier weave has fewer threads than comparable gloves, making it more susceptible to tears. And as we mentioned before, the DWR-coated twill is less durable than a Gore-Tex membrane.

Although the gloves performed well throughout our test, some users have reported that battery life degrades over time, particularly when used regularly on the highest heat settings. This eventual decline in battery health is certainly a drawback, especially since there isn't any option to replace batteries – you would just need to buy a whole new pair of gloves.

Features

Beyond the heating system, the Wasoto Heated Gloves include all of the features we look for in a quality pair of gloves: cinchable gauntlets, wrist straps, adjustable cinch straps, a nose wipe, and touchscreen compatibility. The heating controls are impressively user-friendly. Powering the system on and off is intuitive, and heat levels can be adjusted quickly and easily – just press the button to choose your desired setting.

A minor drawback to a heated glove is the weight and bulk of the battery system. The batteries sit heavily on the wrist – they feel cumbersome and crowd jacket cuffs. Over the course of a long day, this extra mass is pretty uncomfortable. It's important to note that if you plan to use these in the backcountry, be aware that the heating elements cause significant electromagnetic interference with avalanche transceivers.

Adjusting the heat mode on the Wasoto Gloves is easy; just press the button.   Credit: Kaylee Walden

The waterproof and windproof material successfully keeps all moisture and gusts at bay.   Credit: Kaylee Walden

A cinchable gauntlet keeps the cold out.   Credit: Kaylee Walden

Previous Next

Should You Buy the Wasoto Heated Gloves?

These gloves fit women with smaller hands better than many other heated models we tested, and we love the extra warmth they provide on cold mornings on the chairlift. If your hands run perpetually cold, these are a good, affordable option. But for anything other than the coldest days, the Wasoto Heated Gloves may be overkill.

What Other Women's Ski Gloves Should You Consider?