One of the more intriguing mash-ups of outdoor gear and technology in recent years has been the introduction of heated clothing designed to keep us warm and comfortable during the long, cold months of winter. Typically powered by rechargeable battery packs connected to integrated heating elements, these jackets, gloves, boots, and other items can provide hours of warmth even on the coldest of days. If you’re not particularly a fan of winter, or you just happen to be looking for ways to stay warmer while you’re out and about in the cold, these products will provide a bit of extra comfort to help you manage the frigid conditions. With that in mind, here are our picks for the very best heated outdoor gear to keep you felling cosy all winter long.
Available in a standard jacket, a hoody, or a vest, the 8K Flexwarm heated jacket looks a lot like any other puffy coat on the market. Tucked away inside its lining are three heating elements (two in the front, one in the back) that can be individuals controlled using a smartphone app (iOS/Android), allowing users to turn on – and up – the heat wherever and whenever they like. The jacket can warm up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit in just six minutes and can stay powered on for as long as 13 hours depending on the temperature settings. A built-in control unit gives users the ability to activate and cycle through three preset heat levels when their smartphone isn’t handy too, making this one of the more versatile, good looking, and efficient heated jackets on the market.
Ravean Heated Jacket ($300)
If you need a stylish and comfortable heated jacket that looks just as good on the trail as it does running errands around town, then look no further than Ravean. The company not only makes some of the best heated parkas on the planet, it manages to make them look fashionable too. The jacket features heating elements in the back and chest, as well as heated pockets, all of which have three temperature settings that are controlled with a single integrated button. The included battery pack can even be used to recharge your phone, while providing up to ten hours of warmth for those long days on the slopes or snowshoeing in the backcountry. Best of all, the jacket is surpassingly very packable, making it a great choice for travelers heading to cold climes.
When you’re trying to stay comfortable in the outdoors in the winter, it is important to always important to keep your core as warm as possible. A heated vest can do just that, without adding extra bulk that sometimes comes from a jacket. The Ororo Padded Heated Vest has high, medium, and low settings, three warming zones, and an eight hour battery life, which is enough to get you through a several days between recharges even with regular use. The vest’s fabrics and carbon fiber heating elements are also completely machine washable and at $140 Ororo has even priced the vest just right, making it an affordable option to add to your winter wardrobe.
Venture Heat Heated Base Layers ($150)
Staying warm while outside in the winter starts with good base layers, which sit close to the skin and help provide temperature and moisture control. Naturally, there are heated options available, including Venture Heat’s line of battery operated apparel. Available for both men and women, these base layer tops and bottoms offer multiple heating zones, three temperature settings, and battery life that provides hours of warmth. The garments heat up quickly, are machine washable, and are made from stretchy fabrics designed to move with your body during active outdoor pursuits.
Outdoor Research Stormtracker Heated Gloves ($265)
Outdoor Research already makes some of the most comfortable and warmest outdoor gloves on the market, but the company’s Stormtracker heated model takes things to an entirely new level. These gloves incorporate Gore-Tex Windstopper fabrics and water-resistant leathers on palms and fingers, which makes them plenty warm on their own. But activate the heating elements, which extend up the fingers for extra warmth where you need it most, and your hands will stay toasty warm for hours at a time. Customizable heat settings allow you to dial in just the right temperature to meet your needs. Perfect for active pursuits like skiing, ice climbing, or snowshoeing, the Stormtracker Heated Gloves will make it much easier to be outside for extended periods of time this winter.
Seirus Heattouch Ignite Mitt ($375)
If you prefer to wear a mitten as opposed to a glove, Seirus has you well covered with its Heattouch Ignite Mitt. Reinforced with PrimaLoft insulation, a leather palm and outer shell, these mittens are warm and comfortable in their own right. Turn on the built-in heating element – which wrap around the back of the hand and over the fingers – and you’ll be ready to face whatever winter throws at you. A single button interface allows users to cycle through three different temperature settings, with up six hours of battery life when the replaceable battery pack is fully charged. Once you get these mittens on your hands you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
ActionHeat Heated Winter Hat ($100)
While it may be a myth that we lose most of our body heat through our head, it is still important to keep your noggin warm while you’re outside in cold weather. The ActionHeat Heated Winter Hat can help you do that by offering three levels of warmth and a battery life of more than four hours. The hat comes equipped with two heating elements that are strategically placed above the ears, helping to supply a bit of extra warmth to a part of the body that is often amongst the first to get cold. The beanie-style hat conceals its true nature quite well, resembling most other winter caps on the market, most of which don’t offer battery-operated warmth on demand.
Volt Heated Socks ($160)
A number of companies have experimented with heated boots, but for the most part they’ve proven to be a tough sell with consumers. Fortunately, Volt’s Heated Socks are viable alternative, offering three levels of temperature control and a battery life of up to 10 hours. The socks are made from breathable, moisture wicking fabrics to help maintain a high level of comfort and an integrated pocket serves as a storage place for the rechargeable battery pack. Volt even ships them with a wireless remote control, allowing users to change the settings without having to take their shoes off.
Torch Electrek Outrek II Heated Insoles ($120)
If heated socks aren’t your thing, perhaps heated insoles are the best way to keep your feet warm. The Torch Electrek Outrek II insoles promise to fit nearly any shoe or boot and can provide up to six hours of warmth. Once again, a wireless remote control is included to allow users to set their preferred temperature level and adjust settings on the fly, making it easy to keep your toes toasty warm, even when the mercury takes a major plunge.
Volt Gen IV Heated Slippers ($150)
Designed for use both indoors and out, the Volt Gen IV Heated Slippers will keep your feet cosy at home, around the ski lodge, or even while running errands around town. Lined with Thinsulate synthetic insulation, a memory foam footbed, and a lightweight rubber outsole, these booties are plenty comfortable even before you factor in the battery-operated heating elements. Armed with three power settings and battery life of up to seven hours, once you get a pair of these heated slippers on your feet, you may never want to take them off.
Source: https://www.digitaltrends.com/outdoors/best-heated-clothing/
Comments