Many people are not even aware of such a wonderful invention as a heated jacket. Nevertheless, it can improve the conditions for people staying out in the cold for a long period of time, or not having the opportunity to take a break to warm themselves. Fishers, hunters, security guards, and motorists can find this piece of clothing very useful. Let’s take a closer look at these details of the unique outerwear.
How Does Heated Jacket Work?
A heated jacket is the same clothing that can be found in any store, but with built-in heating elements. These jackets are indispensable in freezing weather. Most often, items that produce additional heat are placed on the back, at the front, or in the zone of the pockets.
Some models also offer artificial heating to the neck area. The main criteria are the maximum and minimum heating temperature, as well as the heating zone and runtime.
How Safe Is the Jacket’s Material?
When creating a jacket, durable, and frost-resistant material is always used. Jackets are mainly made of waterproof and windproof polyester, and the lining consists of fleece. Thus, the clothes become warm and versatile, regardless of the operating state of the heating unit. Almost all models can be washed in a conventional washing machine, which makes it easy to maintain.
Is There Any Fire Protection?
The first thought that comes to mind when looking at clothes with built-in heating elements might be “it looks dangerous”! The vast majority of these clothes have not only three heating modes but also an automatic shutdown system when a specific temperature is reached.
As for the energy source, some of the heated jackets work thanks to the same technology as your smartphone. Other types of batteries used are also safe and reliable.
Fit and Appearance
When choosing clothing items, it is essential to consider the size and fit of the torso. The closer the correspondence to the size, the more the heating efficiency of the jacket increases. However, if you plan to put on more than just a base layer, consider buying a more extensive or non-fitted size.
Heated jackets are versatile enough, and hunters and anglers can choose a camo heated jacket model. Some items have a special removable hood.
Pockets
There are models with a large number of pockets and zippers, for more versatile use on hikes or fishing. Nevertheless, you can also find more “home” pieces for simple everyday use. There are models with integrated heating of the pocket zone and those without it.
Heating Kit
There are three main types of heated jackets:
- Garments with a heating cable like copper wire.
- Clothing based on film heating elements (mostly eastern companies are engaged in this technology).
- Clothing with carbon fibers.
The most popular variety is a jacket with carbon fibers at the base. At a relatively high cost, it is characterized by the most exceptional safety and ease of care.
Jacket heating elements are battery operated. Their main characteristics are voltage (12V or 20V) and milliampere-hour. The higher the indicated voltage, the higher the temperature the components can provide. If you are interested in a battery with the highest capacity, choose a battery with the most top milliampere performance.
Some models can work for up to 16 hours, for example, PROSmart Men’s Heated Jacket. You must understand that the operating time of the heating elements depends not only on the battery but also on the external temperature. In the case of extremely low temperatures, it will come in handy to have a spare power source or a power bank.
Charging Of The Jacket And Other Devices
Jackets often have rechargeable batteries. Some models are equipped with USB ports, with which you can recharge your gadgets. Although it is worth remembering that this will slightly reduce the operating time of the jacket itself.
FAQ
How long do heated jackets last?
It depends on the battery capacity, the selected heating mode, and the external ambient temperature. Jackets can work from two to an impressive 16 hours of active heating.
How to wash the jacket?
We recommend following the instructions in the manual for your item. This is mainly machine wash in cold water. Make sure that you do not use machine drying; it is better to dry the unit in an expanded form on a hanger. Before washing, the heating elements must be removed in some models!
Is there a danger of electrocution?
There is no electric current in the operation of heating clothing. The degree of danger can be compared with a smartphone or power bank.
Can it charge my tablet or phone?
The presence of a USB port is a very attractive addition. Although you should not use the battery of your jacket to recharge devices with a high capacity, it is quite enough for a phone. Do not forget that this will slightly reduce the running time of the jacket.
How should I charge the battery?
Before first use, it is best to charge the battery during the day fully. The vest kit includes all the necessary accessories for charging, and some models even have several plug options for travelers.
Where is the battery?
Most often, manufacturers place a battery on the front of the vest. This improves usability and replacement if necessary.
Conclusion
The best heated jacket warms you and makes walks in the fresh air pleasant and comfortable. You can use the heated jacket for hunting, working outdoors, or while riding a scooter. When choosing, it is worth paying attention to the battery capacity, temperature, jacket size, and heated areas. The ability to recharge personal device should also not be excessive. Thanks for reading, stay warm.
Can a heated jacket like this overheat and catch on fire?
No, it can’t, even though it does sound a bit sketchy. The heated jackets are designed to be warm, not boiling hot.