In autumn and winter, it's time to wear a vest. Electric heated vest, also known as heated vest, is a garment that sews a heated element (heated sheet) into the vest or coat, and the user adjusts the heated temperature through the controller to continuously provide heat to the user in the cold season. There are so many electric heated vests on the market, how should you choose? The primary consideration is to choose an old brand. They have higher quality requirements and a guaranteed supply chain. Other factors are heated element choice, battery life, fit and comfort, style, and more.
8 Factors Need To Take Into Consideration When Buying a Heated Vest
- Heated Element
Different from "thermal underwear" that purely preserves the body's own heat energy, the heat provided by the electric heated thermal clothing is the electric energy in the battery, which flows into the carbon fiber heated wire or metal fiber composite wire, and is converted into thermal radiation energy, which produces a warming effect. Similar to an electric blanket, except that the heated element is sewn into the garment, and the power is provided by a rechargeable battery. Most electrically heated thermals have heated elements in the vest, chest, and back areas, ranging from three to five zones.
Carbon Fiber heated Wire: One of the heated elements commonly used in heated garments is carbon fiber. This technology uses strip or tubular heated elements made of carbon fiber to heat a jacket or vest. Carbon fiber elements are distributed throughout the jacket to provide warmth. Carbon fiber does a great job of providing even heat and flexibility. Although slightly stiffer than the material used to make jackets or vests, you're less likely to notice them, as the carbon fiber heated sheet is only 1mm thick and doesn't affect the body's flexibility.
Metal Fiber Composite Yarn: Metal fiber composite yarn can be made very thin and light, making it ideal for outerwear or vests where weight and flexibility are important. Most heated jackets and vests have three to five heated zones. Conductive thread is the best option for heated garments and is used by many clothing companies, but not yet as popular as carbon fiber. Because conductive thread is so thin and light, it is often used in gloves, socks and underwear.
- Battery type
Most heated jackets and vests use rechargeable lithium batteries to generate heat. This kind of battery has small self-discharge and no memory effect, and the charge and discharge times can reach more than 600 times. We recommend avoiding nickel batteries (NiMH, NiCd) as they are heavier, have a short lifespan and lose their ability to charge over time.
- Battery life
This is also one of the most important considerations when evaluating heated outdoor products. Most heated jackets and vests can provide heat for up to 10 hours on the low setting, but when using the mid or high settings, the heated time is greatly reduced. Some jackets or vests can last up to six hours on high, while others die in as little as three hours.
When a product is advertised as having up to 10 hours of heat, it probably means 10 hours on the lowest setting (say 10% heat setting), which is almost no heat. When they say the clothes hit a certain temperature level, it's probably on the highest setting, and that heat level is power hungry and only lasts for a short time. Another trick is that the manufacturer claims to have tested the longest time it can maintain heated, which means heated in only one area.
Think about how you're going to use the parka and what kind of battery life you'll need. While a skier or someone who works outside all day might want the maximum number of hours of use in high-end temperatures, a person who only wears a heated outerwear for short hikes or walks in the forest probably doesn't need a long-lasting battery.
- Charging time
Some batteries may fully charge in 3-4 hours while others may take 7-8 hours. How often you use your heated vest or jacket will determine how important the fast charge time factor is to you. People who wear it for a long time every day may want to buy an extra battery as a spare.
- Charging method
Another consideration for the battery is whether it can be recharged with the charger in the car if it dies while you're out and about. Some brands use a USB port to charge the battery and are compatible with car chargers, while others use proprietary chargers that only work in a wall outlet. If going out to charge is important to you, make sure you choose a brand that can charge in the car.
If it is an electric heated suit with an external power bank, the possibility of being constrained by the battery is relatively low. You only need to carry a few more power banks to ensure uninterrupted heated.
- Fit and comfort
People do not buy electric heated clothing for street photography, but more importantly, for keeping warm. Therefore, fit and comfort are very important for choosing electric heated clothing. The fit means heat stays inside the garment instead of escaping through loose cuffs, shoulders or hem. When purchasing, be sure to check the size chart provided by the manufacturer, because there may be differences between different brands, especially in the comment area, where customers describe whether the clothes are too large or too small.
For comfort, you should pay attention to the weight of the battery, or this model does not come with a battery, but you need to prepare a power bank yourself. If your purpose is cycling or outdoor sports, it's best to avoid clothing with bulky batteries. If it is thermal clothing that can be connected to a power bank by itself, then the flexibility is even higher, and it is not difficult to find a small and large-capacity power bank.
- Clothing materials
Most heated vests and jackets use cotton, polyester, or a mix of the two. There are also heated jackets in canvas and even down parkas. Most heated suits are windproof and waterproof, while some are completely waterproof. How you use your vest or jacket will determine how important these features are to you. Also be sure to consider the inner lining, it should be a comfortable and cozy material, fleece is popular in heated outdoor clothing, it retains heat while being comfortable.
For those extremely cold days, a heated suit filled with duck down is a great option. Duck down provides excellent warmth, and this extra layer of insulation not only keeps you warm, but also allows you to run the battery on a lower setting for extended heat times.
- Hood and pockets
While a hood isn't always necessary, and some people find it cumbersome, it can be beneficial on particularly cold or wet days. Many heated suits have a detachable hood that you can remove if you don't need it on a daily basis and put it back on when you need it. It's worth mentioning that there won't be a heated element in the hood, it's just a regular hat.
Plus, most heated vests and jackets have pockets, just like regular outerwear. These pockets are great for storing your personal items when you're on the go. In most electric jackets, there is an inner pocket for batteries. And some heated jackets have additional heated pockets. Putting your hands in your pockets is not only cool, but also comfortable.
Will the electric heated vest cause electric shock?
Common concerns about heated suits seem to be misconceptions about electrocution, especially on rainy days. Electrocution is nearly impossible with portable heated suits. First of all, most electric heated suits have a certain degree of waterproof design. Second, most rechargeable heated clothing systems, such as heated vests and jackets, operate on voltages below 10V. You can jump into a river and at worst you'll hear a slight hum and then the battery dies. Most battery heated garments run on just 7.4 volts (note: Milwaukee's battery has 12 volts, which is compatible with other tools), which is lower than what many children's electronic toys use.
Does the electric heated suit have radiation?
Many people talk about radiochromism. In fact, radiation refers to electromagnetic radiation, not all products that use electricity have electromagnetic radiation. Electrical products with motors, such as hair dryers, have a brush structure that will generate electromagnetic effects and radiate electromagnetic energy to the outside during work; and some electrical appliances with radiation generating devices, such as microwave ovens with microwave emission tubes, will also generate electromagnetic radiation. . In addition, household appliances, especially heated products, work on the principle of heated materials with electricity (the basic characteristics of materials with resistance), and the power supply of batteries is direct current, without frequency, and there is no risk of electromagnetic radiation, such as electric blankets , electric heated clothing, there is no electromagnetic radiation, only infrared radiation (heat energy radiation).
Can people with pacemakers wear heated suits?
This is still quite controversial. Generally speaking, household appliances and electronic products, such as electric shavers, e-readers, small kitchen appliances, televisions, radios, etc., do not affect the performance of the pacemaker. In rare cases, some of these devices may suppress a beat from the pacemaker. But the pacemaker's normal signal returns quickly. The heated suit is powered by a battery, which is direct current, and the battery is usually located in the pocket, more than 6 inches away from the heart. It will not affect the pacemaker when used under normal conditions. Out of caution, merchants will add a warning that "people who wear a pacemaker are not recommended to wear it". For your safety, please consult your medical professional as to whether it is safe to use any electronic product.
How to clean the electric heated vest?
Most heated garments can be machine washed and dried, but some need to be hand washed and air dried. Most importantly, read the care label carefully.
Instructions will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but in most cases you can simply remove the battery, pull the cable back into your pocket, then wash in delicate mode and tumble dry on low, or dry if possible Dry. Do not wring out to avoid twisting the heated element inside. Most manufacturers of heated clothing say that dry cleaning solvents and bleach can damage your clothes, so just wash them at home and don't take them outside for dry cleaning.
Failure to wash according to the care label will not only void the warranty, but can also ruin your heated suit.
