7 Best Heated Vests, Tested By Gear Editors

Best Value Heated Vest

Venustas Heated Vest

Best Value Heated Vest

Venustas Heated Vest

Credit: Courtesy of RetailerConsShorter-than-average battery life

In our gear tests, we found that most of the cheapest heated vests on the market today aren’t worth the money. To find something decent that we feel comfortable recommending, you’ll usually need to spend more than $100. Venustas’ Heated Vest is right in that sweet spot, with a good balance of tech, battery life, quality, and price.

Heated vests, especially puffer-style models, can be bulky. We like the thinner design of this option, which allows it to layer easily under bulky winter jackets and outerwear. The carbon fiber heating elements are adjustable to one of three heat levels, and the zones are larger than most other heated vests we tested, especially at this price point.

“I’ve worn this heated vest (and Venustas’ heated fleece zip-up) for the last few weeks,” said writer Mike Richard. “Between hiking in the Whites, wearing it around the house, and on my daily jogs, it’s held up very well. Where many of the vests I tested center their heat on a smaller targeted core area, the zones in this one feel more like large ‘panels,’ so the heat feels nice and even throughout my entire upper body.”

The quality of this vest is solid (especially at this price), even if it lacks the fit and finish of more premium models. We also wish the included 4800mAh battery were larger, although the brand does offer additional batteries in three sizes. Those gripes aside, it checks all our must-have boxes, so we think it’s a great buy.

Battery Life8 hours (on Low)Included Battery Pack4800mAhHeating Levels3Heating ElementCarbon fiberCareMachine-washable

Best Splurge Heated Vest

Ewool PRO+ Men’s Heated Vest

Best Splurge Heated Vest

Ewool PRO+ Men’s Heated Vest

Credit: Courtesy of RetailerConsShorter battery life than most

Even among this year’s best heated vests, ewool’s PRO+ Heated Vest stands out. It’s a premium design that looks and feels like high-fashion, especially compared to most of its competitors. Plus, the internals heat up faster and provide better coverage than every other model we tested this year.

The PRO+ is the latest iteration of the company’s flagship vest. The internal elements offer more coverage across your chest, abdomen, and back (including the lumbar area) than any other. With 70 watts of power, it also heats up faster, with warmth we could feel in seconds.

“I’ve personally tested this in some of the coldest places I’ve ever visited, from Northern Maine to Canada to Antarctica, said gear writer Mike Richard. “It powers on and heats up in less than three seconds, and it is toasty warm. I tend to run cold in the winter, and this vest has been an absolute game-changer. I’d definitely recommend the double battery kit if you’re looking to go hard all day.”

One of the only downsides to this model is that all that next-level heat requires next-level power. The standard included battery is a beefy 23,000mAh, but is only good for just six hours (on Low) or less than two hours (High). Thankfully, ewool is aware of this, which is why it offers a double battery kit and an expandable pocket inside the vest to accommodate the oversized power bank. Alternatively, if you’re riding a motorcycle or snowmobile, this vest has 12V capability, allowing you to keep it heated almost indefinitely from the vehicle’s battery.

The biggest downside, however: Price. All this newfangled heat tech doesn’t come cheap. This best-in-class heated vest will set you back more than $500 (for the single-battery version). But, hey, if only the best will do …

Battery Life6 hours (on Low)Included Battery Pack23,000mAHHeating Levels3CareHand wash only

Most Adjustable Heated Vest

Arris Fleece Heated Vest

Most Adjustable Heated Vest

Arris Fleece Heated Vest

Now 20% Off

Credit: Courtesy of Retailer

Most heated vests include at least three levels of temperature control. But the level you choose usually heats up every zone (and, therefore, the entire vest) equally. Arris’ Fleece Heated Vest has eight total zones, each with five adjustable heat levels. Plus, there are three separate buttons allowing you to activate/deactivate three zone groups (abdomen, chest, and neck/back) independently, making this the most adjustable heated vest in this year’s roundup.

On the surface, this vest looks and feels like almost any other premium fleece vest. It’s soft, comfy, and very warm, even without the heating elements turned on. But this model, too, features carbon fiber elements woven into the fabric that warm up in less than a minute, delivering nearly instant warmth. The included 7500mAh battery is good for up to 16 continuous hours on Low, so you’ll have all-day heat for whatever adventures you’re getting into.

At a little over $100, this heated vest is a great value, ticking all of our essential “must-have” feature boxes. Our main gripe is that the battery takes longer to charge than most others we tested—around 6-7 hours—with the included charger. The manufacturer also recommends hand-washing this one, which is a bit of a pain compared to most of the other machine-wash-capable models we tested for 2024.

Battery Life16 hours (on Low)Included Battery Pack7500mAhHeating Levels5Heating ElementCarbon FiberCareHand-washing recommended

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