Battery Powered Heated Jacket For Your Winter Adventures
Why A Heated Jacket
Heated jackets weren’t something on my radar until about a year ago. You see, living in Maine it’s gets cold in the winter and your girl here is not a fan. I had been looking at different options for heated jackets for several months when a company called Venustas reached out to me. They must have known I had been secretly stalking there website! Because I was starting to get out more in the cold weather to do some winter hiking and other great outdoor activities I was more than happy to try out and review a heated jacket for them.
My big complaint about winter hiking is that my fingers get so cold when I stop to take pictures. And if you didn’t know, I stop a lot and take photos. Because I am constantly stopping and going I go from toasty warm to freezing and back to warm. For me a heated jacket seemed like it might be the perfect fit for me.
Heated Jacket Overview
A heated jacket is generally comprised of different heating zones designed to provide hours of heat using a battery pack. Most generally have at least two temperature settings but some have more allowing you to find your perfect temperature. How long your rechargeable battery will last will depend on your temperature settings. If you are using low heat settings your battery pack will last longer than if you are using one of the higher temperature settings.
Heated jackets are made in the same manner as your standard jackets. They are among some of the warmest jackets without the heating system on and are designed to be a lightweight garment. Some of them even come in with an outer shell that is water resistance. All of the ones I looked at had functional designs making them great for daily use. You know I am love things I can use in my everyday life!
Some heated jackets come with a preheat function which can be fantastic to use before you head out on your outdoor adventures in the winter. There is just something about putting on a toasty warm jacket before you head out into the elements.
Venustas 3 In 1 Heated Jacket
The Venustas 3 in 1 heated jacket provides modern premium comfort for your winter adventure. A 3 in 1 jacket is just what it sounds like, 3 jackets in 1. The inner layer of the jacket also called the mid layer is made of a soft fleece with polyester liner. The heating systems of these jackets are located inside the inner layer and the power button displays a led light. You will also find the power button for the jacket located on the inside left chest. The outer layer of the jacket also called the shell is made from nylon and polyester. The shell is not only windproof but waterproof making it perfect for hiking on snowy days. The cuffs feature a velcro system so I can adjust them to fit with my gloves.
The Heat
The Venustas heated jacket consist of 5 heat zones and 3 heat power levels plus a bonus pre heat mode. The 5 heat zones are located mid to upper back, left chest, right chest, left pocket and right pocket. The battery or power bank on a full charge will last 8-9 hours on low heat, 5-6 hours on medium heat and 2 1/2 -3 hours on high heat. The power button will display a blue lights on low heat, white lights on medium heat, red lights on high heat and slowly blinks red when using the preheat feature. Between the three heat settings you are sure to find the perfect amount of heat and hours of warmth.
The battery for this jacket is a mini 5k lithium ion 4800 mah battery. It comes with a usb plug charger. If you find that you want a larger battery power bank or an extra one you can purchase replacement batteries separately. I found the one the jacket came with was just fine for me. The battery has a digital power lever display that is easy to read.
Charging your battery can take up to 4 hours if it is completely dead. I always charge mine using the wall charger as I find it is faster than charging it off a laptop or car charger. Located toward the back of the left side if a zippered pocket that houses the battery pack. I have to admit I was concerned that it would interfere with where my backpack sits but it was not a problem. The weight of the battery is 6.56 ounces.
The Mid Layer Of The Heated Jacket
The mid layer of the heated jacket is held into the outer shell by being zippered in and has 3 snaps that attached it together. The zippers are located at the front of the jacket and the snaps are located at the top of the collar in the center and one at each wrist cuff. The mid layer does have hand pockets but they are not zippered. This is because in order to use the heated pockets while the jacket is all together it is easier to access the mid layer pocket from the shell pocket if there is no zipper.
The Shell Of The Heated Jacket
The outer shell of the jacket has two zippered hand pockets, a zippered chest pocket on the outside right chest and an inside zippered chest pocket on the left side. The shell does have an adjustable hood. While it is not detachable you can curl it up and secure it to the jacket. I actually like this better. I find I tend to lose the removable hoods once I take them off. With this jacket I know I will not lose the hood! The outer shell if both wind and water proof. While hiking in the winter I often find myself in short snow storms, especially up in the mountains, so knowing I will be able to stay both warm and dry brings me peace of mind. For me, keeping out the cold air is one of the most important things and this jacket will keep out the cold air!
The Price Point
This jacket comes in around $200.00. I know you are thinking, yikes that’s a bit much! Considering this is a 3 in 1 jacket it would break down to around $66.00 a jacket. Other jackets from companies like Patagonia, The North Face and L.L. Bean cost that and more, and there’s aren’t heated!
Reasons I Love This Heated Jacket
Heated Pockets
I have been spending a lot of time outside in the winter as of late and I need to be warm. More importantly I need to be able to keep my hands warm. Because I stop often and take lots of photos while hiking and snowshoeing I have to take off my gloves to be able to run the camera. Yes, I still use an actual camera when taking pictures! Needless to say my fingers get cold and they get cold fast. I love the heated pockets that the Venustas 3 In 1 heated jacket has. When I start to feel my hands getting too cold I can easily put them in my heated hand pockets to warm them up and then resume my picture taking. This is the sole reason I picked this jacket.
I also found that In late spring and early fall I can wear the mid layer of the jacket to things like a baseball game, family cookout, evening walk, kayaking and any outdoor activities I am doing! It is perfect for those times when it starts out warm enough to not need a jacket but once the sun starts to go down you get chilly and want some extra warmth. I again, love the heated pockets for this reason!
Finding Your Perfect Temperature
Before I head out on my winter outdoor activities I always use the pre-heat feature on the jacket. There is just something about putting on a warm coat before you brave the bad weather. Once I get the jacket on and start my adventure I can very easily adjust the temperature setting with the push of a button. This allows me to lower the temperature of the jacket as I go and get warmed up so that I receive the perfect amount of warmth. I have not had the jacket turned on for an entire hike because once you get moving and your body’s core temperature heats up you are able to turn off the jacket. This is most likely why I haven’t needed to upgrade to a larger battery for it.
Once I know I am going to stop for a break or photo op I just push the button and turn the jacket on so that I can help keep my core temperature up while I am stopped. There is just something about standing on a mountain summit in the back country in the freezing winter and pushing a button for your personal climate experience. This jacket allows me to take in the view for a little longer.
Overall Performance
If any of you have been to my site before you will already know that I love anything multi purpose. This jacket is no exception! I love a good 3 in 1 jacket. I get a great clothing experience three different ways. The jacket is very easy to take apart using the zippers and three clips. And it goes back together just as easily. I will admit that I don’t wear just the outer shell very often, but I do wear the jacket all put together and just the mid layer. I had expected this jacket to weight a ton but was pleasantly surprised at the weight. Yes, it weighs more than your standard jacket but was not what I would call a real heavy jacket. Well, compared to my 18+ pound backpack anyway.
This jacket is not just for hiking, Alex tried this jacket out while doing a roofing job in the winter. He kept telling me about how cold it was even will his winter clothes on so I told him to take the jacket and give it a try. I didn’t think he was going to give it back after the first day! He also loved to wear it while he was snowblowing and shoveling.
The jacket comes in a wide range of sizes. You can get anything from an extra small for your more petite body all the way up to a 5 extra large for your plus sizes. I personally a wearing a 3xl.
The Downside Of The Heated Jacket
If you are looking for a jacket that is going to be the same weight jacket as you regular coat, it will not be. Because of the heating elements it does weigh more but I personally didn’t mind.
You cannot just throw this jacket in the washing machine. Because the outer shell does not contain electrical components you can wash it in the washer on delicate. The mid layer will need to be washed by hand and hung to dry. For me this is not an issue but some folks might not want to take the time for that. I wash this coat when I wash my backpacks, which I also wash by hand. Any heated jacket you look at will be hand wash only.
If you are looking for some color options you will not find it here. The jacket comes in black and that’s it. Again, not a huge deal for me, everything goes with black after all.
Lastly, you need to be somewhat careful with this jacket. I would not recommend rolling it into a ball and cramming it into your backpack! Because it contains a heating system you wouldn’t want to break it. This was not an issue for me as I don’t take off the jacket when hiking in the winter until I am back to the car where I can place it nicely on the seat.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are looking for yourself or someone else this heated jacket makes the best gift for any outdoor adventurer. If you have been on the fence, like I was, about trying some heated apparel then I suggest you do it. You won’t be sorry. Alex and I both love this jacket. So, to keep us from fighting over it Alex just might be getting one this holiday season! Shhhhh, don’t tell him!!!!
