BUYING GUIDE - BEST HEATED JACKETS IN 2021
HEATED GEAR FOR SKIING
We took a look at what heated gear works well for skiing as well as what heated products are better left at home when heading to the mountains in this blog post. We thought it might be a good idea to put together a page of heated gear that we think will enhance you day out on the slopes, so without further ado, here they are:
Heated Coats
While most people would think that skiing is one area where a heated coat would be a huge benefit, I would disagree for many of the heated coats available in the market today. While there are certainly a few that fit the bill, we have highlighted them below, many heated jackets lack the pockets and other features that make a great ski or snowboarding coat.
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Most heated coats and jackets lack the numerous pockets, including zipping inside pockets that a ski or snowboarding coat would have built into them. This also includes other features such as underarm zippers for ventilation. However, a lighter-weight heated jacket works as a great addition that can be worn under your ski coat and ups the heat dramatically. I have used a lightweight heated coat or a heated vest under my ski coat, both of which kept me super warm on a very cold day.
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Once you have left the mountain a heated jacket or vest can be a great choice for après ski or just wandering around the village at night. I often keep a heated coat or vest in my ski bag and switch into that once I am done skiing for the day and it’s time for a drink.
Here are a few heated coats that we think work well for skiing:
Gobi Shift
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While this coat was designed for snowboarding, it works just great for skiing. Gobi is a well-known and well-respected brand in the heated clothing market. This coat has 5 heat zones and a 9-hour battery life. It is wind and water-resistant, made from polyester fabric with a super comfy nylon lining. The hood is helmet capable and the Shift also has armpit zippers for controlled ventilation, velcro cuffs, built-in snow gaiter, and a variety of pockets to stow your stuff while you are out on the mountain. It's our number one pick for heated ski jackets.
Price at original publication $259
Price at original publication $259
Volt Summit​
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The Volt Summit is a heated goose down jacket that is not only heated but is also loaded with plenty of pockets. The Summit has 3 heat zones, both sides of the chest, the upper back, and lower back to help keep you nice and warm on the coldest of days. The included VB5TEN USB 10,000Ah rechargeable battery provides the heat and can keep it cranking for up to 11 hours on low. Even without the heat on this jacket is seriously warm, it has a denier polyester shell and is PU laminated with taped seams. The Summit is filled with 90% down and 10% feather with 750 fill power.
This coat as pockets galore which are always handy out on the slopes. It has two deep traditional hand pockets at the waist as well as waterproof zippered pockets on each side of the chest, a lift-pass pocket on the left sleeve, a zippered inside pocket to secure valuables along with an additional un-zippered quick access internal pocket. The Summit also has a large horizontal lumbar pocket on the lower back for extra storage. All in all this is an excellent ski jacket that will keep the heat flowing for hours.
Heated lightweight coats, pullovers or hoodies under an unheated ski jacket can really up your warmth level, here are just a few that we recommend:
Price at original publication $99.99
Price at original publication $139
Price at original publication $139
Price at original publication $99.99
Price at original publication $149
Price at original publication $115
Heated Vests
Heated vests are always an excellent choice for skiing. Slipping one on under your ski coat is a great way to stay nice an warm while having the free movement of your arms and shoulders. Once your off the mountain, a heated vest is perfect for sitting outside and having a drink while lying about how many runs you cranked out that afternoon.
There are plenty of heated vests that work great under a ski coat, we put a few of our favorites below. If you are looking for a deeper dive, check out our individual reviews as well as our Best Heated Vests of 2022 to find one that works best for you
iHood Heated Vest
The iHood heated vest is one of our favorites. Its unique power button allows users to turn the various heat zones on and off independently. You can turn on the chest, back, and collar/hood zones separately, allowing you to control the heat levels more precisely which also helps save the battery life by turning off heat zones you are not using.
The iHood heated vest has two pockets on the inside, one for storing the battery while the other can be used to stash your phone, keys, or other important items you want to secure.
The power bank offers up to 9.5 hours of heat depending on what heat setting you use. The iHood is an excellent choice to keep you warm out on the hill.
Price at original publication $139
Price at original publication $139
Ororo Heated Vest
Ororo is a well known brand in the heated clothing market and their classic heated vest is considered one of the best and it gets some of the best reviews of any vest tested. The Ororo is filled with 800 fill power duck down so you will be warm even before you turn on the heat.
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The four carbon fiber heat zones keep this vest nice and warm while you are out skiing. There are two heating elements on the chest, a large one that goes across the back area as well as a heated collar which is always a benefit. The battery can keep the heat coming for up to 10 hours on low.
Price at original publication $169
Price at original publication $139
Heated Gloves and Mittens
Heated gloves or mittens are always an excellent addition to your skiing bag, particularly on really cold days. While I find heated gloves too warm for mild days, when the temperature really drops, I absolutely use heated gloves.
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The only issue with heated gloves is the battery life. If used on the high setting, you will most likely be out of juice in 3 hours. I find that the lowest setting usually works just fine except on the coldest of days and on low you can often get 6 hours or more out of a charge.
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Here are just a couple of heated gloves and mittens that we recommend. Check out our Best Heated Gloves/Mittens for 2022 for a full selection.
Gobi Stealth Heated Glove Liners
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Gobi makes three different heated glove models, but one of our favorites is the Stealth glove liner which is one of their best sellers. These liners are made from a polyester/spandex blend that will help keep your hands dry and warm.
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Two 7.4 volt, 2100 mAh lithium-ion batteries can crank up the heat to 140°F on high with steel fiber heating elements that run up and around the fingertips. The Stealth liners will keep the heat flowing for 2 hours on high, 3 on medium and up to 6 on low although some reviewers claim the actual numbers are lower. These heated gloves look great and have a cinch bungees and Velcro® strap to help keep the heat where it belongs.​
Price at original publication $179
Savior Heated Mittens
These unisex mittens are made from insulated cotton with a super soft and breathable fleece inner so they are super comfortable. They are also plenty warm even before you turn on the heat, but once you hit the power button these mittens really warm up. They have heating elements that cover the back of hand as well as your fingers up to the fingertips.
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A pair of 7.4V 2200MAH rechargeable Li-ion batteries keep these mittens warm for up to 5 hours on low but that drops to 2.5 hours when you run them on high. Expect around 3-4 hours on the medium setting. On high, these mittens can hit 140°F so you don’t have to worry about your hands freezing up. These mittens are waterproof, and the thumb is touch sensitive so you don’t have to take them off to use your phone.
Heated Base Layers
I rarely wear heated base layers when skiing and that is mainly due to battery life. While many heated base layers advertise up to 8 hours on low, the reality is that in most cases you are looking at 4 hours on low and possibly under 2 hours on high depending on the brand. I think as battery life improves, heated base layers may become the standard but for right now, I rarely recommend them to people for skiing. However, if you are going to buy heated base layers for skiing, we recommend this one:
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Volt Tactical Unisex
This heated base layer is our favorite, it produces great heat, is super comfortable, and gets zero negative reviews. It’s made from brushed fleece lining and poly spandex which gives it a nice snug fit.
The Tactical Base Layer has four large heating panels, all of them are located on the back of the shirt. It uses a VB560 5v 6000mAh USB power bank to keep the heat flowing. Like most of the base layers we looked at, the battery is not going to last all day. It will stay hot for around 2 hours on high but can put out hit for almost 8 hours on low.
Heated Socks
If you don’t have boot heaters heated socks are a no brainer for skiing. They are both comfortable and will keep your feet nice and warm out on the slopes. Heated socks will keep the heat flowing for 6-8 hours on low or up to 4 hours on high which should be enough for most days on the hill.
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Heated socks can have the warming element on the top of the foot, bottom of the foot or even around the toes and they all work well. One thing to consider is a remote control which makes changing the temperature easy without having to pull over. We highly recommend all of the heated socks on our Best of Heated Socks 2022 list and here are a couple of our favorites:
Gobi Tread Heated Socks
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The Gobi Tread socks are a big seller and for good reason, they are made from 100 percent cotton which makes them super soft and super warm. These socks use a steel fiber heating element located under the toes to keep your entire foot warm. The ultra slim 5 volt, 2400 mAh lithium-polymer batteries can provide 12 hours of heat on low and up to 4 hours on the high setting. These socks will heat up to 140°F on high which will keep your toes toasty in the coldest of weather. They also come with a remote control so you can easily change the temperature of the socks when out and about.
MMlove Rechargeable Heated Socks
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While I prefer a thin ski sock, I know plenty of people that like a thicker ski sock. If you like your ski socks thick, MMLove's are a good choice. These unisex heated socks are made of premium cotton & spandex making them comfortable breathable and quick-drying. The two 3.7V rechargeable li-ion batteries will keep the heat flowing for 5-6 hours .