Heated vests

Every year for the last few years I get ads for heated vests hitting my FB, etc. Does anyone own one? Not sure I’m convinced yet. But man, something like that might be the ticket for all-day treestand sits, as well as ice fishing if I wasn’t already sweating from punching a bunch of holes. Are they easily adjustable/controllable? Most just look like they have an on/off button on the left breast. I think getting too warm and sweating would be the biggest concern. Thoughts, reviews or reccomendations???

I have not tried one yet. My buddy who is a snap on dealer has a heated jacket and likes it. I thought it was there own brand but not sure.

Gotta Milwaukee vest from HD. I love it.
Get additional batteries.

I have a milwaukee jacket and couldn’t even tell you where it’s at right now. Just a poorly thought out garment. Heavy. Wind goes right through it. To bulky and restrictive to comfortably wear under a outer layer. I’m guessing it was designed for people that get chilled when it’s 65 degrees out and they are sitting at there kids ball game.

If you do get a heated vest make sure you can comfortably wear it as a inner layer. Maybe just a tee shirt under it.

Just got an Orono heated vest(made in USA). Has low med and high settings. Used it this last weekend on the water and asked myself why I haven’t had one for years.

I thought about getting one. But my core is never cold. Only thing that ever gets cold is my fingers and feet. I feel like that vest would get me to warm and sweaty and do more harm then good.

I have a Milwaukee vest and the hoodie. I wouldn’t sit on stand without 1 or the other. Love them.
I like the hoodie better just for the hood. Bunched up stops the wind down my neck or up for even more wind block.
3 settings or off. I get chilled and turn it on medium toasty warm. Depends on the weather but seldom need high.
I don’t need much under it, just a shirt and then maybe something over to break the wind better.
Sure is nice to turn it when needed and off when not.

I talked to my friend and his is the snap on brand. He said the battery is smaller than the Milwaukee and he felt more comfortable.

I bought the Milwaukee jacket many years ago and two spare batteries. Cut the sleeves off making it into a vest. Sleeves added no valve, no heat, and caused tight arms within coat sleeves… so I made them disappear.

Definitely a mid layer vest. Pretty useless as an outer layer as it don’t stop any wind.

As a mid layer I turn it on for a few minutes then off until I am chilled again.

Definitely recommend as a mid layer… everything else goes over as to retain heat.

I only use during extended periods of low activity, like sitting in tree stand or fishing.

I bought one for the FW when her heated seat went out in the SXS and I didn’t wanna fix it. She loves it and wears it all the time now. Made by Kemimoto but it’s just a China knockoff available on Amazon.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I thought about getting one. But my core is never cold. Only thing that ever gets cold is my fingers and feet. I feel like that vest would get me to warm and sweaty and do more harm then good.

Usually fingers/toes get cold because the core is starting to cool down, so the body naturally pulls blood flow from the outer extremeties of your body to maintain your core (organ) temperature.

Granted, I’m not saying you can roll around in November with uninsulated boots as long as your core is warm, maintaining your core temp goes a long way.

I bought a heated vest a few years back. It was ok, but it was a bit bulky and the batteries were a bit of a hassle. I switched over to a thin down full sleeve inner layer underneath my Gore-Tex shell and it is overall warmer, better range of movement and don’t have to monitor the battery life anymore.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

I bought the Milwaukee jacket many years ago and two spare batteries. Cut the sleeves off making it into a vest. Sleeves added no valve, no heat, and caused tight arms within coat sleeves… so I made them disappear.

Definitely a mid layer vest. Pretty useless as an outer layer as it don’t stop any wind.

As a mid layer I turn it on for a few minutes then off until I am chilled again.

Definitely recommend as a mid layer… everything else goes over as to retain heat.

I only use during extended periods of low activity, like sitting in tree stand or fishing.

Good to hear. Was thinking about cutting the arms off mine to. Seems to me Milwaukee just slapped that garment together with not much thought to it.

You’ll need to sew a seam after cutting off sleeves Mike. Fyi. Easy seamstress job.

Combine the heated vest with an IWOM… nap time!

waldo9190 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
I thought about getting one. But my core is never cold. Only thing that ever gets cold is my fingers and feet. I feel like that vest would get me to warm and sweaty and do more harm then good.

Usually fingers/toes get cold because the core is starting to cool down, so the body naturally pulls blood flow from the outer extremeties of your body to maintain your core (organ) temperature.

Granted, I’m not saying you can roll around in November with uninsulated boots as long as your core is warm, maintaining your core temp goes a long way.

I think it’s more due to prior frost bites from when I was younger. And my fingers due to breaking them. My legs and chest will be warm like they are today out side cutting a wall, but my fingers are already freezing. And it’s not even cold out yet

Have generic heated vest called Arris and absolutely love it. Got it as a Christmas gift and i would have not likely bought it for myself. It’s one of the best gifts I have been given.

Wear overbase layer and allows me to dress lighter for both bow hunting and later season fishing. Leave off till you get cold and then turn it low. Kept me out longer on many occasions. In dead of winter found my self wearing to and from work while car warms up. No heated seats in my car or truck. I very nice comfort feature.

You can buy a vest……or you can modify an outer shirt by adding a few small pockets to place hand/body warmers into. I started doing this years ago for deer hunting. On average I’m able to last an additional 2 hours on the stand, usually until the circulation in my legs gets so bad that my feed freeze. It’s cheap, easy, and lightweight. I don’t have to fear for my clothes catching fire, and all that copper not used can now go into world saving devices like Cuisenarts for birds, AKA, wind turbines.

duh queen wrote:

You can buy a vest……or you can modify an outer shirt by adding a few small pockets to place hand/body warmers into. I started doing this years ago for deer hunting. On average I’m able to last an additional 2 hours on the stand, usually until the circulation in my legs gets so bad that my feed freeze. It’s cheap, easy, and lightweight. I don’t have to fear for my clothes catching fire, and all that copper not used can now go into world saving devices like Cuisenarts for birds, AKA, wind turbines.

What I had been doing on cold days in the stand was wearing those heat wraps they sell for back pain (they’re basically a giant version of the air-activated warmers) that velcro-straps around your waist. Warms your kidney area which is good for blood flow. But once it’s on, it’s on. Plus they’re kind of a hassle and not comfortable.

“… wearing those heat wraps they sell for back pain that velcro-straps around your waist. But once it’s on, it’s on. Plus they’re kind of a hassle and not comfortable.”

Sounds like I might need to get waxed before I strap one on!!

Sounds like I might need to get waxed before I strap one on!!

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Well, That’s what I do.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Well, That’s what I do.

Great now I am trying to get that picture out of my head!

I have both a coat and a vest made by Gyde. I tried them for the first time this bow season. I think if they are under another layer, they would work well. I wore the coat on the outside and I could feel the warmth of it, but I feel it could’ve been trapped if it was inside something. It took the chill off after the sun went down. I don’t think they are going to make you sweat by any means, but will definitely take the chill off. Mine come with a battery about the size of a pack of gum with 4 heat settings. They say they are washable but I’m skeptical of that. Not sure how long they run yet.

I learned the hard way that bulk doesn’t help with bow hunting. My first season it was snowing on me in September. I was bundled up to stay warm. Had my first shot at a doe and watched my arrow sailing 6 or 7 feet left of where I was aiming. Figured make it a learning moment, so drew back again and started looking at tree limbs thinking that’s what changed my shot. Looked down and the collar of my coat was literally touching the fletching on my arrow when at full draw. Lesson learned. The heated vest/coat helps with this aspect.

FryDog62 wrote:

Sounds like I might need to get waxed before I strap one on!!

Wrong website Frydog…

However, if you already have the equipment, they make a sleev….nevermind

Doing some research on heated vest. The one brand that seems to come out near the top on most Reviews are those made by Ororo

404 ERROR wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>FryDog62 wrote:</div>
Sounds like I might need to get waxed before I strap one on!!

Wrong website Frydog…

However, if you already have the equipment, they make a sleev….nevermind

The Ororo has heated pockets, upper back and collar. Exactly what I need for warmth. My fingers freeze in seconds if below zero and get hard to the touch. And I feel the cold on my back and neck first. The down vest with UL lithium battery is gonna be first on my Christmas list. Probably buy it myself an tell the FW I’m good!

Appreciate all the suggestions. I’ve also found Ororo to have good reviews and the Made in USA thing is a plus. Still thinking about it. I WONT need it this weekend while youth hunting with my son. Sounds like 70s

But might order one before Nov… I’m thinking these will be nice in hockey rinks as well. It’s usually 50/50 if they put the heaters on and I have about 40-50 games to go to between now and Feb!