When temperatures dip in the winter, we have three choices: Go inside, freeze our fannies off, or layer up. One of the best modern innovations of layering has to be jackets with built-in heating elements, giving us a secret superpower against the elements. The best heated jackets allow you to keep doing all the things outdoors—hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, or even work—without the discomfort of shivers or risk of hypothermia.
Heated jackets deliver heat via panels or wires within the clothing, typically through the chest and back of the garment to warm the core. Some heated outerwear goes a step further with an upper back or neck heated panel area, or even heated hand pockets. The heating panels or wires are powered by a rechargeable battery.
The best heated jackets are comfortable, durable, lightweight, have several heat levels and a long battery life, and feature quality materials—and are toasty warm. Let us tell you from experience: Low-quality outdoor gear often makes for a poor experience in cold weather. A good heated jacket could be your solution for staying comfortable during all your wintertime outdoor activities.
Best Heated Jackets
- Best Heated Jacket Overall: Ororo Classic Heated Jacket for Men and for Women
- Best Budget Heated Jacket: TideWe Heated Jacket for Men and for Women
- Best Heated Work Jacket: DEWALT Heated Lightweight Soft Shell Jacket
- Best Heated Work Jacket With Long Battery Life: Gobi Heat Grit Men's Heated Workwear Jacket
- Best Heated Jacket With Hand Warmers: Ptahdus Heated Jacket for Men and for Women
- Best Heated Puffer Jacket: Venustas Heated Jacket (Unisex)
- Best Heated Vest: Ororo Unisex Adjustable Heated Vest
The Best Heated Jacket Overall
Ororo
Top Pick: Ororo Men's and Women's Classic Heated Jacket ($190)
Size range: XS to 3XL | Weatherproofing: Water- and wind-resistant | Number of heat settings: Three | Expected battery life: Up to 10 hours
The Ororo brand is a trusted name in the heated garment industry, and it's easy to see why. The brand specializes in heated apparel designed for all walks of life, which translates to well-made, multi-function products such as our top pick for multipurpose heated jacket: the Ororo Classic Heated Jacket for men and for women.
In this jacket, three heating elements made of lightweight carbon fiber deliver warmth around the core. It's easy to operate, with just a push of the button to change heat settings. It comes equipped with a 4,800mAh battery that also has a USB port to charge cellphones or other devices (though doing this will reduce heating time). The brand sells additional batteries as well.
The Ororo Classic Heated Jacket is fabricated with a soft-shell fabric exterior that's water- and wind-resistant, a soft inner lining, and detachable hood, and it is machine-washable. It's a fantastic all-around winter jacket for everything from outdoor adventures to spectating in a stadium to light yard work.
The men's jackets come in black, green, and black with color accents, while the women's comes in black and various seasonal colors. Both have an inclusive size range of XL to 3XL.
- From the tried-and-true Ororo brand
- Multi-functional
- Long battery life
- Can also charge phones or other USB devices
- Machine-washable
- Using the battery to charge devices will reduce heating life
The Best Budget Heated Jacket
TideWe
Top Pick: TideWe Heated Jacket ($110)
Size range: S to 3XL | Weatherproofing: Water- and wind-resistant | Number of heat settings: Three | Expected battery life: Up to 10 hours
The TideWe Heated Jacket for men and for women delivers many of the features of the pricier brands but for a lower price. It offers three heat settings and up to 10 hours of battery life from its 10,000mAh battery. In fact, it functions as a portable power bank with two USB ports, so you can simultaneously heat your jacket and charge your phone or device (though doing both will reduce battery life). TideWe heated clothing is designed with safety in mind: Each jacket is equipped with high-temperature protection that turns off the heating elements if they reach over a certain temperature.
The jacket itself has a detachable hood and is made of water-repellent and wind-resistant material and insulating fleece, although it lacks a hard shell for protection against heavy rain or snow.
This jacket comes in men's sizes small to XXXL and women's sizes small to XXL, and in neutral black or camouflage options.
- Value priced
- Battery can power jacket and charge a phone simultaneously
- Wind- and water-resistant
- Stiff material and boxy shape
- Using the battery to charge devices will reduce heating life
- Not fully waterproof
- Limited color options
The Best Heated Work Jacket
Size range: Men's M to 3XL | Weatherproofing: Water- and wind-resistant | Number of heat settings: Three | Expected battery life: Up to 5.5 hours
From the trusted makers of the power tools line comes the DeWalt Heated Lightweight Soft Shell Jacket. This jacket features a durable polyester material that stands up to abuse but is flexible enough that it doesn't restrict movement, which is important while working.
It has three heat settings that control three heating elements in the left chest, right chest, and back. The wind- and water-resistant woven outer shell, front zipper with internal wind guard, and warm fleece lining keep the chill out, while the reflective piping offers increased visibility. This jacket includes the DeWalt 20V, 1,500mAh battery and a charger, and even has a setting to preheat, so you don't have to wait to warm up.
This jacket only comes in men's sizes medium to 3XL, so smaller men and women may not find a fit. And the 20V battery is much bulkier than others on this list, so it may get in the way. It's also hand-wash only.
- Sturdy materials can be worked hard without ripping or tearing
- Lightweight enough to not restrict movement
- Battery is cumbersome when driving
- Only available in men's sizes medium to 3XL
- Hand-wash only
Best Heated Work Jacket with Long Battery Life
Gobi
Top Pick: Gobi Heat Grit Men's Heated Workwear Jacket ($240)
Size range: Men's S to 4XL | Weatherproofing: Water- and wind-resistant | Number of heat settings: Three | Expected battery life: Up to 9 hours
From one of the leading brands of heated outdoor apparel, the Gobi Heat Grit Men's Heated Work Jacket has all the best elements of a work jacket, plus an extended battery life for keeping warm all day long. Its included 6,500mAh battery holds up to nine hours per charge on "low," and there's the option to purchase a second battery to swap out when working overtime on the job site.
The Grit has a heavy-duty outer layer to withstand wind and rain as well as rough treatment. Some reviewers note the fabric feels stiff, which could restrict movement. On the plus size, it's machine-washable.
To note: This jacket comes only in men's sizes—odd, considering that Colorado-based Gobi Heat is female-owned and prides itself on being inclusive in its offerings.That said, the wide size range of S to XXXXL means it will fit most bodies. You may choose from two colors: black or tan.
- Up-to-nine-hour battery and option to purchase a second battery
- Tough construction keeps the elements out and heat in
- Sturdy jacket will last a long time
- Machine-washable
- Stiff material
- Only comes in men's sizes
- Limited color options
Best Heated Jacket With Hand Warmers
Top Pick: Ptahdus 5-Zone Heated Jacket ($120)
Size range: S to 3XL | Weatherproofing: Waterproof and breathable | Number of heat settings: Three | Expected battery life: Up to 8 hours
The Ptahdus Heated Jacket for Men and for Women features five heating areas including back, chest, and one extra spot that makes this jacket special: front pockets for warming hands. This jacket has a quick-heating function to warm you up in seconds. Its updated 5,000mAh battery—lighter and smaller than previous versions—offers up to eight hours of heat on low.
Another great feature: Its outer shell is treated with an extra coating to make it waterproof without reducing its breathability, so it offers wearers the best of both worlds. The jacket is also more stylish than many others on this list, with both versions coming in several colors. The men's is available in sizes S to XXXL, while the women's version comes in sizes S to XXL.
One caveat: Heated pockets are great for passive activities or for a quick warm-up on chilled hands, but they don't replace gloves if you'll need to use your hands for your chosen active endeavor. It also doesn't come with a hood, though the brand makes a hooded version for men and for women.
- Hand warmer pockets
- Waterproof and breathable
- Stylish cut and colors
- Jacket length runs short on long torsoed people
- Heated hand pockets don't replace gloves if you need to use your hands
- No hood
Best Heated Puffer Jacket
Top Pick: Venustas Heated Jacket (Unisex) ($180)
Size range: XS to 4XL | Weatherproofing: Water-resistant | Number of heat settings: Three | Expected battery life: Up to 9 hours
This unisex heated puffer jacket from Venustas delivers heat around the entire core, while its polyester fill and reflective silver mylar lining hold the warmth in. Its heating elements are powered by a 5,000mAh battery with a working time of up to nine hours on the low setting.
It has the classic puffer jacket look: shiny, smooth nylon exterior with wide, horizontal baffles from hem to hem. This is the perfect jacket to don while caroling down a snowy Main Street, shoveling the sidewalk, or watching an outdoor football game. It's stylish and comfortable, and it looks great on both men and women in an inclusive size range of XS to 4XL—though reviewers note it runs small.
This jacket features a detachable hood, and the battery has a USB port to charge a cellphone (here, again, this will reduce heating time). It comes in black and light gray, though curiously the black version has four heating zones (left and right chest, back, and neck), while the gray version has six (those plus each shoulder). Also, like most nylon puffers, it's only water-resistant—wear a waterproof shell over it if you expect heavy snow or cold rain.
- Stylish puffer material offers extra insulation
- Cozy and comfortable
- Unisex sizing fits most bodies
- Not waterproof
- Sizing runs small, so size up for best fit
Best Heated Vest
Ororo
Top Pick: Ororo Unisex Adjustable Heated Vest ($120)
Size range: S1 to S3 to fit unisex sizes XS/S to XXL/XXXL | Weatherproofing: N/A | Number of heat settings: Three | Expected battery life: Up to 11 hours
For those who like the idea of heated clothes but don't have a need for a full heated coat, a heated vest might be a great option. The Ororo Unisex Heated Vest is best worn as a layer underneath—say, a parka—though technically it could be worn alone over clothing, such as a hoodie. The 2,200mAh battery offers up to 11 hours of heat from its one zone—the back—on a single charge.
One perk of this heated vest is that it uses a Velcro chest strap closure, which gives it a huge range of size adjustability for maximum comfort and warmth; the same vest could even be shared among multiple people within a wider size range than a regular jacket. It comes in three proprietary sizes to fit users from women's S to M/men's XS to S to women's 2XL to 3XL/men's XL to 2XL.
Though not weatherproof, the vest is machine-washable. It also only has one heating unit, so it won't offer as much warmth as a multi-zoned jacket (independent of its lack of sleeves).
- Adjustable to fit many body types
- Can be worn under or over clothing
- Machine-washable
- Only one heating unit, across the back
- Not weatherproof
undefined undefined, Getty Images Heating elements are what sets a heated jacket apart from a normal jacket. Some heated jackets come with just one heating element, and some have several for a "zoned" approach to keeping your body warm. Typical locations for heating elements are the front, the back, and the neck area. Some jackets even feature heated hand pockets. Heated jackets often use a removable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery that runs for a set potential length of time, depending on how much the user turns up the heat. If used on the highest setting, the battery will run out more quickly. Some batteries also offer a port for charging a cellphone, but this will obviously drain the battery faster and reduce heating time as well. While some manufacturers tout voltage as an advertising spec, it's the battery's milliamp hours—abbreviated mAh—that will give you a good idea of the capacity and potential run time. Most of the jackets here have around 5,000mAh, which generally offers around eight hours on low, though the number and size of heat zones will also affect this. It's important to select a heated jacket that's made with a high-quality battery to get the most bang for your buck. Heated jackets, like any winter coat, are made using a variety of synthetic fabrics—typically polyester and nylon. Look for durable yet breathable fabrics that can hold in heat and block out cold wind and wet weather, while keeping you from overheating. Common combinations include a water-resistant shell and a lining made from soft, sweat-wicking polyester fleece. Ororo consistently holds the top spot for the best heated jacket brand. The Ororo heated jacket products are well constructed and function as they should—that's why two of our picks here come from this brand. Other top brands include Gobi Heat and Venustas. Whether heated jackets are worth buying is really up to you. While plenty of winter coats offer great insulation to retain your own body heat, only a heated jacket offers an independent heating system. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in sub-zero temperatures, the reliable heat from a jacket with its own power source may be worth it for your comfort and health. There are a few disadvantages of a heated jacket. Most heated jackets are battery-powered, so once the batteries are drained, there goes the benefit of the heat. That also means they aren't ideal for working or staying somewhere without electricity to be able to recharge them. Another disadvantage of using a heated jacket is that it could potentially overheat and catch on fire or get wet and potentially deliver an electric shock. Neither of these scenarios is likely, but as with anything that includes a power source, it's a risk. That all depends on usage. A heated vest and a heated jacket are similar products that operate on the same type of system. Some people may prefer the added warmth and all-in-one comfort that a heated jacket provides, while others may prefer the flexibility and lighter weight of a vest. It all comes down to personal preference.What to Look for When Buying Heated Jackets
Your Questions, Answered
Who We Are
At Wide Open Spaces, we are outdoor enthusiasts to the core—we hike, we fish, we hunt, and we explore. But we like to do it in comfort, so we've learned a thing or two about the best brands out there that combine functionality, wearability, and affordability.
Megan Plete Postol is an outdoor writer and journalist who lives in the chilly climate of Upstate New York's Adirondack Mountains. She's no stranger to being outdoors on cold winter days.
READ MORE: How to Layer for Fall Fishing to Stay Warm and Comfortable
Editor's Note: Products featured on Wide Open Spaces are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
