Anyone have any first hand experience of heated clothing? Been looking at Exo2 and Powerlet heated jackets as I am upgrading all my gear to Goretex shell stuff as my old jacket has started to leak after 7 years of riding. Ideally I want full sleeve coverage rather than a vest type thing as I suffer cold very quickly. Not too worried about the price as a first thing, would rather something that is going to last and plug into my MS for power.
I have only used the Keis heated vest, not the full sleeve version. Works a treat TBH infact i keep having to turn it down as i keep getting a 'bit warm'.
Although I don't commute I ride all year, personally I get by with merino wool base layer (long sleeved top and leggings) a long sleeve t-shirt then a mid layer and a gore tex Hein Gerike jacket with the winter liner in, if it's below 3 degrees I'll wear leather trousers, rather than kevlar jeans, to keep a bit warmer and I also use merino wool glove liners! I've never felt cold and always had plenty of mobility and been comfortable. Unless you are doing uber mileage at zero degrees I think the heated stuff is expensive and a bit over kill.
I also use a Keis vest and can only use it when it's below 5°C, otherwise it's too warm (underneath textile jacket). Great piece of kit but I must get a temperature controller for it. Together with heated grips (Daytona hot grips) I'm always comfortable on my 25 mile commute.
Ride all through winter found if my hands are warm body seems to stay warmer. Been riding with ex army ski mits look awful but hand nice and warm not even turned on my heated inner gloves. Put thermal inserts into my boots and used gortex sockets. Used lidl motorcycle base layers with thermal leggins underneath textile trousers. Under my old frank thomas textile jacket 2 long sleeve undershirts a very warm liner and a body warmer. Balaclava on head and neoprene chest and neck. Ride 44miles to work.amd back.in all weathers been warm as anything. It would have to.be in the minus for me to want a heated inner but then would I he out on the bike
Cheers for the feedback guys. I was looking because my new gear (Klim Overland) has no thermal liners at all with it. I do have a merino base layer which I will have to break out come the cold weather I guess, the heated gear IS pretty expensive compared to even a decent softshell or fleece for the few weeks a year I am likely to use it, may be overkill like you say - I doubt I will be riding if I can help it when it's ice out (wouldn't get out the road as live on a hill not likely to be gritted)
