Hunting can be an exhilarating sport. It puts together the joy of being in the great outdoors with both trekking and shooting. However, you might not be able to enjoy it to the fullest if you do not have the proper gear to protect yourself from the environment.
It can get extremely cold at certain times when you’re outdoors. Not using the proper gear can not only drastically affect your hunting experience, but can also cause you to fall sick. If you want to learn more about this, check out this article about what cold exposure does to your body.
In this article, we’ll go over the top 5 contenders for the title of the best heated vest for hunting.
Quick Buying Guide
In a hurry? For your benefit, here are our top picks for the best vests you can buy today. The list is curated based on the top features of each of the vests mentioned on this list.
Best Splurge: Arris Heated Vest
“When away from the campfire at night, this vest kept us nice and toasty for hours. Three heat pads in the back and two in the front, it was like wrapping up in a heating blanket.”
Best for Versatility: ZLTFashion Heated Vest
“It isn’t super thick, but if it was, it wouldn’t be so easy to hide under another layer. This is meant to be an underlayer more than anything else. You could wear it by itself, but you’d be far more fashionable hiding it underneath.”
Best Battery: Loowoko Lightweight Heated Vest
“My husband loves the jacket because he works outside and it keeps him warm. The fit is perfect and it really keeps you warm. He was shoveling snow in our driveway in 26 degree weather and wasn’t cold.”
Best Budget: RYNX Heated Vest
“This is my winter must have! OMG the 8 heating areas!!! I have only one battery but am going to get another so I never run out. I love the 8 heating areas and the fact you can only use 1, 2 or 3 areas of heat!!”
Best Value for Money: Shaalek Heated Vest
“I love that this vest is not bulky. I like to wear fleece lined jackets with these. All the warmth without the bulk and I get to keep my arms range of motion.”
1. Arris Heated Vest
With a 7200 mah battery included in the chassis of the vest, this product from Arris comes in a design that houses 7 heating panels. Four of these panels are present on the front of the vest, with two on each side, while three are on the back to give you complete protection from all sides.
The temperature regulation on the vest is also quite dynamic, and you have the option to choose from 5 different temperature control settings for more customizability.
Size is also not a deal breaker with this vest, as it comes with zippers that run under the arms to give you more freedom. You can unzip these and replace the panels as needed. While the smallest size does not need any extra panels, you might have to add extra panels for more comfort if you wear a larger size.
The battery included with the vest also comes in a 7.4V option. This means that you get more power while heating up your vest, along with temperature settings ranging from 40 degrees to 80 degrees Celsius.
Besides the obvious advantages of this vest, like keeping you warm when you’re out hunting, hiking, or camping, the vest also helps improve blood circulation and relieves muscle pain. You can also charge your phone with the battery pack included with the vest!
One thing users noticed, however, is that it is not very long. They would’ve liked the length to be slightly longer. Another problem is that it might not fit plus sized people very well.
Specifications
- Brand: Arris
- Color: Gray
- Number of heated panels: 7
- Battery capacity: 7200 mah
- Items included: Vest, battery, charger, instruction manual
- Power: 7.4 Volts
Pros
- 7 heated panels to give you all-around heating
- Large 7200 mah battery to keep you comfortable for long periods of time
- Adjustable sizing that makes it excellent for people of different heights and sizes
Cons
- There are light up chest buttons that might not fit everyone’s personal style
- The buttons are not of the highest quality and might need to be replaced after repeated use
2. ZLTFashion Heated Vest
This product from ZLTFashion comes with 5 heated panels: 2 at the front and 3 at the back. The battery power is less than the last option and comes with a 5V option.
The vest itself is quite comfortable and lightweight, and is made of a waterproof material. It will be comfortable on your skin as well. This is an excellent way to stay warm in the winter without having to wear bulky clothes to cover yourself up.
The battery for the vest is powered by a 5V USB connection and sits in the top left pocket of the vest. Please note that if you want to use a power bank to power this battery, you will have to buy one separately.
The carbon fiber heating pads come in an efficient heated design and warm up quickly. You have the option to select between 3 temperature settings depending on your requirements, and the vest can comfortably fit both men and women.
One advantage to this vest is that it is very thin, which makes it easy to hide under other layers. If the vest were too bulky, you would be able to tell that it was underneath your clothes, but this vest can be hidden well without putting too much weight on your torso.
However, one thing users did not like about the vest is that the pockets can be slightly small and do not have enough space for a large power bank. The power button also lights up and is very visible, which is not something people might find aesthetically pleasing. This might not be a problem for everyone, and this is still an excellent vest for multiple reasons.
Specifications
- Brand: ZLTFashion
- Color: Gray
- Number of heated panels: 5
- Items included: Vest, charger, battery,
- Power: 5 Volts
- Package dimensions: 14.99 x 11.18 x 2.36 inches
- Item weight: 10.09 ounces
Pros
- Thin and lightweight, and can easily fit inside your layers
- 5 heated panels and 3 different temperature settings
- More than 8 hours of working time
- Carbon fiber heating panels provide quick heating
Cons
- Not machine washable
- Power button lights up and is not placed well
- Small pockets
3. Loowoko Lightweight Heated Vest
This product from Loowoko, like the last one, also comes with 3 different temperature settings and can be controlled from 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The heating pads are available on the left and right side on the front, and a lower and upper part on the back.
There’s also a power bank included with the vest. This is a high capacity power bank and comes with a 10,000 mah capacity, and can offer an overall 8 hours of battery life. An interesting thing about the vest and the power bank is that it comes with 2 different USB ports, which means you can heat up the vest and charge your phone at the same time.
The material used in the vest is 100% cotton that’s covered by waterproof material in case you’re traveling to some place with snow or high humidity. There’s also an electric contraction zone below the sleeves that let the vest fit your body snugly and provide heat directly.
The vest is machine washable, and you’re supposed to remove the battery before you put the vest into the machine.
One thing users noticed about this vest is that it can be slightly short if you’re a tall person. When it comes to sizing, we suggest that you go for one size higher to make sure you have a comfortable experience.
The power buttons on the vest also keep blinking the whole time. This might not be a problem for everyone, but it’s not something many people want in a piece of clothing.
Specifications
- Brand: Loowoko
- Color: Black
- Number of heated panels: 4
- Items included: Vest, charger, battery, power bank
- Power: 5 Volts
- Package dimensions: 12.6 x 11.22 x 4.25 inches
- Item weight: 1.28 pounds
Pros
- Water resistant and made of 100% cotton
- Durable zipper and elastic contraction zone on the side for a tighter fit
- 10,000 mah power bank included with the vest
- Can heat up and charge your phone at the same time
Cons
- Will only last for 2 to 3 hours at high temperatures
- Runs slightly small in length according to usual size
- Constantly blinking power button
4. RYNX Heated Vest
This product from RYNX not only helps you stay warm, but also promotes blood circulation and relieves sore or painful muscles. This product comes with the largest number of heating zones at 8, with 2 in the front and 6 at the back, giving you all-around heating and protection from the cold.
If you’re not a fan of wearing bulky clothes, this can be a great choice for you. When you go hunting, you need the freedom of movement and quickness to your step, and that can get hampered by thick jackets and coats. With this thin and light vest, you can easily have protection without getting weighed down.
The 8 heating panels on the vest come in a carbon fiber design. They are placed in a way that provides proper heating to the core areas of the body. The 8 panels are located near the left and right abdomen, three at the top of your back, one in the middle of your back, and two at the bottom of your back. The heat spreads from these areas to give warmth to your entire upper body and improve your core temperature when it gets too cold.
Temperature settings can be adjusted easily from the vest itself and come in three different gears. There are colors to represent each level, with red for the highest temperature at 55 to 65 degrees Celsius, blue for the medium temperature at 45 to 55 degrees Celsius, and green for the lowest temperature at 35 to 40 degrees Celsius.
The battery comes with a 5V power rating. However, the power bank is not included with the vest, and you will have to purchase it separately. Another nice bonus for the product is that it comes with its own laundry bag.
Something users noticed about this vest is that it does not work very well as a standalone piece of clothing for keeping you warm. However, it is quite thin and light, so you can add a thin jacket on top of it to trap the warmth.
Specifications
- Brand: RYNX
- Color: Black
- Number of heated panels: 8
- Items included: Vest, user manual, laundry bag
- Power: 5 Volts
- Package dimensions: 13.15 x 12.8 x 2.99 inches
- Item weight: 1.08 pounds
Pros
- 85% duck feather construction for soft and light material
- Magnetic therapy cloth used in the inner lining for more warmth
- Easy 3-button access to change temperature settings
- 8 panels for complete heating
Cons
- Power bank not included with the package
- Does not trap heat quite well – might need a jacket on top for the best possible experience
5. Shaalek Heated Vest
This product from Shaalek comes in a lightweight design, owing to its cotton and polyester materials. The insulation helps you stay warm, even without the heated components. This is one of the longest working vests on the list, as it can last for around 30 hours when used at the lowest settings.
The vest comes with 3 different temperature settings that can be easily changed with just the push of a button. Besides this, there are also 9 working modes available on the vest. These modes help you figure out which heating panels you want to activate, and the ones on the belly and the back can be operated independently. This gives you the freedom to choose exactly where you want the heat to be dissipated.
The vest comes with 6 heating panels in a carbon fiber construction, present across the collar, shoulder, mid back, as well as the two pockets. This is the only product on the list that provides a collar heating pad.
The vest can easily be machine washed. All you need to do is remove the wires and the panels before you pop it into the machine. Another thing you should keep in mind is to let it completely dry before you start using it with the heated panels again so that you don’t damage any electronics.
Users noticed that the heating on this vest is very quick. It takes about 5 minutes for it to reach the temperature setting that you’ve set it up at. However, some were not too pleased with the sizing available in this hoodie. The sizes run much smaller, so you should get about two sizes bigger than the usual jackets you go for.
Taller users may find that the back panels are not aligned for proper heating of the back. If you’re a medium-sized person, this should not be a problem for you. This vest is a great option for smaller men or women, but for taller or overweight men, we would suggest you go for a different option on the list.
Specifications
- Brand: Shaalek
- Color: Black
- Number of heated panels: 6
- Items included: Vest, power bank, user manual
- Power: 5 Volts
Pros
- Longest battery life, lasting up to 30 hours on some settings
- Only vest on the list with a heating panel on the collar
- Inexpensive, great value for money
Cons
- Power is not routed well to the back panels
- Sizes run very small
- Might not fit taller or bigger people well
Final Word
Hunting in cold temperatures not only requires you to keep warm and aware of your surroundings, but also to have your complete range of motion. If you’re wearing bulky jackets and sweaters, you might get weighed down and your reflexes might be slower.
Heated vests solve this problem and give you an excellent way to stay warm while also being soft and lightweight.
In this article, we’ve reviewed the 5 top options when it comes to the best heated vest for hunting you can buy today. We hope this article has helped you reach an informed decision about what you need and which of these vests would be the perfect option for your needs.
If you’re interested in similar topics, please feel free to check out our other articles as well!
Enter your text here…
