Battery powered electric vests

[bigbikerrick]

Hello folks, I guess its just part of getting old, but it seems every year I am more cold sensitive, and was thinking of purchasing an electric vest like a gerbings type to use on the Guzzis. My son suggested a battery powered unit, so it can also be used on the electric bicycles, on cooler days. Do you folks have any suggestions of such vest, or recommendations on what to get?
TIA Rick.

[Rich A]

I got an Ororo heated vest, mainly based on Amazon reviews (overall very favorable although there have been some negative ones). Haven't used it that much, but I like it--it's warm and convenient. The battery pack is a little bulky, but there's an obvious trade off of size vs. power.

Rich A

[Tom]

Amazon has a number of them.  You'll have to buy the battery pack separate too.  Some of the large tool guys have their brand for sale through Home Depot or Lowes.

[Italianmotofest]

I have four of the cheap Amazon vests. I am very happy with the quality and function of them all. If you are patient you should be able to buy them in the $20 range. Using a standard rechargeable power pack is a positive. The only issue is trying to get one large enough for me. If you have the vest under another outer wear it doesn’t really matter if it’s to small to zip up. Ask me how I know!

I also have a Mobile Warming battery heated jacket. It’s great but that brands batteries are very expensive.

Bill

[cliffrod]

If you don't go electric, I'll recommend a Vanson Streamliner vest.  We got them for cold riding in VT as a vest to wear under our non-Vanson jackets.  Not cheap but they are fantastic.

[Bert Remington]

I didn't buy it for motorcycle riding (I will be using an Aerostich Kanetsu vest for that*) but I love my Ororo heated vest.

Good:

1. heats pretty much everywhere including neck
2. very light comfortable vest
3. I have fun with heating control button (Red, White, Blue); last victim was SDPD officer

Bad:

1. Battery discharges at 7.4V recharges at USB 5V so plan 200% discharge/recharge ratio (I have a spare battery)
2. The barrel connector tends to come loose so I use a rubber band to hold the cable in place
3. Quality ain't cheap

* the Aerostich vest will be powered by a standalone LFP battery because the 268W V7 III alternator can't keep up with auxiliary lights, heated grips, etc.  But first I have to trim off some baby fat to fit under my Roadcrafter.

[bigbikerrick]

I just bought 2 Ororo heated fleece vests, like Bert recommended. picked them both up for $240.  shipped on Amazon. the second one is my son's x-mas present. I am looking forward to extending my riding with this, and I think here in Arizona, this should work out ok on the motorcycles, as it really does not get that cold.
Thanks to all!
Rick.

[cappisj1]

I bought a $40 usb powered vest from amazon to sit in a tree stand with. I got one with an element area on the neck. It did OK. It didn’t make huge noticeable difference but it might have taken the edge off. Haven’t tried it on the bikes yet. Maybe my expectations were set to high.

[wrbix]

Many years ago rode with electric vest, then got an electric liner with full sleeves and will never go back to vests.

[kingoffleece]

I work outside in WNY winters.  The battery operated stuff is marginal for work and does not last nearly long enough.  I can't use it on the bike-just not enough performance.  The gloves with batteries are even worse-really, useless.  Bought some high end ones and they are way too bulky, battery life is short, even on high not warm enough die to uneven heat, etc.  YMMV.

[Wayne Orwig]

What I see:

I have an 60 watt electric vest that runs off of 12 volts. I seldom needed to run it at max, and often turned it down to maybe 2/3. So I would estimate that I could get by with 40 watts appreciate having it, if I had to. Any less would just be helpful in cool weather, not actual COLD weather, IMHO.

I have a 12 volt lithium battery pack for operating laptops, and I created an adapter cable to run the vest off of it, just for grins. It is a 120 watt/hour battery, and it weights about 2.7 pounds. It is a large BRICK to carry around, and I would not want it attached to me on the motorcycle. Edit, brain fart, it is 1.7 pounds.

So, with the vest turned down to 40 watts, that brick should power it for about 3 hours. So even if those numbers are not perfect, estimate about 1 0.6 pound of battery per hour, to get useful heat.

Personally, I don't get it. You could tap into the motorcycle battery. With care, and a voltmeter to monitor it, any system can tolerate that load. I just don't want to carry that huge brick on my body, for just the short few hours you get.

And, a watt is a watt. It does not matter if someone brags about their 'micro wire tech' or other BS. A watt of heat, as a watt of heat. Old style nichrome wire, or high tech carbon film, each watt is still the same amount of heat on all of them. Now the insulation layers of course can make a HUGE difference.

[Rich A]

Personally, I don't get it. You could tap into the motorcycle battery. With care, and a voltmeter to monitor it, any system can tolerate that load. I just don't want to carry that huge brick on my body, for just the short few hours you get.

It's good to have options. Sometimes my ride is only an hour or less and it is not that cold out--it's nice to have the vest to take the chill off. For longer/colder rides, I have a Gerbings liner and gloves.

Also the OP wanted one that could be used for bicycle rides and other activities, too.

Rich A

[Guzzistajohn]

I ordered a battery powered PTAHDUS unit from AMAZON a few weeks back. It's been great for getting out in the cold mornings to get in the car and go to work. The battery lasts quite a while if you don't run it in the highest setting (it has 3) I've lost the desire to ride when it's that cold. The F150 has a nice heater. 

[Bpreynolds2]

I work outside in WNY winters.  The battery operated stuff is marginal for work and does not last nearly long enough.  I can't use it on the bike-just not enough performance.  The gloves with batteries are even worse-really, useless.  Bought some high end ones and they are way too bulky, battery life is short, even on high not warm enough die to uneven heat, etc.  YMMV.

This and what Wayne said.  I’ve ridden with gerbings stuff now for nearly 15 Winters.  Get a controller.  It fundamentally changes your experience of riding in the colder months.  The 7v stuff is just not sufficient for real cold weather riding in my experience; it makes it slightly more tolerable but the 12v battery stuff turns riding in the cold into a whole new and fantastic thing.  You don’t even think much at all about the temp instead you notice there aren’t nearly as many people on the road, there is a quiet stillness, the quality of the air is different, the bike sounds better even.  In my journeys my late Fall and even November and late February trips have been some of my most memorable.  No way in any kind of manner could I have done those with the 7v stuff.

[Bert Remington]

Wayne -- the LFP battery weighs 1.5lbs which is three times the Ororo vest battery's 0.5lbs.  It will be tucked underneath the Givi tail rack; will have a LVD relay set at 11V to protect the battery; and a charge port near the left rear passenger footpeg.  The vest controller and outlet will be on the left-hand Stucchi engine guard.  I'm waiting on the arrival of the battery.

I chose this approach after monitoring the V7 III's voltage during my city/sea level and rural/mountain rides.  The alternator does fine except when I turn on the heated grips (Koso Apollo with Grip Puppies) whereupon the alternator can't keep up in the city stop-and-go.  Fortunately the city is warmer than rural so I turn the heat down.  I often use heated gloves (Milwaukee Leather with LFP batteries in the gauntlets) together with the heated grips.

Bpreynolds2 nailed it.

the 12v battery stuff turns riding in the cold into a whole new and fantastic thing.

[kballowe]

A set of wind deflectors for the hands -or- some other method, like hippo hands, etc. make a big difference

https://www.google.com/search?q=motorcycle+hand+wind+deflector&source=lmns&tbm=shop&bih=551&biw=1280&client=firefox-b-1-d&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiAk-SqsrftAhUB96wKHYiBB90Q_AUoAXoECAEQAQ#spd=17264576402871092199






We have 12V heated jackets and the gloves hook to the end of the sleeves.  IN 30 degree weather, we're running the gloves wide open (5), and the jacket on 2 or 3.

I cannot imagine that the 7 volt battery powered heated gear could keep up - but if it is any good at all, it's gonna save me from hauling that old deep cycle 12V battery up into the deer stand every year.

 

[bigbikerrick]

Well, after reading what you guys say, maybe I should have bought just one, to try out and see how it works. Please note, I am a REAL pansy when it comes to "cold" , and I noticed some of you live in seriously cold areas of the country, and would laugh your butts off at what I consider cold.. I am in South eastern Arizona, on the border with Mexico, although at 4200 ft elevation. I think the coldest I will be riding with the vests will be about 45-50 degrees. Anything less than that, I just dont ride. All my riding is purely recreational, so if its not above 50, I really think about it.
  I am hopeful that the battery vest,under a good jacket, and heated grips on my Griso / combo work out. My St 1300 and Eldo have great wind protection, so those  2 are not the issue. Its basically for the Griso, and E bicycle, to add a little comfort, at temps above 50.
Rick.

[Bert Remington]

kballowe -- I agree wind deflection works and have a pair of hand guards I'm experimenting with.

I have two Aerostich Roadcrafters (one- and two-piece) that are not insulated.  I will not switch to an insulated suit for bulk, protection, etc reasons.  I gave up fairings when I gifted the Norge to a nephew in Colorado Springs.  The mountains behind San Diego get snow occasionally although I wait for the roads to be plowed and a few sunny days so I don't get surprised in the shadows.  Most times it's a dry cold (high 20s) in the valleys.  The worst is a moist cold (hard to explain but you know when it when you feel it) that occurs on certain evenings for which the only solution is to go inside.  I'm still working on my winter riding protocol and equipment.  But right now my riding buddy is Mr Edison.

[Wayne Orwig]

Wayne -- the LFP battery weighs 1.5lbs which is three times the Ororo vest battery's 0.5lbs. 

How many watt/hours are those batteries?

[Rich A]

ORORO Rechargeable Battery/Power Bank 7.4v 5200mAh for Heated Jackets, Heated Hoodies and Heated Vests

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QPR3PX9?SubscriptionId=AKIAJA54JMESX73IGPXQ&ascsubtag=786926187-16-1067487942.1606949290&linkCode=osi&psc=1&tag=d_2b_a_p-20&th=1

Advertised run times:
    8 hours on low.
    6 hours on medium.
    4 hours on high.

Rich A

[Wayne Orwig]

ORORO Rechargeable Battery/Power Bank 7.4v 5200mAh for Heated Jackets, Heated Hoodies and Heated Vests

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QPR3PX9?SubscriptionId=AKIAJA54JMESX73IGPXQ&ascsubtag=786926187-16-1067487942.1606949290&linkCode=osi&psc=1&tag=d_2b_a_p-20&th=1

Advertised run times:
    8 hours on low.
    6 hours on medium.
    4 hours on high.

So Lipo likely. About 39 watt/hours. I went back to my scale. Yep, I had a brain fart. My 120 watt/hour pack is 1.7 pounds, not 2.8 as I wrote. So yea, a 40 watt/hour pack would be near 0.5 pound.

So 4 hours on high and near 40 watt/hours (7.4V x 5200mAh), means it is roughly a 10 watt vest on high. Your going to need to layer up over the vest if it is very cold because that isn't much.
 
I would look at wiring it to the bike when riding. Put on a temp controller, of course. Lets see, 10 watts at 7.4 volts is 1.35 amp, or 5.5 ohms.
At 12 volts at 5.5 ohms, is 2.2 amps, the vest would be about 26 watts. That might be nice.

[Bert Remington]

Here's my battery: https://shoraipower.com/lfx14a2-bs12-p66  14Ah with caveat PbEq.  Actual marked on bottom of battery is 4Ah-13.2V (52.8Wh).

Here's my vest: https://www.aerostich.com/clothing/heated-gear/kanetsu-electrics/aerostich-kanetsu-tltec-wind-blocker-electric-vest.html  45W 3.3amp

So the battery is good for at least an hour of vest heat.  If I take it down to the 11V LVD cutoff, I'll probably get another hour.  Good enough for my day rides.

Speaking of which all this heated vest discussion got my flabby butt out of my computer chair and on the road to pick up my Descanso mail.  Except I took the long way over Mt Laguna.  I hadn't worn my insulated gloves for almost a year so used them with heated grips.  Worked well although I would have preferred my heated gloves over 4K feet.  As well as the heated vest (waiting on the battery delivery).  The TF3 armor stiffened up of course but most of the motion resistance was my old bones so my lines weren't the best.  There was a very small patch of snow in deep shade next to the road but otherwise clean and dry and getting smoother due to road crew resurfacing.  So 140 miles later I'm sitting in my chair again waiting for my battery delivery before I go back to Mt Laguna.  Or not -- maybe I'll make another run this time with the Ororo vest -- you gotta ride while the sun is out.

WRT to Ororo batteries being Lithium-based, I doubt it.  They're rather heavy for their size.  I do wish you could recharge them faster at 8V like the Milwaukee Leather glove batteries although USB 5V is convenient.  And unlike the gloves the vest cannot be powered from the motorcycle 12V.

bigbikerick -- I believe the Ororo vest will keep you warm for at least a 1 hour ride on the Griso (you shouldn't have wind chill on the E-bike).  I'll make another "long way around" Descanso mail run in a few days and confirm this with my uninsulated Roadcrafter (this time I'll take the one-piece).

[bigbikerrick]

Many thanks,guys! lots of good useful information here. Much appreciated!
Rick

[Rich A]

Any updates on the heated vests? Like 'em?

Rich A

[Bert Remington]

I finished installing my heated vest system yesterday which uses a separate LFP battery for power.  But the hospital situation in SoCal is keeping me home so haven't tested it although I guess I could suit up and sit with the V7 on its centerstand.  The neighbors already have their doubts...

And I haven't ride-tested my Ororo vest although I use it almost everyday both inside and outside.  It's wonderful although I have two batteries so one can charge while the other is keeping me warm.

[dguzzi]

  You have to make vroom vroom noises when you do that.

[MMRanch]

I have four of the cheap Amazon vests. I am very happy with the quality and function of them all. If you are patient you should be able to buy them in the $20 range. Using a standard rechargeable power pack is a positive. The only issue is trying to get one large enough for me. If you have the vest under another outer wear it doesn’t really matter if it’s to small to zip up. Ask me how I know!   

I got mine from Ebay , it take a usb batter and last 6 hours on low or 2 hours on high ... I can't wear it on high (Its too hot).    I'm using the 10,000 batterys .    Got the gloves to match , and wear them all winter even when not ridding if its really cold !   

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Heated-Vest-Warm-Body-Electric-USB-Men-Women-Heating-Coat-Jacket-Winter-Clothing/274149705059?hash=item3fd4988563:g:JMsAAOSwh0Bd-ltR


Size 3X Asian is equal to size Large American  /   4X Asian = 1x American

................... ....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-10000-MAH-Portable-Fast-Charging-Battery-Pack-Power-Bank/264237826380?hash=item3d85cd414c:g:8oYAAOSwDxdfqmuh

[Bulldog9]

My Core is almost never cold, it is my hands and feet that get me. 

I do have a Milwaukee heated vest I use when working outside in the winter sometimes that uses the same battery as their 12V tools.  On high it is TOO hot and sucks battery life like a fat kid sucks down a big gulp, maybe 2 hours out of the charge. On medium or low, can last up to 8. A decent durable work vest too.

 https://www.toolbarn.com/milwaukee-271b-21m.html/