I’m not quite sure how it happened but I seemed to have become the electronically heated apparel reviewer for the Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) world. I recently had the opportunity to try out another heated product, this time a vest from Kemimoto. With more than half a dozen heated apparel reviews, I’ve started to form some strong opinions on what works and what doesn’t. Here’s how the Kemimoto Heated Vest stacks up
Material: The vest has a polyester fabric shell making it waterproof and protecting the extra soft cotton that packs the inside of the vest. Perfect for wearing as either an outer layer or a base layer. I tend to prefer it used as a base layer underneath a lighter sweatshirt or thin jacket so the heating pads are closer to my body, although that doesn’t make for good pictures so all the ones in this article show it as an outer layer.
Battery and Heat: The battery will last for about 8 hours on low and when you switch it on, it heats up instantly. Within seconds you’ll feel the temperature rising through the vest bringing heat to your body like a warm hug. If it is a little too warm for the heat to be on, you can always use the external battery in its separate battery pocket as a phone charger. For someone who constantly lets their battery run low, this is a huge selling point for me. Having not only a heated product but also a mobile phone charger has been a huge benefit of heated products. One of the coolest aspects unique to Kemimoto is the battery displays the actual charge number on it. No more guessing if its 80% or 99%, the battery just tells you.
What makes it unique?
In addition to the battery showing the exact charge percentage there are a couple other unique features:
Individual Adjustment of Zones: As is standard with Kemimoto products is the ability to control parts of the vest independently. In the vest’s case there are two independent areas of control allowing you to select low, medium or high for the vest (chest pockets and back) or hood (neck). Independent control is something I have not seen in any other heated products.
Vests? I’m not a big fan of vests in general. I just don’t think I can pull them off very well. However, when it comes to heated products, vests are my favorite because they can be worn as a base layer underneath a sweatshirt. The closer the heating pads are to the skin the better to keep you warm, so putting this on under something is a great option. If you go with one of the bulkier products, it won’t fit well underneath and that is where you want the heat located, as close to your body as possible.
Overall: Kemimoto hits a home run with their heated vest. The multiple zones, independent controls, soft but waterproof exterior and long-lasting battery (8 hours on low) make this a great purchase for yourself or a loved one. Most heated products cost over $100 and some even in the $200 range and the fact that you can get this for $90 without lower quality make this a great purchase. Pick up a Kemimoto heated vest or one of their other great lineup of products like the softest sweatshirt I own (the heated hoodie) today to stay warm this winter.
