The 7 Best Heated Vests of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

For comfy and reliable warmth that will last all day, check out our recommendations for heated vests.

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The 7 Best Heated Vests of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

When it comes to versatile cold-weather gear, vests are tough to beat. Not only do they take up less space in your suitcase than a jacket, but they're also conveniently layerable, offering elevated warmth without restricting arm movement. Planning a cold-weather adventure in a particularly frigid climate? Consider the heated variety.

High-tech heated vests run on rechargeable batteries and promise to keep your torso warm for several hours. But which ones actually live up to their claims? We tried 17 firsthand. Our testers slipped on the vests, powered them up, and performed several assessments, including checking the temperature with a digital thermometer, inspecting the features, and evaluating the overall look and feel. (You can learn more about our in-depth testing process below.)

This supremely comfortable, feature-rich vest boasts five temperature settings, built-in hand warmers, and an adjustable fit.

It doesn't have an actual on/off button.

At first glance, we were impressed with the feature-rich design of the Arris Fleece Heated Vest. There are three buttons on the chest, allowing you to preheat the vest and toggle through its five temperature levels. Even with all these settings, we found it user-friendly. But one thing to note is that there's no on/off button — inserting the battery pack turns it on.

This vest has five pockets with durable, non-snagging zippers, including two with built-in hand warmers. We loved the supremely comfortable fleece, and couldn't feel any wires through the layers. The battery was virtually unnoticeable too. We also appreciated how the adjustable size offers a custom fit.

It took about four minutes to warm up with a gentle heat throughout the chest, back, and waist, with a toasty feel in the heated hand pockets. While we were definitely impressed with the heating ability, and would even wear this comfy vest without the heat mode.

It's also machine-washable on a cold, gentle cycle — just make sure you remove the battery pack first. All things considered, we'd recommend the Arris Heated Vest to pretty much anyone planning to spend several hours outside in a chilly climate.

The non-bulky, comfortably lightweight TideWe Heated Vest warms up in under a minute.

It's machine-washable but not dryer-friendly.

If you like the look and feel of puffer-style outerwear without the bulk, this one's for you. The TideWe Heated Vest features a quilted, water-resistant shell and down-alternative fill. It has a nice amount of volume without being too heavy or feeling tight, and the overall design is comfortably lightweight. We found it well-made and user-friendly, with smooth zippers, a conveniently located battery pocket, and easy controls. After regularly using this vest for two months, we were surprised how quickly the vest heats up. It also has a tailored fit to it and doesn't feel too bulky like most vests with this material can.

This vest heated up in less than a minute, first around the neck, then to the back and waist. We also appreciate that it's machine-washable, but you'll want to air-dry it to avoid damaging the wires. The versatile design is an excellent choice for winter runs or hikes, sightseeing in the snow, or even everyday activities like grocery shopping.

This vest has built-in hand warmers, an additional USB port for on-the-go phone charging, and a detachable hood.

The neck is the warmest part of the vest.

The Foxelli Heated Vest was also a hit in the lab. We liked the straightforward design — just connect the battery pack, turn it on, then adjust the temperature. It heated up in under 60 seconds, with noticeable warmth on the back, waist, and neck. (The torso doesn't get as warm as the neck, but it's still plenty cozy.) The built-in hand warmers are a nice touch, especially for folks whose fingers are always cold. This vest has a detachable hood.

Also, the battery pocket location doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. Another cool feature is an additional USB port, so you can charge your phone while out and about wearing the vest. Just bear in mind this will run down the battery quicker.

This wind- and water-resistant vest heats quickly, and the versatile design is perfect for winter sports or leisure activities.

The battery location isn't very convenient.

If you prefer a lower collar, the Srivb Heated Vest is your best bet. The lightweight design heats up in under 90 seconds and warms five zones surrounding the waist and upper back. We found it easy to connect the battery and get it powered up. However, the battery pack goes in one of the hand pockets, which makes using the pocket a little awkward.

This heated vest is wind- and water-resistant. It's also machine-washable with a laundry bag, or you can wash it by hand. It's perfect for layering over a fleece, sweatshirt, or light jacket and would be comfortable to wear for winter sports or leisure activities. But since it doesn't heat the neck, you might want to grab a scarf.

This down-filled vest has a water-repellent shell, built-in hand warmers, and a detachable hood for full protection from the elements.

This is a pricey vest, and the slim-fit cut runs slightly small.

Ororo is a tried-and-true outdoor apparel company, so it's no surprise the brand's Heated Down Vest was a hit with us. We like that it looks like a normal vest and the heating system is very discreet. The down-filled design is naturally insulating, the water-repellent shell helps keep you dry in inclement weather, and the detachable hood offers full coverage from the elements. This high-quality vest took about a minute and a half to heat up, then stayed consistently warm with evenly distributed heat throughout the back and waist. The built-in pocket warmers prevent your fingers from going numb too.

One thing to note is that it's a slim-fit cut, so if you plan to wear a coat or sweatshirt underneath, you might want to order a size up. Still, we found it very comfortable. Due to the natural down fill, the price is higher than most heated vests, but we think it's well worth the investment.

The non-bulky design is lightweight and easy to zip up, a perfect option for laying over a sweater, hoodie, or light jacket.

It doesn't warm the lower back or waist.

Looking for something you can layer over a sweater, hoodie, or other outerwear? Go with the Conqueco Heated Vest. We liked the lightweight, insulated design, noting that it's easy to zip up and feels comfy and not at all bulky or restricting around the neck and back. However, one drawback is that the battery pack is somewhat large, making it hard to fit into its designated pouch.

The power button is located on the inside, which makes it look more like a regular vest, but it took our testers a minute to figure out where it was. This vest takes about three minutes to heat up and provides consistent warmth. Just a heads up, there are no hand warmers or heating panels on the lower back or waist. Still, we think this is a great option for hiking, biking, fishing, golfing, or watching outdoor sports in cold weather — you can always stash a couple of hand warmers in the pockets.

This affordable vest heats up within 30 seconds, and the non-constricting design is ideal for layering.

The battery is sold separately.

For something more affordable, we recommend Dr. Prepare. The brand's Electric Heated Vest has an intuitive design and heats up within about 30 seconds. However, you have to buy the battery pack separately, which is odd for this type of product and also adds a little to the cost.

We liked the sleek, puffer-style design. It has a lightweight, non-constricting feel that's perfect for layering over other pieces or even underneath a big winter coat. While it's a bummer this heated vest doesn't come with a battery pack, we think the budget-friendly price is still a good value.

Two vests we tested came close to our winners list but ultimately missed the mark.

Vencede Rechargeable Heated Vest: Though it wasn't immediately clear how to switch it on, we could feel warmth within 20 seconds of turning on this vest. We liked the overall design, noting that it looks like a regular puffer vest, but in the end, it just wasn't our favorite.

Ororo Men's Heated Vest: This vest heated the neck area within about a minute, but it took longer to feel warmth in the back and chest. While we liked the hand-warming pockets, they weren't big fans of the battery pack location — it digs into the hip and feels like it doesn't quite fit its pocket.

Travel + Leisure editors chose 17 best-selling heated vests to try firsthand in our New York City lab space. We first read through the instructions, inspected all the parts, and put the vests on. We used a digital thermometer to check the temperature before powering them up. We timed how long it took to feel any warmth, then checked the temperature again after 15 minutes and two hours of use.

We assessed the overall feel of the vests and how evenly the heat was distributed. They also walked around and did jumping jacks to see if they constricted movement or felt uncomfortably hot during physical activity. With style, standout features, user-friendliness, layerability, and price in mind, each vest was scored for ease of use, design, comfort, and value. We then sent each vest out for real-world testing that lasted a period of two months. Those with the highest average ratings in all categories were chosen for this roundup.

Most heated vests stay warm for three to 10 hours on a full charge, though some claim to last up to 20 hours. If you'll be spending more than a few hours outdoors, we recommend getting one that stays consistently warm. The lowest temperature setting will preserve the battery the longest, but our testers found the medium and high heats most comfortable in most cases.

When shopping around, keep in mind not all heated vests warm the same areas. Some heat the chest, upper back, lower back, waist, and neck, while others may only warm the upper back and chest. You'll also find options with hand warmers built into the pockets — a major bonus if your fingers are always cold.

Not all heated vests are powered the same way. In fact, while many vests come with a rechargeable battery pack or power bank, others sell the rechargeable battery separately or require disposable batteries. A power bank battery can be an added and convenient feature to your vest so you can charge your phone while wearing it.

The size of the battery can also be an important factor to your comfort as larger batteries can feel bulky and heavy. You'll want to be sure to look at not only the size and weight of the battery, but its positioning as well.

Heated vests usually have wires, strips, or tubular heating elements embedded into targeted zones within the insulated fill. They run on rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, which go in designated pockets where they attach to wire connectors. When you power on your vest, an electrical current passes through the heating element, thereby warming the targeted zones.

Generally speaking, heated vests are safe to use. Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries generate low-voltage power, so you won't have to worry about an electrical hazard. Still, it's best to avoid wearing one that's soaking wet, as moisture could present a risk of shock if it reaches the wire connector.

Many heated vests are machine-washable on a delicate cycle with cold water, but in most cases, you'll want to use a wash bag (aka laundry bag) to protect the materials. Some call for hand-washing only, so check the brand's care instructions before cleaning yours. And always remove the battery pack first. Also, tumble-drying isn't recommended, so allow your vest to air-dry completely before wearing it again.

The battery of most heated vests last between three and 10 hours, but the battery in the best heated vests can go for up to 20 hours. Battery life depends on whether or not you're using continuous heat, the quality of your vest's battery, and the heat setting you choose. If you wear your vest on a lower heat setting, it will stay warmer longer than if you wear it on the max setting.

Theresa Holland is a seasoned commerce writer and product reviewer specializing in travel, recreation, and lifestyle. For this story, she compiled in-house testing insights from the T+L team, then combed through spec sheets and product manuals for our winning heated vests to create a comprehensive roundup of thoroughly vetted recommendations.

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