What Is a Heated Jacket and How Does It Work?

When shopping for work apparel to wear during the winter, you may come across heated jackets. A traditional jacket isn't always enough to protect you from the cold weather. If you live in a region that experiences cold winters, you may need a little extra warmth, such as a heated jacket. What is a heated jacket, and how does it work?

What Is a Heated Jacket?

A heated jacket is a type of outerwear that features a built-in heating system. It's able to generate and provide warmth. From afar a heated jacket looks like any other jacket. It features long sleeves, a closure system -- typically a zipper or buttons -- and a hood. The difference is that a heated jacket features a built-in heating system, whereas a traditional jacket does not.

How a Heated Jacket Works

Most heated jackets are integrated with heating panels or wires. The panels or wires are powered by a rechargeable battery. When turned on, the battery will supply electricity to the panels or wires. As electricity flows through them, the panels or wires will heat up. This heat will radiate throughout the rest of the heated jacket, thus making it warmer.

Heated jackets are commonly worn for the following activities:

• Working outdoors
• Camping
• Skiing
• Ice finishing

Features to Look for When Choosing a Heated Jacket

If you're thinking about buying a heated jacket, you may want to look for a few key features. A durable construction is an essential feature to look for. Some heated jackets are more durable than others. Those that contain polyester, for example, will hold up better than those made entirely of cotton or another organic fabric.

You should choose a heated jacket with a long battery life. Most heated jackets come with a rechargeable battery. The battery won't provide power indefinitely. Like all batteries, it has a limited life. After the battery has been fully drained, you'll need to recharge it. Fortunately, some heated jackets offer a battery length of 6 or 7 hours. You can wear these heated jackets with the "heat" mode activated for up to seven hours.

How many heating zones does the jacket have? When shopping for a heated jacket, you should check to see how many heating zones it has and where the heating zones are located. Heating zones are exactly what they sound like: areas on a heated jacket that will heat up. Some heated jackets only have a single heating zone, whereas others have two or more heating zones.