Heated Vest Comparisons

[weimaraner]

I ride with a Widder Sysem2 heated vest with collar and snap on ArmChaps. I would like input from someone that has used both the Widder and Gerbing's Heated Jacket Liner, as to which they liked best. Thanks

 

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

I have an older BMW/Widder vest with heated collar, but no arm chaps and am looking at a new Widder set up. I only need a vest a few times a year as last Jan during the BMWNEF rally, I really got cold... How do you like the armchaps ???

 

[rdalland]

This one might be interesting to some:

http://www.brookstone.com/store/product.asp?pid=575290&wid=0&cid=0&sid0&search_type=search&search_words=heated%20vest&cross_flag=y&cm_sp=Exit*Crosssell*3&prodtemp=t2

 

[apopj]

Jackets...

Hello,

I have had both, the Widder and the Gerbing. The Widder seemed to be better constructed but it never really got warm enough for me. I never used the thermostat, I would plug in, turn it on, and just wear it. It would get luke warm. The Widder Gloves were very bulky, and like the vest, they never got above adequate.
I now have the Gerbing Signature jacket. I HAD to buy the thermostat as it got very hot after a short while. I run the thermostat at about 3/4 for temps at or below 20'F and stay nice and toasty. The gloves work very well also, keeping my hands on the threshold of sweating. The gloves are not as bulky as the Widder gloves and seem to have a more luxurious feeling to them. This is the old style glove. The bad part is the quality of construction. When I first bought the jacket, I had to send it back due to the seams coming apart. Now, after a year, I had to send it back due to the right arm not getting warm. Both times, the jacket was repaired free of charge (except for shipping one way) and seemed to be repaired.
Bottom line? I like the Gerbing much more as it does what it is supposed to do better. That is, keep me warm.
Make sure you get a snug fit. The heat is transferred by conduction so it has to be in contact with your body to work properly. Too big and it just doesn't work.

Hope that helps, Jeff

 

[gregfeeler]

I ride with a Widder Sysem2 heated vest with collar and snap on ArmChaps. I would like input from someone that has used both the Widder and Gerbing's Heated Jacket Liner, as to which they liked best. Thanks

Part of your question is moot, as Widder is closing their doors.

http://www.northwestcyclenews.com/2008/01/07/widder-enterprises-to-close-doors/

 

[torags]

Warm and safe sounds good. Just ask them

http://www.warmnsafe.com/

 

[PGlaves]

To answer the question, I had a Widder with arm chaps, and a Gerbings jacket liner. I liked the Gerbings the best. It takes up more packing room, but I found the arm chaps on the Widder too futzy. I also have a Warm N Safe. It is thinner than the Gerbings. If I am running around locally I usually grab the Gerbings, but when traveling where space is at a premium I travel with the Warm N Safe.

 

[ghostridery2k]

im using Tourmaster vest and gloves ,vest work very good,in 30F i use at midium seting where gloves on high.both got 3 level controlers build in,i hope to get more use out of it soon.

 

[jimfastcar]

Heated Vest

Just ordered the BMW vest on sale for $ 99 at Sierra BMW. Seems like a good deal

 

[kantuckid]

heated stuff

There is much to read if you search this topic here and on advrider site. I can testify that it is nice to have warm arms(I have Gerbing jacket liner) no matter what anybody else says about vests. If you ride when it is, "200k and I never wear anything except my leather jacket and of course no helmet". Of course I did not see him or anybody else on a bike for the first 800k of my trip from KY to Mexico! Electric clothes will keep you from hypothermia in severe cold.

 

[Stuff2c]

+1 Gerbing jacket

 

[tourunigo]

got a Warm 'n' Safe liner for Mary's birthday, troller and all. Had it delivered to a U.S. address so she hasn't tested it yet. Good reports. Hope it will be thin enough under her leather jacket . -Bob

 

[henzilla]

got a Warm 'n' Safe liner for Mary's birthday, troller and all. Had it delivered to a U.S. address so she hasn't tested it yet. Good reports. Hope it will be thin enough under her leather jacket . -Bob

very thin , Helen uses hers under a few diff jackets with no issues...wondered "why we have not had these forever!" Used the BMW vest, these are so much better... for us anyways

Put a small piece of 3M duallock on tank & on controller...it is right where you can adjust it.

 

[tourunigo]

very thin , Helen uses hers under a few diff jackets with no issues...wondered "why we have not had these forever!" Used the BMW vest, these are so much better... for us anyways

Put a small piece of 3M duallock on tank & on controller...it is right where you can adjust it.

Thanks for the endorsement regarding thinness. Troller will find some place near her of course. I don't have one She's got all the safe and new stuff, new leather suit and the heated jacket and, as a friend pointed out, she also has the protection of an air bag (aka Bob) in front of her! -Bob

 

[globalrider]

+1 Gerbing jacket

+1 for the Gerbings Thin Jacket Liner.

I used a Widder vest with heated collar for 12 years. It worked well, provided lots of heat, but there were times when I wished it had sleeves. The snap-on sleeves of the Widder is too much of an after-thought IMO.

Besides, didn't Widder close its doors?

 

[FatChance]

I just never cared for the kludgy way the Widder stuff snaps together. After having a 20 year old BMW vest and a windproof Aerostich Kanetsu vest, I ended up with a Warm&Safe jacket liner and thermostat and couldn't be happier.

 

[BRADFORDBENN]

You want to have some fun? Go over to the Rounders and ask?

I like my Gerbing stuff alot.