Weather notes
How heated jackets work
A heated jacket is an insulated coat with thin heating panels in the lining and a rechargeable battery in the pocket. Here is what happens between pressing the button and feeling warm.
Heating panels and heat zones
Inside the lining of a Genovega heated jacket sit graphene heating panels, usually on the chest, the upper back and the collar; some styles add a fifth panel or heated sleeves. Each panel is a flexible sheet rather than a coil of wire, so heat spreads evenly across the zone and the jacket bends and folds like any other coat.
Graphene conducts heat very efficiently, so panels warm within about a minute and give off a gentle far-infrared warmth you feel through a base layer.
The battery: 12V or 7.4V
The panels are powered by a rechargeable lithium battery that plugs into a cable in the inside pocket. Genovega uses two systems:
- 12V packs, such as the 18400mAh power bank, for more heat and longer runtime
- 7.4V packs, lighter and smaller, for everyday wear
Both charge over USB-C and have USB outputs that can top up a phone.
Three heat levels
Hold the chest button for three seconds to switch on; tap to cycle low, medium and high. Low is for walking and active days, medium for standing around, high for real cold or the first minutes after leaving a warm house. Many buyers find the insulation alone is enough indoors and turn the heat off.
Are heated jackets worth it?
If you spend long periods outside standing still, at games, bus stops, job sites or on the ice, a heated jacket lets you wear one coat instead of three layers. The trade-offs are a battery to charge and a little more care when washing. For short walks between car and office, a good insulated coat may be enough.
