7 Of The Best Heated Winter Essentials To Ease The Freeze This Season

Heat time: 3 to 10 hours | Heat zones: 3 (left and right chest, mid-back) | Hood: Detachable | Sizes: S to 3XL (men’s); XS to XXL (women’s) | Materials: Polyester, spandex | Care: Machine wash

Many heated jackets are slow to heat, and when they do finally get cooking, the temperature is tepid at best. Not this heated jacket from Ororo, which is available in styles for both men and women. It’s quick to heat, generating significant warmth within a matter of minutes.  

That heat stems from three carbon fiber heating elements, which are positioned across the chest and back and powered via an included compact battery. When fully charged, the battery provides a reported three hours of juice at full power, which cranks up the thermostat to a steamy 130 degrees Fahrenheit. At medium output (105 degrees), the battery life doubles to six hours. And at the lowest of three settings (95 degrees), the battery can last for up to 10 hours. 

While the electric heating elements are no doubt the star of the show, both men’s and women’s styles earn kudos for the water-resistant soft shell fabric, plentiful pockets and stylish silhouettes. “I bought four heated jackets,” commented an Amazon customer who purchased the women’s soft shell. “Tried them all on. This one by far was the best quality, price and style.”

Heat time: 1.75 to to 7 hours (doubled with second battery) | Heat zones: 3 (front, back, lumbar) | Hood: None | Sizes: S to 3XL (men’s); XS to XXL (women’s) | Materials: Polyester, elastane | Care: Hand wash

One of the more electrifying heated gear brands to pop up on our radar as of late is Canada’s own Ewool (pun very much intended). In a market flooded with mediocrity, Ewool is focused on making high-end, functional and fashionable heated apparel. Case in point? The Pro+ heated vest, which warms up the wearer with 51 watts of heating power—enough to keep you warm deep in sub-zero temperatures, according to Ewool. Heat comes from a flat battery that supplies 7 hours of toasty warmth at the lowest setting and 1.75 hours at full blast. “I love it–it keeps me so warm,” reported an Amazon customer who tested the women’s version in Canada. 

For longer adventures, the Pro+ is compatible with Ewool’s dual-battery kit, which increases output at the lowest heat setting to an impressive 14 hours. Additional draws of the Ewool Pro+ include a hip fit and expansive heating elements, although some reviewers voice distaste for the button attachment, which dangles conspicuously from the hemline. 

Heat time: 2 to 10 hours | Heat zones: Fingertips and thumb | Heat settings: 3 (low, medium, high) | Materials: Flextron softshell 4-way stretch (synthetic), impregnated goat leather, C-Zone laminate| Insulation: G-Loft synthetic | Weight: 0.51 pounds

Hestra’s a heavyweight in the ski scene, and the Swedish brand’s Power Heater Gauntlet packs quite the punch. Even without the heating system, the glove is capable in cold temps thanks to a hard-wearing goatskin leather exterior, CZ waterproof membrane and synthetic G-loft insulation that’s warm when wet. Not to mention, the glove’s brushed polyester fleece liner is soft to the touch and further insulates the paws.

“A lot of heated essentials are utterly useless if the batteries die—not these Hestra gloves. They’re warm, well-made and ready for winter,” affirmed a Forbes Vetted gear expert who aims for hundred-day seasons on the slopes each year. To take the Gauntlet’s warmth to the next level, Hestra outfitted the glove with heating elements that wrap around the back of the glove. At the low setting, the Gauntlet provides 8 to 10 hours of heat, while the high setting generates up to 2 hours of warmth. 

Pro tip: If you prefer a naturally warmer mitten, check out Hestra’s Power Heater Gauntlet Mitt.

Heat time: Depends on capacity of 12V battery (sold separately) | Heat zone: central third of blanket | Heat settings: 10 | Size: 72 x 52 inches| Materials: Polyester, micro-suede

Whether you’re winter camping or hanging out in the parking lot after a ski day, Ignik’s Topside Blanket will keep you toasty. The camp-ready comforter sandwiches synthetic insulation between soft, recycled polyester on one side and anti-slip, durable micro-suede on the other. Even without the heating element, the Topside is comfortable and warm, making it a welcome touch of coziness after powder day on the slopes or a chilly surf on the coast. Factor in the easy-to-use smart controller and the warmth provided by the 48W battery-powered heating system, and the Topside will revolutionize your comfort in the great outdoors.

Our tester did have two complaints, though. First, the 12V system works well in a car jack or portable power bank (sold separately), but it’s not compatible with a standard outlet if you’re hoping to use it indoors. Additionally, the heating element zig-zags up the center third of the blanket, making it better suited for solo adventurers than cold couples. 

Heat time: Up to 14 hours with 1400B battery; Up to 7 hours with 700B battery | Heat zones: Toes and dispersed throughout foot | Heat settings: 3 | Materials: Merino blend

Have you ever lost feeling in your toes while skiing or snowboarding? Therm-IC’s unisex heated ski socks might as well be wearing capes, because they’re here to save the day. Avoid frost-nipped and -nibbled toes with these thin, comfortable, easy-to-wash merino-blend socks, which sport stealthy heating elements that diffuse heat around the foot and the toes.

The socks are powered by relatively low-profile battery packs that snap securely to the calf. If you ride bell-to-bell or travel for skiing, go with the 1400b battery—it offers 14 hours of heat at the lowest setting. Or, if you’re looking to save some dough for that next ski trip, opt for the cheaper 700b, 7-hour battery. Don’t worry about fiddling with your ski pants and boots on the hill, either—the batteries can be operated by Bluetooth, so you can efficiently control heat settings on the chairlift. 

Heat time: Up to 1.5 hours | Heat settings: 3 | Size: 2.8 x 2.4 inches | Weight: 3.5 ounces

Hyperice brings the heat with this after-market massage gun attachment. The heated head snaps onto the Hypervolt massage gun (sold separately), and lets users combine the benefits of percussive massage with healing heat, resulting in impactful recovery for sore, overworked muscles. The compact head charges separately from the Hypervolt via an included USB-C charger, and it serves up a maximum of 1.5 hours of heat on the lowest heat setting (105 degrees Fahrenheit). “The heat makes an immediate difference in loosening up the muscles. I really recommend it,” wrote an REI customer. “I wholeheartedly recommend the Hypervolt Heated Head to anyone in search of an easy-to-use, effective and quick solution for muscle tension relief. It’s a game-changer in the world of recovery tools, and I can’t imagine my routine without it now.” 

Heat time: Up to 10 hours | Activation time: 15 to 30 minutes

These HotHands Hand Warmers are the only piece of gear in this guide that don’t run on batteries, and that comes with a huge benefit: reliability in unforgiving conditions. Batteries can break and die, especially in cold temps, meaning heated gear can fizzle out when you need it most. These simple, tried-and-true hand warmers aren’t groundbreaking by any means—the air-activated tech’s been the same for decades—but they can be literal life-savers on cold-weather adventures.

“I’ve been using iterations of these since I was a kid learning to ski, and I still take them on ski trips to this day,” commented a Forbes Vetted gear expert. “So long as you don’t puncture the plastic, they’re extremely reliable, and they’ve kept me going on winter camping missions in Denali National Park, snowboard trips in Swedish Lapland and beyond.” The one negative, he pointed out, is a big one: They’re single-use and wasteful, especially compared to rechargeable battery-powered options.