Heated motorcycle vests buying guide | Keep warm where it counts without bulky layers this winter

Braving the cold weather on a motorbike isn’t for the faint of heart, and with road conditions often plotting against you, reaching your destination can quickly become a cold hard slog without some heated kit. But you’ll never need to layer-up until you feel like the Michelin man just to stave off the cold again — not once you’ve tried a heated motorcycle vest.

Designed to be worn as a mid-layer between your motorcycle jacket and your base layers, a heated motorcycle vest will augment your other heated kit (especially heated gloves), and keep you extra toasty on the coldest days. Heated vests offer much needed warmth to the core of your body while remaining thin, lightweight, and comfortable to wear. They enable more freedom of movement than a heated jacket, making them ideal for long commutes and adventure touring where that extra mobility can make a big difference.

Best heated vests at a glance:

Keis Ultraflex B601RP
Alpinestars Heat Tech Vest

What to consider before buying

Sizing and fit

It’s important to consider how a heated vest will fit you, since the heat won’t reach your body very well if it’s not the right size for you. It should feel snug, so you can feel the heating elements press against you, but without being uncomfortably tight.

Battery vs cable

It’s worth considering how you’ll want to power your heated vest, as it will come with either separate battery power, or a cable to connect to the bike’s battery (or sometimes both). A separate battery can be more convenient for shorter rides, but a cable means you’ll never run out of juice.

Level of heat

You’ll want to consider how many levels of heat are on offer, and how hot each one gets. It’s difficult to know from raw specs alone, so it’s worth reading some expert reviews to get an idea before you buy.

Power draw

Consider the power consumption while in use, so you have a rough idea how long the vest will last on battery power. Power draw is especially important to consider for hard-wiring to the bike; if you have additional electronic devices connected, it will help you to work out whether your bike’s battery can handle the additional load.

Connectivity

Some heated vests act as a central hub, with connectors all over the garment for connecting other heated kit to. This can be quite useful, doing the job of routing cables for you, but be sure to check that the heated kit you have will work with the heated vest you’re looking at.


The best heated motorcycle vests

Expert rating:

5.0
Tried and tested by Justin Hayzelden for four months, 3100 miles:

"Heated kit really does change the way you think about winter riding, and the Keis B601RP bodywarmer has proven itself essential as winter wear. It’s flexible, comfortable and produces more than enough heat to keep your core cosy. This is not only important for health, but also key for concentration, meaning you can give your full attention to the job in hand.

"I’d have to think long and hard about going out without it!"

Read our full Keis B601RP heated bodywarmer review

Pros

  • Quick to warm up
  • Easy to fit and simple to use
  • Very comfortable to wear
  • Good range of settings

Cons

  • Waist level connectors an be annoying if you don't get them in the right place
  • Comfort
    5.0
  • Practicality
    4.0
  • Quality
    5.0
  • Value
    5.0
  • Verdict
    5.0
Heating Micro carbon fibre
Outer 85% Chinlon, 15% Spandex
Inner 100% Polyester
Voltage 12V
Current draw 3.4A
Power 41W
Sizes 2XS to 3XL
  • Lightweight
  • Breathable
  • Moisture wicking

Expert rating:

4.0
Price: £280.46 (was £329.99)
Tested by Michael Neeves for two years:

"This heated vest may not be the cheapest, but it’s light, comfortable and does a superb job of keeping me warm even in the depths of winter. It can either plug in to a bike’s battery, or you use the supplied 12v lithium battery, as I do when I’m road-testing different machines.

"It lasts three to four hours on a low setting and the vest is so efficient that the low and medium settings are all I ever need. Heat panels in the chest, lower back and back of the neck are regulated using sensors to check body temperature and you can scroll between the three heat levels via an illuminated button on the vest, or via Bluetooth with the Astars app."

Pros

  • Warm and cosy
  • Light and comfotable
  • Lithium battery lasts a good three to four hours

Cons

  • It isn't cheap
  • Practicality
    5.0
  • Durability
    4.0
  • Value
    3.0
  • Verdict
    4.0
Construction Soft, stretch-polyester
Sizes S–4XL
Type Heated vest (battery and wired)
Weight 500g
  • Automatic heating control, uses internal sensor to measure rider’s body heat
  • On/off and heat controlled via illuminated button (with three pre-set settings) on vest, or via Alpinestars app.
  • Plugs into your bike’s battery or supplied 12v lithium battery.
  • Four heating panels: chest, lower back and back of neck.
  • Asymmetric zip to reduce bulk when worn under layers.
  • Zippable battery pocket
  • Long back section for extra coverage when riding
  • Reflective detailing

How MCN tests heated vests

Here at MCN, we make it our mission to help you find the right kit for you, at the right price for your budget. We test our heated vests the same way you’ll use yours, by braving the cold on our own bikes. And, we make sure to put them through at least 1000 miles of cold weather riding before sharing our findings. Our word is backed by hundreds of thousands of miles in the saddle collectively, but our recommendations come from each tester individually.

While testing, we mainly focus on comfort, looks, build quality, and value. When we write up our full reviews, we’ll give each heated vest a rating out of five stars in each of these categories, and offer a final verdict too. This page is only for the best heated vests, so every piece you’ll see has been awarded at least four stars overall – that’s the passing grade – but here’s what each score really means:

1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A heated vest with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.
2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A heated vest with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level, and there is much room for improvement.
3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A heated vest with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.
4 stars – A heated vest has performed over and above the accepted averaged in this category or overall. A heated vest with a four-star rating has surpassed expectation and delivered in a particularly impressive way.
5 stars – A heated vest has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A heated vest with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.