The Keis B601RP heated vest will change the way you think about winter riding | MCN review

The Keis B601RP Heated Bodywarmer has introduced a new level of heated luxury to my time spent on a bike. When I first started riding, the warmest winter commute was when I’d pick up my copy of MCN from the newsagents and slip it down the front of my battered Wolf leather jacket as extra insulation. That was on top of two t-shirts and an itchy fisherman’s jumper, followed by some ex-army waterproofs (that weren’t).

I could barely move with it all zipped up and would still need thawing out when I got to work, but how things have changed with the introduction of heated vests– for the last 4 months I’ve been flitting about in sub-zero temperatures with nothing more than Keis’ latest heated bodywarmer, Oxford’s Advance base layers and a Halvarssons Gruven jacket. And it’s been absolute bliss.

How comfortable is the Keis B601RP to wear?

Keis use Ultraflex for the construction of the B601RP, a super stretchy lightweight fabric usually reserved for sportswear. This provides the figure hugging fit that’s essential for effective heating, with enough give so that you don’t feel like an overstuffed sausage.

Ultraflex is 85% Chinlon, a robust fabric that is both moisture wicking and highly resistant to heat, as well as being breathable and soft to the touch. The other 15% is Spandex which gives it the necessary fourway stretch.

The B601RP’s inner lining is polyester, creating a sandwich for the wiring and heating elements, and the result is a mid layer with less bulk than those two cotton t-shirts I used to wear back in the day. Once zipped up it’s comfortable and flexible, without any restriction to movement and just a reassuring sensation of snugness.

What’s the fit like?

Hooking it up to the bike is simple – you can either wire the supplied adaptor direct to the battery or use the accessory power lead (£22.00) to tap into a pre existing DIN or cigar lighter style socket. Either way Keis provide a selection of fuses and a handy chart to determine which you’ll need, as the current draw is different depending on how many heated garments you’re using.

You can actually run heated gloves, trousers and insoles using the B601RP as the hub for the power supply. There are various terminals at strategic points for this, two below the armpits and one on the hem. I’ve been using it with Keis G601 touring gloves and they complement each other perfectly.

The only thing to bear in mind is that the main connector sits in a pocket approximately waist height, so you have to make sure it’s in a comfortable position before doing up trousers or belt. I had some teething trouble getting this right, but with regular use it ceased to be an issue. 

How does the heating work on the Keis heated vest?

Keis supply a heating controller with the B601RP that allows you to turn the heating elements on or off and select one of three settings – low, medium and high, indicated by an appropriately coloured LED on the unit. It plugs into the socket in the left pocket and has just enough cable attached to hang below the hem of most jackets. With a single button operation, it’s straightforward to use, even in chunky winter gloves.

The B601RP has micro carbon fibre heating elements on the back, either side of the chest and around the nape of the neck, and once activated they become noticeably warm in just a matter of seconds. These need to be positioned close to the body for the maximum effect, although without pressure and not to bare skin as Keis stress in the instructions. It’s advisable to leave a little wiggle room so that you can move the pads a little from time to time, but in my experience just shifting riding position slightly seems to be enough.

On the lowest setting the B601RP provides enough warmth to maintain a comfortable core temperature in single figure weather, but when the wind chill kicks in for extended periods on longer rides, the extra boost from the higher settings becomes most welcome.

The first time I switched the B601RP to high on a proper cold ride was a revelation. I was puffing through freezing fog banks on a dark, moonless night up the A11, and despite the bike’s ambient temperature display reading -2° C, it felt like I had a Mediterranean sun beating down on my back. When people say heated kit is a game changer, that was the moment it happened for me – I haven’t looked back.  

Combining the B601RP with an outer jacket, or at least a liner, that has good thermal properties really helps to keep a consistent temperature, and I’ve found that I actually spend most of the time with it set to ‘Low’. Keis advise against running it for too long at high power anyway, and I’d strongly recommend reading the dos and don’ts in the manual before use.

I’ve also tried the accessory Bluetooth controller (£60.00) which allows you to regulate temperature through the Keis app. It works fine if you have your phone mounted somewhere accessible, but the standard controller is so easy to use I consider it very much a luxury.  

Is the Keis B601RP heated vest good quality?

The B601RP bodywarmer is very well put together and finished to a high standard. After more than 3,000 miles it has all the stretch it had when new, and still looks like it too. All cables and fittings have proved durable enough for daily use, along with the controller.

To back this up Keis offer a lifetime warranty on the heating elements, and two years on the garment itself. This seems reasonable to me, and as I’d only be using it for the colder months, I believe it’ll have a long service life.

Is the Keis B601RP heated vest good value?

I wouldn’t have to think twice about spending my own money on the B601RP heated bodywarmer – for the level of comfort it provides in winter and build quality it’s worth every penny.

So what’s the verdict?

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!

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