Have you considered a heated jacket or vest to help take the chill off those Winter adventures? If you love outdoor adventures, or just being warm on cold days, the Venustas Heated Vest or Jacket might just be your new best friend. Venustas reached out to offer us a heated jacket to review. We opted for the vest instead. Bottom line: I would buy one of these vests.

Design & Comfort

My Venustas Heated Vest is a padded vest that’s also heated. The vest is well-fitted, with a snug but not restrictive cut, which means you can wear it comfortably for hours on end. I opted for a men’s style, because I don’t like the tapered waist of women’s clothing. My hips are pretty large, so I chose the size that would fit around my hips. There is extra space at the waist, and enough room for a sweater or sweatshirt underneath without restricting my chest.

Now that I see how lightweight this vest is, I think I could have worn the jacket. I didn’t order that because I didn’t want to be bundled up like Randy in The Christmas Story, with my arms unable to move. I needn’t have worried. The thickness of this vest is not restrictive at all. Despite the heated elements, it doesn’t feel bulky or cumbersome.

Another reason I didn’t chose the jacket is that really, I don’t even want to go anywhere where it’s that cold. Yes, I love to be toasty warm and I’ve been wearing the vest around the house (for research purposes, you understand). If you live where the thermometer lingers below the zero degrees Fahrenheit mark, you probably want the sleeves.

The vest we were offered contains down, and Tony is allergic, so we won’t be fighting over - er, uh, I mean sharing it. Because I could, I chose the lighter blue rather than navy or black.

What I didn’t notice until later, is that they also make a fleece vest. Not only could Tony wear this one, but I suspect it may be even less fabric (less bulk, though mine isn’t bulky) than the down vests. There is also a canvas version with a sherpa fleece collar. It’s very fashionable.

We might have to call Santa.

Easy Warmth

Who really thinks they need to read instructions for a battery pack that attached to a wire in a vest pocket? I sure didn’t. I opened the box with the battery pack, found a USB outlet, and set it charging. In the morning, I unplugged it, and attached the battery to the vest. Easy!

I already knew the label button was wired to the vest, so that would be the “on-off button” and I pushed it. Nothing. Then I pushed it for a full two seconds, and the button glowed red. Right away I started feeling warmth. Long presses are needed for on and off; temperature control just needs a quick press once the power is on.

Performance

The vest features six carbon fiber heating zones: two on the shoulders, two in the pockets, one in the back, and one near the collar. With three temperature settings (high, medium, and low), it provides custom warmth to suit all my heating needs. The heating is impressively quick — within minutes, I could feel the warmth radiating through the vest, and the heat distribution was even across the areas that matter most.

The high setting is plenty warm for very cold days (for me, that’s below 40 degrees), while the medium setting offers a comfortable warmth that’s perfect for chilly fall days or if I happen to be getting some exercise. The low setting is great for when I’m just looking for a little extra warmth without getting too hot, and it helps extend battery life. I wore it around the house all day just because I could.

The heat feels soothing and consistent. There’s no discomfort from uneven hot spots, and the vest’s breathability ensures I don’t overheat even if I wear it when I go indoors a bunch of times on errand day.

Battery Life

The Venustas Heated Vest power bank (7.4V, 5000mAh) fits neatly in a hidden pocket. Battery life is good — on the high setting, I could get about 4-5 hours of heat, while the medium setting lasted closer to 6-7 hours. When I keep it in low-power mode, the battery can stretch up to 10 hours, which is pretty impressive for a heated garment.

Charging the power bank is also straightforward, and it takes about 4-5 hours to fully charge. II just pop it onto a charge cable overnight (we use enough blankets that I don’t need a heated vest while sleeping). In the morning, I plug it in and I’m ready to go.

Oh, also, the battery pack has two USB options. The vest came with a USB-A and USB-C cable, which can be used either direction to charge the battery. Also, though, those ports can be used as a power supply. I haven’t tested how much that affects the heating time, but it’s nice to know in an emergency I could pop my phone into it for a bit of battery extension.

Ease of Use

The control of the Venustas Heated Vest couldn’t be simpler. The power button is easy to find, on the left chest. Press it once to turn on the vest. This is the point where I had to find the instruction book.

I hadn’t looked at the description carefully, to notice that there are three heat settings. So, I was guessing at what the different color lights meant. The booklet, all 30 pages of it, I thought would take me a while to read through. Then I discovered it’s only seven pages per language: English, German, French, and Spanish.

Unfortunately, either because the writing is too small for my eyes, or because it’s simply not written down, I did not find my answer. So, I just started to cycle through the three heat settings with just a simple press of the button. I now know that the LED indicator shows which setting I’m on, so there’s no guesswork involved. Red for high heat, white for medium, and blue for low. Now I can tell at a glance.

Versatility

This vest is really versatile. I wore it while running errands on a cold day. The heat provides a layer of comfort that makes it ideal for any time you need to go outdoors in cold weather. And the easy-access button let me turn off the heat when I went indoors. The light weight of the vest meant I didn’t have to remove it every time I went inside.

Whether you’re out on a brisk walk, skiing, or just enjoying a winter evening by the fire, the Venustas Heated Vest offers the kind of warmth that makes a huge difference.

The vest is also great for layering under a jacket or coat. It’s thin enough not to feel bulky, yet provides that extra warmth right where I need it. For those who do winter sports, I would imagine that this heated vest can easily replace bulky layers while still offering that needed warmth. But what do I know, the extent of my winter sports is making a water run while the sun is at its peak. I’d much rather stay in the warm indoors.

I do look forward to camping with this vest. Again, I tend to go in and out of the RV and don’t want a lot of bulky clothing to fight. I think I’ll be able to sit by the campfire for longer, warming my feet on the fire while my back, neck, shoulders, and hands stay toasty in my vest.

Durability

The vest seems to be built to last. The outer shell feels durable and resistant to light wind and water, making it a reliable option in slightly wet conditions. The stitching is solid, and the heated elements inside the vest are safely integrated and protected, so you don’t have to worry about them coming loose or malfunctioning. The YKK zipper is adequate, and hidden between the layers. The pockets are fleece on the outer shell, so they feel soft and cozy on the back of my hands.

Other products

Venustas wants to keep us warm and cozy, so they offer several styles of jackets, hoodies, and vests. They also have socks, gloves, hats, and hand warmer “belly bags” with extra pockets. In addition, I have my eyes on a heated camp chair! Ooh, la la!

Final Thoughts

The Venustas Heated Vest is an excellent choice for anyone looking to stay warm and comfortable in colder conditions. Its combination of lightweight design, fast and effective heating, solid battery life, and easy-to-use controls makes it a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts or anyone who feels the cold more than most. Whether you're camping, hiking, or just braving the winter shopping crowd, this vest would make a noticeable difference in your comfort level.

So if you’re tired of layering bulky coats, and want something that’s both functional and stylish, the Venustas Heated Vest is well worth considering. It brings modern technology and cozy warmth to winter adventures. This vest will keep you warm, in the cold.