Heated clothing

Most heated clothing is designed for cold-weather sports and activities, such as motorcycle riding, downhill skiing, diving, winter biking, and snowmobiling, trekking and for outdoor workers such as construction workers and carpenters.

Normal insulation works by trapping body heat, so if it gets wet from sweat or rain, or if a person stops exercising, the insulation may not keep them warm. With heated garments, a person can keep warm even if they are resting and not producing heat, or if their coat is damp from sweat.

There are many types of heated clothing. Most notably 12, 7, and 5-volt [powerbanks].

5-Volt Battery: The 5V powerbank allows one to use a common powerbank for both heating apparel and charging personal electronics.

7-Volt Battery: The 7V battery is the easiest and most common type of heated clothing battery system and is powered by rechargeable batteries. The most popular items sold are heated gloves and jackets

12-Volt: These are designed for use with motorcycles, ATVs, or snowmobiles and draw their power from the vehicle's battery. As these use a higher voltage than 7v systems, they are more powerful and therefore heat a larger area at a higher temperature. Most brands using 12v systems are compatible. For instance: Most 12v heated jackets come with built-in power cords that come out at the wrists to power heated gloves/liners and out from the bottom to power heated pants/liners. The pants then have cords coming from the bottom of each leg to power socks/liners/insoles.

Most 7v garments will power for around 2-8 hours depending on heat setting selected and outside conditions. Many jackets and vests can be powered for almost double this time with an extended-life battery, available separately.

The most widely available types of heated clothing are products for the extremities; the hands and feet. These body parts are the most likely to suffer frostbite or frostnip in severe cold. As such, many manufacturers make heated gloves, mittens, socks, and boot liners, and they can be purchased at workers' supply stores (serving construction workers) and motor sports stores. Heated torso coverings like vests, jackets, or leggings are available from specialty retailers that cater to motorcyclists and downhill skiers.

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Wikipedia