Heated Clothing
Living in Minnesota teaches you one important lesson—you either learn how to enjoy winter, or you spend several months wishing it away.
Over the years I’ve tried my share of winter activities. I’ve co-owned an ice fishing house, spent years riding snowmobiles, and even tried both cross-country and downhill skiing. Winter may not be everyone’s favorite season, but if you dress for it, there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy it.
Minnesota also hosts some great winter events, from ice fishing contests and ice racing to the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. The year Minneapolis hosted the Super Bowl, they even built a zip line across the Mississippi River. We were lucky enough to reserve a time slot.
The temperature that day was 15 degrees below zero before the wind chill.
We went anyway.
It was cold, but it was also one of those experiences we’ll never forget.
More recently, we’ve spent a lot of time watching two of our grandsons play hockey. While the games are indoors, the arenas are kept cold enough to maintain the ice, so a warm coat, gloves, and a hat are usually part of the experience. Some rinks have heaters for spectators, but many don’t.
One day our daughter and son-in-law showed up wearing heated vests made by ORORO.
They couldn’t say enough good things about them.
Pat and I have used heated clothing for years while riding our motorcycle, but those garments plug directly into the bike for power. I’d often looked for a battery-powered option, but everything I found was either bulky or more expensive than I wanted to spend.
After seeing how well the ORORO vests worked for them, we decided to give them a try.
We purchased a vest for each of us, and one thing that immediately impressed me was the battery pack. It’s surprisingly small—about the size of a deck of cards—and fits easily into its pocket.
Our first real test came during an outdoor Christmas light display.
The evening turned into one we’ll always remember because one of our daughters got engaged while we were there. The weather wasn’t exactly ideal. It was about 35 degrees, damp, and raining. I wore my heated vest under a lightweight rain jacket.
Within a minute or two of turning it on, I could feel the warmth.
We spent more than three hours walking around outside, and I was comfortable the entire evening. I never felt overly warm—just comfortable. Better yet, when we got back to the car, the battery still showed about half of its charge remaining.
Pat had a similar experience. She wore a light jacket over her vest and stayed comfortable throughout the evening.
Since then, we’ve also worn them while watching hockey games, and they’ve quickly become one of those items we’re glad we purchased.
Looking ahead, I can see us using them well beyond the winter months. They’ll be perfect on cool mornings at the campground, sitting around an evening campfire, riding our e-bikes, or any time the temperature is just cool enough to want a little extra warmth.
As with every product I mention on this website, I’m not affiliated with the company and I’m not receiving anything for recommending it. I’m simply sharing something that has worked well for us.
If you enjoy spending time outdoors during the colder months, a heated vest might be worth considering. It has certainly made winter activities a lot more enjoyable for us.