HeatGuard Heated Vest

HeatGuard is a quilted vest with heating panels sewn into nine zones — two on the chest, two behind the pockets, one at the collar, four across the back — run by a 10,000 mAh USB power bank that sits in the inside pocket. Hold the chest button for about five seconds and the back warms up first; each short press steps through high, medium and low.

It is the layer for the hours spent standing still in the cold: the bleachers at the evening game, the dog walk, the desk in the room the heating never reaches. Worn under the coat you already own, the coat keeps the heat in, and with the core warm the arms and hands stay warm for longer than they ever did with the coat alone.

The power bank comes in the box, and any 5 V USB power bank works in the pocket, so when the pack ages you replace a $20 pack, not the vest. The run time for each of the three levels is printed on the label. Machine-washable with the power bank out; it runs large, so measure a vest you own against the chart and go one size down if you want the heat closer to the body.