Heated vest vs heated jacket liner at a glance

The heated vest: core warmth with free arms

Our Gen-X4 Heated Vest Liner delivers even heat across the front, back and collar using ZEPTO fibres, made in France and thin enough that you only notice them by the heat. They warm up faster than the heating wire in our older Gen-X3 line. The vest is cut to hug the body, the bottom edge sits just above the beltline so it does not get in the way on the bike, and two front side pockets hold a wallet or keys. The fabric is breathable and water-resistant, not waterproof, so it belongs under your riding jacket.

Why a heated motorcycle vest is often enough: keeping your core warm goes a long way on a cold ride. With no sleeves, the vest is also the easiest layer to fit under a snug jacket.

The heated jacket liner: sleeves and glove plugs

The Gen-X4 Heated Jacket Liner uses the same ZEPTO fibres across the front, back and collar, and adds sleeves with ribbed cuffs to keep the heat in. Lycra side panels let you move and breathe, and the shell is windproof and water-resistant. The men's version has a zippered chest pocket; the women's version has two side pockets and a slimmer, tapered fit.

The big practical difference is at the cuffs: hideaway plugs at the end of each sleeve let you plug heated gloves or glove liners straight in. Owners of our heated jacket liners (this one and the Gen-X3 before it) tell us the liner extended their touring season, kept them comfortable through a week of cool, sometimes wet riding, and let them ride with fewer, thinner layers. If you plan a full heated setup, the jacket liner is the simpler base.

ZR9 Cordless Heated Vest: no wiring at all

The ZR9 Cordless Heated Vest has a rechargeable 5200mAh battery that slides into a zippered pocket, and a built-in controller with six heat levels. It heats the front, back and collar, has Lycra side panels and two front pockets, and comes in a unisex fit. Our product page lists the run time as about 5.7 hours on the lowest setting and about 1.36 hours on the highest. That makes it a good choice for shovelling, ice fishing, walking the dog or a short ride, but on a long, cold ride a corded vest on your vehicle's 12V system keeps going as long as your engine runs and its charging system keeps up. Keep the battery at least 25% charged when it is stored, and remove it before washing.

How to power a heated vest or jacket liner

Both corded liners come with a Coax Battery Cord (red to positive, black to negative, with a built-in fuse). What you add depends on how you want to control the heat. These setups come straight from the wiring tables on our product pages:

Thinking about heated gloves later? Buy the Dual Temperature Controller now. Both product pages say so, and it saves buying a second controller. It sets two separate temperatures for up to four heated garments, seven levels on each dial, as long as everything together stays under 15 amps. The Single Temperature Controller also has seven settings and handles up to four garments under 12 amps, all at one temperature. Owners who went dual like running the vest and their gloves or socks at different settings.

Heated socks, insoles or chaps change the wiring again, and the full tables are on the vest and jacket liner pages. Our heated clothing FAQ explains how the whole system connects, and our guide to heated gloves vs heated glove liners covers the hands.

12V vehicle power vs portable battery vs cordless

• Vehicle 12V: steady heat while the engine runs, as long as your charging system can carry the load (see the caution below). If your bike already has an SAE lead for a battery tender, the SAE to Female Coax Adapter plugs into it instead of the battery cord. If it has an accessory socket, the Cigarette Lighter DIN Adapter to Female Coax does the same (its tip unscrews for the smaller DIN sockets on some BMW, KTM, Triumph and other models). Before using an existing lead or socket, check that it and its fuse are rated for everything you plan to plug in; if you are not sure, use the Coax Battery Cord, which goes straight to the battery with its own 15 amp fuse. Cord too short to reach you? The Extender for Coax Battery Cord comes in 12, 25 and 40 inch lengths.
• Portable battery: the ZR5 and ZR8 kits have three heat levels on the battery and a wireless remote, a 1 to 9 charge display, and a pouch that adjusts to fit around your waist. They have their own heat control, so the temperature controllers are not used with them. They let you take a corded vest or liner off the bike for hunting, skiing or a cold walk. For run times by piece and heat level, see how long heated clothing batteries last.
• Cordless: the ZR9 vest is the simplest option, with the shortest run time on high.

One caution on 12V power: heated gear draws from your vehicle's electrical system. Run it with the engine on, and on a smaller or older machine, check that your charging system has room for the load (3.9 amps for the vest, 6.4 for the jacket liner, plus anything else you plug in). Your owner's manual or dealer can tell you.

Which one should you buy?

• Spring and fall rides, or a snug riding jacket: the Gen-X4 Heated Vest Liner.
• Long tours, cold Canadian mornings, or a full heated setup with gloves: the Gen-X4 Heated Jacket Liner with a Dual Temperature Controller.
• Mostly off the vehicle, or no wiring at all: the ZR9 Cordless Heated Vest.
• Both on and off the bike: a corded vest or liner plus a portable battery kit.

You can see every option in our heated clothing collection.

Questions riders ask us

Does the heated vest or jacket liner come with a controller?

No. Each corded liner comes with a Coax Battery Cord, and the controller or switch cord is sold separately because it depends on your setup. Use the table above, or tell us what you ride and we will build the list with you.

How do I pick a size?

Both liners are made to fit close, over a T-shirt and under your jacket. Measure your chest and your stomach and compare them to the size chart on the product page; if one is bigger than the other, size for the bigger one. If you are between sizes, send us your measurements in the chat.

Can I add heated gloves to a vest?

Yes. On 12V, add the Dual Temperature Controller and the Snap-on Harness, which snaps to the back of the vest. On a portable battery, add the Male Coax to Dual Female Coax Adapter and the Snap-on Harness.

How much power does each one draw?

The vest produces 53 watts and draws 3.9 amps. The jacket liner produces 87 watts and draws 6.4 amps.

Will it work with my other brand of heated gear?

Our product pages list Firstgear, Gerbing, Warm & Safe, Tourmaster and Venture Heat as compatible, sometimes with an adapter. Ask us which one before you order.

How do I wash it?

Hand wash, or use your machine only if it has a hand wash cycle. Hang to dry and never use a dryer. Take the battery out of the ZR9 first.