What you want from a heated hoodie, and our closest piece

Most people searching for a heated hoodie, heated sweater or heated shirt want the same thing: warmth on their chest and back on a cold walk, at the rink, out ice fishing or in a cold garage, without a big parka. Here is what we offer instead.

Why a heated liner instead of a heated hoodie or sweater

A hoodie or a sweater is the outside of your outfit. A heated liner is built to be the inside. Both of our Gen-X4 liners are designed to be worn over a T-shirt and under a motorcycle or winter jacket, and the jacket on top helps hold the heat in. That changes a few things:

• Thinner, closer to the body. The heat comes from ZEPTO fibres, made in France, so thin you would not notice them if not for the heat. The vest liner is cut to hug the body, and the jacket liner has stretchy Lycra side panels for movement and breathability.
• It fits under the gear you already ride in. Both liners are made to sit over a T-shirt and under a motorcycle or winter jacket. That is the spot they are cut for.
• It can plug into the vehicle. On the bike, sled or ATV, the corded liners run from the 12V battery, so you are not limited by a pocket battery while you ride.

The trade-off is honest: a liner is a layer, not a finished outfit. It needs a jacket over it to work at its best, and neither liner page calls it waterproof (the jacket liner is windproof and water-resistant, the vest liner water-resistant).

A heated liner with sleeves: the Gen-X4 jacket liner

If you searched for a heated shirt or heated sweater because you want a full top with sleeves, look at the Gen-X4 Heated Jacket Liner. It heats evenly across the front, back and collar. The sleeves cover your arms but are not heated, and the ribbed cuffs help keep the heat in. It comes in a men's version (zippered chest pocket) and a women's version (two side pockets and a slimmer, tapered fit). If you want heat in your hands, the hideaway plugs at the end of each sleeve connect our heated gloves or glove liners. It produces 87 watts and draws 6.4 amps.

The jacket liner is the more demanding piece on battery power. The ZR8 battery runs it, alone or with heated socks or insoles. The ZR5 battery does not run it.

No sleeves: the heated vest liner and the cordless vest

If you do not need sleeves and it is your chest and back that get cold, a vest is the lighter choice. The Gen-X4 Heated Vest Liner heats the front, back and collar, has two front side pockets, and its bottom edge sits just above the beltline so it stays out of your way. It draws 3.9 amps, so it runs on either portable battery, though on the ZR5 it runs alone, with no second piece.

The ZR9 Cordless Heated Vest is the nearest thing in our range to a grab-and-go heated top. Its rechargeable battery slides into a zippered pocket, there are six heat levels on a built-in controller, and the fit is unisex. Our product page lists it for skiing, hiking, a chilly day out and riding, and gives about 5.7 hours on the lowest setting and about 1.36 hours on the highest. Our advice: for long days on the machine, a corded vest on 12V suits better, since it runs from the vehicle instead of a battery.

Choosing between the vest and the jacket liner for riding? We compare them in detail in our heated vest vs heated jacket liner guide, including the wiring for each.

Corded or cordless: on the vehicle and off it

This is where a heated liner differs most from a heated hoodie. You can choose how to power it:

• On the bike, sled or ATV: each Gen-X4 liner comes with a Coax Battery Cord for your vehicle's 12V battery. A switch cord or temperature controller is sold separately, depending on your setup; the product pages have a table that tells you which one.
• Off the vehicle: our ZR5 and ZR8 Portable Battery Kits let you take the same corded liner for a cold walk or a day on the ski hill. Each kit has 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. Our temperature controllers are not used with these batteries, because the battery has its own heat control.
• No cords: the ZR9 vest, with its own battery.

Match the battery to the liner. Batteries must only be used with products that draw no more than the battery's maximum output. The ZR8 (8 A maximum) runs the jacket liner (6.4 A) alone, or with heated socks or insoles. The ZR5 (5.2 A maximum) does not run the jacket liner, and runs the vest liner (3.9 A) alone only. For how many hours each piece runs on each battery, see how long heated clothing batteries last.

Which one should you buy?

• A full top with sleeves under your gear for riding, sledding or ATV days: the Gen-X4 Heated Jacket Liner on your vehicle's 12V system.
• The same liner on and off the machine: the jacket liner with a ZR8 kit, or the vest liner with a ZR5 or ZR8 kit.
• Chest and back only, under a snug jacket: the Gen-X4 Heated Vest Liner.
• Off the vehicle, with no cords or wiring at all: the ZR9 Cordless Heated Vest.

The whole range is in our heated clothing collection, and our heated clothing FAQ explains how the pieces connect.

Questions riders ask us

Do you sell a heated hoodie?

No. We make heated liners and a cordless heated vest that go under your own clothes. Keep your hoodie for what it does well; for heat, the liner goes over a T-shirt and under your jacket.

Can I use the jacket liner when I am not riding?

Yes, with the ZR8 Portable Battery Kit. Our page names skiing, cycling and a walk on a cold day. The ZR5 is not for the jacket liner.

Where does the battery go?

The ZR5 and ZR8 come with a pouch that adjusts from 27 to 67 inches to wear around your waist. One owner would have liked a pocket in the jacket liner for the battery, and another carries it in a leg pack, so plan where it will sit under your outer layer. The ZR9 vest has its own zippered battery pocket.

How should a liner fit?

Close to the body, over a T-shirt. Measure your chest and your stomach, compare them to the size chart on the product page, and size for the bigger of the two. If you are tall, tell us your height before you order, since body and sleeve length matter too.

How do I wash it?

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