OK, if you live somewhere where it’s really cold, you should just get a great big puffer (see below) or learn to layer well. However, if you just want to pop on a jacket and be warm instantly (like, if you’re a hockey or soccer mom who has to sit in a cold bleacher seat), an electric heated jacket is the way to go. I have tried several of these electric apparel company brands. Unfortunately, there are a ton of them on Amazon, and most are very crappy. The fabric is very thin, or maybe the heat zones are uneven so you get burned on one part of your body and freezing on the other. The Ororo is the best one I’ve tried, by far.
I tried the version with four heat zones (there’s another, more expensive one with five heat zones, but four is plenty). The shell is water-resistant and has a hood, and the battery lasts all day on the low setting. Most importantly, the jacket itself has enough insulation that you don’t instantly wonder why you’re wearing it, should the battery run out. You can also charge your devices with the battery, which is a fun extra feature.
