Electric Vest -- with or without collar

[spidey]

I can get a used Widder electric vest for a decent price. It's the collarless type. I've never used an electric vest before. Is it worth waiting and paying retail for a vest that covers the neck as well?

[JJGeo]

I would say yes...but I'm in Seattle, where it's a bit colder than where you are. The neck on my Gerbing heated jacket is my favorite part! [cheeky]

You could always just get a fleece neck warmer to use when you really need it though. Before I got the Gerbing I stole this purple fleece headband thing from my wife, and used it around my neck. Worked great, was free, and looked sweet with my Hi-Viz 'stitch! ;D

...and now for a threadjack. You're always talking up the T-Pro armor...is this the back protector you'd recommend?
http://www.motostrano.com/tpfobapr.html

[spidey]

I've got a neck-fuzzy or two that I use already. One has a built-in head covering. [thumbsup]

Originally Posted by JJGeo

...and now for a threadjack. You're always talking up the T-Pro armor...is this the back protector you'd recommend?
http://www.motostrano.com/tpfobapr.html

Yup. Someone said that Joe Rocket was rebranding and selling T-Pro stuff for cheaper, but I haven't had a chance to confirm that yet. The downsides to that protector are weight and that it doesn't have a solid plastic cover in case you get speared by a bike part. On balance, I'm a lot less concerned about the marginal difference in piercing protection and more concerned about impact protection. People also really like Helimot's, but I've got no opinion on 'em.

[JJGeo]

Originally Posted by Spidey

Yup. Someone said that Joe Rocket was rebranding and selling T-Pro stuff for cheaper, but I haven't had a chance to confirm that yet. The downsides to that protector are weight and that it doesn't have a solid plastic cover in case you get speared by a bike part. On balance, I'm a lot less concerned about the marginal difference in piercing protection and more concerned about impact protection. People also really like Helimot's, but I've got no opinion on 'em.

Thanks. Do you know how much room it takes up? It looks fairly bulky compared to the A* or Dainese protectors. My one-piece Vanson is pretty tight already. I'll likely pick one up either way and just return it if it's too tight...too bad I don't think anyone carries them up here.

[msincredible]

My Gerbing's electric jacket liner covers the neck, and I find that I have to wear something underneath it. I once burned my neck with it. :-\

+1 on the neckscarf.

[1duckyboy]

I have the high collar and like it alot and fewer pieces to keep track of. Blood going to and from the brain passes very close to the surface of the neck. Plus it works well as a vest off the bike. Dunno about colarless off the bike. Always felt that to be truly effective a neckwarmer should be fleece-lined leather or windproof material. IMO.

[petert96753]

I recently did a three week trip through Australia and Tasmania . . . got a bit cold on the bike. Before the trip I had purchased a battery powered heated vest from Jett . . . best buy I have ever made! The vest worked great, battery lasted well over six hours (rechargeable) and even in the Snowy Mountains (and yes, they were snowing) I never had to go above the lowest setting (and this from a guy that lives in Hawaii).

Great Product!!!!

http://www.jett.us.com/

[tommys67]

I've got the Jett vest as well - man o' man is that a great piece of gear.

In the northeast winter it's all about layering. I would personally shy away from a collar because the last thing I want is for tons of fabric bunching up around my neck.

The Jett vest is V-necked (for lack of a better description) and thus allows me to layer fleece and protective jackets on top of it.

Ideally, your layering will be skin / thin layering shirt / heated vest / insulating layer / jacket or outerlayer.

[RandyFloyd]

I have the jacket liner version of this, and the collar helps prevent windburn as my leather jacket has no collar...


http://www.webbikeworld.com/heated-m...nergy/vest.htm