Why wear base layers or liners that are heated? The advantages are many, while the drawbacks are few. Let’s start with how base layers work. Like your mother always advised, wearing multiple layers of clothing help keep you warm by trapping the heat of your body and preventing it from escaping into your surroundings. But too many bulky layers can quickly turn you into Randy from A Christmas Story, resembling the Michelin Man in his snowsuit. Heated base layers solve this situation neatly.
The most common heated base layer available is the shirt. Covering your arms and torso, heated panels are found on the chest and back (and sometimes the arms, lower back or collar) to keep your core warm. When your core is warm, your heart can continue to pump blood all the way to your fingers and toes. For outdoor use, the heated shirt works best under a jacket, or when the temps really drop, under a jacket and mid-layer such as a fleece or sweatshirt. Wear a heated shirt under your sports jersey for better reaction time in chilly temps and get a leg up on your frozen opponent. Indoors, a heated base layer shirt can take the edge off a chilly office or let you lower the thermostat at home. Working outdoors or in a warehouse? Wearing a heated shirt can make the difference between being miserable or having a great day on the job. The heated base layer shirt is a very versatile tool for your cool-weather needs.
If you find your lower body needs some extra warmth, heated base layer pants can add just the right touch of warmness with heated panels usually found in the thighs and lumbar region. Worn under jeans, sweat pants, or ski pants, heated base layer pants can keep you cozy without adding unnecessary bulk. Worn in conjunction with a heated shirt, this winning combination can’t be beat.
Next are heated glove liners. Wrapping your valuable digits in warmth seems a no brainer, and heated glove liners fit the bill. Wear them with a mitten or outdoor glove over the glove liner when shoveling snow, walking the dog, watching sports, or waiting in a hunting blind for toasty fingers that will remain flexible and free from frostbite. Raynaud’s Disease sufferers or anyone who dislikes the cold will find wearing a heated glove liner indoors will bring relief from stiff and icy fingers. About the only drawback of heated glove liners is that the thumbs remain a bit cooler than the rest of the fingers because of the thumbs' location. In other words, fingers can draw on each other for heat based on their proximity to each other, while the thumb stands alone.
All heated base layers are powered using rechargeable 5V, 7V or 7.4V Lithium-Ion batteries. There is a bit of bulk where the battery is located on the base layer, so you’ll need to keep that in mind when choosing a mid-layer or jacket to wear over your base layer. For best transfer of heat, the base layer should be snug, but not form-fitting. We recommend always wearing a base layer over a thin t-shirt or undergarment as some people can feel the heating wires more keenly than others. For extended heating, we recommend having a spare recharged battery available to swap out.
Whatever your activity, indoors or outdoors, at home or at work, a heated base layer can make your life much more enjoyable.