I have been bikepacking and ultra cycling for around a decade and always look for the next kit advancement. One thing that never caught on but I have been using for about the last five years is bikepacking electric heated down jackets.

Electric heated down jackets and gilets have been a game changer for me. I use them when temperatures go around 0 degrees, and it’s incredible for not just taking the edge off the cold when riding but also when you wake up in the morning and climb out of your bivvy. 

Unfortunately, they have just never taken off, and I personally am so surprised that they haven’t. In this article, I will tell you everything you need to know about electric heated down jackets. We will discuss:

• What Is An Electric Heated Down Jacket?
• Electric Headed Down Jackets Pros And Cons
• Are Electric Heated Down Jackets For Bikepacking?
• Electric Heated Down Jacket Risks

What Is An Bikepacking Electric Heated Down Jacket?

Bikepacking electric heat down jackets are basically a down jacket filled with heating elements. You can turn on these elements, which heat up to keep you warm. I think they are fantastic when it comes to bikepacking because there will always be times when you’re getting cold.

Many come with various settings, the warmest lasting 2 to 3 hours and the coolest setting lasting around 7 to 8 hours. They require a power bank to work, which you can use most on the market, providing it goes down to 2 amps. They are called trickle power banks.

Heated down jackets come in many different forms. You have gilets, full jackets, and even vests. I personally like the gilet the best as it can easily be combined with lots of your other cycling kit, and many of the down jackets often don’t heat the arms anyway. 

Electric Headed Down Jackets Pros And Cons

As an avid user of bikepacking electric heated down jackets, I can honestly say they come with a huge amount of pros, but they also have a lot of cons. Here’s what you need to know:

Pros

Let’s start with the positives. These are why I continue to go bikepacking using a heated down jacket. 

They Are So Warm

Surprisingly, heated down gilets and jackets are incredibly warm. We’re not just talking they remove a chill, but I have found myself fixing my bike at 0 degrees outside and started to sweat. They are perfect for very low-temperature riding and, for me, perfect on those super cold nights.

Great For Camping

After a long day of bikepacking and you stop in the dark and cold, the last thing you need is to get a chill before you can get in your sleeping bag. I love to wear an electric down gilet when I am getting ready to sleep and when I wake up in the mornings.

They Are Light And Packable

Although the gilets might look quite puffy, they pack away very well with a bit of persuasion. I don’t mind carrying a down gilet even though it’s something extra to take. It gets used and weighs less than 400g + 300g for the power bank, so it’s worth it for me. Especially with a full frame bag.

They Can Last Ages

Most people think these heated jackets don’t last long, but they have an excellent run time. On a 10,000Mah power bank I get 7 to 8 hours on a low setting, 4 to 5 hours on a medium setting and 2 to 3 hours on a high setting. That’s plenty enough for a couple of nights of bikepacking. 

You Can Use The Power Bank As A Backup

In my electric heated down jacket, I have a separate trickle power bank, which is small and light but designed to charge at slower rates. If anything were to happen to my main power bank, I could use this as a backup.

Great For Ultra Cycling

If you are big on bikepacking and ultra cycling too, then being fast and effective is everything. On certain races, I am a huge fan of a heated gilet, but only if it’s going to be cold, and I plan to race through a lot of nights.

They Are Cheap

Electric down jackets are cheaper than you might think. For a cheap version, you can be looking at $30. For an expensive version, you will be looking at $100. That’s much cheaper than a top branded down gilet without heating elements. 

Cons

Then we have the cons. These are reasons why I wouldn’t always take an electric heated down jacket on an adventure with me.

When It’s Not Cold, There’s No Point

If the lowest temperature I will see at night is 8 degrees, then the sleeping bag will be more than enough to stay warm. In this case, I would not bother with the extra weight and space used with a heated jacket. 

They Do Take Up Space And Weight

I know 700g isn’t much if you’re on a general bikepacking trip but if you are ultra racing that is a lot. You could use that space much better, especially if you’re staying in hotels instead of sleeping rough.

Most Are Not Waterproof

Most electric heated down jackets are only lightly waterproof or have no waterproofing at all. In those cold rainstorms, they are useless. You should only really wear them in the dry. This can be annoying.

Your Rely On Power For Heat

I never like to rely on a battery to keep me warm, as if you are racing in very remote locations, you could have problems. I highly recommend only having it as a special item or a luxury. It’s important to have the correct kit and not always need to rely on a heated jacket. 

You Need A Trickle Power Bank

A common error I see when using electric jackets is that many people buy them and complain they don’t work. This is because they only work with certain power banks. These are called trickle power banks and run a very low 2a compared to modern power banks 2.5a and above.

Are Electric Heated Down Jackets For Bikepacking?

I love my heated down jacket for bikepacking. As someone who gets cold quite easily and really doesn’t enjoy being cold, it’s such a nice luxury to have. I have two big races coming up this year, and I have a heated down jacket on my kit list for both.

Looking back at my time bikepacking and ultra cycling and many times I have often struggled because I have just gotten too cold. This has either made me stop too early when I didn’t need to or been too wary of pushing on in case I thought I might get too cold.

I think they have a place in bikepacking, and I wouldn’t want to be away for more than two or three days without mine. A lot more riders will use them in the future, and I am very surprised they are not already.

Electric Heated Down Jacket Risks

Electric heated down jackets do come with risks. I say this because there are times when they have caught me out before. Here’s where I recommend you have to be careful.

Don’t Sleep In Them

You can wear one while in a sleeping bag and when you are getting ready to sleep, but I highly recommend not sleeping with it on low. I have never done this, but some bikepackers I know have woken up with a dead battery and very warm. Some are incredibly powerful, and you must always be alert when wearing one.

Don’t Rely On Them

Heated down jackets are fantastic, but as I mentioned before, they are not to be relied on. As fantastic as they are, they do run on batteries, and in very remote, cold locations, you need to keep it simple and have the right kit, such as a thick sleeping bag and tent.

Unplug When Not Using

I have drained the battery on my jacket a few times because I left it plugged in, and the button has switched on. This caused it to drain the power bank fully and heat my saddlebag. It is important to unplug them when not using them.

A Final Note: Bikepacking Electric Heated Down Jackets.

Electric heated down jackets are a cool kit option for bikepackers and ultra cyclists. I have been using them for years, and honestly, in winter, they help so much for getting me out training and keeping me warm on cold mornings and late nights.