If staying warm without piling on a ton of clothing appeals to you, Fieldsheer can help. Their Mobile Warming collection includes everything from vests and coats to socks and insoles. As well, they pay special attention to heated clothing for those who work outside. My concern is keeping warm on a motorcycle. With that in mind, I sourced the men’s Backcountry Heated Vest and Merino Heated Baselayer Pants. These two items make cold weather riding more comfortable, fit easily under riding gear, and are equally appropriate for any overlander wanting lightweight warmth. Fieldsheer also offers a full line of women’s Mobile Warming clothing.
Why Mobile?
Electric vests for motorcyclists are nothing new, I have one from a 1994 press intro that still works fine. However, it requires 12 volts from the bike via a bothersome electric cord that must be unplugged when dismounting. The ability to hop on and off the bike without dealing with a cord makes those stops for photos and hiking much easier. Plus, the heat comes with me.
Mobile Warming Power-Up
The vest and pants both use the same 7.4 volt 2250mAh lithium-ion battery that is standard in much of the Mobile Warming line. Each garment comes with a battery and USB A/C charging cable. Roughly 2 x 3 x 1.5 inches in size and weighing 3 ounces, the power pack has four tiny LEDs to indicate state of charge. A depleted battery charges in about four hours but Fieldsheer recommends not running them completely dead to maintain battery health. The vest has a special battery compartment in the right-hand pocket, while the pants hold it in a discreet hip pocket.
Heat Control
The battery’s switch lets the power flow, while a button on the clothing controls the heat level. Its color changes from cool blue (25 percent power) though green and orange to hot red (100 percent) as the user ups the heat level. Fieldsheer claims the vest warms from 90 to 135 degrees. In my use, the blue level suggested warmth, the middle two settings provided good warmth, and the red level eventually became too hot. The Mobile Warming app can also control heat output and displays battery power, making it convenient for covered clothing like the Baselayer Pants.
Backcountry Vest
Fieldsheer uses their water-resistant/breathable Waterpell nylon for the vest’s exterior and polyester treated with their anti-static Zapsheer for the liner. The insulation is PrimaLoft Black ThermoPlume fiber, which PrimaLoft claims compares to the insulating and compressible properties of 550 fill power down. The Backcountry vest can be machine washed on the delicate cycle.
Warm and Warmer
Mobile warming in the vest comes from three heat zones situated for good contact with your body to maximize heat transfer. The two front zones are on either side of the chest, with the third spread across the upper back. The vest worked best when worn over a light base layer with and covered with another layer to keep its warming elements close.
The Backcountry vest would be a nice garment even without the mobile warming aspect. Its full-length zipper encloses a high neck, an elastic waist cord cinches up the hem, and the design allows good range of motion. For storage, Fieldsheer includes zippered hand-warmer pockets, a phone-sized vest pocket, and another small interior pouch. Light and packable with its flexible heating elements, the Backcountry is well made, comfortable, and most of all, warm. For prolonged use, an extra battery or two will keep the heat coming.
Mobile Warming Merino Baselayer Pants
The Baselayer Pants are my favorite of the two garments here. By using 51 percent merino wool fabric, Fieldsheer created a layer for the legs that is comfortable to the touch and warm on its own. The lightweight fabric is sufficiently clingy to prevent it from bunching up, and the pants can be worn over or under socks. They also fit easily beneath jeans or riding pants. A stretch panel accommodates various sized legs while a partially elastic waistband holds them in place. The Merino Baselayer Pants must be hand washed.
Leg Warming
Once again, Fieldsheer put the warmth where it counts. Frontal heating elements start below the pelvis and angle inward along the thighs, whereas the lower back gets a well-placed swath of warmth that reaches nearly from hip to hip. Like the vest, I found the highest setting too hot and the lowest a bit weak. Starting in the red zone and backing off when the heat hits worked best for me. The pants add a measure of warmth with the heat turned off, but not as much as the vest.
These garments are just a small part of Fieldsheer’s Mobile Warming line suitable for overlanders, no matter their mode of transport.
$170 | Backcountry Heated Vest
$180 | Merino Heated Baselayer Pants
$40 | 7.4v Powersheer Mini Battery with charging cable
Images: Fieldsheer, Author
Read More: Fieldsheer Mobile Cooling
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