Reviewed by April D. Ray 

I was pleasantly surprised when I first saw the ewool® PRO heated vest. Having never tried a heated clothing product before, I expected it to be bulky and heavy, but this vest is sleek, lightweight, and great-looking too. 

Using the size chart from the ewool® website, I had checked my measurements and determined that I was in between sizes Medium and Large. I asked for a Large, and it was the right decision as the vest fit a little on the small side, but the side stretch panels allow for more room and improved comfort, especially since the vest requires more of a snug fit to maximize heating performance.

The moment I tried it on, I could tell that a lot of thought and attention to detail went into creating this product. From the sleek fit, easy one-button control, and convenient charging, the designers seem to have thought of everything.

I followed the instructions and fully charged the battery, which took just under three hours. Then I tested the vest on a chilly night of teaching riding lessons. The vest takes mere seconds to heat up and it’s easy to control the temperature. At this time of year, by the time I finish an evening of teaching I’m usually stiff and teeth-chattering cold, but while wearing the ewool vest I was toasty warm - no matter how frightful the weather outside.

With the slim battery in the back pocket, I didn’t even notice the battery pack once I started riding. The control button is conveniently placed and easily accessible at the bottom left of the vest. I found that I warmed up faster than usual because I hadn’t started out cold and stiff, then I turned off the vest for most of my ride (my horse gives me a good workout) and turned it back on while cooling out. I happily avoided the chill I usually get at this time of year after working up a sweat during the ride. I was also pleased to discover that the vest is machine washable when my horse wasted no time slobbering all over it!

While the battery provides a charge for a full day of light use, a second battery can be added for even more power to battle those extra-long cold days. Promoted as being “the warmest, battery-operated, heated vest in the world,” this vest packs a punch and manages to be both stylish and rugged at the same time. And on top of that, it’s designed and tested in Canada!

Although here on Canada’s west coast we don’t typically experience extreme cold conditions, ewool® claims the vest can handle up to -40 degree temperatures. But this area isn’t called the “wet coast” for nothing; here the cold gets into your bones and can make winter barn time unenjoyable to say the least. With long, cold days spent doing chores, teaching, and riding, this heated vest is a welcome addition to my closet and riding gear. I highly recommend it to other equestrians wanting to chase away those winter chills. 

Visit the ewool® website for more information and check out the other products they offer (they even have heated gloves!)