I know, I know, there are those of you out there that think buying electric underclothing is a HUGE waste of money. I get told everyday that if you have a winter jacket and pants, you should be fine. It's almost as if by using them, you're less of a rider, or your missing your "tough guy" gene. All I can do is smile as I turn up the heat on my heated jacket....lol.
Is heated clothing over-kill? Well, if staying warm, in any climate, is over-kill, then I guess it is. There was once a day when I felt that it was a luxury, and not worth the expense. Those days stopped the second I rode with my first electric jacket...lol.
Sure, the REAL good stuff isn't cheap. I prefer Firstgear Warm-n-Safe, but started with Tourmasters Synergy products. Both work, but the Firstgear product is just a bit better. Here in AZ it does get chilly in the winter. If you live outside the city limits, it can plunge to the mid 20's. Add windchill, and it's near zero. Granted, this is for only 4 months of the year, but it's a cold 4 months...lol. If you live inside the city, add about 10 degrees...
Is a warm jacket enough? Absolutely. Will you be more comfortable in electric clothing? Absolutely. Is it worth the expense? Absolutely. There's nothing better than sitting on your bike, plugging in, dialing up the heat, and ENJOYING the ride.
Are there any other benefits of having heated underclothing? For those of you that don't have a winter jacket, or are in the need of a new one, give it some thought. I used to wear my winter jacket, but now have zero issues wearing my summer mesh jacket on most cooler days. I toss in the jacket liner, slip on my heated jacket, and I'm off. This works down to about 40, and I've yet to get cold. It's nice to toss the liner in my bag when it's time to head home, and have the use of of mesh jacket. If I had the winter jacket only, the ride home would be a bit on the warm side...
For those out there that foo-foo using this stuff, I can say one thing for sure. Like me, once you take the plunge, no one is going to pry you out of your heated jacket on cold days. You won't be standing in your garage, staring at your bike, debating if you want to battle the cold. You'll slip on your jacket, gloves and pants and jump on.
