The Weston Store sprung up in 2017 to plug a gap in the market and give outdoor enthusiasts the chance to stay comfortably outdoors for longer when the temperatures plummet. Their growing range of heated clothing for men and women aims to “bridge the gap between functionality and fashion”. With thermal clothing previously associated with the elderly and infirm, Weston's mission has been to shift that perspective to offer outdoor clothing that “makes you look and feel great”.
The Weston ‘Men's Heated Coat' is a game-changing outer garment to keep you active in winter. At the press of a button, you can pre-heat before facing the icy tundra outside. The unappealing ritual of pulling on an ice-cold coat for the last dog-walk of the day or when you step out to defrost the car can now be resigned to history. This heated coat from Weston's range of heated apparel is a stylish, comfortable, and most importantly, warm way to get you through the harsh winter months. And when it's becoming more and more expensive to heat our homes, it's a good time to invest in another method of staying warmer for longer.
The first thing to notice is the excellent attention to detail. Weston's ‘Men's Heated Coat' comes well-packaged in a re-usable fabric zip bag inside a resealable protective plastic bag. If you hang up the coat for a short time, any creases from being pressure packed soon drop out. You need a few hours to fully charge the battery anyway, as it arrives partially-charged. Make sure you set it up before you need it. Just read the instructions: everything you need is included.
The rechargable battery is about the size of a computer mouse and it plugs into a cable within an interior pocket. The materials are quality and of high density, so the weight of the battery in the pocket is negligible and doesn't unbalance the coat. The man-made fibres are well-chosen for windproofing and heat retention. The weight ensures that the coat hangs well off the shoulders – a vital quality for a good look in any decent men's garment – and immediately provides warmth and comfort without even activating the heating. The detachable hood, fastened by both velcro and zip, enables the wearer to streamline the look.
Once activated, the coat is warm but by no means stifling. The heat, conducted through thin coiled wires that you can trace with your fingers if you examine the fabric closely enough, radiates through a silver lining (also found in the hood) that traps and spreads the heat. As much of the body's heat is lost through the head, using the hood is a good option even in dry but cold conditions. Under the weight of raindrops, the hood can become heavier and slip down. In wet (as well as windy) conditions, using the adjustable elastic string is essential to keep the hood in place.
Detailed instructions are included, but the basic functionality is simple to grasp (I'm not a tech-savvy person but had it sussed within minutes). One tip is on subsequent uses to remember to switch on the battery before pressing the button on the chest, though the battery automatically turns off to save power when you switch off the heating. The battery lasts for up to eight hours, so doesn't need recharging with every use. If you use it for an hour a day in winter, you'd probably need to charge it once a week. Four lights on top of the battery show the remaining power levels, so regular checking allows you to monitor and recharge before it becomes exhausted and loses heat.
Pressing and holding the large button on the front activates the heating, which comes on at the front on both sides of the abdomen, and at the rear along the upper back and around the neck through the collar. This may be of comfort for those who ache in cold conditions, whose muscles respond positively to heat. The highest setting quickly provides the feeling of warmth within just a few seconds. It's like a warm embrace and is unbelievably welcome in cold conditions. I've been trialling the coat in early autumn where the temperatures can still peak, and the heating is so effective that wearing the coat with the power on works quickly, so you'd only ever need the highest setting when conditions are see-your-breath cold outside.
By way of disclaimer, the outside temperatures haven't dropped close to freezing yet, but I'm confident the high quality of the product will keep the wearer warm once the frosts hit, and I'm looking forward to trying it. Pressing the button more than once cycles through the medium and low heat settings (you'll see the LED light change colour), and these give options for those milder days when there's still a bit of chill in the air.
The coat is waterproof, though the instructions caution that the heating shouldn't be used when the inside of the garment is wet, such as when it has just been washed or when the wearer is excessively sweaty. Solely activating the top heating level outdoors will be the best way to ensure optimal usage. There are useful safety features too. A reflective strip decorates the hood, and the button pulses with LED light attuned to the heat setting which will be visible in the dark at close range.
There are enough pockets with zips for those of us who like safe places to stow personal items to avoid weight around the hips (which can, remember, impact upon posture). On the first few wears, I found the zip fastened well but was a little tricky to disconnect, but this soon sorts itself out as the coat is worn in, and isn't a big enough issue to affect the overall high satisfaction with the look, quality and effectiveness of the product. Even after several wears and a good few hours outside and in the garden, the coat looks pristine, as the material is easy to wipe clean.
So if you're looking to keep active and stay productive in the great outdoors this winter, the Weston ‘Men's Heated Coat' opens up a world of options. Best of all, it achieves the company's aim of successfully marrying style with innovation and comfort. Feel well-dressed as well as warm.
Manufacturer: Weston Buy Weston ‘Men's Heated Coat' and explore more Heated Jackets from Weston.
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