GEAR | The 8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket is a True Hug in a Jacket!

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Apparently, I feel the cold. I still maintain that I have an average tolerance to cold, but my friends seem to disagree! So when I was offered the chance to review the 8K Flexwarm ultra-lightweight heated jacket, I ever so casually and nonchalantly, jumped at it!

8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket

So what is it?

8K Flexwarm Heated Jacket £189
Buy it here

Features

  • Snug fitting, ultralight jacket with Flexwarm® heating technology
  • Durable and washable
  • 3 different heating zones can be controlled by the Powered by Flexwarm app
  • Integral 7500mAH battery housed in a zippable pocked with a USB connector
  • Internal pockets
  • Drawstring cord at the bottom hem to adjust fit
8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket

On first impression, the jacket is really nice looking. It is well designed and fitted. Sizes do come up on the snug side, however I was advised by Flexwarm that the sizing is to be reviewed for winter 2018.

Getting going with the jacket was surprisingly simple. All the instructions are on the cardboard labels that come with the jacket and they are straight forward and no nonsense which is great for me as I’m not a huge fan of lengthy instructions.

How does it work?

The Flexwarm website says “The lightweight heating element is intrinsically printed and then layered between the inner and outer layers of fabric to create 3 fully controllable heating zones”. All pretty impressive but is it any good and how easy is it to get started?

To get going, charge the compact pocket-sized USB battery pack the same way you would your smart phone, plug it into internal cable in the inside pocket, download the app, pair via Bluetooth and you’re pretty much away. The jacket doesn’t have to be controlled via the app but it’s a neat option that allows more control over the temperature if you do by way of temperature sliders that are not available via the buttons alone.

8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket

How did it perform?

The first time I put this jacket to the test, other than in my lounge showing off the illuminated buttons to my housemates, was after I had been given my very first windsurfing lesson. I had spent two hours on the lake on a cool windy evening in an ill fitting borrowed wetsuit that kept letting water in, so by the time it came to drying off and getting warm afterwards, I practically ripped the jacket out of the handy carrying pouch that comes with it in order to give it its first real test.

8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket

The first thing I noticed is that the jacket is surprisingly lightweight and heats up very quickly which was a blessing because at this point, the wind had picked up and the temperature had dropped. The heat it gave off was almost instant, but at the same time it felt non-invasive and gentle, a bit like a hug from your mum. I am not sure why but I was expecting it to feel harsh, a bit like when you sit with a hot water bottle on your tummy for too long. It was anything but.

Christmas Gifts for Hikers

Controlling it straight from the buttons on the outside of the jacket itself, I found it practical and easy while in the middle of sorting out damp wetsuits and folding towels. The three temperature options and three zone options allow you to choose exactly where you want the heat and how much. You can choose from 40 degrees 45 degrees and 50 degrees, or anything in-between if using the slider control within the app.

8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket

A few days later I took the jacket out when once again, the temperatures were more like late autumn than late spring. This time, I went horse riding. Wearing riding gloves and controlling half a ton of horse meant that working the jacket from the app would have been nigh on impossible so again, I was grateful of the large simple controls on the outside of the jacket.

The jacket is warm enough to wear on its own in the spring and Autumn and lightweight enough to add another layer to during the depths of winter. This allows for flexibility and gives you options which can’t be bad.

8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket

Verdict

I’m not one for gimmicks and to be honest, before I tried this jacket, I did wonder if it was a bit of a gimmick, but I am happy to have been proved wrong though.

This is a solid, innovative product that lives up to expectations, keeping you snug and warm and it manages to do it with style!

I have worn it with it switched on for just over 3.5 hours so far and have not had to charge it yet.

It is simple to control too, with each setting colour-coded and it’s easy to pack and store, great as I do a lot of traveling and space is at a premium inside our VW campervan. I even found myself wearing it while working at my computer desk on a particularly chilly evening recently!

All in all this is a really handy jacket and one that I wouldn’t want to give up!

Pros

  • Lightweight and easily portable jacket that packs down to a good size
  • Nicely fitted contemporary design
  • Easy to control
  • You can also charge your phone from the battery pack
  • Heats up quickly

Cons

  • Doesn’t always pair with smartphone first time
  • Sizing comes up a little small (though Flexwarm are due to update sizing for winter 2018).
  • It would be nice to see a larger range of colours introduced.
8K Flexwarm Lightweight Heated Jacket
Christmas Gifts for Hikers

Where to next?

Thank you to 8K Flexwarm for supplying the featured product. We were not paid to write this review.