Growing up in Southern California, neither I nor Dustin are fond of the cold, especially when it’s under 10°F. The last time when we visited Utah in the winter, we almost left early because it was so cold with the temperature at 2°F and 30mph wind chill. At that moment, both of us thought how nice would it be if we have warmer jackets. It’s like the fairy godmother had heard our thoughts, Venustas reached out to us right after, asking if we would like to review their heated jackets. Of course, we agreed. After browsing through their selections, both of us decided on the Venustas 3-in-1 heated jackets. These jackets had accompanied us on multiple trips throughout the last 4 months, through many adventures, so we can give you an honest review of what we think of them.
Why We Chose the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket?
Venustas has many options of heated jackets to pick from. However, we chose the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket because we like the fact that the inner and outer layers can be separated, which gives us more styling and heating options (here is the women’s version of the 3-in-1 Heated Jacket). This feature suits our lifestyle because even though we travel to colder climates, we also live in Southern California. Therefore, we prefer jackets that we could wear year-round. With the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket, we could wear just the outer layer if we just want a light, waterproof jacket. Since the heating panels are inside the fleece layer, we could wear the comfortable fleece layer on colder days. And when we want to be extra warm and dry, we could wear both layers. Another reason that we like this particular style is that it looks quite stylish with streamlined pockets and minimal branding.
Overall Review of Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket
Quick Specs
- Women’s Sizing: XS to 3XL
- Men’s Sizing: S to 4 XL
- Shell Material: 100% Nylon
- Lining: 100% Polyester
- Fit: Slim Fit for Women, Regular Fit for Men
- Temperature Setting: High: 130°F/55°C | Medium: 113°F/45°C | Low: 95°F/35°C
- Battery Runtime: High: 3 hrs |Medium: 5-6 hrs | Low: 8-10 hrs
Rating
Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket Review
Style & Fit
As we mentioned above, the reason we chose this particular style of the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket is that we like how it looks. The jacket is streamlined with a minimalistic approach so it looks stylish and not bulky. These jackets also fit quite well and are true to size. In fact, we were surprised at how well both layers fit separately and together. The jacket feels snug, yet has enough room for extra layers of clothing if we want to.
Dustin usually wears a Medium and the Medium jacket fits him perfectly. I usually alternate between a Small and XS depending on the brand so I went with XS for the Venustas Heated Jacket. For reference, I wear XS in Patagonia and REI Co-Ops Jackets. As for the length, the jacket hits just right below the hip.
Quality
When we first open the packages, we were impressed with how good the quality is. The material feels sturdy yet comfortable. The fabric is thick, without being too heavy. All the stitches and the overall construction are well-made. There are also tons of cool features and pockets. It’s clear to see that even though Venustas is known for its jacket’s heating technology, they also put a lot of thought and pride into choosing the material as well as the overall design of their jackets.
Features
When we first received the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket, besides its heating technology, it doesn’t seem to be any different from other jackets that we have. However, as we wore them throughout our adventures, we started to discover all the cool features that this jacket has.
Pockets
I LOVE pockets! Pockets on my yoga pants, pockets on my running shorts, pockets on my dresses, pockets everywhere! So, I was over the moon when I realized how many pockets the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket has. The outer layer alone has 4 pockets, 2 side pockets, 1 on the outer chest, and 1 on the inside of the jacket. The inner layer has 3 pockets, and 2 side pockets, and the last pocket has 2 layers with one layer for the battery pack and the other one for storage.
The pockets on the outer layers are very big. We were able to fit 2 Google Pixel phones, a wallet, 1 set of keys, 1 pocket knife, 1 Gopro on a selfie stick, and 1 pair of sunglasses inside those pockets, with ample room to spare still. These pockets all have zipper closures so we didn’t have to worry about things falling out while we were climbing rocks or jumping around. It was quite nice.
Detachable Hood
The hood on the outer layer is detachable. The way it’s attached/detached is very well-designed. The hood attaches using a hidden zipper attachment at the back while the two left and right sides of the hood are tucked into small hidden pockets with velcro. With its design, the jacket looks like a seamless piece with or without the hood. We also like the fact that the hood has drawstrings and velcro tabs to help adjust its size, perfect for people with smaller heads.
Detachable Layers
As we previously mentioned, the reason we got the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jackets is that the outer and inner layers can be separated. It is a very nice feature. The outer layer is made out of 100% Nylon on the outside and Polyester for the lining. The inner layer is a fleece material made out of 100% polyester. We were also very surprised at how well-designed, easy, and thoughtful the way these two layers are attached to each other. The inner layer is attached to the outer layer by a zipper on each side. The zippers lined flushed with the lining with their tabs hidden so we didn’t feel any discomfort. The sleeves also have a small loop secured with a button to keep them in place. There is also one more loop and button fastening point at the neck. The attachment is simple, yet effective.
The Outer Layer
The outer layer of the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jackets is water resistant. It also works quite well against the wind. This layer has a high collar and a detached hood. It looks great with or without the hood. The jacket also has a drawstring at the bottom to keep it snug. There are velcro tabs at the end of the sleeves to help them fit better around the wrists. The opening zipper is hidden under a tab that has velcro on it to keep it laying flat. This feature makes the jacket look quite stylish. As we mentioned above, this outer layer also has 4 HUGE pockets, all with zipper closures. What else? The outer layer is not just a shell. It has a soft lining as well. To be honest, I was quite content just wearing this outer layer alone.
The Inner Layer
The inner layer is where the heating panels and the battery pack are. This layer features a fleece material made out of polyester. It has a shell and a lining. This inner layer is quite simple in design compared to the outer layer. Then again, it serves as the inner layer after all. There isn’t a hood, just a high collar. There are two side pockets and another zipped pocket inside. The zipped pocket is where the battery pack goes. There is a small plug-in cord where the battery pack connects with the heating panels. The on/off button is located inside the inner layer, around the chest area. The heating panels are inconspicuous. We barely feel them at all. Even without the heating turning on, this inner layer itself was quite warm and comfortable.
Heating Technology
Three Different Heat Settings
The heating technology is the main feature of this Venustas heated jacket. There are 5 heating panels inside the inner layer of the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jackets. There are two on the front, 2 on the shoulders, and 1 on the back.
To turn the panels on, you’ll need to plug in the fully charged battery pack to the power cable. The power button will then flash red/white/blue and then turn off. If it doesn’t flash, make sure to replug the cable. Then, press and hold the power button for 3-5 seconds to turn on the preheat with a blinking red light. After 5 minutes of preheating, the jacket defaults to a medium heat setting with a white LED. Now, you can adjust the heat setting to high heat (red), low heat (blue), or stay at medium (white) by simply holding down the power button for 1 second. If you forget instructions, worry not, they are printed on the inside of the jacket, where the battery pack is.
Battery
The battery for the Venustas heated jacket is a small battery pack, about the size of a portable phone charger that slips into the inside pocket. There is a small cord there where you can plug the DC output into. The battery pack weighs about 6.88oz, not that heavy by itself but can feel cumbersome when added to the jacket. Normally, it won’t be a big deal, however, if you’re backpacking, and conscious about carrying weight while traveling or on adventures, it might be an issue.
The battery is charged via USB-C port and takes about 6 hours or so to fully charge from empty. According to Venustas, the battery life last about 3 hours on high, 5-6 hours on medium, and 8-10 hours on low. There are numeric readouts on the side of the battery pack so you’ll know how much power you have left. The battery pack also has a USB output so you can charge your phone or similar device. It’s a nice added bonus if you need an emergency charger.
We took our jackets with us out on the snow, on freezing camping days, and on other adventures. They kept us quite warm. Dustin was sweating a few times because it got too warm. As for the battery life, it lasted as advertised. Even when we’re not using it for over a month, the battery still stays as when we left it. It was quite impressive. And if for any reason the heating elements on your jacket don’t work, you can contact Venustas for an exchange. The battery has a 1-year warranty while the heating elements have a 2-year warranty. That’s pretty good.
Pros and Cons
PROS
- Many pockets! With zippers!
- Inner and outer layers can be separated and worn independently.
- Detachable hood
- Stylish and minimalistic design
- Fit perfectly
- Comfortable
- Water resistant
- Warm even without heating technology
- 3 heat levels (Low, Medium, High)
- Easy to use
- Powerful and long-lasting battery pack
- Battery pack can be used to charge other devices
- Battery life indicator
- Machine washable. For care instructions, you can check out Venustas website.
- High quality and sturdy
- Well designed
- Wide range of sizes from XS to 4X
- Good insulation
CONS
- The jacket can be quite heavy when both layers are attached to a battery pack.
- It takes some getting used to carrying around a heavy battery
- The wire seems to disconnect from the battery inside pocket easily
- Not ideal for use in rainy/wet conditions
- The indicator lights on the battery pack and on the power button are kind of hard to see, especially in bright sun. When we were outside in daylight, sometimes, we had a problem telling whether the jacket was turned on or not.
- Not a lot of color options
The Verdict
Is the Venustas 3-in-1 Heated Jacket worth it? Our answer is definitely a yes. Especially if you live or planning to go somewhere cold. At around $200, these jackets are not cheap. However, that is about the price of a good quality jacket though. Our Patagonia Nano Puff jackets cost more than that but are only thick enough to be worn in the spring or fall. Even a simple shell from REI is already around $170. With how well it’s made, even without the heating technology, the Venusta Heated Jacket is still worth its price. Now, adding on the heating technology, these jackets are definitely a steal. We love that we have the option of not using the heating technology if we don’t want to. With 2 separate layers, we can wear this jacket throughout the year, from the spring to freezing winter. It’s definitely a bang for your buck!
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