Re: [ST] electric vests

["Ken Mitchell" <ken_mitchell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Denis Liakos
> Ive only seen the Gerbing product first hand, but I also checked out
Widder's
>website, their stuff looks like somewhat higher quality, albeit a bit more
>expensive. Any feedback would be appreciated.


Denis,

I've compared the Widder and the Gerbing side-by-side, and I'd have to say
that the Gerbing products really are the better of the two. Personally, I
prefer the Gerbings for several reasons. First, they use a much higher
quantity of finer size heating wire, which according to their theories,
affords a more even heat ditribution thoughout the garment.

I also liked the the idea of a full-sleeved jacket liner over the Widder
vest. I couldn't help but notice that Widder has changed their thinking on
their original theme of "just keep the core warm", now offering their
"snap-on" sleeves. For my thinking, it's a lot less hassle and bulk to use
the Gerbing's one-piece liner, which wouldn't even appear as a "specialty
garment" if you didn't notice the wires. They offer two types; one thin
liner for under tighter fitting outerwear such as leathers, and a quilted
lining in their standard Jacket Liner. I also appreciate the compact
connections at the sleeve ends for their excellent heated gloves. The jacket
liners from Gerbing are also sized very exactly for trunk and sleeve size.
They do that to assure better overall contact, optimizing the heat transfer.

Those gloves, which I have, are full leather outers, but claim to be
breatheable and waterproof. I haven't tested the waterproof feature, but
they are less bulky than I expected. I actually use mine in conjunction with
heated grips on those near-freezing days I sometimes ride out in. Order
gloves on the big side, though, as they don't stretch as other leather
gloves do.

I have not used the Widder, just looked at it. I do have friends who use
their products and like them, but neither do they have the Gerbing to
compare to.

Hope this helps.

Ken M.


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