Kemimoto Heated Vest review: is it as good as pricier heated gilets?

Price on writing: £50 | Buy now from Amazon

During the winter, many of us wish we could add an extra layer of cosiness to our school run, commute or dog-walking outfits. Plus, with energy prices still high, we're loath to turn on the central heating more than is strictly necessary.

While I'm working from home, it just doesn't make sense to turn on all the radiators in my three-bedroom house. That's why I think it's a no-brainer to invest in the best heated gilet you can get your mitts on. While they can cost quite a lot initially, they make a real difference to your energy bills.

However, this heated vest from Kemimoto is less than half the price of Mumsnet's favourite, the Ororo Heated Vest - so I was skeptical, could it really keep me as warm as a more expensive heated gilet?

Here's my in-depth review, starting with a quick run-down of the things I liked about this vest, as well as what I didn't.

Our verdict

After a month of testing, I'm really fond of this heated gilet. It's slim and lightweight, making it easy to pop over my outfit at home, or fit under my coat when I'm out and about. While other heated gilets come with padding and thicker fleece fabric for warmth even when switched off, I preferred the slimmed down design of the Kemimoto Heated Vest to other ones I've tried.

With an RRP of £50, it's very well priced - although you will need to buy a battery pack if you don't already have one. You can buy a good battery for around £20, like this Anker 1000mAh External Battery. This does detract from the bargain price, however it's worth noting these power banks come in really handy for charging your phone - I take mine everywhere and find it gives me peace of mind to know I won't be left with a flat phone battery while I'm away from home.

Don't let the fact that the gilet is designed for wearing on a motorbike put you off - cosiness is cosiness wherever you are, and it heats up quickly to provide a steady, even heat with a choice of heating your back, front or both.

I must admit, gilets aren't really my style, so I also appreciate the low-key look of this heated vest. Black goes with just about anything, after all. It's very comfortable to wear - I particularly like how soft the lining is. The controls are straightforward and easy to access, and while there's only one heat setting I find it's just right for sitting at my draughty desk or warming me up under my dog walking coat on a blustery beach.

As it's black and easy to wipe clean, to be honest I haven't needed to wash the gilet. However, in the interests of a thorough review, I put it in my washing machine on a delicates wash with a Laundry Egg. Hanging on an airer with a dehumidifier on nearby, it was bone dry by the next morning, and the softness of the lining was unaffected by being washed.

How we tested

I tested the Kemimoto Heated Vest during cold weather in October and November, at home in Sussex and out and about walking my dogs on the beach and in the woods nearby. During testing, I carefully rated it on its warmth, design, battery life, fit and ease of use.

• Worn over the course of 4 weeks in chilly autumnal weather

• Tested over WFH clothes and under a winter coat

• Cross-compared with other heated products I've tested, including the Ororo Heated Fleece Vest

I also compared its performance to other heated gilets Mumsnet has reviewed; see our Conqueco Heated Vest review and Ororo Heated Fleece Vest review for more.

What is the Kemimoto Heated Vest?

Designed with winter sports and motorbiking in mind, the Kemimoto Heated Vest is a lightweight black vest with a discreet USB cable in one of the pockets, designed to be plugged in to a rechargeable power bank battery.

With three control buttons on the outside of the vest, you can choose to activate the heating panels in the front, back or both sides of the vest. There are 8 heating panels concealed in the fabric of the vest, consisting of thin, unobtrusive wires.

The gilet comes in black and is designed for women, with sizes S - XL available. There's also a men's heated vest available from the same brand.

Read next: Best hand warmers

How does the Kemimoto Heated Vest fit?

I'm a UK size 10-12 and tested a size M for this heated gilet. The gilet has a roomy fit, with enough space for a thick jumper underneath, but not so loose as to lose heat.

Its thin and lightweight design meant it also fit comfortably under my best winter coat.

Related: Best heated throw blankets

How warm is the Kemimoto Heated Vest?

The Kemimoto Heated Vest did an excellent job of keeping me toasty. Sat at a desk all day, I find a bit of heat on my torso makes me less achy at the end of the working day, as well as fending off the chill as the weather gets colder.

On days out, I loved how warm it kept me under a lightweight winter coat. It can be a pain to carry around a bulky puffer coat all day, so this slim heated vest is a perfect solution for travelling light in cold weather.

The gilet stays remarkably warm for hours, with just one heat setting. As it doesn't come with a battery included, it'll depend on the battery you use it with exactly how long it stays warm for. I happily wore it all day at my desk for 8 hours without it switching off.

Read next: Best electric blankets

How do you wash the Kemimoto Heated Vest?

The Kemimoto Heated Vest can be washed on a delicate cycle - it's important to remove the battery first. In order to care for the heated vest, don't put it in a tumble dryer or use an iron on it.

When I washed it, the heated vest dried quickly and the fabrics remained soft and comfortable. I didn't need to stretch or reshape it after washing.

Price: Is the Kemimoto Heated Vest worth it?

At £50, the Kemimoto Heated Vest is less than half the price of a heated gilet from market-leaders Ororo. While the Kemimoto has quite a different look to an Ororo gilet, it suited my needs to a tee.

The major drawback with the Kemimoto versus an Ororo heated gilet is the lack of battery pack. As one of these will set you back around £20, it's still under £100, but less of a bargain once you factor in this cost.

However, if you already have a USB power bank, it's likely you'll be able to use it with this gilet, as the Kemimoto Heated Vest is compatible with most 5V/2A power banks available. I used with with a number of different power banks, including the VQ Rechargeable Power Bank Hand Warmer, and it worked perfectly.

All in all, this is a useful, effective and versatile heated gilet that keeps me warm and saves me turning on the heating when it's just me at home. For the price, I was very impressed and it certainly gets my seal of approval.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.