“The Keis Heated Jacket has become one of my favourite bits of kit and an absolute necessity for the cold sections of our round-the-world trip.”
Keis Heated Jacket Review
Snapshot
- Price: jacket – £199.99
- Mileage tested: 5,000
- Testing conditions: Europe in winter and temperatures down to -15C
- Durability: 5⁄5
- Fit and comfort: 5⁄5
- Ease of use: 4⁄5
- Value for money: 4⁄5
- Where to buy UK: sportsbikeshop.co.uk
- Where to buy US: revzilla.com
Features
Wearing the Keis J501 Premium heated jacket on a cold day is like being treated to a warm cuddle. It is an expensive bit of kit, but if you’re a cold weather rider – or even if you’ve had enough of being freezing cold on a motorbike – then it’s a worthwhile investment.
I used to ride with a Keis heated vest, but since trying the jacket with its heated sleeves I wouldn’t go back. If it’s cold enough to warrant a heated undergarment you may as well opt for the full thing and keep your arms and neck warm too.
That’s the beauty of a heated jacket – your entire core is kept warm with the push of a button.
What’s good?
All you have to do is connect a cable to your bike battery and let a little plug poke out from under your seat. When the weather turns, just chuck the jacket on and plug in!
As well as being ultra-toasty, owning a heated jacket means you can leave all those thermal layers at home. Squeezing into a base, mid, outer and windproof layer is sweaty work and leaves my arms rigid and uncomfortable.
Popping a heated jacket on and plugging it in is effortless. With the press of a switch I can choose from three heat settings on this Keis jacket and I have only needed to go higher than a medium when riding in sub-zero temperatures.
The jacket also looks pretty good. The fit is excellent and I tend to wear it as a casual jacket when off the bike. It has two zip-up side pockets, a chest pocket and a dedicated pocket to house its wiring loom, making it practical when strolling around.
I only had to put the Keis jacket on its maximum heat setting once, and that was in -12°C in Slovakia. Otherwise it stayed on low, or medium if I fancied a treat.
The jacket itself is a snug fit, so as well as looking stylish off the bike it is close enough to my body to trap the heat it’s generating, meaning I don’t need to have the garment on high heat and often I can leave it without any heat at all.
What’s not?
The only downside to the jacket is if it’s worn with the wrong type of base-layer it quickly becomes a fantastic static conductor. But once you get the right, non-static base layer sorted you’ll kick yourself for not having worn a heated jacket sooner.
Round up
I’m chuffed! The Keis Heated Jacket has become one of my favourite bits of kit and an absolute necessity for the cold sections of our round-the-world trip. If it’s kept me warm through constant freezing conditions day in and day out it’ll easily take on a British winter.
Keis Heated Jacket Review: Total score: 18⁄20
More Heated Motorcycle Gear Options
KEIS V501 Heated Vest, £125
KEIS G102 Heated Gloves, £57.49
KEIS S102 Heated Inner Soles, £59.48
KEIS T192 Heated Trousers, £148.49
GERBING Heated Socks, £64.99
KEIS G601 Heated Gloves, £180
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We’d love to hear from you! Please leave your comments below.
Hi
I ride in northern NY where temps drop fast. typically I where eated liner from Gerbing or firstgear because could not find the combined heated midlayer. Believe like to order the J501RP (like black) but I have Gerbing gloves. I operate gloves independant from coat.using the Gerbing dual controller. Is that still possible with the J501 and J501RP?
Very important as I have nerve issues and need heated gloves even at say 15degc (55deg F) but do not need heated coat until below 50deg F or 45 deg F
thanks to advise your findings.
Hi Tiny,
Thanks for your comment.
I’m not 100% sure what you’re asking… are you asking if Keis has a dual heated controller like Gerbing whereby you can adjust the temperatures of two bits of heated gear independently from one device? If so, no, I don’t believe Keis has a dual controller.
However, you can still use Keis jacket and gloves separately and independently of each other. The gloves can be plugged into the jacket and set at different temperatures using the button on the top of the gloves.
I hope this helps, but please feel free to ask more questions if not!
Cheers
Andy
This helps
Essentially answer is there is one power connection KEIS can have dual controller like Gerbing. They require use of the stupid y cord that everyone hates
I get the button for gloves but forces me buy their gloves when I have perfect Gerbing gloves
It is a shame. I like their jacket
Hi, yes, I believe there is one controller. I will actually double check this for you on Monday with Keis though.
An alternative is that you run a Keis jacket and Gerbing gloves separately? Both can be directly connected to your bike’s battery using their own dedicated cables.
Cheers,
Andy