As someone who struggles with being cold almost year-round and is also a winter lover (yes, those two aspects can go together), heated apparel is a game-changer. I no longer have to rely solely on layering for warmth, but I now have the option to use one garment to keep me warm on my winter outings. The Ridge Women’s Heated Hoodie by Gobi Heat offers an impeccable amount of warmth not found in your everyday hoodie.
The Ridge Women’s Heated Hoodie in the skyline color. Photo: Gobi Heat
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Feel the Heat
With a 7.4 volt, 6700mAh battery, the warmth the Ridge Women’s Heated Hoodie provides is truly powerful. With a click of a button on the hoodie, you can choose one of three heat settings: low, medium, and high. So, depending on the chill outside, you can adjust your heat level as needed.
The highest setting produces heat up to a whopping 140 degrees F (60 C) and lasts up to 5 hours, even though my adventures did not exceed 1.5 hours. The lowest setting produces up to 113 degrees F (45 C) and can last up to 10 hours. As I enabled the high heat setting on a frigid mid-day walk of 20 degrees F, I felt warmer immediately.
The heat radiates from three zones: two areas in the chest and one large area in the back. This displacement keeps your core warm, and in my tests, it also helped radiate heat to my extremities. As we know, keeping your extremities warm is critical.
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Use this handy button to adjust your heat settings: low, medium, and high. Photo: Susan Wowk
As an Insulator
The conductive thread technology combined with the ultra-soft fleece lining makes this hoodie an excellent insulator. The Ridge Heated Hoodie (also available in men’s sizes) consistently kept me warm while out on my mid-day winter walk with my pup. On a cold but sunny 30-degree day in April, I didn’t even need to turn on the power source and instead relied on the thick fleece lining for warmth.
One afternoon, I also donned the hoodie for a short snowshoeing outing to a park just a block from my house, and again I stayed warm. I found it incredibly helpful to be able to adjust the heat setting while on my outing.
Keep in mind that the outer layer of the hoodie is a cotton/polyester blend, which means you don’t want to get it wet. Thus, the Ridge Hoodie is best worn as a mid-layer when there is no active snowfall or rain. Or, you can throw on a waterproof outer layer over the hoodie when it rains or snows.
If you’re looking for wind or water-resistant outerwear, Gobi Heat has a wide range of other heated products, such as the Sahara Heated Jacket (Women and Men), which are better suited for inclement weather conditions.
No matter your adventure, though, remember to charge the battery to ensure your next warm outing.
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Snowshoeing in a surprise 12+ inches of snowfall and staying warm in my Ridge Heated Hoodie by Gobi Heat. Photo: Paul Wowk
Comfort
Along with being incredibly warm, the Ridge Women’s Heated Hoodie is comfortable. As mentioned, the hoodie has a polyester/cotton blend outer fabric with an ultrasoft fleece inner fabric. This combination makes this hoodie soft, and it didn’t lead to any skin irritation on my mid-day walks or snowshoeing outings.
As a bonus, the Ridge is also machine washable. Just remember to take the battery pack out first!
Size and Fit
Regarding size, I tested a women’s medium-size heated hoodie. Compared to other hoodies I own, the Ridge has a snug fit, especially around the waist when fully zipped.
Also, the battery (in an inside pocket near the waist) produces a slight bulge, resulting in a tighter pocket fit. So, I recommend ordering a size larger hoodie than anticipated for those who prefer a looser fit or are concerned about waistline snugness.
Color options for the Ridge Heated Hoodie include steel, skyline (the color I had), and onyx.
Overall
The Gobi Heat Ridge Women’s Heated Hoodie (or Men’s Ridge Heated Hoodie) is an excellent mid-layer for apres outings and snowshoe adventures close to home. The heat provided in the three battery-powered zones can keep even the coldest of us warm throughout the winter season.
Keep in mind that since the Ridge has a cotton/polyester outer layer, it is not waterproof. So, remember to bring along a waterproof outer layer to wear over the Ridge on days with inclement weather.
Or, consider Gobi Heat’s Sahara Heated Jacket (Women and Men) as an alternative since it is wind and water-resistant.
What are your experiences with heated apparel? Let us know in the comments below!
Gobi Heat provided my Ridge Women’s Heated Hoodie. As always, the views and opinions expressed in this article are entirely my own. This article was first published on September 22, 2020, and most recently updated on November 29, 2022.
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We enjoyed our afternoon snowshoe adventure in the park with my Gobi Heat Ridge Heated Hoodie. The fleece lining of the hoodie kept me warm enough that day, around 30 degrees F. I didn’t even need to turn on the battery. Photo: Paul Wowk
While I do like my new gobi heat jacket, it sure would have been nice if the pockets were heated. Not keen on the sleeves around the wrists. Bulky. Other than that, good concept and heat works good.