Dropped $800 on a heated vest for a winter river job and it was a total game changer

Linda Ward · 2026-04-20T07:40:11.143031+00:00

We were doing a month of bridge inspections on the Ohio River in January. The water was 38 degrees and the topside wind chill was nasty. I was getting through it, but the cold was just grinding me down by the end of each shift. I saw an ad for a heavy duty heated vest that ran off a tool battery and bit the bullet. It cost about $800 with the extra battery packs. Wore it under my drysuit top. That steady warmth on my core changed everything. I wasn't fighting the shivers anymore, so my focus was better and my hands were steadier. It felt like cheating, but good cheating. Anyone else use something like that for cold water work, or did you find a cheaper trick?

grantt115mo ago

Sounds like a lot for a vest, but maybe it's worth it.

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tara7455mo ago

Was it really $800 for just the vest? I thought those tool battery ones were closer to $300.

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olivia_murphy4mo ago

Totally get the skepticism (I had the same thought honestly). Watched a buddy use one of those big battery vest setups on a dam job last winter and thought he was crazy spending that much. But then I borrowed his spare for a shift on a cold lake and yeah, it completely flipped my mind. That steady heat on your chest makes your whole body stop fighting, and your hands actually work right. Always figured thermal underwear was good enough, but now I'm saving up for one myself.

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