Electric Vests

[Trek Biker]

OK, winter is coming. Has anyone had experience with the Tour Master Synergy electric vest liner w/heated collar? Thoughts regarding?

[khager]

I have the synergy jacket liner with sleeves and collar. It rock's, I've only used it on the low setting so far because it has only gotten down to the upper 30's here in the morning. Just got it 2 weeks ago. Even heat all over, and it is nice to have warm arms too since they are out in the windstream. This is over a t-shirt and under a tourmaster sabre textile jacket w/o the liner, since I have the electric, I will probably never use the liner that the Sabre jacket came with.

[Trek Biker]

I wondered if I should get the sleeves too. I actually worried about being too hot.

[enumclaw]

I don't have the Synergy products, I have Gerbing. But to answer your question about whether you should get the sleeves or not, I had a Gerbing vest for one season, then sold it in order to get the full jacket liner. YMMV. :)

[greywolf]

I prefer my Warm & Safe liner greatly over the old Widder vest. Sleeves are nice. The windshield protects the torso much better than the arms.

[Kieth]

One point in Gerbings favor, they really back there products up, check the guarantee I believe it is for life ???

[farmerlou]

I have the Gerbing vest and have yet to need anything more. I do have heated grips. If you plan on riding all winter in Lancaster and have the spare watts, a jacket liner may be a good move.

[DrDale]

I prefer my Warm & Safe liner greatly over the old Widder vest. Sleeves are nice. The windshield protects the torso much better than the arms.


I've got the Tourmaster Synergy jacket liner and agree wtih Grey...your arms are out in the wind and it's quite nice to feelt he warmth there. Plus...this will completely replace whatever insulated liner you've got that came with your riding jacket. With a vest, I figured I'd still end up also using my insulated liner, as there'd now be no insulation at all for my arms with just the vest.

[fastwally]

To answer your question, get the sleeves.

I'm a Gerbings man myself.

[water warrior]

Heated sleeves are the only reason I can ride when the temps drop. My arms get cold and I am beat. Warm arms and an extended riding season for me.

[Kieth]

Any trip that I take the gerbing goes with me (even to Baja). If I do not take it I freeze my ass off (that is saying a lot). In order to manage how much stuff I take I simply take the liner out of my jacket and substitute the gerbing for the liner, that way no more to lug around, if I get cold, I plug it in. Kieth:var_7:

[slash5]

I have have the Tourmaster Synergy vest. Its worked real well for me but it dose sorta confuse your body when your core is warm and your arms are not so much. i think you feel the heat first though. This has only happened when the temps are in the 40's for me. I also have heated grips. I was worried that the full jacket would be only good for really cold days. With the vest i think you can add a little heat to those early morning fall and spring rides and still help on those colder winter days.

[Bowhog1]

I have the synergy vest/wCollar.In my olympia jacket it works great but in my Kilimanjaro 5.0 my arms freeze.I will be buying the complete linner next season.

[revel22]

I may have had an oddball case, but my brand new Synergy vest stopped working on day 7 of a 10,000 mi trip to Alaska last summer. The controller stopped working for some reason. It was under warranty and they replaced it when I got home but I had to ride the rest of the trip without heated gear(other than my heated grips). Tented it most of the way. Mornings got down to 35 F degrees. Days not warmer than 65 F degrees. I was more than mildly upset while rolling into Whitehorse, Yukon after riding 3000 miles and still a long way from Fairbanks when the thing gave out. Personally, I will never buy another heated product from them. Spend the money and get something better.

[StromTech]

I am thinking of buying a Synergy vest or jacket liner with sleeves. The sizing chart indicates I should order a medium which seems unnatural to me. I am 6'3" 215lbs with a 42" chest. Can anyone give advice on sizing Synergy stuff based on their size? I understand the Tourmasters are made big but it's been a lot of years since I wore a medium anything...LOL

[khager]

I would say go with the large if it is a liner. you can maybe get by with a medium vest. I am 6'0" 170 lbs. 40-42" chest. When I tried on the vest, a small was the best fit nice and snug, which is what you want with heated gear. But when I tried on the jacket the sleeves were too short and it was tight under the arms, so I ended up getting a medium jacket liner which fits my arms and chest good but is loose around my gut. Try them on if you can, I had to try both sizes on several times.

[StromTech]

I would say go with the large if it is a liner. you can maybe get by with a medium vest. I am 6'0" 170 lbs. 40-42" chest. When I tried on the vest, a small was the best fit nice and snug, which is what you want with heated gear. But when I tried on the jacket the sleeves were too short and it was tight under the arms, so I ended up getting a medium jacket liner which fits my arms and chest good but is loose around my gut. Try them on if you can, I had to try both sizes on several times.

Thanks...There is no Tourmaster dealer to try one around this neck of the woods. I'm crossing the border in a couple of weeks so I'll order one delivered to where I'll be staying. From what you are saying I think I'll order the medium vest. If it's too small I'll give it to my young lad for Christmas.

Much appreciated. I guess the Toumaster sizing charts are accurate after all. It'll make me feel good to wear a medium again...LOL :)

[biggyfries]

My brother bought a Synergy vest and so far it has been wonderful--previously he was just riding in bitter cold and proud to be a tough guy--now he says the added warmth is enough to make him able to withstand almost anything. I suggested a full jacket liner with sleeves and it would have been even better, but he says the vest is okay as is--he really is a tough guy.