Sizing
Heated clothing size guide: jackets and gilets in cm
Heated jacket and heated gilet size charts in centimetres, why Asian sizes come up small, and how to measure a jacket you own to pick the right size first time.
Our heated jackets and gilets are made to Asian sizes, and they come up small. The good news is that you do not have to guess. Every size has measurements in centimetres, and if you measure a jacket you already own, you can match it to the chart in two minutes. This guide shows how, with the charts for our 9-zone heated jacket and 9-zone heated gilet.
Why the sizes come up small
Our jackets and gilets are cut to Asian sizes. The maker's own note says Asian sizes are 1 to 2 sizes smaller than European and American sizes and advises choosing the larger size if you are between two. Buyer reviews of this style of heated clothing go further and report 2 to 3 sizes. So someone who wears a UK medium will often need an XL or 2XL here.
The letter on the label is the least useful part of the size. Go by the numbers.
How to measure
The most reliable method is to measure a jacket or gilet you already own and like the fit of. Measuring a garment, rather than your body, takes the guesswork out of how much room to leave for layers.
- Choose a garment that fits the way you want. For the jacket, use a padded or winter jacket you wear over a jumper. For the gilet, use a gilet or a jacket you wear over the same layers you plan to wear under the heated one.
- Zip it up and lay it flat on a table or the floor, front facing up. Smooth out the creases.
- Measure the chest width: straight across, from the seam under one armpit to the seam under the other.
- Measure the length: from the highest point of the shoulder, next to the collar, straight down to the bottom of the hem.
- For a jacket, measure the sleeve: from the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff.
- Compare with the charts below and pick the size with the same chest width or a little more.
The maker notes that the measurements can vary by 2 to 3 cm, because each garment is measured by hand. If your number sits right on the edge between two sizes, go up.
Chest width, not full chest
The chest figures in our charts are measured flat across the front, armpit to armpit. That is why they look small. Double the figure for the full chest all the way round: a chest width of 56 cm means a full chest of about 112 cm.
Heated jacket size chart (cm)
Our 9-zone heated puffer jacket comes in six sizes, from L to 5XL.
| Size | Chest width (flat) | Full chest (about) | Length | Shoulder | Hem width (flat) | Sleeve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | 54 | 108 | 68 | 45.2 | 46 | 65.5 |
| XL | 56 | 112 | 70 | 46.4 | 48 | 67 |
| 2XL | 58 | 116 | 72 | 47.6 | 50 | 68.5 |
| 3XL | 60 | 120 | 74 | 48.8 | 52 | 70 |
| 4XL | 62 | 124 | 76 | 50 | 54 | 71.5 |
| 5XL | 64 | 128 | 78 | 51.2 | 56 | 73 |
Each size up adds 2 cm to the chest width (4 cm all the way round), 2 cm to the length and 1.5 cm to the sleeve.
Heated gilet size chart (cm)
Our 9-zone heated gilet comes in five sizes, from L to 4XL.
| Size | Chest width (flat) | Full chest (about) | Length | Shoulder | Hem width (flat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | 55 | 110 | 67 | 41.6 | 45 |
| XL | 57 | 114 | 69 | 42.7 | 47 |
| 2XL | 59 | 118 | 71 | 43.9 | 49 |
| 3XL | 61 | 122 | 73 | 45.1 | 51 |
| 4XL | 63 | 126 | 75 | 46.3 | 53 |
The gilet's sizes run slightly wider in the chest than the jacket of the same letter, but shorter in the body. Do not assume that if one fits, the other will in the same size: check each chart.
Worked examples
Example 1: a jacket for dog walks. Your favourite winter coat measures 57 cm across the chest laid flat, and you wear a jumper under it. In the jacket chart, XL is 56 cm and 2XL is 58 cm. XL would be a little tighter than your coat, so choose the 2XL.
Example 2: a gilet to wear under a work jacket. Your fleece measures 55 cm across. The heated gilet goes over the fleece, so it needs to be wider than 55 cm. The gilet XL is 57 cm, which gives a little room over the fleece, so choose the XL. Then check your work jacket: if it measures less than about 60 cm across, the gilet and fleece together may feel tight underneath, and a thinner layer under the gilet is the answer.
Example 3: between two sizes. Your jacket measures 61 cm across. The heated jacket 3XL is 60 cm and the 4XL is 62 cm. The maker advises the larger size when you are in between, so choose the 4XL.
Leave room for layers and for the heat
Heated clothing works best when it sits close to your body without squeezing it. A jacket that is tight across the chest presses the padding flat and leaves no room for a warm layer. One that is far too big lets warm air escape at the hem and neck. Aim for a fit that matches a winter coat you already find comfortable.
Think about what goes on top, too. If you plan to wear the gilet under a coat, the coat has to fit over it. A gilet adds bulk at the chest and back, so check the coat's chest width against the gilet size you have chosen.
Sleeves and length
Sleeves are the second most common reason a jacket feels wrong. Measure the sleeve of a jacket you own from the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff and compare it with the chart. The heated jacket has elastic cuffs, so a sleeve that is a centimetre or two long gathers at the wrist rather than covering your hand. If you are tall with long arms, the extra length of a size up can help.
For length, our jacket runs from 68 cm in L to 78 cm in 5XL, measured from the top of the shoulder. If you like a jacket that covers your hips, compare this with a coat you own.
Gloves and socks
Our heated ski gloves come in one size, which the supplier lists as L. It gives no hand measurements, so if you have small hands, expect a roomy fit. The thinner heated finger gloves and the knee-length heated socks also come in one size, and the supplier gives no size range for them. With socks, make sure your boots are not tight over the toes: squeezed feet get cold, heated socks or not.
Before you order
- Measure a garment you own, flat, armpit to armpit.
- Match it to the chest width in the chart, not to the letter on your usual clothes.
- If you are between sizes, go up.
- Remember the power bank is not included with the jackets and gilets; see how long does a heated jacket last? for choosing one, and how to wash heated clothing for keeping it in good shape.
Frequently asked questions
Do heated jackets come up small?
Ours do. They are cut to Asian sizes: the maker says they come up 1 to 2 sizes smaller than UK and European sizes, and buyer reviews of this style of heated clothing report 2 to 3 sizes. Choose by the centimetres in the size chart, not by the letter on the label.
How do I measure for a heated jacket?
Take a jacket that fits you well, zip it up and lay it flat. Measure straight across the chest from armpit to armpit, then compare that number with the chest width in our size chart. Pick the size with the same width or a little more, especially if you wear a thick jumper underneath.
Is the chest measurement in the chart the full chest?
No. The chest figures are measured flat across the front of the garment, from armpit to armpit. Double the figure to get the full chest all the way round. A jacket with a 58 cm chest width has a full chest of about 116 cm.
What size heated gloves and socks should I order?
Both of our heated gloves and our heated socks come in one size. The supplier lists the ski gloves as size L and gives no hand measurements, and gives no size range for the finger gloves or the socks.
