Heated vests

[k4kafka]

I am considering purchasing a heated vest for diving in colder water. Specifically seeking pro and con experience from owners of the Venture Heat Pro V3.

 

[grantctobin]

Wetsuit? Drysuit? Temp ranges and duration?

Bottoms of feet cold (drysuit, 39F / 3.9C water) this post contains pdf link of other things to consider.

 

[k4kafka]

Henderson 5mm TherMAXX. Comfortable diving in 82+F tropical waters. Would like to expand my diving to mid 60’s - 70F waters.

 

[Imla]

Just by looking at the specs I am sceptical. Personally, having batteries inside a drysuit just gives me the heebejeebies thinking about it. Note #2, 30w is not very much. I just upgraded from Santis 55w to Trojans 70watts...
Electric heating in wetsuits, I know nothing about.

 

[Boarderguy]

My buddy uses a V3 vest under his dry suit for rec dives here and loves it. Keeps him warm in 50° water even when he flooded his trilam and was only wearing a base layer (he did get cold, but only after 30 minutes). My wife used it under a 5mm wetsuit here and kept her core plenty warm but her extremities got cold. The dual batteries last a good long while. The fact that the whole thing is waterproof makes it a decent go between for wet and dry diving imo.

 

[k4kafka]

Just by looking at the specs I am sceptical. Personally, having batteries inside a drysuit just gives me the heebejeebies thinking about it. Note #2, 30w is not very much. I just upgraded from Santis 55w to Trojans 70watts...
Electric heating in wetsuits, I know nothing about.

Thank you for your reply

 

[JohnN]

Just by looking at the specs I am sceptical. Personally, having batteries inside a drysuit just gives me the heebejeebies thinking about it. Note #2, 30w is not very much. I just upgraded from Santis 55w to Trojans 70watts...
Electric heating in wetsuits, I know nothing about.

I'm a very happy user of the Venture Heat under my drysuit.

Fortunately, I do not use split-fins, so I'm not going to die (at least from the heated vest)

 

[Imla]

I'm a very happy user of the Venture Heat under my drysuit.

Fortunately, I do not use split-fins, so I'm not going to die (at least from the heated vest)

It probably works just fine... I have just been close to a friend whose heater-battery decided to go kaboom in 60meters of water... We were very happy we could get it off his plate and away from the suit. Hence... a slight bit sceptical.
However... most of my "scepticality" came from the 30watts... but that was before the OP posted the temps he wanted to dive in...

 

[k4kafka]

I'm a very happy user of the Venture Heat under my drysuit.

Fortunately, I do not use split-fins, so I'm not going to die (at least from the heated vest)

Which model and in what water temperatures.

 

[Kendall Raine]

I recently purchased a Venture Heat Pro 2 (D616A) and have used it wet and dry. I also know several people who have used them for years with good success. I too was leary of having batteries inside the suit, but persuaded myself the real burn risk is a short in the heating beds, not the batteries lighting off. So far so good. Batteries are most vulnerable during charging and when subjected to heat or trauma. Along with prescribed care, keeping the vest stored/transported properly is important to keep the heating bed wires from getting pinched.