Article by John Tribbia
ORORO MEN'S HEATED PRIMALOFT® GOLF VEST ($230) & "MOJAVE" HEATED SOCKS 3.0 ($130)
Is it possible that heated clothing can make bike riding in the winter more comfortable? Earlier in January I saw my coworker wearing a heated jacket and I was immediately intrigued. It wasn’t easily recognizable as a heated jacket, but my friend showed me the battery, let me feel the heating element, and showed me that the heat intensity could be adjusted with the push of a button. As a California transplant, he told me that it had been a lifesaver for him during this particularly cold Colorado winter.
I’m someone who enjoys being out in the cold weather running, biking, walking the dogs, hiking, shoveling. I was interested to see if I could feel the difference of wearing heated clothing and was especially keen to see if heated socks would help keep my feet warm while winter biking.
I reached out to ORORO to ask if I could review a pair of their socks, and I'm so glad I did. Jack, their lead Brand Operation Specialist, was stoked to send me socks and their heated vest to try. Thankfully, too, we had an unusually long stretch of days with sub-zero temperature once they arrived.
Packaging is really nice with unassuming yet clean brand logo
A little about the company: The name ORORO is inspired by the X-Men superhero Storm, who is able to control weather. Kind of a fitting name for a company that is dedicated to providing warmth and comfort to its customers, even in the coldest weather. It was founded in 2015 in the Midwest, and it is known for its high-quality, heated jackets, vests, and other apparel.
MEN'S HEATED PRIMALOFT® GOLF VEST
$230
First things, first, the ORORO heated golf vest should be used as a loose description, because it is more than something to wear on the links. I found it to be more of an activewear piece of clothing that offered a good range of motion for walking, jogging, or shoveling. It is a high-quality, well-made vest that provides pretty good warmth and is quite comfortable. The fabric outer shell is water-resistant and windproof, and it has a 4-way stretch polyester lining with a really soft neck liner. The vest has 4 Carbon Nanotube heating elements that generate heat across core body areas (left & right pocket, collar, upper back). With three adjustable heating settings, it lasted over 6 hours on the hottest setting for me on a single charge.
Stock image of the heating elements: back and pockets are warming
Before putting on the vest, I was thinking it would feel like wrapping a heating pad around my abdomen. My enthusiasm was a bit tempered when I realized the heating sensation was more modest than that. However, I still found it really effective. We had a really cold couple of days in February (-10 *F) and I wore it to shovel some snow. I was impressed that it took the edge off of those near shivers and provided a noticeable warmth without being too hot. Moreover, I can’t really run with it because it is too hot for my preference. To that end, the vest is a great way to stay warm and comfortable during less vigorous activities, and it can make winter walks much more enjoyable. Moreover, a great use case would be to stow them with you on a burly mountain climb and then put them on for the descent. Overall, I'm really happy with my ORORO heated vest. It's a great way to stay warm and comfortable in cold weather. I would highly recommend it to anyone who lives in a cold climate.
On/Off button in left pocket glows red when on high setting
Close up of the on/off button
Rear pocket to hold battery
Battery and USB charging cord
Soft fleece on neck is really comfortable
Here are some of the pros and cons of the ORORO heated vest:
Pros:
* It is lightweight and portable, making it easy to take with you wherever you go.
* It has three different heat settings, so you can adjust the level of warmth to suit your needs.
* It has a built-in battery that is advertised to last for up to 10 hours on a single charge. I got six hours in the hottest setting.
* It is machine washable, making it easy to keep clean.
* It comes with a one-year warranty.
Cons:
* It is relatively expensive (although less expensive versions are available), costing around $200.
* It can be bulky to wear, especially if you are wearing other layers of clothing.
* The battery can feel awkward and heavy in the back pocket.
* It is not waterproof, so you cannot wear it in the rain or snow.
"MOJAVE" HEATED SOCKS 3.0
$120
My feet notoriously get cold while biking - most people share the same problem, so I’m not some sort of an anomaly. But, winter riding can be challenging when commuting or riding in freezing temps. I’ve tried GoreTex shoes with double layers of socks and my feet still turn into ice cubes after 30-45 minutes. I have long wanted to try heated socks because, let’s be honest, it makes sense!
Overall, the ORORO "Mojave" Heated Socks 3.0 are a great option for people who want to keep their feet warm and more comfortable in cold weather while standing or doing mild activity. The entire sole of the foot is covered with the heating elements, providing a nice mellow warmth that (similar to the vest) takes away the edge of bitter cold.
The socks are made with a customized and functional combination of cotton, COOLMAX®, polyester, and spandex. They are constructed using a Terry Loop knitting method that provides a cushiony feel and moisture-wicking.
I did an A/B test while biking in the cold with my left wearing a wool sock and the right wearing the ORORO. I can attest that the ORORO kept my foot incredibly comfortable and the cold riding was more than tolerable, it was enjoyable. However, I didn’t find the socks to work very well for faster moving and higher impact activities like running, because the battery element was heavy and awkward. It might work better if the battery storage was deeper so that it didn’t feel like the battery was about to slip out each time I took a hard footplant. Moreover, the heating element on the bottom of the foot felt awkward at first when trying to run in them. Notwithstanding, I did enjoy the socks for the colder days, especially while walking, hiking, riding my bike, and hanging out around the house.
Battery tucks into upper calf pocket and button is overlaid on the pocket
Fast charging battery and on/off button at top of calf
A lot of times when I was moving, I felt like the battery was going to slip out
Here are some pros and cons of the ORORO Mojave Socks:
Pros:
Adjustable heating settings
Durable and thick with Coolmax blend for cold walks and hikes
Comes with a USB charging cable and battery life is solid
Cons:
Bulky fit, which is a downside for active pursuits like running
Battery storage on the upper calf is shallow, causing battery to slip out if running
- Not sure about durability of heating element
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Tester Profiles
John Tribbia is a regular technical reviewer for running-oriented product testing website RoadTrailRun with a large readership domestically and internationally. He has other writing about NAAWK Sunscreen and Yuba Cargo E-Bike (Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV).
He dabbled in bike racing both mountain and road as a junior Cat 5 and eventually upgraded to Expert on the mountain bike. After his brief stint of cycling racing and once in college, John crossed over to running and found success as a sponsored mountain/trail runner by placing atop the podium in domestic and international races. But he always kept his bikes nearby for cross training while injured, supplemental training, and commuting. Given that cross-over experience as well as 6+ years of working at University Bikes in Boulder, CO and over 20 years of competitive running, he loves the opportunity to test the latest and greatest in both sports.
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