Re: Gerbing''s Heated Clothing Reader Feedback
I've been using Widder myself, but your review makes me think the Gerbing is a better product. Just for completeness, let me point out a couple drawbacks of Widder (note that I'm using vest and gloves, and pants would be nice to have):
Most serious, no sleeves on the vest. My arms DO get cold. A partial saving is that the gloves have extremely large gauntlet tops, so there isn't any direct wind up the non heated sleeves.
Wiring for the gloves is kind of mickeymouse. You have to plug a Tee cable into the vest, and run a cable down each arm of the jacket. No sleeves on the Widder, remember.
The on-off switch is awkward. It never is where I want it, and it is tough to reach and operate with the heavy gloves. After trying to use it, I no longer feel QUITE so angry at the cell phone users.
(Yes, I know, Widder makes a thermostat, also.) For sure, the Gerbing switch couldn't be any worse.
A general gripe/observation, true of both Widder and Gerbing. You can't use either one with a one piece rainsuit.. There has to be a hole for the wires to get inside.
It took a lot of digging to find the power draw of the Widder garments. After searching their web site, I finally found the data. Does Gerbing tell you how many watts, right up front?
And a final comment - just the way things are. A fully faired touring bike is most likely to have excess generating capacity. An antique "standard" bike has nothing more than an aftermarket windscreen, at best, so you REALLY need the electric heat, but generator capacity is marginal. As I say, that's the way the world works.
I've been using Widder myself, but your review makes me think the Gerbing is a better product. Just for completeness, let me point out a couple drawbacks of Widder (note that I'm using vest and gloves, and pants would be nice to have):
Most serious, no sleeves on the vest. My arms DO get cold. A partial saving is that the gloves have extremely large gauntlet tops, so there isn't any direct wind up the non heated sleeves.
Wiring for the gloves is kind of mickeymouse. You have to plug a Tee cable into the vest, and run a cable down each arm of the jacket. No sleeves on the Widder, remember.
The on-off switch is awkward. It never is where I want it, and it is tough to reach and operate with the heavy gloves. After trying to use it, I no longer feel QUITE so angry at the cell phone users.
(Yes, I know, Widder makes a thermostat, also.) For sure, the Gerbing switch couldn't be any worse.
A general gripe/observation, true of both Widder and Gerbing. You can't use either one with a one piece rainsuit.. There has to be a hole for the wires to get inside.
It took a lot of digging to find the power draw of the Widder garments. After searching their web site, I finally found the data. Does Gerbing tell you how many watts, right up front?
And a final comment - just the way things are. A fully faired touring bike is most likely to have excess generating capacity. An antique "standard" bike has nothing more than an aftermarket windscreen, at best, so you REALLY need the electric heat, but generator capacity is marginal. As I say, that's the way the world works.
