Appreciation post: My new heated vest for cold water dives

Just spent about $400 on a heated vest for winter harbor work... and it's already saved me from a real bad day. We had a job last week in Boston, water temp was 38 degrees, and my old suit just wasn't cutting it. The vest ran for a full four hour shift on its medium setting and I came up feeling okay, not like a block of ice. It's not cheap, but losing feeling in your hands down there is a real problem. Anyone have tips on keeping the battery pack from getting snagged on stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

irisjenkins18d ago

That battery pack snag is a real headache. Saw a guy on a job rig a small carabiner to his D-ring and clip it there, kept it off his waist. Another trick is using that flat webbing pouch some vests come with and safety-pinning it under your arm, out of the way. Makes a big difference when you're squeezing through a tight hatch.

grant_wright18d ago

Safety pinning gear sounds like a great way to lose it.

william_carter17d ago

Man, I used to think that stuff was just expensive gear for people who couldn't hack the cold. Then I did a long inspection in a reservoir last February. My core temp dropped so much I was shaking for an hour after I got out, couldn't even write up my notes. A heated core makes everything else work right, your brain included. Where are you routing the power cable from the pack to avoid snags?