Has anyone tried, or does anyone own the North Face MET5 jacket? It’s their battery powered, heated jacket. I live in Minnesota and I am trying to do as much of my training outside this winter. So far, I have survived without it, but it definitely sounds like an interesting option – although $600 is awfully steep. What I would really like is some heated bike shoes. My toes can get painfully cold after a couple of hours.
I wouldn’t waste my money. During exercise, your metabolism produces enough heat to stay warm in the worst conditions. On the other hand, chemical heaters are useful for keeping ones extremities warm.
Put the $600 toward a Computrainer and ride it next to the fireplace.