There are many moments in Back to the Future II that fans of the movie marvel at, not least the futuristic inventions that audiences in the 80s imagined the shiny new millennium might have in store.
From self-lacing sneakers to apps that pinpoint the precise end of a rain shower, the second instalment of Robert Zemeckis’s epic trilogy is packed with genius inventions, wizardry and tech.
While we still live in hope for a time-travelling DeLorean to roll onto forecourts (CC: Tesla), there is one version of a product in the movie that you can get your hands on right now – a heated jacket.
In the movie, Marty McFly wears a jacket that self-dries after he foils Griff and his band of bullies and falls into the Clock Tower pond.
Today’s heated jackets are the closest we can get to that – and once tried (especially in winter’s freezing temperatures), it’s hard to go back.
How do heated jackets work?
Using heating panels in the chest and back, they’re powered with the help of lightweight portable battery packs. The rechargeable power banks usually sit in a dedicated pocket in the lining or an internal pocket, keeping it safe from the infamous British weather.
Absolutely – there’s no chance of accidental shocks here. As well as a safety switch-off that cuts power if the panels overheat, most coats are designed to withstand bad weather, featuring mindful touches like water-repellent finishes. These also add an extra layer of protection to the power banks.
Whether you want to find a way to make working outdoors less of a misery, or you simply like the idea of an extra boost of heat on the move, a heated jacket can make winter wonderful again.
We’ve rounded up the best designs for both men and women to shop now.