Gobi Heat Sahara II Review: Heated Jacket Specs, Battery Life and Sizing

The Sahara II is Gobi Heat's everyday heated softshell for men: a wind- and water-resistant jacket with three heating zones, a fast-charge battery and a price of $199.00 on gobiheat.com on November 5, 2026. This review is research-based. We did not wear-test the jacket; everything below comes from Gobi Heat's own product page, size chart and policies, compared with the other heated jackets Gobi Heat sells, so you can decide whether the Sahara II fits what you need.

The short verdict

On paper, the Sahara II is a sensible first heated jacket for commuting, camping, golf and general cold-weather wear. It heats the chest and back, runs up to 10 hours on its lowest setting, charges over USB-C Power Delivery and looks like an ordinary softshell. It is not the warmest jacket in Gobi Heat's range: it has three heat zones where some models have four or five, and it is a softshell rather than an insulated puffer or parka. If you want a versatile layer for cool to cold days rather than a deep-winter coat, it is a good fit; if you stand still in serious cold, look at Gobi Heat's puffers and parkas instead.

Key specs at a glance

Heating: zones, temperatures and controls

Gobi Heat says the Sahara II uses conductive thread heating rather than bulky wires or stiff panels. There are two zones on the chest and one large zone across the back, which together cover the core of the body. The arms, neck and hood are not heated.

The three settings are listed at 113°F on Low, 131°F on Medium and 140°F on High. Gobi Heat's FAQ on the product page says that on High you should feel noticeable warmth across the chest and back within a few minutes, while Low is described as subtle background heat.

The controls are a single button:

• Press and hold for 3 seconds to turn the heat on or off.
• Single press to cycle Low, Medium and High.
• Double press for a pre-heat mode that starts on High and then drops to Medium automatically.

That pre-heat mode is useful on a cold morning: you get a fast warm-up without remembering to turn the heat down later and draining the battery.

Battery life and charging

The jacket ships with Gobi Heat's 6500-PD battery, a 7.4V, 6,500 mAh lithium-ion pack with USB-C Power Delivery fast charging and a charging cable. Gobi Heat lists up to 10 hours on Low, 8 hours on Medium and 6 hours on High.

Those are the brand's maximum figures, and real runtime will depend on the setting you use most. If you expect to run it on High through a long day outdoors, the product page offers a spare 6500-PD battery for $79.00. The same battery is listed as working with Gobi Heat's 5V, 7.4V and 12V products, so one spare can serve more than one Gobi Heat garment.

According to Gobi Heat's FAQ, the battery is the main upgrade over the original Sahara: the Sahara II adds the 6500-PD fast-charge battery and a refined softshell fabric, while keeping the same pockets, styling and three-zone heating. Our Gobi Heat shopping guide covers battery life across the rest of the range, and our article on Gobi Heat's hand warmer recall and battery safety covers safe charging and storage habits for lithium-ion packs.

Shell, fit and features

The shell is a polyester/spandex blend that Gobi Heat describes as wind, water and abrasion resistant, with 4-way stretch. Features listed on the product page include:

• Adjustable, removable hood
• Adjustable cuffs
• Zippered pockets, which Gobi Heat describes as ample storage
• Waist cinch bungees
• An internal battery pocket, with the control button designed to blend in

Gobi Heat says most people won't know the jacket is heated unless you tell them, which is a fair description of the product photos: from the outside it looks like a standard hooded softshell.

Sizing

The Sahara II uses Gobi Heat's shared men's size chart, which also applies to the Polaris, Sahara, Ridge, Beam, Shadow, Grit, Ibex, Flash and Basecamp base layer shirts. Chest measurements on that chart are:

Gobi Heat measures chest at the fullest part under the arms, waist around the fullest part, and sleeve from the top of the shoulder to the wrist. Heated garments work best when the heating panels sit close to the body, so measure rather than guessing, and check the chart before sizing up for layers.

Care and washing

The Sahara II is listed as machine washable once the battery is removed. That is the key rule for any heated garment, and our step-by-step guide to washing heated clothing covers what else to avoid, such as wringing the jacket or running it through a hot dryer.

Shipping, returns and warranty

The Sahara II product page lists free shipping on orders of $100 or more, free 30-day returns with easy exchanges, a 1-year warranty and 24/7 support. Since the jacket costs $199.00 on its own, it qualifies for free shipping. Check the return conditions on Gobi Heat's policy pages before you remove tags or wash the jacket.

Sahara II vs other Gobi Heat jackets

Gobi Heat sells several men's heated jackets, and the right one depends on how cold it gets and how active you are. Prices below are from gobiheat.com on November 5, 2026.

• Original Sahara ($149.00, listed $199.00, final sale). The same three heat zones, the same 113, 131 and 140°F settings and the same listed runtimes, with a polar fleece lining and USB-C charging. Gobi Heat says the Sahara II's upgrade is the 6500-PD fast-charge battery and refined fabric. The original is cheaper, but it is marked final sale, so you cannot return it if the fit is wrong.
• Polaris heated puffer ($239.00). A quilted, hooded puffer with four heat zones, two chest, one neck and one upper back, and dual-control heating so you can adjust zones independently. It uses the same 6500-PD battery. Choose it if you want more insulation and a heated collar for standing still in the cold.
• Grit heated workwear jacket ($239.00). A duck cotton work jacket with five heat zones and up to 9 hours of listed heat on the 6500-PD battery, plus knit cuffs, gusseted armpits, a drop-tail hem and a detachable hood. It is built for job sites rather than casual wear.

In short, the Sahara II is the most versatile shell of the group, the Polaris is the warmer insulated option, and the Grit is the tough workwear option. If you also need warm hands, our roundup of the best Gobi Heat heated gloves compares the Vertex II, Epic II, Drift II and Stealth II.

Who should buy the Sahara II

The Sahara II makes the most sense if you:

• Want one jacket for commuting, golf, camping and errands that does not look like technical heated gear
• Move around in cold weather rather than standing still for hours
• Value USB-C fast charging and a battery you can share with other Gobi Heat products
• Want a jacket you can machine wash once the battery is out

Skip it, or look at the Polaris, if you need a heated collar, insulation for very cold days or the ability to control zones separately. Look at the Grit if you need heavy-duty workwear.

Bottom line

Based on Gobi Heat's published specs, the Sahara II is a well-equipped heated softshell at $199.00: three heat zones up to 140°F, up to 10 hours of listed runtime, USB-C PD fast charging, a hood and stretch shell, machine washability and a 1-year warranty with free 30-day returns. It is a cool-to-cold-weather layer rather than a deep-winter coat, and the original Sahara is cheaper but final sale. If that matches how you spend time outside, it is one of the easiest heated jackets in Gobi Heat's range to wear every day.

References

1. Gobi Heat, "Sahara II Men's Heated Jacket" product page, specifications, FAQ and size chart. https://gobiheat.com/products/sahara-ii-mens-heated-jacket (accessed November 5, 2026)
2. Gobi Heat, "Sahara Men's Heated Jacket (Final Sale)" product page. https://gobiheat.com/products/sahara-mens-heated-jacket (accessed November 5, 2026)
3. Gobi Heat, "Polaris Heated Puffer Jacket - Men's" product page. https://gobiheat.com/products/polaris-mens (accessed November 5, 2026)
4. Gobi Heat, "Grit Men's Heated Workwear Jacket" product page. https://gobiheat.com/products/grit-mens-5-zone-workwear-jacket (accessed November 5, 2026)
5. Gobi Heat, "6500-PD Battery" product page. https://gobiheat.com/products/6500-pd-battery (accessed November 5, 2026)