patrick_g
Elite Member
The guys I ride with (motorcycle sport touring) wear heated vests and gloves. I think this is likely the most practical solution for active heating. You can get them with controls and thermostats built in and their made ruggedly for motorcycling. I can't remember the cost, but a couple of hundred dollars sounds right.
The other addition could be a motorcycle/snowmobile helmet with a heated visor. The helmet will keep you warm and the heat in the visor will keep it from fogging/frosting up.
I know it was 5 miles through the snow to your school, uphill both ways but...
I wonder how I survived 3 winters in Minot, ND (Minot AFB) in temps down to -47F with only long johns, two pair of BDU's (fatigues) and an arctic flying jacket (parka.) No heated seats, a VW that couldn't defrost the window much less heat the interior, and you had to take the battery out at night to keep it warm inside to be able to crank the next morning. I walked all over the base in all conditions. Youth, wasted on the young who can't appreciate it.
My Kubota (with cab) has a heater par excellence that will toast you when it is 0 degrees F outside if you turn it up.
So far as insulation for the seat... Google on space blanket...
Shopping results for space blanket
SILVER RESCUE SPACE BLANKET EACH $0.85 new - FirstAidMonster.com
Space Blanket $0.99 new - Amazon.com
MTR Mylar Emergency Space Blanket $1.85 new - Med-Tech Resource
These are super cheap and will reflect 90% of your body heat back at you. One rescue blanket (cheapest form of space blanket) could be easily cut up with scissors to make several seat covers. I don't think you could wear out in a single season all the seat covers you could make from just one rescue blanket for a couple bucks. A little duct tape would hold it in place.
Of course it works by refrlecting back your body heat so you need to sit on it before your buttocks get too cold.
Pat