Columbia Sportswear, the Portland outerwear manufacturer, has issued a recall in conjunction with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for seven of the company's heated jacket models. Four men's and three ladies' heated jacket styles are being recalled after an incident in Europe where the wrist cuffs overheated.
The men's jackets are are being pulled are the Circuit Breaker II Jacket (number SM7051), Electro AMP Jacket (SM7061), Electro Interchange Jacket (SM7886) and Electric Big Game Interchange Jacket (HM7198). The recalled ladies' styles are the Circuit Breaker II Jacket (SL7022), Electro AMP Jacket (SL7021) and Electro Interchange Jacket (SL7885). Approximately 9,600 items in the U.S. and 640 items in Canada are affected.
Consumers with a recalled jacket are urged to stop using the items immediately. The CPSC recommends that users disconnect the two battery packs, located in inner pouches, and contact Columbia Sportswear for a full refund with purchase.
This week's recall is the second one this year for the apparel manufacturer. In early January, Columbia Sportswear issued a recall for five different models of heated jackets which were reported to overheat. That recall only affected a small number of consumers, with only 33 of the jackets believed to have been sold in official Columbia Sportswear outlets and on the company's site. The jackets in the recent recall were available at numerous stores and online retailers, although no promotional products supplier are known to carry the affected items.
Following the news, a representative from Columbia Sportswear said the company did not plan to offer electronically heated items starting with the winter 2013-2014 collection. The company has received previous complaints about heated jackets, issuing a recall in November 2011.